Stephanie & Xander

Chapter 10

It didn't turn out as I thought it would be. I'm sitting on a broken bench not far from her and she was begging money from passer bys.

She says she ran away because her father tried to wed her off to some filthy, perverted stranger. It's not really far from the truth because she's indeed engaged to some stranger but to think that that filthy, perverted stranger is me... it's so frustrating. Plus, he's wearing a wonderful pair of Nikes and a gentleman's coat, who would believe her?

But, she got a lot, not because they pity her, but because she's so tall and intimidating and her eyes have natural eyeliners underneath her bright orange eyelashes. She looks like a main character in an action-packed shounen manga.

After almost three hours, she brought me some hot noodles. Thankfully, because it's so freaking cold, thanks to her Strawberry Popsicle. I wonder if her legs are cold, they're bare. But, I guess she never stops jogging for that reason. I'm still cold, maybe because I'm not moving, so, she drapes her coat over my shoulders and she blows her palm warm before returning back to the crowd.

"Hey! You need this more!" I yell but she didn't dare to even look at me and just answered with a middle finger. And, I really thought she's a gentleman! Err, gentlewoman.

An old woman wearing long skirts and a cardigan approaches me. She's holding hot choco and hands it over to me, saying, "I've been awake since four and you two are already here. You're working very hard."

I feel like crying. The kindness of strangers is overwhelming, "No." I wipe my nose with the heels of my palm, "That girl with orange hair worked way harder. I couldn't help."

"But, she's not whining, is she?" she smiles, sitting beside me, "She must've known you're frail. Your best friend is amazing."

"Normally people would assume a boy and a girl are lovers. Why'd you think we're best friends?" I ask.

"Well, I just don't see you guys as a couple." She laughs, patting my back, "And, I've been serving customers for forty years so I can tell people's relationship with just a glance."

"We're not best friends either though." I chuckle, taking a sip, "You've got that one wrong, granny."

"Soon you'll be. You're in a journey, right? You both ran away? The best of friends are made in adventures." She pats my head and walks away. She left me with the hot choco and the mug. When am I supposed to return this anyway? Well, mug acquired!

"Xander!" I call out and she looks my way. Calling her Xander didn't bother her, "I've got hot choco, d'ya want some?"

She strides close to me and bends over, sniffing the drink. Ghad, her long neck and wide, bony shoulders are a feast in the eyes. She can have girls lining up for her with that.

She takes a sip and I slowly tilt it over, "Hmmm." She mutters and licks her lips, "Good."

And she leaves again to talk with more people. That was amazing, I thought. The way she accepts my offer by taking a sip and then leaving again to leave more for me is amazing. But, it hasn't even a minute and she's back beside me, "Hey, can I borrow your clothes? This dress hinders me from attracting girls to help me."

"You're not planning to make me wear that dress, are you?"

"Pretty please?" and I couldn't refuse because she's been doing all the hard work since last night. She only took a single sip from my drink. She had gathered a lot of money and sold her golden necklace along with her anklet. She is still saving her piercings for future use and here I am sitting on my happy place, drinking Chocó.