French Lesson

The rain suddenly pours on the streets of Paris. She runs to take a shed holding close to the patisseries she bought.

But what worries her is she is now lost. She can't recognize the street anymore, and she can't read French words. She was trying to find the bus stop where she got off earlier, and she couldn't ask anyone afraid of, they would only talk French or other languages she wouldn't understand.

She was standing outside of a closed store and sighed helplessly. She doesn't have a mobile phone to make a call to her uncle or could use the payphone, because she doesn't know the telephone number of their apartment.

"Hey, what you have there?" 

She stares at the boy who speaks to her, but she doesn't understand a thing. He attempts to grab the bag she's holding, but Cassie takes a couple of steps backward, pressing her body to the store's glass window.

"Oi, look what we have here," another boy joins them.

She is now frightened for real that she can't speak nor understand a French word. They seem to be about the age of 17, and they talk so much. 

"What are you two doing?" asked a tall man who appears from the other corner of this street.

The two teenagers dash after seeing him. She looks up at him, but the rain pours heavily, and she hardly can see his face clearly.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

She was glad she was saved. Also, he spoke her language, and tears wanted to fall from her eyes.

"Where did you live?" he asked.

She tried to pronounce the street correctly where her uncle lives, and it is the address she must remember now she is moving here.

"Ah, I know that place, and I have a friend living nearby. Why did you wander here around? It is a little distant from there."

She nodded and told him she was ordered to buy these bread and sweets.

"How old are you? You said you just moved in recently. "

The man keeps asking her. He surely thinks why she does the errands under this weather. She is first debating inside her head if it is safe to tell him more about her.

"I am twelve, and I only have my uncle," she answered afterward.

The man gazes at her long before he nods.

"I see. You were lost then?"

"Uhm...yes," she replied slowly.

"Alright, I'll escort you to the bus stop," after he offers his company, he also leans his umbrella towards her.

She looked up and stared at his umbrella before she joined him and let him lead her to the bus stop.

It was cold, and the rain was getting heavier. The man glanced at her then said, "never forget to wear a coat every time you go out. It will often get rain the whole month."

She looks up at him and nods. They are now at the Bus Stop, so she wanted to thank him.

She turns her body to face him and tries to see his face clearly.

"Um, thank you very much, Mister."

"You are welcome," the man replied, then partly smiled at her.

She stayed looking up at him. According to her observation, the way the umbrella was positioned, she was fully taking shelter underneath but caused the man's back to get wet. She wanted to be aware of him, but the bus had now arrived.

"Here, take this."

The man gave her a business card.

"Go to this place and take a French lesson, and she will teach you for free," he said.

Cassie was confused. She wanted to ask him about it, but the bus was about to leave. She quickly climbs inside and finds an empty seat.

She took a glance at the man who helped her, but he had already turned his back and walked oppositely of her ways.

***

It took her five days before she could decide whether to visit the address found in the business card that the man gave her.

The address is not that far from where she lived. She entered the building, and a receptionist greeted her. When she did not respond, the receptionist used the English language.

It's a good thing she knew enough English to make a conversation.

"I was told to come here to learn French," she said.

"Then you are in the right place!" she said in a friendly manner.

"Can you please take a seat and wait for five minutes? Miss Bennets will end her lesson for today."

"Okay. Thank you."

She took the seat, then waited anxiously. After five minutes, a bell rang then eleven teenagers came down from upstairs. They took a glance at her for a moment before they bid goodbye to the receptionist.

Another two minutes pass then a beautiful lady in her late 20's came down.

"Hi," she immediately attends.

"My name is Loura Bennets. How are you, dear?"

She was stunned. This beautiful French woman actually knew her language.

"I am fine. Thank you," she responded politely.

"Can I know your name?"

"Yes, of course! My name is Cassandra Marivella Young," she answered cheerfully.

"Can I call you, Cassandra?"

"Yes," she nods.

"What a beautiful name," she praises, then smiles at her.

"Thank you. My mom used to tell me it was my brother who gave me this name."

***

"Missy..."

She felt someone shaking her shoulder gently.

"Wake up, Missy. If you sleep here, you'll catch a cold."

She opens her eyes and rubs them.

"Brother Daichi..."

"Hmm... it's dinner time. But if you wanted to sleep more first, you should go to your room to get proper rest."

"Am awake now. I'll go get some dinner," she stretched her arms.

She was surprised she'd actually fallen asleep in the library. Her computer was broken, so she used the new one in the library. Shun bought it for his works when he was on the island. She notices that Daichi is still wearing an apron.

Daichi looks down, "Ah, I can't dare to wear boss Shun's apron, so I am borrowing Joanna's... Hehe..."

Hello Kitty? Really?