Glance At My Kindness

"I recognized you instantly. All of our lives flashed through my mind in a split second. I felt a pull so strongly towards you that I almost couldn't stop it."

– J. Sterling

"Where are you going? It's Sunday," asked Jimin who was trailing behind my figure as I pulled a scarf around my neck.

"I've tuition classes every Sunday, Jimin" I sighed going over to look at the mirror.

I was wearing a plain white T-shirt and skinny black jeans, and now a black and white scarf around my neck. My hair is up in my usual ponytail and I pulled on my fav white canvas shoes. Simple yet cool! That's my fashion. Even though it's winter here, the days are hot as usual. The only difference is early morning and night. So, I'll take off my scarf when I reach my tuition class or it'll get hella hot afterward.

"That's how you dress when you go outside?" Jimin had his mouth agape eyeing me from head to toe. "Now, you remind me of Jungkook with your style".

"What's the problem with my look?" I rested my hands on my hips and looked at him with clear annoyance evident on my face.

He just sighed shaking his head and walked over to my closet. I heard him gasping.

"Oh Mia, even Jungkook won't stand this." he gestured towards my rack of white T-shirts and hoodies, all in dark hues. "Don't you have some colorful clothes?"

"Nope" I just shook my head.

"Are you even a girl?" he asked pinching his nose bridge.

"That I can assure." I sneered "What's the point of discriminating between the clothing style of men and women? There is no such thing as women should wear only light colors. People can do whatever they want." I dragged him away from my closet by his arm "Now go away. Don't make me late".

"Go away?!!!" he shouted, "Is that the way you treat your friend?".

I turned around and looked at him dead in the eyes "Did I say you are my friend?".

"W-What? Am I not your friend?" he looked at me with a disappointed expression.

"Nope" I walked over to my table and gathered my books as usual.

"Then, what am I to you?" I heard him asking.

I chose to ignore him and do my job.

"Mia, don't ignore me" he was standing right behind me.

"Fine, you are a freaking cute ghost who is haunting me!" I said raising my hands up in the air with frustration hoping that he'll leave me alone after hearing my direct insult.

"Mia..." he stuttered " You called me...cute!"

I froze. I hadn't realized I had slipped it out unconsciously. I mentally facepalmed at my stupid self. Okay, act cool. Erase the expressions, okay blank face on...Ready, set, go!

"What? Aren't you cute?" I turned around, facing him, and asked.

His smirk vanished completely instead his cheeks were tinted with red spots and he was avoiding eye contact. I guess the kid doesn't get direct compliments. Well, good job! I'm proud of myself that I always get to wipe off that smirk from his face more often.

"I take that as a no" I turned away and walked but he held my hand abruptly, making me flinch. I'm not used to physical touch that I easily get startled.

"I'm still hurt that you called me a freaking ghost," he said, both of us facing opposite directions, but I could make out his sadness in it.

Mia, no emotions!

"Then, stay hurt" I said and he released his grip.

I think, for a moment he stood there watching me leave, as I closed my door behind.

"Yah! You are supposed to console someone who's hurt. Not leave them!" I heard his voice shouting behind the door.

Aish, he was just acting. For a moment before, I thought he was seriously offended by my words. Guess not!

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"Heyyo, sis!" oh here comes my nightmare. Wasn't she supposed to go late?

"Hey, Liya" I said unenthusiastically.

We both came out of our house at the same time. Liya and I go to the same tuition class but she comes late everyday. She'd be sleeping when I leave the house.

"I was wondering if we could go together?" she chirped with pleading eyes.

"Why?" I asked flatly.

"Can't I go with my big sis for a day, huh?" she asked clinging onto my arm, leaning towards me. Her extravagant perfume was suffocating me.

"Who's your date?" I asked right away.

"Aw, you read me like a book, sis!" she slurred and leaned again. I can't stand this.

"No touchy-touchy, please" I said removing her hands and moving away from her fragrant-filled personal bubble. I huffed air waving away her perfume.

"Jeez, sis" she said offended.

I heard a chuckle coming from behind us as we walked towards the field. I could say without even looking behind that it was the ghost Jimin. Entertaining himself, huh?

"Nah-uh" Liya dragged me away from the field route.

"What?" I asked annoyed yanking her hands away again.

"We are going through the main road," she said walking ahead.

"Nope" I shook my head and walked away but she dragged me again.

"Please sis, I don't want all this make-up to go waste. Can't say, there might be some hot guys on the way" she winked.

"Nope" I shook my head.

"Fine, I'll buy you an Americano at a cafe" she gave up.

"Okay" I said and followed her.

I saw her groaning and rolling her eyes. Who would resist such an amazing offer, huh? Not me!

"So, you like Americano, huh?" whispered a voice from behind, obviously Jimin.

We walked and walked. Whoever in the neighborhood saw Liya, they gave her 'Good mornings' and 'Good day's while I just walked behind her with earbuds on, silently. That's what happens every time I walk with her. Everyone ignores me as she gets all the attention. Puberty hit her hard and this was the situation every time after that, well before that too. At first, I was annoyed, but I became used to it. And besides, I have these buddies, I always praise the inventor of earbuds, very useful to block out all the unwanted 'stuff'. Trust me, half of the people around here don't even know that I'm her sister. Pathetic, yeah!

"Hello, Liya" I saw a guy doing pushups looking over his balcony.

Liya just gave him her oh-so-sweet smile as I saw the guy blushing hard. Duh!

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"Hey, Mia sis" called Vishnu standing at the bus stop as both Liya and I reached there. Yep, he's going to tuition too, only that he's in another tuition class near us.

"Hey" I pulled out a smile.

He leaned away and saw Liya who was busy on her phone, texting. "Hello, Liya" I saw his eyes sparkling at the sight of her. Poor kid!

"Hey..." trailed off Liya, who did not even bother to look up from her precious phone.

I shot Vishnu an apologetic look who was obviously hurt.

But he just smiled and shook it off.

The bus came and both of us got in. I saw Jimin climbing on as he looked around. There were not many people as it was early morning. Just a couple of people here and there in their own world, nothing out of ordinary.

I caught sight of an empty seat and walked towards it but Liya beat me to it and sat on the window side with the elegance of a princess. I glared at her as she smiled at me innocently. I rolled my eyes and sat down.

I glanced at Jimin had sat on an empty seat opposite the driver. He saw me looking and smiled at me with excitement. I guessed he was thrilled to ride a public bus in Kerala? Whatever.

"Tickets!" called the conductor. He came and balanced himself by leaning on a pole opposite to where we were sitting. He looked very young, around my age. I saw him eyeing Liya; usual phenomenon.

"One city please!" Liya obviously noticed his stare and chirped, beating me again.

I saw him smiling widely and tearing off the ticket, still his eyes on her. And Liya, shyly brushed her hair away from her face which was flying around. Oh, I'm so gonna prick his eyes right now.

He gave her the balance of money with the same grin.

Liya took it gladly brushing her fingers deliberately with his "The balance is 5, not 10" she said with her sweet voice and expression.

"Oh, just take it" he blushed waving away.

"Okay" giggled Liya acting all shy.

I coughed loudly "If you are done flirting with my sister, can I get my ticket?" I asked with my signature icy cold tone.

I saw his eyes widening and fidgeting aggressively with the tickets in his hands while taking the money from me, avoiding eye contact. With that, he scurried off elsewhere.

"Sis!!" whined Liya from beside me.

"Shut up" I sneered.

The laughter of Jimin could be heard from the front and of course, he was throwing off his head and laughing hard covering his face with his hands. How can he even understand our language? Well, the expressions might have paid off. I shot him a deadly glare but he continued laughing. I stuffed my earbuds into my ears and tuned out his laughter successfully.

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"Hahaha" Liya's and her date's laughter could be heard a table away from mine.

I rolled my eyes for I-don't-know-th time. We were in a cafe which is near our tuition center. And we're an hour early. Her purpose was to attend her date at this cafe while I was forced to follow her for the sake of an Americano. Also, she asked me to wait for her to which I had to agree again because she offered a free doughnut.

"Your sister really is a playgirl" commented Jimin, eyeing them. He is sitting opposite me.

"No need to say" I sighed.

"Does your mother know?" he asked eyeing me solving math equations.

"Who knows!" I actually don't care anymore.

"I honestly didn't expect her to be this flirtatious" he chuckled.

"Perfect match for you" I mocked.

"Yah! I don't happen to have eyes for girls like her. No offense." he raised his hands.

"None taken. Isn't it a good match though? You both can flirt with each other for eternity. Trust me, she would never get tired." I tsked.

"No!" he shouted immediately " Haven't you read about my ideal type? It clearly said I like -"

"Nice and cute girls with lots of aegyo also with a charismatic personality. Yeah, yeah, I've read" I sighed crossing out a mistake violently.

"Did you just byheart it?" he asked surprised.

"I tend to byheart stuff. The point is, crossing out that 'nice' part, she's perfect for you" I chuckled emotionlessly while he turned his head away pouting.

I saw from the corner of my eyes the said laughing fits exiting the cafe as I looked wide-eyed at them. What the hell?! Didn't she compel me to stay here for a doughnut? Yeah, she paid for my Americano and chocolate doughnut but why is she going out with that spooky looking spike hair? Perhaps it's an act?!

That's when I got a message. It's from Liya.

Crackhead: Sorry sis. Gotta go with the guy! See ya!!!

Yeah, I've saved her number under that name. I can't call her that directly, it's the least I could do for my little flirt sister!

"Wasn't that your sister who left? Weren't you supposed to go together?" asked Jimin leaning towards my phone.

"Yeah, she's gonna hang out with the spike for a while, I guess." I pocketed my phone and stood up to leave.

"Spike?!" laughed Jimin again. This guy and his habit of laughing just at little things!

I walked towards the door but my eyes caught something, rather someone.

I averted my path towards the shopkeeper. "Hi, two chicken sandwiches and a bottle of water please". The guy with his morning face yawned and went to pack my order.

"What's that for?" asked Jimin who was beside me.

I chose to ignore his stare as I waited patiently.

I paid and thanked him as I got out with the food.

I walked towards a small boy who was leaning against the glass of the cafe and eyeing the people who are eating and laughing joyfully. He was so concentrated on watching them that he only acknowledged my presence when I tapped on his shoulder.

He looked up at me with swollen innocent wide eyes. His slender body was dusty and dirty. His collarbones were clearly visible and it looks like he hadn't eaten for days.

I lovingly smiled at him as I squatted down to his level.

"Hey, little guy" I put a hand on his shoulder.

I heard footsteps behind me but I didn't have to turn around to check who it is.

The kid was examining me now tilting his head to a side cutely.

"What's your name buddy?" I cupped his cheek lovingly.

"Babu..." he said smiling a little. His eyes trailed down to my necklace as he reached out and touched it looking secretly at me, seeing my smile he started playing with it.

"Nice name. Babu, where is your mom?" I asked.

Still concentrated on playing with my necklace he carelessly pointed towards some direction pouting a little.

"Are you lost?" I asked wondering what he was doing out alone.

He nodded his head with his lip sticking out.

"Well, let's go find her, hm?" I smiled and tickled his tummy.

He giggled cutely and pinched my cheeks "Pretty chechi ".

['chechi' means older sister in Malayalam]

"Thank you" I got up and ruffled his hair chuckling.

"Babu!!!" shrieked a feminine voice from behind me.

A middle-aged woman came running and hugged the child tightly, sobbing hard.

"Where did you go? You worried me so much!" she broke the hug and lifted him up and cradled him in her arms. The kid leaned his head on her chest and started sucking his finger. Then he looked at me and extended one of his hands.

"Pretty chechi!" he giggled showing his milk teeth.

The mother turned towards me and smiled. Though it was a crooked smile, they were welcoming and thankful.

"Thank you, dear" she bowed to me.

I shook his head smiling "No problem, aunty. Just be careful next time, it's dangerous for kids to roam around these days. He is a naughty little kid." I tickled him again to which he giggled again.

There was another giggle coming from my behind too.

The mother smiled and looked down at her child.

"Oh and please take these" I raised the food bag towards her "I'll try to buy something more next time". I said apologetically. I knew this was not enough.

"No, dear. It's alr-" she started rejecting shoving it back to me.

"Please take this. It's the least I could do for this little guy here" I gestured towards the smiling kid.

She hesitated but eventually took it from me. She thanked me repeatedly but I shook it off. With the last look, they walked off as I watched them disappearing from my sight. Glad that I could do something for someone today!

"I never knew you were this nice" commented Jimin who was standing beside me "And it was the first time I saw you smiling with all your heart".

I ignored him and walked away leaving him shouting behind me.

The rest of the went by with Jimin sitting quietly at a corner of my class. I almost questioned his presence but he was still there deep in thought. I'd warned him that there is no garden or anything beautiful about here but he insisted that he follow me. Stubborn kid!

But his silence was a little too much. Maybe I should ask him at home. After all, he has feelings too, must be missing his home and life.