5

Somehow, after leaving the stationary store, Henry ended up helping me with my groceries and the envious presence had never disappeared. Henry, like the gentleman he is, was pushing the shopping cart around, following me throughout the store. He never once complained, he volunteered. We walked on in silence. Despite Henry standing right next to me, my focus was somewhere else, or should I assume it's someone else. I looked over my shoulder discreetly, but no one was there. Where is the feeling coming from then? I turned to face forward once more to not direct attention to myself.

"You know, Henry, you didn't have to do this. You probably have other things to do."

"It's nothing to worry about. Besides, I get to spend some time with a friend."

We continued walking side by side, casually talking to each other along the way. The random small talks were quite comforting. It made me feel less lonely.

As time went by, we got to the cashier and I quickly paid for my groceries in fear that Henry would pay again. The lady at the cashier looked at us weirdly, she observed us with such a gleam in her eyes. She probably thinks we're together as a couple in regards to the situation that we're in.

As she packed the last of the items, the cashier lady looked towards the both of us and said in a cheery voice,

"What a cute couple you are…"

Startled, I look towards Henry who was beside me to see his reaction, and surprisingly, he was just giving her a cavity-inducing, sweet smile. His smile would make any girl fall for him. Meanwhile, my cheeks were tainted red with embarrassment and I briefly said farewell to the lady before walking on with the shopping cart as Henry followed at my tail. I now just observed how much taller Henry was than I. We had a roughly 10cm height gap between us and it's quite evident when we stand side by side like this. In silence, we park the shopping trolley and I pick up both of the shopping bags, despite their not-so lightweight. I wasn't planning on walking home with him and asking him to help me carry them home, plus I have to hurry. I still have to babysit Mrs Trainer's kid.

"Thanks, Henry. I might see you at the lounge on Monday. Bye…"

I said with a smile and then started to turn around.

The moment I turned away, my smile faltered and slowly, my feet dragged along the concrete ground, trudging as they carried this puppet of myself. This façade that I painted created an illusion, it getting more difficult to re-paint every morning. It's as if the rain keeps pouring to soil the picture, making the paint run down the canvas.

I hadn't realised through my melancholy collection of scars that I had already arrived at the doorstep of my apartment building with a little boy standing there with his beaming grin glowing. Jason Trainer. He wore a dark blue, fuzzy sweater, some light brown pants with a little backpack with his name on it. He had just come home from kindergarten. What mother would leave her child at the doorstep of an apartment building where any random psycho could kidnap him?

"Yunice! You're here! Hurry up! I wanna play that cool game you have!"

Little Jason ushered me into the building by grabbing me by the arm with pure excitement in his voice.

"Guess what I did today!"

"Let me guess… did you… find the buried treasure in the depths of the sea?"

I teased the kid which made him giggle and shake his head, as I pressed the button in the elevator to get to my apartment.

"Nope. Try again. It's much better than that!"

He cracked up into a giggling fit as he watched me continuously guess the wrong answer as to what he did today at kindergarten for him to be so happy.

"Oh, just tell me! I don't know," I say while the elevator doors open, "Okay, be careful and go over to my door!"

He sprints to my apartment door as I tail behind with the two grocery bags that were weighing me down. Jason was a literal bouncy ball. He was jumping up and down in excitement with the brightest smile in the world.

Once the door was unlocked and had swung open, he dashed in and took off his sneakers, but ran back to me, then tried to take one of the grocery bags from my grasp.

"Yunice, I'll help! What are you going to make for dinner?"

"I'm making some meatballs, with gravy and mashed potatoes. Is that good?"

Jason replied with an ecstatic 'yes' and helped me unpack the grocery. Thank God for another un-lonely night at my apartment. Every day was lonely. Every night was lonely. It's nice to see another face.

"Oh! There's something else I need to tell you!"

I heard Jason exclaim as he slowly closed the cupboard.

"There was a man earlier…" Jason continued, "He saved me from these bullies from kindy. And he said for me to give you this."

The hazel-haired boy ushered me to crouch down, and once I did so, his small little arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me into a warm embrace. I was dumbfounded for a bit but hugged him back.

"Whoever that man is, it was nice of him."

I say, but who was this man?

Why would he send a hug to me?