Worried

[Annie's POV]

'This kid is weird.'

That was the first thought that came to my mind after talking to this kid who was standing in front of our school smiling like an idiot to himself.

I wanted to ignore him.

But I couldn't.

I seriously hate my soft spot for kids dammit!

When I approached him and asked him about what he was doing here, I thought he would answer me that he was waiting for his sibling who might be in our school, or waiting for his guardian to pick him up but the response I got from him totally took me by surprise.

"I am looking for a place to stay"

What?

Did I hear him correctly?

You are shitting me right?

No way is this kid serious!

He doesn't even reach my kneecaps and You are telling me that this kid could possibly be trying to run away from his home?

Are his parents nuts!?

Letting their kid wander around on the streets without any possible guidance will lead to him getting kidnapped or worse, killed!

This kid possibly didn't even lose his first milk tooth yet.

What kind of parents are they? Judging from his appearance, I guess I know the answer to my own question-

The worst kind.

After asking him where his parents were and if he ran away from home (the way I used to when my mom and I got in a fight but at least she never let me wander off this far and I was not in as much of a bad condition as this kid), I noticed him flinching at my question.

I then noticed another thing that made me feel really guilty.....

He was on the verge of crying.

Oh stupid me...

You made him cry!

I quickly tried to dissuade the situation by asking him to sit with me on the nearby stairs and then hearing the rest of his situation.

Sigh~

Guess I am gonna miss my favourite TV show today.

I was getting sad because of something like missing a TV show but after seeing this Kid's sad expression, I was beginning to feel really concerned about his condition.

I tried to change the subject by introducing myself and asking for his name.

I felt really silly for not doing that earlier but when I looked at him expecting an answer...

What I received was again something I was not expecting.

A Question mark on top of his head.

Seriously?

This kid...

He gave me the look that told me that he doesn't even know what a name is.

Is this kid an alien?

What a weird kid.

When I was immersed in my thoughts regarding this boy a soft voice spoke up which was obviously his

"I-I don't have one?"

He answered(or more like questioned) me, and so like any sane person in this situation would do....

I ignored it.

"So you don't have a place to stay?"

I asked him while trying not to think too much about this kid not knowing what a name is but failing miserably.

He looked at me for a while and then said with a smile

Weird kid:- "I will find one soon!"

Okay more like exclaimed...

What is he talking about?

I can't let this kid just wander alone in this place without any guidance. My conscience will never let me.

I will find his parents and take him to them and give them a piece of my mind and if I am not able to find them, then I will take the help of the authorities...

That's what any sane person would do right?

I just hope I will find them soon.....

"Guess I will help you to look for that place you are talking about, and while we are at it, let's look for your parents too."

Weird kid:-"Why?"

It was barely a whisper but I heard him

"What do you mean why? Don't you wanna go home?"

"That's not it!" He exclaimed.

"hmm?"

Weird kid:- "Why are you trying to help me out? It's not like we know each other or anything."

He said while looking at the ground with a confused expression on his face.

"Well, I guess I am just worried about you." I answered honestly after looking at his expression.

Just as I was about to move again, the kid caught my hand stopping me on my tracks and looked at me with confused, or dare I say it, almost hopeful eyes.

Weird kid:-"W-Worried? Wh-Why are you worried about me? I thought only parents care and worry about their children?"

What is this kid talking about?

"Okay kid, I don't know what you are talking about but know that your parents are not the only ones who can care and worry about you"

I am worried about this kid.

"There are people that will care about you even if they are not related to you"

This kid reminds me so much of myself.

"You are just a kid who is wandering around in this place without any guidance. Do you think I will leave you alone without even trying to find your guardian? And even if we fail to find them—which I assure you, I don't think is gonna happen—I will not leave you wandering here alone."

If I let him be I don't know what will happen to him. If he is anything like me.....

*Image of a little girl crying in front of a grave while shivering because of the cold*

"So Yes"

*Image of an old man smiling kindly at the girl and giving her his jacket*

"I am worried about You"

*The girl looks at the old man's retreating back and smiles a little after hearing the words he said just after wrapping his jacket around her*

*'It's getting cold and I am getting really worried about you little lady. I know it's hard to cope with the grief that you are feeling right now but, there will always be people who will be worried about you, and I will be one of them, Never forget that'*

After hearing my words his eyes widened and they started getting watery!

Oh God what have I done!?

Damn it! It's happening because I tried to copy that old man...

I shouldn't have done that...

I should have known that my grumpy face will destroy all the cool words I was trying to say!

I don't know why but I don't wanna see him cry!

Before I could do anything to stop the dam from breaking loose, the weird(but now slightly cute) kid said in a shaky voice...

"T-thank you for worrying about me."

And then the dam broke loose.

But this time....

I didn't stop him from crying.

Because I knew.

I was the same that day *clenches Jacket over her shoulder*

He was crying because he was relieved

That there was still someone in this world....

Who was worried about him.