A Beginning

"I'm home, Granny."

"Ah Leyon, is it?" Claire called out.

"I got your medicines," said Leyon. After putting the bag he was carrying on a small cabinet in the living room, he went to his grandmother, being mindful of the unfamiliar guest who was also present there. A little girl trailed along his shadow, hidden behind his slightly taller frame.

"Who's that behind you?" asked Claire, giving a curious look behind her grandson. And before Leyon could reply, Evelyn who was the guest interrupted him.

"Hikari? Is that you? Hikari!" cried Evelyn. The little girl was the daughter she had been looking for.

Hikari quickly ran towards her mother and jumped into her arms, crying soundlessly. Evelyn kneeled and hugged her daughter as if her life depended on it. "Where have you been? You silly child. You have made me so worried," Evelyn scolded her daughter even though she knew she would never get a reply from her.

"I found her near our house so I brought her home," Leyon finally spoke, staring at the mother and daughter who were still hugging each other.

After breaking the hug with her daughter, Evelyn crawled up to Leyon and held his small hand while kneeling on the floor. With tear-filled eyes, she looked up at him and gave him a warm smile. "You must be Leyon, right? Thank you for bringing Hikari. You're a good boy," she said to him.

"Of course. My grandson is a very good boy. You don't know how lucky that this old, fat lady has such a caring, helpful grandson," Claire joked, hoping to lighten up the gloomy atmosphere in the room.

"You're right." Evelyn smiled. She got up and turned to her daughter. "Hikari. You should thank Leyon."

Hikari wiped off her tears and ran towards Leyon. Taking out a small marker pen from her coat pocket, she scribbled something on the notebook that was hanging from her neck. She then held up the notebook with her two small hands and showed Leyon what she had written on the note.

In big bold letters, the following words were written: THANK YOU.

"You're welcome," Leyon said to Hikari, and she rewarded him with the brightest smile he had ever seen in his life. This girl, who had suddenly emerged out of nowhere was extremely weird but oddly cute.

Claire and Evelyn stood silently, smiling at each other as they watched the interaction between the two children.

"I'm sorry, Leyon," Evelyn said to him after a while. "You must be confused. My Hikari, well, she can't speak... but I hope you can become her friend. I think she really likes you."

Seeing her mother's warm and friendly nature towards Leyon, Hikari took it as approval and quickly scribbled something down on her notebook again.

"Will yu be my frend?" it stated.

Leyon stared at Hikari, completely dumbfounded for a few seconds before replying, "Yes... My name is Leyon. It's nice to meet you." He extended his hand, waiting for her to do the same.

Pausing a bit, as if contemplating whether or not to do it, Hikari slowly raised her hand to shake his.

"Isn't your grandson such a gentleman?" Evelyn said to Claire.

"Yup. My grandson is the best," Claire exclaimed in glee. "Now get along well, you two."

Hikari felt her heart brimming with happiness. She even forgot the problems of her family for a moment. This was the first time that anyone had ever agreed to be her friend. Most of the children in her neighbourhood would only bully her or not want to be friends with her at all. They would not even play with her since she couldn't speak. She was always the pitiful, mute girl that nobody cared about, that nobody paid any attention to. But Leyon was willing to be her friend. How could she not be happy?

"It's getting late. Hikari, let's go home," Evelyn said to her daughter.

"Is it really okay for you both to go back now? You're welcome to stay the night here, Evelyn," Claire said, but Evelyn shook her head, denying the offer.

"It's really fine, mama Claire. We'll be okay now," Evelyn firmly replied.

"I can't help but worry. Your husband..." Claire sighed, but she let it go after seeing the apologetic look on Evelyn's face. "Anyways, have a good night, my dear." Claire smiled sweetly.

"You too, mama Claire." Evelyn softly smiled back. "Hikari, wave goodbye to Leyon. Let's go home." She motioned to her daughter.

Hikari reluctantly lifted her hand and waved goodbye to Leyon.

Standing in the doorway of their home, Claire and Leyon watched them go, their eyes fixed on their backs until they saw them finally disappear into the corner of the road.