1 Prologue

"Ugly duck!"

"With a retard brain!"

"Ugly duck!

"With a retard brain!"

"Hahahaha, look at his snort!" The kids cornered a poor boy, laughing as he slowly moved back in fear.

When one of the kids pushed him lightly, Leon stumbled and fell to the ground. Tears burst out of his eyes as they laughed instead of helping him out.

"Hahaha, look look! He is crying like a girl now." The kid who had pushed commented and everyone else laughed looking down at him.

Leon jerked back in fear as the kids cornered him. He sniffled looking up at his friends, his cheeks turning red in distress as they continued laughing at him.

All he wished was to play with them. Be friends with them, but they were bullying him again.

"You want to play with us, right?" One of the kids smirked and grabbing Leon's hand, he forced him to stand up and added, "Come, Let's play."

"Le-le-leave," Leon struggled as his classmate harshly dragged him towards the merry-go-round ride.

And others excitedly followed them waiting for a drama. Leon hated these rides and even sometimes wetted his pants when he would be forced to play with them. And today, they would embarrass him again!

Leon started pulling his hair, slapping the back of his head as anxiety kicked in and he was having a meltdown. Their laughs were continuously ringing in his ears, haunting him and he cried louder in agitation.

He soon started stimming, plucking his hair harder as they neared that scary ride.

"Ahh, Ahh, Ahh," Leon stammered and struggled as his classmate forced him to sit on the metal base.

Other kids also climbed the ride and a few held Leon tightly when he tried to run away. No, they weren't over yet!

"OYE!" But their excitement died down when they heard that voice. It was loud yet terrifying that they immediately stopped and turned around in curiosity.

A girl, probably a senior, glared at them as she rolled the football under her foot.

"You freaking pigs, how dare you trouble him again?" She yelled, angrily kicking the ball in their direction and it hit a girl's stomach.

"You You," The guy who was holding Leon jumped down the ride and rushed to the girl who started crying in pain.

"How dare you hit my girlfriend?" He yelled turning around and glared at the arrogant girl. Other kids who were on the ride immediately got down and stood behind their friends.

"And, how dare you touch MY boyfriend?" The girl roared walking towards them and sneered at the group.

"She She is Liana, from grade 3!" Someone from the group shrieked and the kids paled out looking at their senior.

Liana Granger was an infamous kid in their school. She was known for her fights and also a sharp tongue that had suspended her many times.

"Run!" They screamed and ran in the right direction, towards the school building.

"You morons! Come back here!"

"Didn't I warn you to stay away from him? HUH?"

"You piece of shit! Wait, till I beat the crap out of you!" Liana chased the group cursing every word she had learned recently.

And as they hurriedly ran inside the building, Lian stopped scoffing out loud.

"Touch him again and I will feed your asses to street dogs!" She warned and panted out loud supporting her knees.

Turning around, she sighed seeing the crying baby and ran towards him.

"How many times should I tell you huh?" She grumbled crossing her arms as Leon tightly clung to the metal rod and cried out loud. Sighing out loud, she slowly removed his hands and cupped his face. Wiping away his tears, she sighed again as the little guy stared at her with a pout.

"Stop crying!" She ordered with a serious look but didn't let go of his face.

"NOW!" She demanded and Leon immediately stopped crying at her order. He sniffed, pressing his lips harder stopping those sobs reach her ears.

Wiping away his tears, Liana hugged him and sighed out loud. She then slowly patted his back trying to calm him down and though Leon didn't hug her back, he didn't struggle in her arms. He hated when someone touched him but Liana's warm hugs were different, they always made him feel safe.

"If anyone troubles you, you should punch them in their faces!" Liana said breaking the hug and threw a punch in the air.

"Or you can even kick their butts!" She threw a kick and Leon shyly chuckled as she kicked again in the air.

Liana grinned seeing him smile. Turning towards the main gate, she said, "Come, let's get your favorite popsicle!"

And Leon like a puppy tailed behind her with a cute smile.

----

A few years later.

"I am leaving, Leon!"

"I am changing cities and it's five hours from here."

"I won't be able to play with you anymore."

Liana continued talking but the guy beside her didn't reply at all. She looked at him and sighed shaking her head.

What was she even expecting from this stone? This guy wasn't bothered by this moving-out news!

"Let's meet every weekend, okay?" She asked and when he shook his head, she complained, "At least every month?"

"I will be busy in high school." Leon mumbled shaking his head in a clear no.

God! This guy really didn't have a heart!

"If anyone bullies you, punch in their faces! Okay?" Throwing a punch in the air, she grinned and later sighed when he didn't smile to her rotten act.

"Will you even miss me?" She asked after a long silence.

They had spent all their childhood together and even went to the same elementary and middle school. He at least should miss her, right?

"Yes. I will miss you." Leon finally said something pleasing and Liana smiled happily.

"Your bike won't be around, and I need to walk to school alone."

"You won't be around during lunch break, and I need to eat alone."

"You won't be around to walk me to the store, and I should go alone."

"You won't be around to help me with my books, so I need to carry them alone."

"You won't be,"

And his reasons turned her smile into a sulk. He was really too much!

"Alright, Alright! You miss your helper not me, I got it." Liana stopped him with a frown.

"I will leave now, then." She said with a bitter smile and Leon nodded playing with his rubrics.

Taking out a butterfly keychain from her pocket, she shoved it in his hands and got up from the bench. Leon blinked and creasing her brows, he looked at the golden metal butterfly and then at her. His eyes sparkled in joy as he stared at the key chain.

"This This is," He looked at her and exclaimed, "from that antic store."

"You liked it that day." Liana grinned seeing his cute happy face and added, "So, I brought it for you."

"Take care of yourself, kiddo!" Ruffling his hair, she smiled but it faded as Leon was too focused on the butterfly now.

"I am really leaving now," Liana uttered in order to gain his attention.

Leon nodded looking at the butterfly, and his grin made her sigh out loud. Looking at him one last time, Liana sighed before rushing out of the park.

She sat inside her car's dad and opened the window but sighed Leon didn't look at her. She regretted gifting that keychain now!

And as the engine started, Leon finally came out of his glee and looked up at the departing car.

Liana who was sulking as he wasn't even waving, grinned when he finally saw her and gingerly waved her hand.

Leon held the butterfly tightly and raised his hand in response. His eyes teared up and he wasn't sure why.

Rushing towards his flat, he took his mom's old phone and went inside his room. Placing the butterfly aside, he sat on his bed and searched for something in gallery.

"Don't worry," A video with little Liana holding her sword started playing and he looked as tears ran down his eyes.

"Even if we are separated, even if the world throws us apart," Shoving inside her sword, Liana took out a shoe from the table, and smiled looking at it, "I will come to find you Cinderella."

"I will come back to you and marry you one day!" Leon repeated the line along with Liana in the video.

She would come back again. She would marry him for sure, he thought playing the video again.