Mr. Stranger becomes a friend

"Chanchan?" I couldn't help but giggle at the odd nickname, still sniffling but with a smile on my face. I said, "Nice to meet you, sir. My name is Yeshua, but people call me Yeshy, Ishy, and Yeshong." Chandler just glanced at me, smiled and said, "Stupid"

He laughed and put out his hand, "Aren't you a silly one." He greeted me and said, "Nice to meet you, Yeshy. It seems like you've seen better days. Are you comfortable telling me the story?" He assured me that it was alright and that he wouldn't be judgmental.

"You are a bit nosy, sir," I chuckled and sighed. "My boyfriend and I broke up, and he started saying bad things to me and telling my friends I was the worst; it's a little sad that my friends and lover betrayed me," I remarked depressingly.

"It's okay; you can make new friends who are better, like me," he said, putting my mind at ease. "It's painful when people you consider family left you just like that; I thought we meant something but nothing just fucked up shit," I sound unhappy.

"Well, people change, and some for the worse, and some for the better, but your friends shouldn't have done that; it was a bit ignorant of them, but I don't know the context, so I wouldn't pass judgment too quickly," Chandler wisely observed.

"Yeah, I think I've done some bad things, but not that bad where I killed their pets," I stated, "but I never imagined this kind of betrayal. It's so hurtful. I can recover, but the pain is unbearable."

"Well, people tend to make rumours to make you seem more villainous in their story," he replied, staring at me, "but that's impossible. How can a cute girl like you be a villain?" he asked, puzzled.

I was flushed. "A-are you flirting with me?" I stammered in response to his remark. "No? What?" he exclaimed. "I'm just confused; who would make rumours about you? You look like someone very fragile and weak," he mocked me, and I just stared at him, stunned.

"Fragile and weak? How dare you! You don't know me. I'm someone you should be afraid of. I'm Yeshua Zennith, a kindergarten teacher who suffers the wrath of children," I justified my response.

He smiled as he stared at me. "You look like a child," I gasped, lightly punched him. "You're a dick," I joked. "You helped people, then mocked them; you're like a devil in disguise," I chuckled.

"Well... Rawr," he said, sounding like a dinosaur. "I said a devil, not a dinosaur," I just stared at him. "Nothing makes sense; don't question everything," he told me as he patted my head.

I blushed once more. 'Stupid guy,' I thought. "You kept quiet, Miss Zennith; do you like physical touch?" I backed away as he squished my cheek. "I'm kidding," he said, raising his hands, not intending to tease me again.

"Don't do that; you are a stranger! Stranger Danger!" I yelled, still blushing. He burst out laughing. "Perhaps you're the cute dinosaur, or maybe you're more like a cute yipping puppy," he smiled. "What a cute dog you are," he commented as he looked at me.

I was both offended and stunned. I grabbed my belongings because I was too shocked and uneasy to analyze anything. "Wait, don't leave; your reaction is very teaseable and cute," he said as he walked beside me. I hid my face so he wouldn't see my upset expression.

"What's wrong? Talk to me," he said, clutching me. "I'm okay, but I need to go," I said, attempting to break free from his grip, but he tightened his grip. "Yeshua, please tell me if I made you uncomfortable; I apologies for my action; please tell me if you're really okay?" he asked, concerned.

My heart melted, and the soothing words made me happy. "I'm fine, Chandler; I apologies for overreacting, and—" he cut me off. "No, no, no, it's okay; I should be the one apologizing; I validated your feelings, and I have a bad impression of a stranger," he apologized.

"Alright, Chandler, I forgive you, but don't tease me like that," I said, looking at him. "Thank you, Yeshua; I don't want to upset you in any way, but if I do, it may be unconsciously, and I am deeply sorry," he hugged me, assuring me.

"Chandler, I'm fragile; my feelings and past experiences are not jokes or something I'm proud of," I paused, letting go of his hug, and staring at him. "If you unintentionally hurt me, I'll stay and we'll talk it out; if you don't want to communicate, I'll leave," I said solemnly.

"You're a gentle soul," he said, staring at me. "You're hurt, but you stay because you give chances; why do you prioritize others over yourself?" he wanted to know. "Well, I crave love from others because I can't love myself; I only hate myself, but I hope to love myself one day," I explained.

"Why do you hate yourself?" he questioned. "Well, because of my past 9 exes. No one stayed for a year. It's painful and sickening how disgusting I am because I gave chances to those people who used me. In the end, I was the one suffering because I don't feel love," I said, sickened by my words.

"I pity you," he said looking at me, and I just stared at him. "I don't need pity; I deserve this. I decided to love, and instead I get hurt. It's my decision to love, and sadly, it's their decision to hurt me," I told him. "No, I pity you because you love people but hate yourself so much," he said, now looking at me with compassion.