How We First Met 2

A week has passed since Selina stayed at the orphanage. She wasn't willing to speak to strangers, not even to the other kids around her age. The only person she had spoken to was Jason. Not only did she listen to him, she also followed him wherever he went.

In the beginning, he wasn't used to having somebody tagging along with him. Now, he got used to holding her hand as they walked everywhere. He had already forgotten about going home and back to school until his father called the Director to remind him about packing his belongings.

With one hand occupied, he placed the Director's cellphone to his ear.

"Hello? Dad?" Jason called out to his father in an awkward tone.

"Hi son! Did you enjoy your stay? Don't forget that your winter break is coming to an end soon. I'll come to pick you up tomorrow afternoon, so we could spend the next week together." Nick was delighted to hear his son's voice after a week. He was having a bet with Julia about Jason calling them on his first night at the orphanage.

As parents, they were more concerned about his meals and sleeping schedule. Fortunately, the Director reported back to them throughout the week and settled their worried hearts.

Jason pondered for seconds and took a few glances at Selina. "Mm, it is fun here. Dad, about our one-week deadline...Can I get an extension? Can you come to pick me up on the day of my flight instead? I want to stay longer."

Nick placed the call on speaker mode with Julia sitting next to him. When she heard his request, she gave her husband a pinch on his inner thighs. Finally, he turned his head to look at his wife who was pointing to the phone and nodding her head. Hence, he agreed with Jason's request.

"Y..You what? If you are sure about the extension, then we can extend your deadline to next Saturday." Nick rubbed his inner thigh with a painful expression.

"Mm. I'll see you all next Saturday. Good night. Don't sleep too late." Jason hung up the call before his father could take back his words and handed the phone back to the Director. After exchanging a few words with the Director, Jason brought Selina back to the room she was staying in.

"It's getting late. You should go to get some rest. You had a high fever a few days ago. Even though you are feeling fine now, you should still sleep early." He patted her head lightly and waited for her to go to her room.

She looked at him with saddened eyes. Tugging the ends of his sleeve, she asked in a low voice. "Are you leaving soon?"

Seeing her slightly pursed lips and watered eyes, he wondered where her tears come from. He even wondered whether she was made of water at times like these. As an overprotective brother at home, he always surrendered to his sister whenever she looked as if she was on the verge of tears.

Somehow, his chest would tighten when he sees Selina in tears. Even though they met for a week, he couldn't leave her by herself. He felt like she would follow strangers with candies if he left her alone. This feeling was worse than the time he accidentally broke his younger sister's toy and made her cry for hours.

"Mm. I was supposed to leave tomorrow, but I changed it to next Saturday. I have to go back to school, and my airplane flight is on that day. Sorry, but I can only stay until then." He rubbed her head as comfort.

Tilting her head sideways, she pulled on his sleeve again. "Then can I go with you?"

He shook his head. "I can't bring you with me."

She frowned and the first drip of tears fell out of her eyes. With a rasped voice and small sniffle, she asked another question. "Then...can't you put me with your clothes? I'm small. I can fit." She expressed her unwillingness to part from him and measured her height against his to prove her point. In this unfamiliar place, she only trusts him entirely.

He wiped away her tears and spread out his arms. She hesitantly walked over to hug him as he patted her back. Rocking his feet sideways slowly, he comforted her in his embrace. "I can't bring you along, but I promise to come back to see you. Listen to the Director and try playing with other kids. They might sound crazy sometimes, but they mean no harm. I'll definitely come back for you. Okay?"

She wiped her tears on her sleeves before sticking out her pinky. "Pinky swear. If you don't find me, then you will grow hair like Godzilla!"

Letting out a soft laugh, he hooked his pinky around hers and stamped their thumbs together. "I promise."

When Saturday came, Jason separated himself from his family to say farewell to Selina. He took out the last piece of candy in his pocket and spread out his palms. Her small hands reluctantly took the strawberry flavored candy from him.

"Remember to listen to the Director." He reminded her again.

"Nn." She lowered her head slightly as he continued telling her things she already understood. Minutes later, he stopped and kneeled on the grass.

"Last but not least, do not take candies or anything from strangers. It's dangerous." He used his index fingers to raise the corners of her lips into a smile.

"But you were a stranger." She replied to his warning.

"I'm different." He replied.

"How so?" She asked, but he couldn't figure out what to respond to her question.

Her right feet started drawing small circles on the grass.

Finally, he found a solution to her question! He replied, "Remember the Snow White movie we watched together? If you take a stranger's food or drink, you might end up in a bad situation like Snow White. But the prince came to save her."

"So, you're my prince?" She blinked at him.

Nodding his head, he chanted. "Yep. In a way I am."

She stared at him with a vibrant smile. "Then when I grow up, I will marry you!"

Before he could react to her conclusive thought, she already leaned forward and gave him a peck on the lips. She noticed a figure approaching them and quickly gave him a hug. "Remember your promise! The princess and prince kissed in the movie after he saved her. Then, they lived happily ever after!"

Right after she said these words, she ran back into the orphanage, leaving Jason in a kneeling position. His parents finished speaking to the Director and came to look for him. He followed his parents back to the car silently, but realized something very important after he left!

'I forgot to ask her for her name!!!!'