𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘆
(𝗻.) 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝖼𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗋 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗂𝗍.

𝗞𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗥
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Kaiser was spellbound;

—absolutely befuddled, gobsmacked, flabbergasted, dumbfounded and the list goes on to be the height of his lanky but fragile ego.

Rendering him at a loss for words, unable to think and pay the poor cashier that waited before him with an unimpressed glare (same lady from before) and her hand stretched out like some debt collector. Quite ironic, Kaiser was usually the capitalist pandis in the stories that put people in his debt.

But how could he function after experiencing epiphany?

Kaiser had undergone a moment of sudden and striking realisation with what he had just witnessed. A fraction of what had previously plagued him with confusion and uncertainty had now been understood, restrictedly answered; molecules of the greyish brown stain becoming brighter, more vibrant, he he, who achieved the impossible, could finally, to some degree, see fragments of undiscovered pigments.

But this epiphany of Kaiser's was subjective. It was a narrative of his, provided from this 'compelling event', that was merely pulled out of an ordinary moment.

That's right.

Maribel smacking the back of a choking child was very normal. Any sane human would've done it.

And yet, and yet, Kaiser had never been so spellbound.

The way her aura seemed to ooze out comical sparkles like some knight in shining armour was admirable. And how her asking the young girl if she was alright straight after the hazardous event was just absolutely squeal worthy, her presence coruscated maturity; as if it was straight out of a shōjo manga scene.

Kaiser had taken such a normal event way out of context and turned it into something so spectacular and grand. Immediately after he had witnessed such a bewitching scene, he had turned around in hopes to cool his erratically racing heart, moisten the desiccation of his mouth and mull over what had just happened.

But this knight in shining armour was just Kaiser's perception of the situation. He had not stared long enough to see what had happened next, nor had he been in the shoes of Maribel to truly comprehend how she was not worthy of such honourable title.

Maribel was anything but a knight in shining armour.

She was simply a hesitating coward.

Just a sordid shame really.

"Raconteuse, I'll go, get this checked out and I'll be back, yeah?" Kaiser gently reminded, pointing towards the basket he was carrying that contained more unnecessary items.

"Hmm." She nodded, softly blinking away the fatigue from her eyes. The clock now pointing at 3:41. 19 more minutes before I can go home and watch.

The tepidity of the store's heater was heavenly, the pervading aroma of hazelnut vanilla was divine and the languid chatter of student all came together and engulfed her in a blanket of ease.

However, her inner rumination of home's warmth came to a halt when she abruptly heard the series of violent coughs, reminding her of the great aunt that chose to break ties with her mother for some petulant reason (they were sure to reconcile sooner or later).

Umber eyes nimbly searched for the source and zeroed at the sight of a little girl, perhaps of age similar to Sawri, intensely hacking.

Does it have tuberculosis or bronchitis? Maribel's head twisted around the cramped vicinity of the aisles in desperate search for the child's guardian and when there was nobody around, her stomach began that familiar anxious wrenching again.

Involuntarily, her heart rate began losing its previous steadiness and with passing time, her throat began restricting. The cough was definitely not some chronic illness, its sound heavily differing from the octaves of it.

This one lacked that cacophony, it was more of a wheeze, as if the child couldn't breathe. And that's when the cogs in Maribel's brain had clicked and began turning in comprehension. This kid was choking on something— she took a step forward before pausing in reluctance.

Shit! Wha- do I do?! Am I even allowed to approach this random kid? What if her parents mistake my action? What if— no! No... it's fine! She'll be fine. Her parents will hear her coughing and sense something's wrong. They'll make their inattentive arses useful by coming here and sorting this out. They will. It's fine Maribel. They will come, they will—

Those were mere excuses to justify herself.

The tears that brimmed within the corners of the child's eyes, the glint of plea in them had snapped her out of her reluctance. And it was an automatic response that had not required the conscious choice-making of her brain.

Over a second.

It had taken her over a second to react. To resume her previous steps, to reach for the choking child and use whatever knowledge of first aid she had gained from watching her mother smack the back of her choking baby sister to try and stop this choking kid from— choking.

When the girl had eventually spat out the shithead of a sweet that blocked her air pipe after the multiple back blows Maribel had performed on the kid, the few droplets of her unleashed, silver gleam like drops of tears had meandered down her plush cheeks.

sniffle.

Maribel's core flinched when she processed that the child was now beginning to cry. Perspiration was quick to intense despite the frosty weather and her own eyes began to sting when she took in the redness of the girl's viridescent eyes.

"Um.. I'm sorry if I smacked you too hard... are you— okay?" Her voice now uncharacteristically soft, below a whispers level, and her eyes curved with tenderness. She reached to brush the girl's bangs away but paused midway, I'm overstepping my boundaries again...

That's why I didn't even wanna do this in the first place. It's not in my place to save some stranger and act like some dumb hero.

sigh.

No matter how fast Maribel had reacted, she had still hesitated, and that split second of hesitation could have cost the child's life. As dramatic as it sounds.

"..."

"Um.. miss," the child's voice was shaky, unstable. It made sense though, she had undergone a traumatic event and had perhaps even accepted death with the lack of oxygen.

"It's alright," her smile small but consoling. "Take your time." This is what you say to a child to calm their nerves right? Maybe the words of comfort were to ease Maribel herself, to lower the uncomfortable heating of her ears that were shielded within her hood.

"I'm—! I'm al-" before she could ease Maribel's worries, the shrill shout of a nearby girl had interrupted her.

"How dare you?!" The sudden thunderous footsteps mirrored the new arrival's tone.

"Huh?" Maribel's slightly crouched back turned to face the new addition, her pupils shaking in slight panic at the prospect of being scolded by a stranger. It's be so embarrassing.

"I saw you! Stop trying to play dumb with me!" The kid clenched her fist, her wavering, cerulean hues coruscating bright with deep fervour. Maribel took note of the intruder's uniform which was identical to the choking girl. And from that, she could deduce they must've been friends or something of the sort.

"..What are you talki—" Maribel's voice rose in pitch, leaning on the edge which just made her appear all the more culpable.

"You just assaulted her! Don't you feel ashamed for hitting a small, defenceless, meek little child?!" With each of her low blows of allegations, her blonde pigtails bounced to emphasise her anger and on a normal occasion, Maribel would've inwardly cooed but these were the same accusations that she desperately wanted to avoid, hence her previous reluctance. The same reluctance that could've cost the kid's life, she internally reminded herself.

"Phi-phi, it's fine she actually—" the previously choking girl garnered her meagre energy with hopes to clear the misunderstanding.

"It's fine, Lilly!" she went and grabbed Lilly's wrist to pull her away from Maribel. "You don't have to lie just because she's threatening you!"

"Hah?" Maribel restricted the twist of her scowl, me? Threatening this kid half my fucking size?!

"See!" Phi-phi pointed towards Maribel before turning back to Lilly, her grasp tightening with each passing seconds. "Since she failed to convince me with her terrible acting, she's going to resort to crude actions now!"

Irk marks grew all over Maribel's temple, her words held this oddly familiar, ignorant yet irritatingly refined and narrow-minded edge to it. She stilled her mouth to a straight line despite it threatening to spill into a frown of displeasure.

"Phi-phi, just listen to—" the girl plead dolorously, evidently clear in expressing her refusal to heed to the impudent girl. Her brows twitching in agony from Phi-phi's iron grip not going unnoticed by Maribel. But again, did she have the right to approach a stranger? The consequences weren't even that deep, just some random kid misinterpreting her actions. It's not like she needed approval or gratitude, but it'd be nice, y'know? To be appreciated.

"It's okay Lilly, don't worry I believe you. You don't need to lie just because she said so." When insinuating Maribel, her tone ran sharp, losing its previous softness.

"You don't get it!" Lilly's sudden yell had surprised both Maribel and Phi-phi.

"Huh..? What do you—" Phi-phi had turned to her friend in puzzlement, her confidence beginning to flicker at the exasperation lacing Lilly's tone.

"Ugh! Everyone was right about you," Lilly's scowl enlarged, her hand moving to the tight grip on her wrist. "That you're a control freak who just assumes things!" With whatever remaining strength she could congregate, she snatched the grasp off. Using her momentum to then push the unsuspecting, much smaller girl, who staggered back in loss of footing, onto the floor.

"Ah-!" Despite Phi-phi being caught off guard from the unexpected shove, she still remained firm in resolution to defend her case. "B-but I really wasn't! She hit you! I sa—"

"Stop!" Lilly shook her head in disagreement, "stop it!" She repeated, this time stomping her feet on the ground to garner the stubborn girl's attention. "Stop! Just stop! Do you not have ears?!" From the top of her lungs, her indignation was voiced out.

"..." Maribel watched with raised eyebrows, her lips pursed in slight remorse as she took a step back from the ruckus. That was a nasty fall the stupid brat took. Maribel's eyes moved from the fallen girl to the choking girl, and back and forth till she had each of their respective countenance memorised. I feel like I've seen that girl's face before, she pondered, referring to the fallen girl that had her mouth agape with hopes to form words in refutal against Lilly's statement.

But nothing.

"Lilly.. I'm so sor—"

"I don't care! I don't want to be your friend anymore!"

gasp.

Maribel's jaw dropped.

Her hand moving with a mind of its own to cover it. Was she the cause of some elementary school friend breakup???! The previous sweating had presumed, Maribel needed to skedaddle out of here before someone else caught her and assumed she was abusing not one, but two kids. Searching every visible inch for Kaiser, she concluded leaving him behind maybe the best course of action. I'll just explain to him tomorrow that I saw my dad and had to leave or some bullshit like that.

Unfortunately for her though, she really couldn't do that because of an unrecorded setback, which rendered her escape impossible. Dammit!

The Lilly girl had given one final glare of distaste before turning on her back and walking away from the distraught calls of Phi-phi... and that was what had distracted Maribel. A sudden lump had formed in her throat upon observing the crestfallen girl. From Lilly's earlier words, even an idiot could deduct that she was Phi-phi's only friend. And when you only have one friend...

It was almost second-nature to become so reliant on them. Possessive even.

Ugh, Maribel had mixed feelings about the girl. A cruel part of her felt smug, that's what the dumb brat deserves for judging a situation without hearing directly from the victim. But then again, how could she stop herself from empathising when she was quite aquatinted with friendship issues herself? Sigh, should I apologise so I don't get my ankle bitten and just ask her if she's alright?

"...you good there?" Maribel questioned through clenched teeth, she wasn't going to see this girl ever again so might as well swallow her pride and just deal with it, no?

And when she received no reply, a sudden source of rage coursed through her veins, what a sleazy brat. But nonetheless, Maribel remained patient, "I'm sor—"

"It's your fault! All of it! It's yours- just yours— all your fault!" The girl suddenly stood up and bit back her sniffles which made her look like some grotesque gremlin according to Maribel. The kid's expression seemed constipated and the older girl could only stare blankly, clearly unaffected. I was just gonna apologise cuz that's what I would've liked to hear if I had undergone that... but even when she blames me and says it's my fault, I can't seem to feel bad or guilty for her...

What a pitiful girl.

Maribel payed no mind to the girl inching further away from her, rather her gaze seemed focus on something awfully familiar on the floor. A handkerchief? Maybe Maribel wasn't guilty since she knew herself she wasn't at fault that the girl lost her friend. It was the girl's fault herself, she made false claims without listening and so it was a just a consequence of her rash actions. But then again, she still felt a little pity for the girl.

Sigh. If Sawri didn't have friends like this girl, then she'd try doing anything to raise her little sister's spirits, right?

With newfound resolution, she crouched down to retrieve the satin handkerchief that was embossed with an intricate pattern of geometric shapes, colours ranging from bright vermillion to cream white. She's gonna need this to wipe her tears... even though it fell on the ground.. her hand then reached for her blazer pocket, wherein the pads of her fingers came in contact with the crinkle edge of a sweet wrapper.

Maribel restricted herself from rolling her eyes, just suck up that stupid pride of yours and deal with it. It was a one time thing. It'd never happen again so it's fine. Sigh. Not caring much about Kaiser's lack of presence, she made her way towards the door, opening it as the bell above chimed in response.

Another sigh accompanied her almost timid countenance as her gaze snapped towards the previously stomping girl. Her strides now much slower, emphasising the dampen of her mood. "Um-!"

Oh, will she even look back? "..Phi-phi..?" Maribel instantly grimaced at the foreign name that rolled off of her tongue. Unfamiliar and it shall remain that way. And contrasting of what she had imagined, the young girl perked up, rather excitedly? At the call of her name.

But that elation was quick to disappear as quickly as it had appeared when she realised it wasn't from the person she expected. "It's Seraphina! not Phi-phi for you!"

"...eugh.. my bad..?" Maribel swallowed down the embarrassment that crawled up her throat before steeling her courage once again. "Here, you dropped this." Her outstretched palm tenderly held the neatly folded handkerchief, and when Seraphina made no move to collect it, she took a step in her direction.

"..." Seraphina blinked harshly to mask her surprise before her strides resumed to its previous vigour. She aggressively snatched the fogle out of Maribel's hand and immediately skedaddled away, turning to look back at Maribel once after she had finished crossing the road.

"Okay..?" Maribel muttered more so to herself as she shook of her hostile thoughts at the lack of gratitude. Fucking choke on the kopiko like your dumbass ex bestie did. With one final glance at the retreating girl, Maribel turned around when the girl did so too. Going back into the cozy abode in search for Kaiser, her thoughts of the strange girl were soon pushed to the back of her mind. Ah, I kinda want that kopiko now.

"Here, you dropped this."

Seraphina pondered over the lady's words after she had snatched the hanky from her. Small brows furrowed in confusion as she shook her head in nonacceptance. How dare