บท 66: They Reminded Her That This World Was Still Beautiful
The joyous atmosphere of the dance competition spread throughout the entire plaza. Little kids and teenagers danced happily as they watched the performance on the stage. The old uncles and aunties joined the happy occasion too as they were infected by the young ones.
Cheery music blasted through the speakers. As most of the people on the plaza sang along to the music, the atmosphere turned livelier as seconds passed.
Even the introverted Shouko joined the lively mass of people. Her feet moved as her body swayed slightly. Her hands clapped along with them. She had pushed all the sadness she felt today away from her mind. Her eyes bent as she smiled and laughed looking at the vigorous and funny crowd.
"Sister! Sister! Let's play with us!" A group of toddlers came running toward her, startling Shouko.
"Eh, me?" Shouko pointed to herself. "Are you sure?"
"Yes!" A girl with two cute buns hairdo with pink ribbons smiled. She grasped one of Shouko's hands with her smaller ones. "You are alone. Let's play together!"
"Let's go, Sister!" A boy with a cap nodded. "It's best to play with us than to be alone! You'd be happier!"
"Yes! Yes! Our teacher taught us so," Another small boy chimed in.
Shouko's face radiated as she laughed happily. "Alright! Let's play together!"
Shouko let the children pulled her along with them. They went to a place quite a way from the stage. A hopscotch grid was painted on the asphalt using colorful pastel colored chalks. The young girl shoved a small bean bag into her palms.
"Sister! You could start first!"
Shouko didn't even have time to think as she was pushed to start the game. She laughed helplessly seeing the expectant looks on the little angels' faces.
She didn't know what attracted these little kids to invite her along to play with them but she was grateful nonetheless.
Their playfulness and purity reminded her that this world was still beautiful regardless of the misfortunes befell her.
"Sister! Quick!" Some of them cheered for her, making her smile deepened.
"I'll start now!" Shouko announced loudly as she raised both of her hands over her head, the children laughed seeing her energetic pose.
She hopped on one foot, jumped with both feet, sang along with them, won and lost together with the little kids. When she stepped aside to give way to the other children, she sang and danced with the remaining ones.
It was an understatement to say she was blessed today.
The owner of the cafe. These naive children. All of them were strangers but they managed to make her feel happy, to make her feel it was good to be alive.
All of these little moments were what she would forever cherish in her life.
"Goodbye, sister!"
"Thank you for playing with us!"
"See you again!"
When it was quite late, their group of parents came to get them. It was easy to see from where did these little children get their good manners. The young parents thanked her for entertaining their children before they bid her goodbye.
"Goodbye! It's fun to play with you guys~" Shouko waved at them back. Her smile was plastered widely on her face.
She watched them walked away from the plaza until they became a blur. Shouko heaved a satisfied sigh. She was blessed to meet kindred spirits today.
"It's already six, I should go back now," Shouko talked to herself. She glanced at her wristwatch.
This waterfront was twenty minutes away from her house. If she took the bus, it would take quite some time but she was already used to it. Ono was busy today so Shouko was hesitant to disturb her to come to pick her up.
"I'd better be quick," Shouko spun her heels and walked toward the main roads. Since it was summer, the day was long so she would be fine alone.
People were still bustling on the plaza. As Shouko was walking passed the passers-by, she heard a groan coming from her side. Shouko paused her step, her head turning toward the sound.
Her eyes landed on an old man sitting on a bench. The old man's face was pale, one of his hands was pressing on his back.
"Aiya... My back hurts..."
Shouko looked around, trying to see if there's anyone who went toward the old man yet no one showed any sign of familiarity. A few of them looked at the old man's direction yet they walked away instead of offering help.
Shouko was a bit hesitant to approach the old man but it wouldn't be good to just leave like she had seen nothing.
"Mister, are you alright?"
Shouko worriedly looked at the old man. It was obvious that he was enduring some pain. The old man raised up his eyes, looking back at her.
"Do you need some help?" Shouko asked again, changing her question.
The old man's eyes lit up. His entire countenance brightened as if he wasn't in pain.
"Thank you, young lady. This old grandpa is grateful for your help," The old man smiled softly. "Could I borrow your phone? It seems like mine is out of battery."
"Oh, sure."
Shouko lent the old man her phone. She just stood while watching the old man dialing a number. It didn't take long before the call was answered.
"It's me," The old man muttered with a sigh. "Could you send someone to pick me up?.... Oh, I'm borrowing someone's phone... Don't nag, could you? Just come here and don't tell that brat what happened... Alright, I'll wait here."
The old man returned the phone to Shouko. She peered at the old man's face. Although he was smiling but it didn't escape her eyes the faint discomfort in his gaze.
"Thank you, child. My friend will come to pick me up soon," The old man directly looked at her. "Don't let me hinder your way. You must be on your way home, right?"
"Oh, it's alright. I'm not in a hurry," Shouko blinked, a bit uncertain for a moment. She then asked in a quiet voice, "Do you want a drink, mister? You're sweating. Please wait here, I'll go buy you a drink."
"Ah, it's okay, you don't have to. Child!"
Shouko had run toward one of the food stalls albeit the old man's protest. She returned as quickly as she had gone. After uncapping the bottle, she gave the mineral water to the old man.
"Please drink."
The old man was baffled. He smiled and took the bottle from her. "Thank you, child. If this old man could ask, what's your name?"
"En... my surname is Yuasa," Shouko replied hesitantly.
Whenever someone asked her name, although it was someone who might never meet her again, Shouko would always feel uncertain to give her name away. She was afraid if that person would know she came from where and to have he or she looked at her with disdain once they got to know her status as an illegitimate child of Father Yuasa.
She was grateful to be alive but her father would berate her if he caught wind of anything related to her outside.
Shouko didn't miss the look of surprise in the old man's eyes as she was nervously fiddling with her summer dress.
"You..."
"Ah, if it's alright could I accompany you until your friend comes?" Shouko's question cut the old man's short. She didn't even realize this grandfather wanted to speak. "Are you in discomfort somewhere? Is your back aching?"
The old man pursed his lips. He kept silent for a while then he nodded, smiling. "Then, I'd be thankful for your companion. Sit down, child. Please don't keep on standing."
Shouko smiled bashfully. She was too tensed until she forgot she was still standing. Then, she took a seat beside the old man.
"What are you doing here, child? Are you alone?" The old man began to have a chat with her. His tone was soft, easing Shouko's nerves.
She was good with children but not with older generations. Since she didn't have quite a good memory with them, she was prompted to act timidly at times.
"Oh, I came here to just enjoy my day," Shouko smiled, there was no way for her to tell the truth to this old man even though he appeared kind in her eyes. "You're alone too, Mister."
"Ah, don't just keep calling me mister," The old man nagged a bit but his lips were still smiling. "Just call me Grandpa. You're as young as my granddaughter!"
Shouko laughed easily, the lingering uncertainty dissipated from her heart.
Since the old man appeared so friendly, it didn't take long for them to start chatting pleasantly.
"I saw you playing with the children on that side," The old man pointed to where they played hopscotch earlier. "Are they your neighbors' children? Coming here to play?"
"Oh, I didn't know them. They just invited me to play," Shouko answered honestly. She smiled in delight as she recalled the cute faces of the children. "They saw me being alone so they asked me to join them."
The old man looked carefully at the young girl sitting beside him. His old eyes were able to discern the worry that the girl kept inside her heart. His lips curved, the wrinkles of his smile line deepened.
"Children's innocence allows them to see what we, the adults sometimes find difficult. They might have seen you looking lonely and sad thus decided to play with you so you wouldn't be sad."
Shouko was flustered. "What did... Grandpa say?"
The old man smiled again. He threw his gaze toward the waterfront, seeing the sun hung low over the horizon.
"You're smiling on the outside but your heart feels otherwise. Am I right?"
The old man's words struck a chord with Shouko. She lowered down her gaze, her fingers clenched her skirt.
A gust of wind blew in their direction. Both of them sat in silence, no longer speaking to each other. After a long period of time, Shouko opened her mouth again.
"Grandpa, is being kind to someone who doesn't care for you is an act of ignorance and foolishness?"
The old man tilted his head up, his eyes shifted from the view of the waterfront to the orange sky.
"Kindness is a virtue but not everyone deserves your kindness," The old man turned his attention to her, the corners of his eyes crinkled. "Ask your heart, what is the right thing and if you're willing to change."
Shouko paused, unable to reply to his words.
What the old man said was right. It was just... it's hard to break away from the shackles that had bound her for years.
If only she could be brave enough to ignore them.
ความคิดของผู้สร้าง 
hansora
hansora Have you ever, on a seemingly simple day, suddenly be reminded of any stranger who showed you kindness?
The old man who smiled back at you on the street? Anyone who helped pushed open the door of the cafe seeing both of your hands full? The one who quietly paid for your meal at the restaurant?
Some times, I do.
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