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nCassidy has been more elated than what Adrian expected.

nWhen he went and bought her a cone of strawberry ice cream, her bright, dazzling smile never left her face. She expressed her gratitude with the giddiest of grins he has ever seen before proceeding to feast on the sweet with so much delight. He couldn't take his eyes off of her starting from that point on.

nIt was his first time experiencing something like this. His disguise may have helped, but he felt like he was being treated genuinely for once. There was no facade that could serve as a barrier between her and him. Both of them are acting as their own persons - not at all influenced by each other's background, status, or anything related to that.

nApart from that, there is something about Cassidy that Adrian has never seen from anyone else. Perhaps, not just something - it is her as a whole. She can be both wild and clumsy yet soft-hearted and sincere.

nIt's only their first meeting, but he feels like he can get used to this kind of get-together. He can't deny how it feels good to be welcomed even though he is far from his usual image. There's no need for scripted movements, empty praises or rehearsed conversations - he is just himself.

nOn this one, he also didn't have to be useful to get those genuine gestures and warm smiles of hers.

n

"Do you want some, Mister Shady?

" Cassidy asked out of nowhere, offering her ice cream to him.

n

"N-No, t-that's a little indecent. You're really telling me to have from yours too?

" Adrian said incredulously, blushing a bit at the very idea of an indirect kiss.

n

"Indecent? I'm just sharing, though.

"

n

"You know what I'm saying! If I lick from your ice cream, the watery liquid that is secreted into our mouths by our glands will mix together. Just picture that. It's really indecent.

"

n

"Pfffttt...! Quote me science, nerd brain. You're such a weirdo.

"

nAs Cassidy giggles, Adrian realizes one thing.

nIn the end, his impression of her will be the same even if he puts aside his personal experiences. Whether he is himself or another person, she will still be as genuine as she is now. She is a charming girl with a charming attitude. There is no ill will in her words or actions. That must be why he didn't feel as offended as he would probably be when someone else said that to him.

nWhat made him realize all of that was her giggle that sounded as sweet as honey, her gaze that was as soft as the clouds above, and her smile that looked as warm as the summer sun. Everything about her was making him think like the starry-eyed poet that he never thought he would be.

n

"Hey, ya' punk. Whaddya think ya' doin' with our little Cassie?

"

nIn the midst of his summer daydream, Adrian perked up at the entrance of a group of high school students who all seem to be delinquents - a gang, most likely.

n

"Tryna kidnap her? Rob her? Molest her?

"

n

"Ohhhhh... Ya' so gonna get it, ya' scum!

"

n

"Let's tie him up at the basement! He ain't gonna get away with that!

"

nTheir sudden arrival made him go still for a moment, but even with their tough appearance and pugnacious expressions, he is not a bit least fazed. If anything, he is quite dumbfounded. Right then, he only stayed quiet and stared back at the guy who asked him a question he could not recall anymore - conceitedly thinking that they should explain themselves first before they could get any words out of him.

n

"He ain't doin' nothing, everyone. Leave him alone - especially you, Asher...

" Cassidy clarified and glared at the delinquents, taming them at once.

n

"He just bought me ice cream.

"

n

"Hmmm... Is that right? I thought for sure he was hitting on you or something...

" Asher quipped mirthlessly before narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

n

"Also, he looks shady with the hoodie and hat on. You can't blame me for suspecting him.

"

n

"I did that too, but he is not a baddie. So, be at ease.

"

n

"What does he want from you, then?

"

n

"He is a visitor at the orphanage.

"

n

"Oh.

"

nAdrian takes that Cassidy can be mature too. She hasn't ask about his true intention, and she also doesn't want any more people to bother knowing about it. While she didn't deny that she did suspect him, she still didn't straight up call him a bad person for sneaking around and being all shady. Her understanding of the situation as well as her blind trust in him are astonishing.

n

"What's your name, dude?

" Asher asked, catching his attention once more.

n

"Cassidy here calls me Mister Shady. I'm fine with that,

" Adrian answered casually.

n

"Yes, that's right! He didn't want to be named, so I went and solved the problem,

" Cassidy said proudly, puffing her chest out at the same time.

nAsher and his other companions only look at both of them before bursting into laughter all of the sudden. Taken aback, Adrian raises his brows, thinking that he wasn't really trying to crack a joke or sound funny. He got to say that this was another first for him, though. Nobody ever laughed at him like this before - even then, he did not mind it at all.

n

"Well, Mister Shady's too long. I'll just call you Shade!

" Asher declared before putting his arm over his shoulder and acting chummy with him, much to his surprise.

n

"You can call him anything~!

" Cassidy chirped with a grin.

n

"No, they can't. I still don't even know who they are,

" Adrian retorted, earning a snort from Asher.

n

"Unlike you, I have a very cool name, and that is Asher. We're Cassie's good ol' buddies.

"

n

"And you guys are... delinquents, aren't you? A gang?

"

n

"A good one, okay?! At any rate, she is like my sister, so you better not lay a hand on her, got that? If you do, we'll definitely beat the hell out of you.

"

nAdrian has no idea how he managed to survive the most exhausting meeting he has ever experienced in his whole existence, but much to his relief, he still did.

nApparently, Asher and the others didn't let him off the hook so easily. They stayed for a while longer after introducing themselves to him. Since he refused to tell them more about himself, they used that entire time to threaten him instead. They gave him some detailed explanations of how they would hunt him down once his hands got playful and naughty around her.

nIt was all garbage talk, though - Adrian has to say.

nYet it still shows just how much they care about Cassidy.

n

"It's been a fun day with you, Mister Shady. Too bad you don't live around here. You could hang out with us more.

"

nAt sunset, the two of them are on their way back to where they came from.

nShe told him that her home is around there, and he offered to walk her back. Though this day did not go as he planned, he still got to learn something about Maruschca with her help. That confirmation is enough for now. He would just go back and investigate further into the matter.

n

"I'll return. Besides, you won't ever feel lonely with those many people around,

" Adrian said with a small smile, recalling how noisy and energetic those delinquents were.

n

"Indeed, I never felt lonely when they're here. The only problem is that they're not always here...

" Cassidy trailed off before casting down her gaze, making him drop his smile.

n

"It's alright, though! Whenever they're around, I always feel like a weak little girl. But when I'm with my family, I'm the oldest! So, I take my turn to keep the younger ones from feeling lonely!

"

n

"What a reliable older sister you are. I just hope they don't learn from your violent side and kick people in their faces too-

"

n

"I thought we're gonna forget that?!

"

n

"Even if I try to, I can never forget that.

"

n

"For your information, I always protect my family from harm! That's why I wanna be like Asher and the others when I grow up. I want to have the strength and power to defend the ones I love!

"

nAll these talks about families are making Adrian remember his. He can't help but be bittersweet about what she has said. Her determination and courage are admirable, but they also make him feel somewhat inferior. The way she sees everything is way too different from him, and it makes him think like they are living in two separate worlds.

nHers are all warm and sunshine. His are cold and rainy.

nThinking about it, Adrian doesn't even know why he gets to slip into her world and realizes many things in just one day. It's as if he has missed so much in life. Even then, meeting her today might mean that it is never too late to catch up.

nIt's alright to catch up.

n

"Hey, wait a minute, this is your home?

" he then found himself blurting out when they arrived at the front gate of the orphanage.

n

"Yeah. I am an orphan!

" she enthused like it was the most normal thing to say.

n

"What the...?! Why didn't I realize that?! And you didn't tell me?!

"

n

"What a dummy. Mister Shady is Mister Dummy! Dummy, dummy, dummy-

"

nAnnoyed, Adrian then grabbed both of her cheeks and started pinching them hard, making Cassidy yelp in pain and whine helplessly.

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