Chapter 1

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It was summer when they first met. Hugo was wandering around all by himself in that scorching heat. Most of the people are inside their house, getting their body chilled with the help of air con. Kids have went to the pool or busy playing with their friends.

Hugo heard that someone was going to move into their neighbourhood. The six year old child had a hard time making friends. All thanks to a small scar that was made by an accident.

The hot winds were unbearable. So, Hugo went back to the house and sat on the sofa, near the window.

“ Dad, are they here? “ Little Hugo asked his father as he heard the sound of a truck being parked nearby.

“ Seems so. Why don’t you go there and help them out? “ Mr. William encourages his son. He can see the excitement in those little eyes.

“ Okay dad. “ Putting on his sneakers, Hugo ran outside the door. He went near the truck to see those people.

“ Oh hello there, little man. Who might you be?” The sudden voice made him startled. Hugo saw a pretty lady who’s about same old as his mom. His checks puffed up as he gave a smile.

“ I’m Hugo. I live there.” Pointing his finger towards his home, Hugo replied.

“ I see. So, you’re our new neighbour. “ The lady smiled at the boy gently. She put her hand into her pant’s pocket to bring out something. When she opened her fist, there were candies.

Hugo’s eyes gleamed like the rays of sun. He wanted to have one of those candy but he felt that it’s rude to take something from others.

The lady noticed that little boy was hesitating. She patted on the boy’s head tenderly and said, “ It’s fine. Take it.”

Hugo picked one only. He unwrapped the candy and put it in his mouth. The sweet caramel flavour delighted his tastebuds making him asking for one more. He’s regretting for not talking all of those candies.

“ Who’s this kid? “ A man came there and asked the lady.

“ He’s from the neighbour. Where’s Ophelia? “

“ Mommy! “ It was a voice of a little girl.

“ There you are. Honey, come here. Meet your new friend.”

Hugo stares at the little girl standing in front of him. The girl had blonde hair with emerald green eyes, dressed in all pink. Her hair was tied in two ponytails.

She was tiny compared to Hugo. Judging by her appearance Hugo thought she must be younger than him.

“ Hi.” Hugo said to the little girl. “ I’m Hugo.” Trying to give his best smile he waited for the girl to speak up. The girl wasn’t responding. She stood still like a rock observing Hugo.

It made him feel worried. His confidence dropped. Hugo thought that the girl is scared of him. His scary face along with the scar became a curse.

Meanwhile the girl was busy checking out the boy standing in front of her. Dark black hair with those pair of chocolate brown eyes.

The boy’s appearance wasn’t that scary according to her. She was paying a close attention at the scar. The scar under his left eye. She thought to herself how did he got that. She was curious.

Then again she came back to her senses. She had to reply to boy standing there.

“ I’m Ophelia! Nice to meet you.” With a heart melting smile, she replied. Little Ophelia giggles softly.

A sigh of relief for Hugo.

Finally! Someone who was not afraid to talk to him. They both shook their hands and thus their journey of friendship begins.

\~ to be continued

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Chapter 2

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After talking with each other Hugo found out that Ophelia is also six year old. Her favourite food is pizza and she hates eating asparagus. She’s a dog person. She likes the colour pink. Even wanted her hair to dye in pink colour if it was possible.

Such a girly girl.

They begun to talk more and more about their likes and dislikes. Until their parents called out for them.

Next day, Ophelia was admitted to near by kindergarten. Coincidentally Hugo went there too. When Hugo saw her at school he felt overjoyed.

Since Ophelia had a small structure with a cute face. Kids used to pick on her. They would hold her ponytail and play with it, making her irritated. Besides that she was new.

Thank god, Hugo was there to protect her. Every single kid feared him the most. Not only the kids in his class but the older kids also. They would often fight with Hugo for some petty reason.

One day, Hugo tried to enter the home like a thief. But that little thief was caught by Ophelia.

“ What’s with the bruise ? “ Putting her hands into a cross, she interrogated him. He was startled.

“ It’s nothing.” Hugo avoided looking into her eyes.

“ Nothing? But you’re bleeding! “ Ophelia pointed out the cut on head where the blood was leaking from.

“ Shhh! Don’t shout! Or else my mom will found out. “ Being in panic Hugo put his index finger on his lips in the ‘ shhhhh ‘ gesture, telling her to keep quite.

“ Okay. Wait here then.” Ophelia ran in hurry then came back with a bandaid.

“ Here, bend your head.“ For such a young child, Ophelia was indeed smart. She wiped the cut with a cotton, dipped in some antiseptic lotion.

“ Owww!” Hugo yelled in pain.

“ Don’t move.” She opened the bandaid and placed it on that cut. Hugo touched the bandaid to feel it.

“ Thanks Ophelia. “

“ Now tell me what happened.”

“ Ummm...... fine. Follow me.” He knew that it was futile to keep it hidden from her. That’s why Hugo decided to tell her everything.

He took her to a near by place. An open field which wasn’t used by anyone. They stopped near the cardboard box. Ophelia’s eyes were fixed on those little being. The two little puppies came out from there, making ‘ Woof ‘ sound.

She ducked down, squatting on the ground. With such enthusiasm she patted their heads then picked one of them.

“ Where did you find them? “ She asked Hugo while playing with those puppies.

“ Some guys were hurting these puppies. When I tried to stop them, they started to fight with me. In the end, they left and I took these puppies here. “ Hugo explains the incident to his friend. Ophelia was listening to him with such keen eyes.

“ But what if someone tells us to take them away? “ She asked in a worried tone.

“ No one uses this place. We can keep them here until they grow up. I’ll be bringing food for them.” She felt relieved. The puppies are safe.

“ Me too! Me too!” Ophelia exclaims in delight. Her eyes have widen up, sparking with joy.

“ Okay.” Hugo agreed wholeheartedly.

After that day, the number of the animals rose up one by one. Little Hugo can’t ignore those helpless beings. He was sympathetic.

He would either find them roaming around somewhere or being bullied by other kids. Ophelia kept bringing foods for the puppies and the kittens.

Unlike humans, animals grow up really fast. As soon they were old enough to find their own food, Hugo would took them to a place far from that spot.

\~ to be continued

Chapter 3

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Ophelia and Hugo were best friends despite the fact that they were completely different people. Their personality was polar opposite.

Ophelia was a social butterfly. She was a carefree jolly person. Her stunning looks were the plus points. People wanted to be near her. They all wanted to be her friends.

Meanwhile Hugo was a quite kid. He was isolated by his classmates. They were scared to even talk with him. Hugo was not violent. But the scar represented a very unfitting side of him.

Some kids would fight with him thinking that he was a delinquent. Well he wasn’t. It was just a stupid misunderstanding. Maybe the vibe he gave made people think that he was a rebel.

Even though they both went to the same middle school and high school, they maintained their distance.

Why?

Hugo thought that it would be best for Ophelia to stay away from him in school. Other classmates would have ignored her if she spend her time with Hugo.

So one day Hugo decided to clear up this issue.

“ Listen Ophelia, I think we shouldn’t talk in school.” They were playing video games in Hugo’s room. It was Sunday, around lunch time.

Hearing the words of Hugo, the controller was dropped from Ophelia’s hand.

“ No Hugo,no. I won’t stop talking to you. Stop telling me about these nonsense.“ She shouts at him.

“ Please, Ophelia. It will be good for you. Try to understand.” Making a sad expression, Hugo said.

“ Don’t tell me what to do.” Ophelia snaps at him. She’s not ready to agree.

“ If you don’t listen to me, then.....” His voice was getting choked. But he was sure that today he will make her agree to this condition.

By hook or by crook.

“ Then what?” Being annoyed Ophelia asked while crossing her arms on her chest.

“ Then I’ll stop being your friend!” Hugo replies in a frustrating voice. This was the fifth time he was having this conversation. Every time Ophelia denied. She was not ready to understand the situation.

Which is why Hugo had to pick the hard way.

“ No! Please don’t do it. I’ll listen to you from now on. Please don’t do it.” Her anger has toned down. She was pleading like a helpless child.

“ Fine. I hope you understand why I’m doing this. And I’m only telling you to avoid me in school. We can talk and play like we usually do at home. So, cheer up. Don’t make the glum face.” It was futile to make her resist the urge for their friendship.

Both had concerns for each other yet they won’t show it openly.

One wanted to protect the other one by staying far away.

One wanted to stay by the other person to show the sincerity.

How foolish of them. How can they keep it hidden? Why not just confess it? Clear the stupid misunderstandings?

Just like that they kept their distance starting from that day. When they went to middle school they had turned into complete strangers during the school hours. Although when they were at home, things were perfectly normal. They would have dinner together. Play games, watch movies, cook food together.

The separation between them created some unwanted changes.

Ophelia started to date when she went to high school. She was quite popular with the boys. Her angel like appearance was enough to make those boys fall in love with her. They were head over heels for her, She received many proposals but most of the time she would turn them down.

Then suddenly one day she decided to date a guy who proposed to her. Although it didn’t lasted for long, she begun to date frequently after that.

What was the reason for such choice ?

Was she lonely?

Ignored?

Frustrated?

Or something else that no one knew except her.

\~ to be continued

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