"I'm Xiao."
(Xiao could have many meanings such as small/youthful, dawn, laugh and etc…)
Xiao Liu is what I would call my full name but I prefer it to just be "Xiao" for short.
Sometimes, people would call me "Xiao Xiao" and for young kids, they would address me as "Mr Xiao"
While Liu on the other hand, people just consider it as a last name when it isn't. It is just the number 6 in Chinese.
"Xiao Liu... Is your full name correct?"
"Yes"
My mom named me that because I looked small when I was a baby. Until now, people would call me small for my name and my height.
"That name really suits you as your height is only 175cm"
The sound of their giggles while they try to hold it in front of me, as in mocking me terribly.
They would tease me about it every time I walk by but I couldn't care less. And if I did, they'd still continue to tease me about it.
Then I was accepted as an office worker for my professional speaking, and the way I looked at the eye with confidence.
They absolutely admired the way I speak and my "rich" face.
"Please do not reject nor accept me at the top, I'm very poor."
I pondered,
At that very moment, I was in relief to know they were only accepting me for office work, only.
Great job, Xiao!
You've gained your own dignity in your interview, I wonder when they will be disappointed in me?
It was just a memory that I had.
I was quite sad that I couldn't get along with them more.
That's a lie.
I got to work there for only 4 months before this whole disaster happened. Sad. Are they still alive?
"..."
As I stood in front of them, as if nothing had happened, I stared at her awkwardly in silence after I had answered her question.
"I'm Yi Mei Lu."
I nodded in understandable and turned to the pregnant woman for her answer
"I'm Akiyama Suzu…"
A pretty name fits with a youthful woman. With her grayish light brown hair being straightly short while wearing oversized clothes.
She was the quiet one, if Yi Mei Lu didn't ask that question just now, she wouldn't even say a word.
"Hmm… Then, I will call you Mr Xiao."
"Sure, I don't mind."
I answered to her word,
She had medium length black hair with her bangs being on the side, almost covering up her other eye. Her hoodie is covering up her uniform with her long socks being black and her shoes were shoelace.
It seems that she just got off of school and was probably walking home.
Let me guess.
She's the type of person to be chalant yet nonchalant in a situation where she knows how to control herself, isn't she?
"How old are you, Mr Xiao?"
She asked,
"It is quite rude to ask an adult like that."
I said,
She chuckled at my answer and gave me a little "tch" sound as a response of annoyed and replied back with,
"Right but seriously, how old are you??"
She asked in desperation before intertwining both of her hands together, her hands were leaning to her mouth as she stares at me with her plead eyes
"I don't think it is okay to answer something like that in a situation like this.."
"But I really wanna know…"
She says while getting closer to me, her expression was starting to get sadder the more she continued. She really is desperate to know a single information about me?
But the thing is… I didn't know either. I never thought of it.
I didn't want to take it to a harder choice and sighed before finally answering with,
"I'm 20 years old"
after I answered her question, she went to excitement and replied with,
"Really?? I am 9 years old!"
"And you??"
She said, her eyes staring at Akiyama Suzu. Waiting for her to answer her too like how I did, her eyes were really full of desperate to know more.
"I'm… 16 years old.."
Akiyama Suzu answered nervously. She seemed to be uncomfortable answering.
Yi Mei Lu noticed her slight change of mood and tried to comfort her by slowly caressing on her back
"It is okay, Ms Suzu."
Akiyama Suzu turned to her as her expression saddened more, she had mixed feelings. Somewhat… Sad, relieved, and worried.
She smiled at Yi Mei Lu warmly for trying to comfort her. While I looked at her, something felt familiar to me when I looked at both of them.
But I didn't know why,
"Yi Mei Lu, I'm fine. You don't have to worry much about me—"
"No, it is not fine."
"Huh?"
I stared at her seriously, my eyebrows narrowed an inch. She seemed confused and anxious with my sudden reaction.
Her hand gripped on her baggy sweater.
I spoked,
"It is really not fine for a pregnant woman like you being in a situation like this, especially because you have to carry on a baby for 9 months to give birth"
"..."
"..."
Both of them stayed silent like two kids had been scolded for making a bad mistake.
I didn't want to make this disastrous to be just a little game that's easy to play along with.
I just had to say it to remind them that this isn't just a one time disastrous. It might be an eternal time.
"Bu—"
Before Yi Mei Lu could actually take part to say something, there was a way to go to the train station. We looked at the pathway with the awkward silence between us.
The others even stared at the paths quietly,
And it was really getting awkward between us and Yi Mei Lu was not gonna let it go silent for the past few minutes, so she breaks the silence,
"Since when was this here?"
She asked, looking confused. Turning to the back. There was nothing but foggy, we couldn't see any buildings, paths nor dead bodies.
I watched through the pathway to the train station, seemingly that the path way seemed to be strange, the backgrounds are.
There were no other stores, buildings or people standing except for us.
Akiyama Suzu started to feel more anxious than before the more we stood there doing nothing but figuring cluelessly. She gently held on her big and round belly, caressing it as if she heard her baby calling for her while she looked down at her belly.
I noticed her caressing her belly and took a glance at her in the eye as her head was down. I've seen this kind of situation. The way she looks upset, while she caresses her belly.
"Let's just go."
Both of them took notice of me walking on the pathway to the train station and so did the others following me down through the way.
My head hurts at this moment.
"Wait— Wait up!"
Yi Mei Lu tried calling out to me to wait for them, but I didn't stop walking and still continued walking until we got to the main lobby of the train station and there was already a train stopping
Akiyama Suzu was still yet near behind, trying to reach out to us as she walked,
The three guys at the back were gossiping with each other about themselves and were secretly laughing at each other while she was trying to approach us faster.
"If she's really struggling in walking faster with that big belly of hers, then it is really just her fault for not taking care of herself more!"
"I know right? She's so stupid to have experienced that"
"Is really just her own fault for not being careful on her own"
Gossips were spoken from the three guys like a knife stabbing you deeply,
I walked towards Akiyama Suzu and tried to make her feel comfortable while she walked, holding onto her big belly.
Little while, their comments were starting to get annoying, sighing, and giggling every time.
Yi Mei Lu was yet to respond them with harsh words,
"Can you guys just shut up? She being pregnant doesn't mean that it is her fault!"
"If anything, you guys should just go back to kindergarten and learn about morals again!"
She shouted loudly at them. Her hands were firmly tight to fists, and her face was flushed with anger as she eye-gazed at them.
Then, immediately. The guys replied back,
"Okay??"
Then the other said
"She could still run while being pregnant!"
And another said
"Like you're not the same with us, watching her
Silence.
The guys were bothered with her sudden actions, they didn't care.
Nor does Yi Mei Lu.
While talking keeps away the awkwardness but silence is greater than that.
:out of anger, Yi Mei Lu had tried holding onto her fists while hearing them talk badly.
They silently giggled, holding onto their laugh as they looked at her before they looked at each other.
Then finally, Yi Mei Lu snapped and kicks one them by the hip
Slowly later, we approached them into the train and the doors of the train then closed upon our entrance.
Yi Mei Lu was gripping one of the guys' collar and two of the others tried defending.
Her fist was up, ready, to punch him in the face until...
"Do not beat him up."
A voice, so cold, shivered through my spine and jerked like a cat had caught water.
She turned to see me, standing near them with my arm crossed. Disappointment is shown on my face; Akiyama Suzu was saddened by their interactions and her actions.
"They were...!"
Before Yi Mei Lu had continued her line, a sudden sound from the TV from the corner of the train, then said,
[ Congrats on going into this train! You may wait until a new message has sent, farewell. ]