Chapter 8
“Stupid director. If she wants her plants watered, she should do it herself. Why make me do it?”
Selena had come running, thinking something serious had happened—only to be told to water a flowerpot.
“This is such a waste of time…”
As she grumbled and headed back, a head of snowy white hair caught her eye.
“…Leotis?”
Leotis lifted his head, sensing Selena’s presence.
His fluffy white hair looked like fresh snow. His cheeks were soft and pale like rice cakes, and his black eyes were like little beans. He looked just like a baby Pomeranian. Selena screamed on the inside.
How can he be this cute and precious?
“Why are you so late?”
If only he didn’t speak, he’d be like an angel.
Selena let out a sigh.
“…What’s wrong? Did you get scolded for being late?”
Leotis’ face darkened. He looked restless, as if he thought Selena had gotten in trouble with the director. To Selena, he looked just like a whimpering puppy.
His personality was more like a cautious cat, but he looked like a puppy.
“Wait… Are you worried about me right now?”
“…No.”
Seeing him deny it awkwardly, Selena made a firm decision in her heart.
I’ll raise you right so you don’t grow up into a jerk.
Days passed without any major incidents.
Well, not exactly peaceful.
Selena had to work hard behind the scenes to stop the director from hurting Leotis.
“Leotis, didn’t I tell you to clean the window properly? What’s this smudge?”
“Are you crazy, director? Making a blind kid clean windows?”
“Teacher, can you teach me how to greet like a noble lady?”
“Selena, I’m busy right now. I’ll teach you later. Go play for now.”
“But I want to greet the ladies elegantly tomorrow… Can’t you?”
The director seemed to think it over.
Come on, director. Imagine how cute a little kid greeting the noblewomen clumsily will look to them.
The director must’ve imagined it, because she suddenly smiled in satisfaction.
I can practically hear her greedy little brain working to collect more donations.
Selena didn’t like the idea of feeding the director’s obsession with money. But if it meant keeping Leotis safe, she had no choice.
“Fine. Let’s go study manners. Leotis, you clean the window again while I’m gone.”
Whew.
Selena sighed in relief.
Every time the director looked for Leotis, Selena would find a way to distract her. Thanks to that, the times the director tormented Leotis started to decrease.
Because of Selena’s effort, the director raked in tons of donations from the noble ladies. With more money coming in, she stopped taking out her anger on the kids.
Thanks to that, even the kids’ personalities started brightening up. And since Selena was always stuck to Leotis like glue, the bullying toward him almost disappeared.
From the beginning, the kids had only copied what the director did.
Now that she wasn’t using violence, none of the other kids bothered with Leotis.
Except for one: Limon.
Thud!
Leotis tripped over Limon’s foot and fell forward.
“You tripped because you don’t open your eyes properly.”
Limon giggled as Leotis struggled to get up.
“Hey! Limon!”
Selena, who saw the whole thing, came running over and shouted.
She first checked to see if Leotis was okay. Luckily, the soft mat on the floor kept him from getting hurt badly.
“Look, your mom’s here, loser.”
Limon mocked Selena by calling her Leotis’ mom, since she always stepped in whenever he was bullied.
“Why do you keep picking on him?! What did Leotis ever do to you?!”
“Whad di Leotis ever dooo to youuu~?”
“Stop copying me.”
“Stawp copying meee~”
Ugh. He’s such a child.
Limon exaggerated his movements to mimic Selena. She clenched her fists but held back.
“…What? Cat got your tongue?”
Limon suddenly leaned in close. Selena wanted to punch his smug face but forced herself to stay calm.
“No violence, Selena. Be mature.”
She bowed her head and took a deep breath. She tried thinking of happy memories to cool her anger.
What’s something fun that happened recently? Oh right, when Leotis ate cotton candy and looked like a bunny… and then…
“Are you crying? Boohoo~ What a crybaby~ What a dummy~”
Don’t fall for it. He’s just a little kid.
There’s no point in getting angry at someone who just got out of preschool.
“Dummyyy~ Crybabyyy~”
Ignore it. This isn’t new.
“Ugly witch and dirty blind kid~ What a perfect—”
SMACK!
Before Limon could finish, Selena’s fist flew into his face.
You can insult me, but not Leotis. That’s where I draw the line.
“You—you hit me!”
Limon jumped up, clenching his fists and charged.
He was bigger than other kids his age, while Selena was smaller and weaker. If it came down to strength, she didn’t stand a chance.
Well, strength-wise.
Selena grabbed a toy block from the floor and dropped it right in Limon’s path.
In his rage, Limon didn’t see it and stepped right on it.
“Ow!”
He grabbed his foot and rolled on the floor in pain.
See? Brains beat brawn.
Without missing a beat, Selena pounced and climbed on top of him, punching him over and over.
“Get off me! You pig! You witch! You dummy!”
At first, Limon shouted insults—but soon he started crying.
“Say sorry to Leotis! If you don’t, I’ll mash your face like a dumpling!”
“No! Why should I say sorry?! It’s not wrong to call a blind kid blind!”
Still talking nonsense, huh? Guess you didn’t get hit enough.
Selena raised her fist again—
“WHAT are you two doing?!”
The director finally rushed in and broke up the fight.
“Selena, I thought you were a smart, well-behaved girl. I’m very disappointed in you.”
As punishment, both Selena and Limon got hit on the legs and weren’t allowed to eat dinner.
So hungry…
She thought skipping one meal wouldn’t be a big deal. But when dinnertime came, her stomach growled like crazy.
After all the money I earned you, this is how you treat me?
She was furious at the ungrateful director—and at Limon.
This is all Limon’s fault.
If he hadn’t bullied Leotis, none of this would’ve happened.
Maybe it was the hunger, or maybe the frustration, but tears welled up in her eyes.
Why am I crying over this stupid thing?
Her young body was making her mind childish too. Crying just because she was hungry—how embarrassing.
Stupid director. No matter what, how could she starve a kid?
She was crying quietly when the door creaked open.
“…Leotis?”
Selena quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve.
“…Did you cry?”
Leotis must’ve noticed the slight sob in her voice. His tone was sharper than usual. Selena quickly cleared her throat and pretended to act normal.
“Who said I cried?”
Leotis stepped forward with a serious face. Without hesitation, he reached out and touched beneath her eyes. His expression was so sincere that Selena didn’t even think to push him away.
“You did cry.”
“…Fine, I cried! So what? You got a problem?”
It was a childish response.
“I’m sorry.”
His voice was full of guilt—something no child should sound like. Maybe it was the warmth of his hand on her cheek, but Selena couldn’t speak right away.
“Because of me…”
When he continued, Selena snapped out of it.
“Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But you got into a fight with Limon because of me.”
“It’s Limon’s fault for bullying you in the first place.”
“But… if I wasn’t so weak…”
Selena gently held his hand.
Even though he couldn’t see her, she looked straight at him and spoke clearly.
“Being weak isn’t a crime, Leotis. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“…But still…”
“What’s wrong is picking on someone just because they’re weak. I hate people like that the most. And if something like this happens again, I’ll act the same way.”
“…”
“I told you before, Leotis. I’m on your side.”
Leotis made a strange face—like he didn’t know whether to be happy or angry.
“It’s not your fault.”
Maybe that was the one thing Leotis—someone hated by everyone—wanted to hear the most.
“By the way, what’s that in your hand?”
Leotis fiddled with the black plastic bag he was holding, then pulled out some bread, a carrot, and a sausage.
“I snuck them out.”
“Leotis! You’re the best! I love you the most in the whole world!”
Touched by the food in front of her, Selena showered Leotis with praise and gave him a big hug.
“….”
Selena didn’t notice—but Leotis’ ears had turned as pink as spring flowers.
