The little girl in the red dress spotted him and took out a band–aid from her bag. “Does it hurt?”


    The little boy shook his head, looking bewildered.


    “Hey, blue–eyed little bastard! Never seen you shed a tear or crack a smile, and you act like


    nothing hurts!” A group of kids from the orphanageughed and taunted as they


    threw stones at Steven.


    They called the little boy a bastard because he had a pair of stunning eyes, like the stars in the


    sky.


    “Who are you calling a bastard?” The little girl in the red dress got angry. She


    protectively stood in front of the little boy and picked up some stones from the ground.” If you mess


    with him again, I’ll knock you out!”


    “Hey, who’re you? Just got here? Don’t you know the orphanage rules?”


    “Check out that dress she’s got on, real nice.”


    “It’s brand new!”


    “Once we strip her of that dress, it’s ours.”


    The girls wanted the red dress the little girl was wearing. They bossed around the few boys there


    and told them to tear it off her.


    Meanwhile, the little girl stood in ce as tears streamed down her face.


    The little boy observed that the girl was crying. Then, he swiftly seized a stone from the ground and


    aggressively tackled one of the boys, repeatedly striking him hard on the


    head.


    The little girl in the red dress was terrified, screaming out, “Daddy! Daddy!”


    Then, a figure slowly drew closer from afar, and the faces of everyone from the memory started to


    be distinct.


    The little girl in the red dress was me when I was young, while the little boy who was fighting was


    Steven.


    And from afar, my dad, along with Ivan Hanks, the orphanage director, were rushing toward us.


    “What’s going on!”


    Later on, Steven was locked in the punishment room because Mr. Hanks wanted him to


    reflect on his behavior.


    The girls who were bullying me mentioned that they liked my dress, so Dad promised to get each of


    them one next time.


    After that, Dad lifted me up and took me away.


    As we left, I noticed a teenage boy peeking at me from behind a window.


    That was Steven. His eyes were unmistakable.


    So, it turned out I had known Steven for a long time. But I’d just forgotten that memory.


    “Steve, I have feelings for you… But I need to prepare for the college entrance exam. Once we


    graduate, can we be together?


    “Steve… Can you wait for me?”


    Suddenly, there was a sudden intrusion from outside. I recognized the voices immediately—it was


    Rachel, Zion, and… Michael.


    The intrusion immediately brought me back to my senses.


    Wasn’t Michael supposed to be in detention? How did he get out?


    “What did you do to her?” Rachel yelled at Carol and instructed Zion to call for an


    ambnce.


    “She’s Stephanie,” Carol said from the corner. Her head tilted as she pointed at me. “I can’t be


    mistaken, she’s Stephanie.”


    “Do you believe in ghosts, like, in this world?” Carol asked Zion and Michael, sounding a bit crazy.


    “She’s like a lingering spirit… She’s back to be with.Simmy, to take Steve away again.”


    Michael’s face turned pale as he held me tightly. “I’ll take her to the hospital!”


    “Stephie, you’ll be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you.” In my daze, I heard Michael’s voice. He


    sounded like he was in tears.


    “I won’t let anything happen to you again, I swear. I’m sorry, Stephie… I’m sorry.” “I like you…” My


    mind was wandering. I didn’t even realize what I was saying.


    Michael’s body briefly tensed up as he struggled to make out what I was saying, as if he


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    was eager to hear the response he desired.


    “Steve…” Yet, I found myself calling out Steven’s name.