Chapter 9

After he paid for the groceries, Warren walked back home. On his way there, he encountered a little girl sitting on the sidewalk. She couldn't be more than five years old, and her neat and clean dress, oozed wealth. 

What caught Warren's eye was the trace of a teardrop down her cheek. 

'Why is she crying? Where is her parents? Is she lost, or something?' Warren had a lot of questions running through his mind. He couldn't handle his curiosity any longer, so he approached the little girl and asked her "Hello, may I ask where your parents are?"

The girl stared at him and just shook her head. 

'She doesn't trust me enough to tell me anything. Guess it can't be helped. Especially since I'm a stranger and I often come across as shady because of my sense of dressing.'

Warren didn't want to bother her any further, since he felt that this was a scenario he didn't want to get too involved with. So he decided to leave. 

However, the moment he turned around to leave, the girl stood up and followed him. Not thinking anything of it, he continued walking further. Still the girl stayed steadfast on his trail. As he increased his pace, the girl did the same. 

Warren walked around a corner and hid himself. When the girl came around the corner, he jumped out and gave her a fright. 

"Following me, I see." Warren said.

Again, the girl didn't say a word, however, this time she only nodded. 

Seeing that she isn't so hesitant anymore, Warren probed her again and asked "Are you lost? Did your mother forget you at the supermarket or something?"

"Kayla is lost. Mommy left Kayla at her friend's house. She is not a good person and she said bad words to me, so Kayla waited for mommy to return.  She never returned, so Kayla decided to go home on her own. However, Kayla doesn't know the way home," the little girl cried. 

Who would have thought this little girl would be so talkative all of a sudden. 'So her name must be Kayla,' Warren thought. Warren thought that it wouldn't be safe for her to linger around so aimlessly. Something bad might happen to her since she's so young and vulnerable. However, he also felt that it might not be in Kayla's best interest if he brought her back to her mother's friend's house, since she clearly didn't want to go back there.

"So why are you not in school today?" Warren asked.

"We don't have school today, since my teacher told me that they have a cluster meeting. That's why they gave us the day off."

Thinking about this,  Warren felt that the safest option right now would be to take the little girl to her school since her teacher might still be there and Kayla might contact her mother through her teacher.

"Could you please tell me the name of your school?" Warren asked politely. 

"I attend kindergarten at High Hopes, but I don't know the way back to school," the little girl said as she sobbed. 

Warren thought for a while and made up his mind. He will first return Kayla to her school and then deliver his aunt's groceries. He already wasted too much time, so he cannot dwell on anything else for too long. However, for now Kayla takes priority, since something bad might happen to her, if he doesn't help her. 

"I'll take you to your school and then we can call your mommy from there. Is it alright with you?" 

Kayla hesitated at first, but after a short while she nodded. Seeing that she eased a little bit around him, Warren took Kayla's hand and brought her to High Hopes Kindergarten.

The school yard was deserted since almost no one attended school on this particular day, safe for a few educators. Seeing the familiar environment, a sense of relief flushed over Kayla as she increased her pace towards the gate of her school. When she arrived at the gate she saw a familiar face and shouted immediately "Miss Sun, please wait for me!"

She momentarily forgot about the presence of Warren next to her and instantly bolted towards her teacher who was standing near the entrance of the school building. 

Seeing the little girl, Miss Sun was rather surprised, since she didn't expect to see a learner attending school on this day. Her thoughts were, however, quickly interrupted when she saw a suspicious-looking young man standing at the gate. She immediately embraced Kayla and smiled.  She took her hand and tried to bring her away to her office. At that moment Kayla remembered Warren and stopped her teacher. 

"Miss Sun, he is the uncle who saved me and brought me here. Could you please call my mother to pick me up? Also, could you invite him to join us, since he is has such a good heart."

Miss Sun smiled and gave in to the little girl's demands. She waved at Warren to come over and he obliged. 

"Miss Sun, this is the nice uncle. Nice uncle, this is my teacher, Miss Sun," Kayla introduced the two to each other. 

Warren could only smile wryly and said "Nice to meet you, Miss Sun."

"Care to come in and join us for a cup of tea?" Miss Sun invited Warren. It was her way of thanking him, since he was a stranger, but didn't mind helping the little girl. Other people would have had ulterior motives, but she could instantly see that he has a good heart. 

However, she could only invite him for a cup of tea. She didn't want to do more than that, because it was evident that Warren didn't have the aura om someone who is wealthy or accomplished. It might affect her image if she was seen hanging around with the likes of him. That's why she already extended the offer to invite him for tea to show her gratitude. 

"I'm sorry, but I have to decline. Please take care of her," Warren said as he immediately turned around. At the gate he turned around and waved at Kayla one last time. 

Miss Sun looked at him and frowned. 'He's  strange, isn't he?' she thought to herself.