Chapter - 2 "FRIEND"

Black hair and brown eyes.... Not so extraordinary but it was for the girl next door. She was so mysterious when they first arrived here.

It wasn't so sunny yet she had an umbrella... It wasn't cold yet she was covered completely.

She had too white skin color, her hair were white as snow... I was fascinated yet scared by her appearance...

My mother came and took me to them.

"Hello.. Are you shifting here?" My mother asked.

"Ah.. Yes.. We are shifting here. My husband got a promotion so we had to shift." The new Aunty said.

"Oh... That's great... My name is Diana Seo... We are your neighbours.. Let us know if you need anything..." My mother said.

"Hello aunty... My name is Christy.." I said.

"Oh.. Hello child.. Your daughter is so cute... My name is Rean Lee.... This is my son. His name is Alex and that's my husband, Harry." The aunty said.

The little kid was kinda cute but too quite...or maybe just scared of strangers.

" Um.. What about that kid with umbrella? " my mother asked curiously.

I was curious about her too... Who was she?

".. Um.. That's our... adopted daughter... She is a bit special you see.." Aunty Lee said awkwardly.

" Special...?" My mother asked.

"... You see... she is an albino..... So it has been difficult for her...and she is a bit shy... She can't go out in the sun because of her albinism..." Aunty Lee said.

" Oh.. So why did you adopt her... I mean was she normal when you adopted her? Is she aware that she is adopted? " My mother asked.

" Well... I felt sorry for her so I adopted her and she is like this since her birth... She is not aware of this... So could you please... " Aunty Lee said.

" Oh.. No no... No problem... I'll tell Christy to keep this a secret... Don't worry.." My mother said frantically.

".... Her name is Autumn and she is 7." Aunty Lee said.

" Aunty, I'm also 7.. I will play with her... " I said.

I was excited to have a neighbour who was my age...

" Oh.. That's so nice of you.... I should call her over so that she can introduce herself.... " Aunty Lee said.

"Autumn... Come here.." Aunty Lee called her.

She came to us. Her mother asked her to introduce herself.

"Hello aunty... My name is Autumn Lee."

Her voice was very calm, sweet and....beautiful....but my mother and I were stunned as we saw her.

She was too white up close, her eyes were blue in which there was a hint of red... Or maybe pink, her hair were white and long... She looked so unreal and different. I was shocked to see her and got scared.. What if she is a ghost? I thought.

I hid behind my mother...

She saw me and my mother silent.... She frowned a bit but she didn't say anything as if it was what she faced on a daily basis.

"Mom.. Dad wanted me to help him in unpacking.... I should go...." Autumn said.

"Oh... Hello.. Autumn.... My name is Diana Seo and this is my daughter Christy.. You have a very beautiful name.... and voice too. " My mother said awkwardly.

"Thank you Aunty seo... My dad gave me this name." Autumn said with a fake smile on her face.

She then left.. That short while of interaction was enough for me to realise that she doesn't have any friends...

If she was normal, she would have been much more beautiful than I am... Her features are well defined... Even though she is different she looks cute.

Thank god she isn't normal otherwise she would have been the centre of attention.

"I should leave now... There is a lot to unpack... I'll invite you to the housewarming party tomorrow." Aunty Lee said.

"Oh.. Yes, go ahead with your work... If you need anything.. Just ask..." My mother said with a smile.

Aunty Lee left. My mother and I also returned to our home.

"Christy... Listen very carefully... Don't tell Autumn that she is adopted.. Okay?" My mother asked.

"Yes... Mum.. I'll not tell her."

"And don't eat or drink her leftovers ever. Okay?"

"Yes, Mum.. I know.. But why is she so white? And what is albino?" I asked curiously.

"It's a disease..." My Mother said.

I didn't asked her again because I knew she herself doesn't know. I was curious to know but I didn't asked her.

The next day we went to their house for the housewarming party. Our neighbours were also invited and some of their relatives were also present.

I looked around to see Autumn... She was sitting in a corner of the room.

I didn't reached out to her.. As the guests began to enter Aunty Lee sent her away. I was curious to know as to Where's she going... So I followed her...

She went upstairs and entered her bedroom... I thought maybe she wants something from her room but.... She never came down during the entire party..

I asked Aunty Lee for Autumn but she lied and told me that Autumn was not feeling well....

At that time I realised that her family was not a happy one... She was truly lonely...

Few days went by... My routine was always the same....

I use to go school with my elder brother Aden, who was a year older than me....

I didn't spoke to Autumn when I use to see her....

Their garden was quite big so they covered half of the garden with shade for Autumn... Because she was sensitive to the sun. She use to put a lot of sunscreen when she had to go out and she was always under shade or with an umbrella.

In that shade she use to practice boxing with a personal trainer...

I use to think that she was weak but turned out she was quite strong..... physically.

My brother was fascinated by her when he first saw her.. He went over to her when she was practicing boxing and introduced himself..

That was how they both came to know about each others existence..

After a few days.. When I went to school there was a surprise waiting for me...

"Students... There is a transfer student who just came here..." Our homeroom teacher said. He didn't sound happy.

A student walked in the class who was none other than Autumn, my neighbour.

"Student, Introduce yourself to the class." Our teacher said.

"Hello everyone... My name is Autumn Lee. I'm new in this city..... I love boxing, music and drawing... Nice to meet you all." She said. She wasn't happy or excited at all... It was as if she knew what kind of reaction she will get.

Everyone began to whisper something..

One of the students said in a loud and clear voice.

" Oh My God.... She looks like a ghost... "

Everyone began to laugh and made jokes about her. The teacher did not stopped anyone and that gave them more confidence.

"Go take your seat..." Teacher said.

She went and sat down in the corner most front seat which cannot reach the sunlight.

"This will be your seat from now on because of your eye sight." Teacher said.

"Teacher! I don't want to sit with her... What if I also got her disease?" Autumn's seat partner said as she jumped out of her seat.

"It's not a contagious disease... I'm born this way so it's basically not a disease... It's a condition called albinism. If you don't even know about something this basic then... Oh girl...! " Autumn explained and sighed.

That girl was flustered and embarrassed.

I mean she was the monitor and she didn't knew about this then.... She will get embarrassed for sure.

It was the first time I saw Autumn fight back because most of the time she is silent.. She doesn't even care..

To everyone's shock the teacher revealed that Autumn was a straight A student in her previous school and that she have won quite some medals in boxing and drawing competitions.

And that was when I thought maybe this could turn into my advantage.. I was always a average student, if I can befriend her then she will definitely help me in improving my grades.. This could be intresting...

She doesn't have friends nor is her family a loving one. If I'm a little good to her then it will turn into my advantage. All I need to do is talk to her nicely and then she will let me use her.... I know people like her too well.... They crave for affection more than anything... She will be loyal to me if I show her a little affection...

She will get a friend and I will get my free marks.

It was lunch period and everyone ran to the cafeteria but only Autumn was still sitting in her seat... When everyone left she took out her lunch she brought from home...

I went to the cafeteria and after having my lunch I brought a bottle of strawberry milk for her... It was my time to befriend her before someone else takes the action..

I put the bottle of milk in front of her and smiled.

"Here.. I didn't saw you in the cafeteria so I thought maybe you don't want to have lunch... But you can't starve yourself.. Autumn." I said.

It was clear by her expressions that she didn't expected that... She was shocked to see that I remembered her name..

" Oh... I brought my own lunch so.... Thank you." She said with a smile.

I could see that this time it was a genuine and warm smile..

I got her attention and she liked my gesture....

"Why?... I mean why didn't you came to the cafeteria?" I asked innocently.

"... The other students might not like my presence there so I shouldn't make them uncomfortable.." She said.

It was clear by her voice that she wanted to go but can't because of her situation and she was aware that if she went there... Everyone would mock her and she didn't want that....

I began to cozy up to her and she began to open up to me....

I asked the teacher to change my seat with the monitor and sat next to Autumn.. She was happy even with this much..

Time passed by and we became friends... For Autumn I was her only friend....and probably her best friend... But for me she was a fool who will help me improve my grades...

She always helped me with my homework and assignments.... Even during exams time she marked important questions for me every time..

My grades were improving and so was my popularity.

When someone use to play a prank on her I would just hide away and later console her so that she realise that only I was nice to her when everyone else was not...

I knew that she was the type of person who would appreciate even the tiniest bit of kindness from someone.... She was strong but not so smart... Sometimes it became difficult to coax her because she had her own doubts but she could never come to a conclusion.... And that was how I continued to fool her and use her... I want to become an idol so I needed a good image and good grades and for that I had to use her.... Sometimes I felt guilty but... What can I do I have my things to take care of.