Chapter 30: chapter 30

Ryan was squashed beneath the chair but he was strong enough to survive the crash without getting injured; he creaked before feeling someone helping him stand up. Jack held up the boy and started checking him for injuries, “Bro, are you okay. Are you hurt anywhere?”The survivor stumbled on his feet; his head was dizzy because of the impact. It took him a few seconds to stabilize himself and mumble, “Fine...” The two lads were so consumed in checking each other that the two didn’t notice a little frail figure in white gown reaching out to timidly pull the corner of Ryan’s shirt.Feeling something disturbing him the boy dropped his eye down just to get himself stunned; it was a little girl much shorter than him. She had a round face with clear skin, her eyes were big and round with long curly eyelashes. A tiny nose and quivering pink lips like newly bloomed cherry blossom complimented her angelic face. Her hairs were long and were left loosely with nothing but two white clips holding back her bangs.This was Ryan’s first time seeing such a small creature; he didn’t have a sister and was homeschooled since he was young and thus, he had never seen a girl with this close proximity. He stared stunned into her beautiful eyes which were pooling with tears which were about to pour down.Ryan’s face had nothing but expressions of amusement and adoration; he had heard of angels but it was his first time seeing one. She was so cute that he didn’t want to take his eyes off this little creature.Her quivering lips slowly parted to push out something sniveling, “D... did I hurt you?”Ryan felt goosebumps rise all over his body hearing her voice; it was his first time listening to something this soothing and pure. Her childish voice resembled that of chirping, mellow and warm. Seeing that the boy whom she just hurt by accident wasn’t replying, the young girl assumed that he was mad at her and was giving her a silent treatment.“Big brother, I didn’t hurt you on purpose. I am good, I would never do that...” With a tone which was almost cracking at this point the little girl continued, “Please don’t hate me and complain to Daddy; he will snatch away my candies.”Tears started to trickle down her eyes and it was the sound of her sobbing that slapped Ryan back to reality. “Oh God...” he freaked out before scanning the little girl; even her crying was as alluring as a rainbow. He looked at Jack only to find him staring back and forth at him and the mysterious little girl.Ryan’s mind, which had crashed like anything all this time, finally started to act up. Jogging down his memories he managed to make a rough sketch that maybe it was this girl who was riding the chairs which crashed onto him.The boy kneeled down to match her height; the girl had her head hanging pitifully out of guilt. He gently touched her chin and slowly lifted her head; Ryan had never touched anything this tender and soft, she was so fragile that he handled her with care lest he hurt her. The girl propped up with his efforts and stared directly into his eyes which were only few meters away. Her eyes were still raining down and Ryan couldn’t help but get his stone heart melt down. He smiled at her and said in a comforting tone, “It’s okay, I am not hurt.”The girl stood there tugging on his t-shirt and weeping and started to slow down after Ryan assured that he was neither angry nor hurt. Her lips curled up into a smile and even though her eyes were still pooled up she had stopped sobbing at this point. Ryan lived in a world where one couldn’t even trust the one who claimed themselves the most trustworthy; all he was taught in life was to be alert, fierce and never let his guard down. This made him believe that the world was everything but pure but today, after meeting this piece of Heaven, Ryan started to think otherwise- maybe there are still some good things left on Earth and this girl he held was one of them.A strange yet splendorous emotion started to well up in his heart as he looked at her, something he had never felt before. The girl’s smile grew wider and wider before she started beaming her row of perfectly white teeth, “Big brother, I will share my snacks and toys with you as a ‘sorry’.”Ryan casted his rare smile making Jack pinch himself out of disbelief; he was wondering if he had passed out of the crash and was still dreaming when he heard his friend reply, “Okay!”The girl became so happy that she clapped her hands out of joy, she held his hand and started leading him. “Come with me, big brother. It’s been a long time since anyone has accompanied me to play.”Ryan glanced at Jack with eyes which said- follow me and behave. Jack could only huff and follow the two as the shameless uninvited guest. The little girl was a bundle of joy when she led the boy into the second half of the room; it had another set of sofas with the same setting- the only difference was that... It had a lot of toys scattered all around.The little girl looked behind at Ryan, her face brightened with an alluring smile and it was when she noticed another head following them. She was so overjoyed that she couldn’t help but squeal, “Dear goodness, I have two friends to play with her now.” Jack and Ryan looked at each other before the girl left them to get comfortable.“Do you have any idea who she is?” Ryan whispered to his friend and looked at the girl who was busily finding something. Jack nodded, “I have no idea who she is and where she came from.” “I know what she is...” Ryan said in a mellow tone and continued, “She is an angel.”Jack threw a piercing glance at his friend who seemed to be muddling but before he could say anything the girl bounced back to them. She had a handful of snacks in her petite hands, some even fell on the floor as she couldn’t hold them. She placed them in front of the two boys and smiled, “This is all for you, big brothers.”She tore a lollipop and passed it to Ryan, “Here, have this, big brother.” Jack looked at the naive girl, his friend hated candies since he was a kid. He opened his mouth to say that he doesn't like candies, “Little girl, our Ryan don’t... Aaahh!” Jack didn’t spill the rest of the sentence but groaned as he felt a sharp pain sail through his thigh. He looked down to realize it was Ryan who pinched him; the boy immediately threw a betrayed glance at his friend but what he saw next made his eyes pop out.“Looks delicious!” Ryan commented before accepting her little treat and shoving it in his mouth. The candy was so sweet that he couldn’t help but furrow his eyebrows but slowly his tongue licked around and got accustomed to it. He smiled at her, “It’s really tasty.”Catherine was really happy, she excitedly took another candy and passed it to Jack. Jack paused for a moment before accepting the candy; he couldn’t help but admire her pureness.The girl sat down on her little chair and took her toy, slowly placing all her concentration in playing with it. Ryan looked at her and asked calmly, “What is your name?” The little girl looked up at them before saying, “Daddy says... Never say your name to strangers! But I will say... My name is Catherine.”“Catherine...” Ryan muttered under his breath; even her name was as alluring as her soul.