Age Is Just a Number

Chapter 6 

6 Months Later 

Zara: 11 years old. 

William: 19 years old. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I’m sitting inside the park’s enormous turtle tunnel. I wrapped my arms over myself and bit my trembling lips. I take a sniff and wipe the tears from my face. 

“It was just an accident. Daddy did not mean to do it. He just wasn’t feeling well today.” I twiddle my grimy toes together. 

After unlocking the front door, I dropped my backpack and took off my shoes. “Daddy, I’m home!” 

When I didn’t hear anything, I walked into the living room and found Dad passed out on the couch, holding a bottle of alcohol. Dad began drinking more frequently since Mom left us. 

Biting my lip, I held his shoulder. “Daddy, you can’t sleep here, or else you will catch a cold,” I remarked in a low voice. 

He sat up and turned to face me, taking a drink from the bottle that remained. When he realized it was empty, he tossed it across the living room, knocking the picture frames on the wall down. 

“Why?” He asked in a fatigued tone. He turned to face me, tears streaming down his cheeks. “Why didn’t you stop her from leaving?” 

“D–D–Daddy 1-” 

“Daddy? Stop calling me daddy! What are you? Five!?” He screamed, making me flinch. 

He got up and proceeded to the kitchen, bringing out another can of beer. I marched towards him, fists clenched. “D–Dad, you need to quit drinking. They say drinking is not good for you.” 

He opened the can, chugged it all down, and then turned to me and started laughing. “It’s your fault,” he muttered, unable to rise up. 

“W–What?” Is it my fault that Mommy has left? 

He slapped the can onto the counter and marched towards me. He grabbed my shirt and pull me towards him. “Why didn’t you stop her from leaving? If you had tried and cried, throw a fucking tantrum, or whatever, she would not have left!” 

16:45. Mon, 29 Apr. GB 

He raised his hand in the air and whacked me across the face. I slumped on the ground, experiencing pain. I swallowed the lump in my throat and rested one hand on my injured cheek. I turned toward him, and he looked down at the hand that had just struck me. 

“Y–You h–hit me.” 

He stared at me, shook his head, and dropped to his knees in front of me. “I–I’m very sorry, P–Princess, I–I had no idea what had come over me. “P–Please don’t hate me, please don’t l–leave daddy,” he wept, his head burled in his hands. 

I crawled over to hug him. “I won’t leave you, daddy.” 

After Dad went to sleep. I ran out of the house, and now I am here. I took a big breath and rose up, ready to go home. I put on my hood to cover the red cheek. I creep out of the tube, shoving my hands into my pockets. 

“Hey! Are you William’s little friend?” A familiar voice yelled. 

I turn to face Drew, one of William’s friends. He has wild blonde hair and strange tattoos on his arms. Anthony, the guy behind him, is quite intimidating. He never smiles. Then there’s Michelle, Anthony’s younger sister. She had wild red hair and an expression that says, Mess with me and bye–bye. Anthony and Michelle do not look like siblings. She promised me that as I grew older, she would make me sexy too. William is completely against it. They appear mean, but they are nice people. William jogs towards me, and I cover my cheek with my hair. 

him. 

I hope he does not see it. I shake my head, smiling brightly. “Hi, William!” I exclamed, skipping towards. 

He got down on one knee and hugged me. Unlike William’s old friends, they will not tease me. “Hey there, Angel,” he says quietly. 

I take a step back, shifting uncomfortably as my cheek stings. “Where are you guys going?” 

“Out,” William said, and I know he doesn’t want to say anything else. When Nina or I ask him what he’s up to, he invariably says, “Just something or just going out.” 

I nod my head as the other three approach us. “Hi” 1 said, waving at each of them. 

“What happened to your cheek?” William remarked, tucking my hair back and revealing my red cheek. 

I take a step back and hide it while chuckling awkwardly. “I fell.” 

He narrows his gaze. “Guys, I’ll meet you later at the place,” he murmured in a softer tone than normal, his eyes glancing at my cheek, which I hurriedly covered up again. They looked up at me, nodded, and walked away. 

William grabs my hand and leads me to the swings. He lifted me, lowered me down, and got down on one knee. “Who did it?” he whispers. 

2/5 

I sat there, twiddling my thumbs and avoiding his concentrated stare. “Who did it, Zara?” He spoke in 

a harder tone. 

“Zaral “Who did this?” He rants in front of my face, making tears stream down my cheeks. 

I balled my hands together and wept. 

“Oh no, angel. Please do not cry. I did not mean to yell.” His tone dropped to a softer one. He hugs me and pats my back. 

After I have calmed down, he wipes away my tears. “Angel. I am just worried about you. Please tell me who did it,” he whispers. 

Biting my trembling lips, I look up at him, his brows furrow in an unfriendly manner and his eyes fill with concern. “My dad,” I murmur beneath my breath. 

I can feel his hands shaking against my hips. “Your dad hit you?” He inhales sharply, “I’m going to kill him.” 

I hop off the swings and grab his hand, pulling him back. No, William! Daddy did not mean to! He was not feeling well!” 

He turns his head to face me. “Zara, he laid his hand on you!” He shouts, his face turning a deep red. 

1 shake my head with trembling lips. “D–Daddy wasn’t feeling good. P–Please, W–William, don’t hurt daddy.” Another cry escaped my throat. 

William’s eyes softened, and he dropped to his knees, bringing me into another hug. “Shhh, Angel. Don’t cry. I don’t like seeing you cry.” 

I wrap my arms around him. “D–Don’t hurt d–daddy,” I stuttered. “P–Please, d–don’t be angry.” I don’t like it when Daddy and William are angry. 

William sat down on the ground, drawing me onto his lap as I continued to cry, drenching his shirt as he massaged my back. Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep in his arms. 

I wake up on the couch, covered in a giant fluffy blanket. Looking through the blanket, I noticed William making dinner in the kitchen. William’s younger brother, Sheng, left for college a year ago, and his parents are constantly away on business trips, so he lives at home alone. William’s biological father lives in Italy, where he visits him every summer. 

William decides to start working immediately after high school instead, than attending college. I’m not sure what job he works in, but it appears to be doing well. 

He turns around and picks up some spices. He smiles and walks towards me, stooping down. “Hungry, Angel?” I smell something yummy. 

I nod, and he grabs my hand, guiding me to the counter. I climb into a round chair and rest my head down on the table, my stomach growling for food. 

3/5 

After some while, William takes out two plates and places some pasta on them. He placed one plate in front of me and sprinkled some cheese, which melted immediately. The other dish sat in front of him. I grab the fork and twirl the pasta around it while blowing on it because it is quite hot. 

We sit there silently, eating pasta together. This is exactly how I imagine our future together. William looked at me, snorted, and grabbed a napkin to wipe the sauce off my face. He gently brushed his thumb across the mark on my face, and a heavy sigh from his mouth, the corner of his lips tilting downward in an unpleasant manner. 

I laid the fork down, “I’m fine.” I whispered. 

He chews on his lower lip. “Zara.” 

I continue to glance down at my lap. 

William inserts a finger beneath my chin and raises my head. “I will not hurt your father, but you agree to tell me if he hurts you again, okay?” 

I nod and smile. “I promise,” I say quietly, hearing a ding. 

He sprang out of the chair and went to the oven. I smelt the air and smell baked foods. “Muffin?” I ask, and he pulls out a fresh pan of sweets. 

William drops his gloves and leans against the counter, nodding. “I wanted to cheer you up, so I prepared you some muffins. I’m not sure how wonderful it is as this is my first time.” 

I take a look at the muffins, and my eyes widen in terror when I notice some egg shells inside. Looking up at him, I chuckled lightly, and he smiled proudly at me. “They look good,” I murmured slowly, unable to think of another term to describe the bakery’s appalling attempt in front of me. 

He let the muffin cool before returning to his original seat. “Want to stay here with me tonight, Angel?” 

I nibble on my top lips while nodding. “Yes, Muffin.” 

William’s eyebrows wrinkle together. “Muffin?” He asked, looking at the muffins. 

“Yes, because you have a nickname for me. I’ll give you one too. You are Muffin from now on.” I said, chuckling slightly. 

He smiles at his nickname and nods. “Muffin, not bad.” 

William turned on Finding Nemo for me when I finished my pasta and sat on the couch. He takes a seat beside me, and I slip onto his lap, nestling against his chest. 

The movie begins, and I can feel his enormous arms wrap around me, his eyes fixed on the movie we’ve seen a million times. 

“Remember, to tell me,” he added gently, breaking the silence. 

4/5 

“I promise,” I say, feeling quite tired. I cuddle closer to him as he pulls the blanket over us. 

And that was the first promise I’d ever broken. 

5/5