Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

"Oh, you caught me…" Esther felt James's breath on her ear, causing a ticklish sensation. "If you don't want to tell, I'll stop asking."

It wouldn't be good if James got angry over this.

"The first time we met was in Yole City."

Esther tried to recall her time in Yole City when she was sixteen. Yes, before turning sixteen, she had lived there.

The Sanders family had business in Yole City at the time. Situated in the south, it was a bustling city with a hint of tranquility. Their ancestors owned grand historical mansions, and Esther resided in one of them during her time in Yole City.

"But I can't remember…"

James glanced at her, looking sad. "So you don't remember me, huh?"

Esther blushed. No, she had no memory of James and suspected he might be making it up.

"You were about fourteen and still attending school. One day, on your way there, you bumped into a boy. Do you recall?"

A boy? Esther shook her head.

"I was out with my parents, and when we arrived in Yole City, I lost sight of them in the crowd. As I searched for them, I encountered two human-traffickers. One of them noticed my nice clothes and, after some hesitation, he grabbed me and took off." Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

James didn't seem worried; rather, he looked like he was reminiscing.

"Then, there was a girl on the bridge. I'm not sure why, but I suddenly felt brave and shouted, 'Fatty, help me.'"

Fatty…

Esther's awkwardness disappeared, replaced by anger. She remembered. She remembered everything!

During puberty, Esther had gained quite a bit of weight, resembling a ball at one point. Despite being teased by classmates, she remained confident. So, when someone called her "fatty," she exploded.

Though only fourteen, she stood at five feet two, nearly the same height as the traffickers. She grabbed the woman by her shirt, exuding an air of authority.

"Hold on, miss," Esther cleared her throat and said coldly, "I need to have a word with this fellow."

She then shot daggers at him.

The trafficker wasn't about to stop, so she waved Esther away.

"Miss, your child is very rude. He called me fatty. I know I'm a little overweight, but I don't think that's how he should talk to a lady. I need to educate him."

That made sense. James was hoping the girl would stall them, buying some time, so he watched eagerly as events unfolded.

The trafficker, realizing the situation was escalating, attempted to diffuse it. "It's just a misunderstanding. He's just a silly kid. I apologize on his behalf…"

With more people gathering to watch, the trafficker grew increasingly anxious. If the boy's parents appeared, they could end up in serious trouble.

"No." Esther declared firmly, standing her ground like a tiny hill.