I had just finished my shift. It's 8:30 pm. Was starving. I haven't had my dinner and was craving for some Teriyaki Chicken.

The mall was always crowded at this time. But people barely filled up at Yoshinoya. Don't know why. The food was good. I made it my place to enjoy some alone time during meals. I would always sit at the bar facing the window, enjoy watching people pass me buy.

I was about to dig in. The chicken looked so good. Realised I had forgotten to grab a straw for my drink. Got off the stool and went to the counter, but suddenly knocked into a little girl in a white dress.

"Eh Sorry adik!"

She rubbed her head and smiled at me. Then giggled and ran to the counter. I followed behind her. She was trying to reach for the straws in the container next to the cash register. Tipping on her toes trying to increase her height.

"Do you need a straw too?" She nodded.

"How many?"

She turns to see her mother and her little brother in a baby chair. Counting silently with her index finger. I saw 3 cups on the family table. So I took 4.

"Here you go. One for your Mum, one for you your brother and another one just for you."

She took the straws from my hand, and smile widely showing me her crooked teeth and ran to her mother.

She hugged her mother and showed her the straws like a medal. The mother clapped her hands and kissed her daughter on the forehead.

I went back to my stool and started to dig in my meal. Five minutes later, I felt a tap on my lower back.

The little girl gave me a napkin. I smiled and said thank you. She motions for me to lean closer. She whispered,

"You're welcome Kakak."

Her voice was very husky. Like a sore throat. I could barely hear her. I noticed she had a white scarf wrapped neatly around her little neck. She was staring at my lip piercing and pointed it out.

"Kakak, is there a hole at the bottom of your lip?"

I nodded.

"Yes. It's a piercing. But you're too young to have something like this. Cause this is really painful to get."

"I don't think its painful. I think I can take it. Cause I have one too!"

I was puzzled by what she meant. Then she took off her white scarf and showed me her neck.

There was a huge scar right on the center of her neck, above her collarbone. A circle that I assume she previously had gone for some kind of surgery. Most likely had a tube gone through it. It looked like it was still in the process of healing.

I did my best to not looked shocked or stare. Because she was smiling and showing it to me proudly. She continued to speak with her husky voice.

"I got pierced too. But I didn't feel a thing because I was asleep."

Then she coughed a little. I took her hand in mine. And said

"Wow, you've got some amazing strength, heck you're probably stronger than me!"

She giggled. Then her mother called her. I looked at her mother, she had a worried face. I understood that I might have made her uncomfortable.

So I helped the little girl wrap her scarf back around her neck.

"Adik, have you had your dinner yet?"

she shook her head.

"Well, I think its best you go on and have dinner with mum. She's waiting for you. Make sure you finish your meal, cause it's gonna help you get much stronger."

She nodded proudly and ran to her mother but stopped halfway to run back to me.

She held out both her hands to me with a salam.

I was taken back and accepted it as she showed respect by letting our salam touch her forehead. She then ran along back to her mother and hugged her again. I could see the little girl was relaying our conversation.

This time, the mother motion her lips to me with a smile, saying

"Thank you."

I nodded and took my meal to go.



*Kakak - Big sister. Adik - Little sister.