I Will Protect You, Alfie

As I ran across the street, huffing and buffing, I wasn't actually looking at the road. My eyes seemed to be staring at the road, but they had gone elsewhere.

"Ouch!" All of the sudden, a female voice rang into my ears, I felt an unexpected impact. I had bumped into someone.

"Ah......sorry I bumped into you." I apologized immediately.

"Huh? I feel like I bumped into someone but there is no one here. Is it my imagination?" the woman said.

I suddenly realized something and my face went white.

Did I just bump into a human?

I can touch humans now?

This means I'm stronger than before.......which means.....

Alfie is in danger!

In Alfie's viewpoint...

At school, a familiar ringing sound started to ring again, announcing the end of the day. I packed all my belongings in my schoolbag slowly, one by one. Usually, I would pack my stuff faster as I always wanted to get out of the classroom as soon as possible, you never knew what would happen. But since I met Kevin, the number of times I smiled grew rapidly, I lowered down my vigilance on everyone.....perhaps school was not that stressful at all.

"Alfie." The sound of my name startled me, I gazed up, James was standing next beside my desk, with a few other classmates behind him, his eyebrow was lowered and pulled close together, showing wrinkles on his forehead. My nerves began to shake, past experience told me something bad was going to happen.

"What's wrong, James?" I asked politely, hoping my instinct was wrong.

"Alfie! It is you, isn't it? You're the one who stole my pen!" James shouted, I felt strange as I don't remember seeing any pen.

"Your pen? What do you mean?"

"Huh?! I'm saying my Waldmann Xetra Vienna Black Fountain Pen, of course!" Hearing that long name, it did sound familiar. Memories floated in my mind, James was talking about that pen in brought to school.

"That pen was very expensive. I suppose you stole it due to jealousy!"

"No, I didn't. How could I dare to steal your pen?"

"Don't fool me. I have a witness. The one standing behind me said that he saw you steal my pen." James turned his head towards a thin boy behind, I recognized him. He was the boy who saw me talking to Jay and spread my rumors to everyone. As I took a glance at him, I saw him make a wickedly smile.

"James! Paul is wrong! I swear I didn't touch your pen!"

"Then show me your schoolbag to prove you are innocent." James suggested. Before I could agree, other classmates grabbed my schoolbag and opened up all the pockets in my schoolbag, searching my bag left and right.

"What are you doing?!" I cried. I tried to take back my schoolbag from them but James stopped me.

"James. I found it. The pen is in Alfie's bag." One of the classmates stated, showing a fountain pen in his hand.

"Huh?!! How can that be possible? This is a mistake!" I explained. Yet, no one believed me.

"So you don't want to admit, huh? Don't worry, I'm sure you will admit soon." James clenched and gripped his fist tightly. He dragged me to that nightmare corner of mine and pushed me towards the walls, I gazed at him and saw James hold up his fist and punched right at my face.

".....cough.....cough.....what I said is true....I didn't do anything....."

"Stop lying! If you didn't do it, why my pen is in your bag? Tell me, Alfie!"

"Paul stole you pen and put the blame on me." I tried to explain.

"Please, James. Believe in me. I didn't do anything."

"Why are you still saying that? YOU really think I will believe your lies?"

He's right.

What am I thinking?

Even I explain to him, if he doesn't believe, then what is the use of explaining anyway?

At school, I didn't have any friends. No one really stands by my side.

But one day, when I finally made a friend.

A friend that is willing to accept me for who I was and willing to stand by my side.

I thought my school life might change.

I thought I could be like others and have my own social groups.

Or at least.....I thought perhaps.....school life wasn't so stressful as I thought it was.

But even I made a friend.

Nothing has changed.

Nothing at all.

I am still that old me.

I only blind myself away from pain and sorrow.

But in the end....

I'm still lonely.

After a while, James seemed to get bored in punching me and left. I walked slowly back home, carrying my crumbled school bag. On the road, I heard the red, green traffic lights beeping one by one, I ignored the sound and kept walking.

All my life, I was always alone.

No matter if it is at home or at school, there is no place for me to stay.

At school, while I was reading a book, I always saw other classmates chatting happily with each other.

Looking at them, I always questioned myself.

What is the difference between me and them?

Is it because I got the ability to see ghosts?

Or is it because this is what I meant to be?

I don't know.

All I wanted was someone that will believe in me.

I didn't wish for something that is impossible.

I just don't want to be alone again.

but why it is so hard......?

"Beep----Beep------" Shocking, a huge sound disturbed my thoughts and brought me back to reality.

I turned my head and looked at my left, there was a car rushing straight towards me, the lights on the car seemed to be dazzling like rainbows, my legs got struck on the ground, I wasn't able to move.

The car was only a few inches away from me.

Looking at it, I thought.......

..........It is finally over, isn't it?

"Alfie!!!"

Surprisingly, a sudden voice appeared in my head. I saw a familiar face, green eyes and black hair, a face that I could never forget.

"Jay?!" A word slipped out from my mouth, Jay rushed by my side and pushed me away from car, I fall on the ground, escaping from death.

Before I could understand what was happening, Jay grabbed my hand tightly and we ran off together.

"Wait! Wait up! Where are you taking me---" I asked. Before I could finish my sentence, Jay turned around and hugged me with both of his arms. I could feel Jay's temperature, it was as cold as ice.

"Thank goodness! I'm so glad you're alright! I don't know what to do if you're gone!" Jay shrieked.

"I'm fine....calm down." I stated.

"Huh?!! You are one step to heaven!! How can I be calm?!!"

"Jay...." I looked at him, he seemed very worried about me.

"Alfie, are you ok? Are there any injuries or any wounds----Your uniform! It's crumbled! What happened?!!" He asked when he saw my clothes full of dirt.

"Err....." I tried to explain but I didn't know what I should say.

"It is ok. You can tell me later. Right now, let's go home. Your parents won't come back today." Jay stopped hugging me and turned around. My body started shaking again, that feeling of death still stayed in my head, it was like endless nightmares. When he let go of me, I couldn't feel that Jay's cold temperature anymore and I hated that.

So, I hugged him back.

"Alfie??!" Jay called my name again in shock. It is strange, isn't it? I never thought that someone calling my name is such a beautiful thing. When I hugged Jay, I felt colder and colder. My whole body is freezing. But I couldn't stop hugging him.

"Jay......Jay........Jay! I'm scared! There is suddenly a car and......Jay..." I kept on repeating Jay's name and hugged him tighter, hoping I could get a sense of comfort after what I had experienced. He is, after all, the only one I can rely on.

"It's alright, Alfie. I'm here. There is nothing to be afraid of. It's already over." Jay kneeled down and comforted me softly. I know Jay has a number of questions in his head, he must be desperate to know what is going on. I wanted to explain to him about what actually happened but when I tried to speak, I lost in the battle of fear. Tears went down my cheeks like waterfalls, creating a pond of tears. I couldn't stop sobbing. I haven't cried for a long time. All my emotions which kept locked deeply inside my heart chambers burst out as a stream, they all came out at the same time. I didn't really know why I was crying.

I just want to cry.

Jay saw me crying and lent his head closer to my ears and whispered.

"Alfie."

"From now onwards, no matter what happens, I will always be with you. You don't have to worry about anything, I will protect you."

"Really? Promise me?" I asked in doubt. I let go of Jay and stared at him, our eyes matched.

"I promise you." Jay patted my head firmly. I like it when he pat my head, it gives me a sense of security.

"Are you feeling better?" Jay asked.

"Yeah....." Jay released his hand from my head when he saw me stop crying. I glared at his hand and I realized something very important.

"Huh? Jay.....your hand!" As I spoke, I grabbed Jay's hand.

"You're touching me."

"You're a ghost, why can I touch you?" I wondered. Jay seemed to be startled by my question, his eyes shook a little. He looked sad.

"I don't know either. When you were falling down, I reached out my hand. And at the next minute I touched you. Perhaps it is a miracle?" Jay made a huge smile, hiding his sadness.

"A miracle....?" I felt confused, I didn't know why there was a sudden miracle shown up, I was not the main character in a story. Jay gazed at me, he seemed sad but I didn't know why.

"Come on, Alfie. Let's go home. You will be seen talking to me here." Jay stood up and suggested. He stood up, turned around and was about to leave. I didn't stand up, I just put my eyes fixed on his hand.

He let go of my hand again.

"Wait!" I stopped him and reached out for his hand.

"Huh?" Jay asked. He was shocked.

"......Jay, don't let go of my hand. Until we reach home, please keep on holding my hand." I begged him, my voice was cracked and fragile. I hated being weak but I couldn't stop showing my weakness.

"......It's fine for me but someone else may see you holding hands with me."

"It doesn't matter. I don't care. Just keep......holding my hand......please."

"Alright, don't worry, Alfie, I'll be with you forever."