A Cue For Happiness

Stay By My Side

snow-white snake twirling itself around her calf, slowly inching its way up her leg. Its eyes were clear and amber-colored, and it kept flicking its tongue from time to time.Natalie was unlike Yara, who grew up in the city. Before she turned nineteen, Natalie had been living in the countryside. There would always be snakes in the fields and rivers, so she wasn’t afraid of the snake. She had even caught snakes for fun with her childhood friends back then.However, when she came to the city, she rarely had the chance to see snakes anymore.She put down her fork and pried the little fellow that was wrapped around her leg off herself before lifting it right in front of her face. Then, she caressed the snake’s head gently while saying, “Hello, little guy. You look special. Are you an albino?”She was planning to take the snake home with her if it didn’t have an owner. Xavian would love to keep it as a pet.“You’re not afraid of Moony?” A childish voice could be heard.“M-Moony?”Natalie’s sight shifted from Moony to a little boy, who was standing at the door of the dining hall.The little boy had pretty looks, and his dark eyes were fixed intently on her. His good looks were even comparable with that of Xavian and Clayton’s. Upon closer observation, she noticed that the little boy looked somewhat similar to Xavian and Clayton. Maybe it was because of this similarity that made her smile slightly.She took Moony in her hand and walked toward Franklin before squatting down in front of him.“Is this snake yours? It’s cute!” Natalie was smiling when she looked into the little boy’s dark eyes. “Is its name Moony?”The little boy pursed his lips and snorted. “You’re unattractive, but you’re rather brave. At least you’re better than those women who screamed when they saw Moony.”“Here. I’ll return it back to you.” Natalie placed Moony on Franklin’s small palms.Franklin snorted again, never once averting his eyes from her face. “I called you unattractive just now. Why are you not mad at me?”As Natalie had a hyper-realistic mask on her face to make her appear ugly, she wasn’t the slightest bit bothered by the little boy’s harsh words.“Well, it’s a fact that I’m unattractive. Therefore, there’s no reason for me to be mad about it.” She rubbed Franklin’s head, which was bristly because of his short hair, while she spoke. “Moreover, I’m already ugly. Won’t it just make me uglier if I still get angry about it?”Franklin was already five