Probably because she had the mind of a six-year-old, Juniper found herself treating her like a child, even though she looked a few years older.
"Okay!" Celine nodded vigorously, but her eyes were glued to the delicious food on the table. She was practically drooling.
Juniper opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately decided against it. Forget it. With the intellect of a six-year-old, anything she said would be pointless.
"Yummy, munch, munch..."
As they ate, Celine sighed with pure bliss. "This is yummy too, munch, munch..."
"If you like it, have some more." Janet kept piling food onto her plate until it was a small mountain.
A moment later, it was all gone.
Janet gave her more.
It vanished again.
More food.
Gone.
"Wow." Watching Celine eat so happily, Qadir couldn't help but exclaim, "Juniper, this is the first time I've ever seen a girl who can eat as much as you."
More importantly, Celine was just as skinny. She didn't look like a big eater at all.
Juniper shot him a look and silently stacked the empty bowls. "Can't all that food shut your mouth?" she said, annoyed.
Such a nice guy, ruined the moment he opened his mouth. So tactless!
"You eat too, Juniper." Celine offered the large chicken drumstick from her plate to Juniper, her smile radiant.
"Thanks." Juniper glanced at her, a strange, indefinable feeling washing over her.
"No, you can't." Juniper stopped, crossing her arms in front of her chest in an 'X' and patiently explaining, "Your husband will be worried sick if he can't find you."
Only then did Celine stop, her eyes turning red as she stared at Juniper. "Add..."
Celine took out her phone and began clumsily navigating it. It was clear she wanted to exchange contact information.
"I'll add you."
Juniper wanted to refuse, but she couldn't bring herself to do it when she saw those sad, rabbit-like eyes. Respecting her elders and caring for the young was truly her greatest virtue. Of course, Shanley was the 'elder' in that equation.
"I..." Celine stared at Juniper, so excited she was at a loss for words. "Can we meet again, Juniper?"
"If it's meant to be, we'll meet again," Juniper said, standing her ground and tipping her chin at Celine. "Alright, now go back to where you came from."
Celine opened her mouth, wanting to say so much, but the words wouldn't come out. It wasn't until she was back in the coffee shop, watching Juniper and her friends walk away laughing, that a single, difficult word escaped her lips: "Sister."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy