[ Bella's Point of View ]
"And we're done!" Ashton clapped his hands after uttering words that were not necessary for this meeting.
He looked at me and sighed heavily. The students went out of the clubroom one by one, but this girl kept glaring at Ashton. She was clenching her fists and seemed anxious.
I guess she's from the lower years.
I looked at her in the eye, and she looked back at me. Somehow, she calmed down and stomped off the room.
"Is she mad?" Niana asked as soon as the girl went out.
"Don't mind her. She's just nervous meeting a lot of people." Ashton said. He looked so agitated.
"Thanks for today. Mind if we leave now?" Niana and I stood up from the couch, but Ashton stopped me by grabbing my wrist.
"What is it again?" I turned to him.
"Uh, d...do you have a...anything to do today?" He asked, stammering.
"Yeah, we will go to the orphanage!" Niana uttered and pulled me away from Ashton.
"Sorry, we'll get going!"
We both went out of that clubroom, and Niana sighed heavily.
"Don't you think that guy is weird?" She asked.
"He is," I responded frigidly.
Niana held a tight grip on her backpack and stood up straight.
"Anyway, let's keep going. The sisters and the children are waiting for us!" She grabbed my hands again and pulled me to the train station.
"Why do we need to ride a train? Is it far?" I said while scanning my I.D.
"Yeah. It's gonna be a long journey if we walk. Our legs will end up numb if we do that." She smiled and got the tickets for both of us.
"Isn't it too late? Can't we just go there during the weekend?"
She shoved the tickets at my face and said, "Nope, I already got these!"
We entered the train and sat on the train seat. There were not many people, so we didn't have to stand.
I looked at the window and saw the view. We were definitely moving fast.
"Is it your first time riding a train? You look so amazed." Niana mumbled. I felt the air of her breath on my ear.
"No. I tried riding a train when I was a toddler." I replied.
"Who on earth remembers their toddler memories?"
"Me."
She said something, but I wasn't paying attention. All I can hear is the rushing train through the subway.
I felt relaxed and sleepy.
...
[Niana's Point of View]
Bella fell asleep and rested her head on my shoulder. I smiled at her.
I sighed and leaned on the train wall. Until this day, I couldn't forget the flames eating Sewol High in middle school.
That was my fault. I am a murderer.
I sighed again and looked outside the window. I wish to go back to the orphanage, my solace.
I looked at Bella, who was sleeping cozily. She looks like an angel when she's asleep. Her eyelashes are long, her skin is as white as snow, her lips are bloody, and her soft and fragrant hair.
She's perfect.
Was it worth meeting her? I've learned a lot from her ever since she became my friend.
I wonder if she sees the same way.
After an hour, I eventually fell asleep too.
...
[Bella's Point of View]
I woke up with an excruciating neck. I tilted my head left and right and stretched my arms, then I noticed that it was already night and dark. I couldn't see anything outside already except darkness, the stars, and the moon.
I glanced at Niana, and she slightly opened her eyes.
"Oh, you're awake?" She yawned.
"Yeah. Are we there yet?" I asked.
"Hmm, almost."
Soon after thirty more minutes, the train stopped, and we finally went out of the train. The train left and blew out hairs away.
"Where do we go now?" I nonchalantly asked while staring at the place.
I saw a big brown house with kids playing around the area. Therefore, it was undeniably loud. The place is full of big pine trees and varieties of flowers.
"Come on." Niana moved forward, and I followed her.
The kids recognized her immediately and ran towards her. They hugged her, and Niana hugged them back as well.
Some kids were laughing, some were crying, and some were just ignoring what was happening.
I guess that's how the world works aren't it?
"Oh my goodness! When did you all grow so tall! I missed you guys!" Niana checked at them one by one.
A nun came out of the orphanage and smiled widely when she saw Niana. The nun kissed Niana's forehead, and they talked about something. I didn't want to eavesdrop, so I moved further away. I found a swing not so far from here, so I decided to go there.
"It's been a while." I held the chain of the swing and sat down. I slowly started swinging back and forth.
"Do you want me to push you?" I heard a small voice from behind. I halted swinging and turned around, then saw a little boy with an amputated leg.
He smiled at me from ear to ear. I just stared blankly at him.
"Uh, no thanks. I can handle myself." I frigidly uttered. He went to the swing beside me and stared at me.
This kid is making me feel uncomfortable.
"What's your name?" He asked and gently started swinging.
"Belladonna."
"Wow, Donna is a nice name."
"It's Bella."
"I prefer to call you Donna."
It's not bad.
"Why do you look so cold, Donna?" He smiled at me.
I looked away and started swinging up high.
"It's because..."
He just watched me.
"I'm not normal."
I don't know if he heard that, but I hope he didn't. The swing moved slowly, and he was just looking at me.
"I'm not normal either." He said and looked at his leg. I mean his amputated leg.
"That's completely fine," I told him.
"I can't play soccer anymore." He held tightly on his cargo shorts, and I heard him sniff. Is he crying?
I stood up from my swing and heel sat in front of him.
"Hey, you know, you can't do anything about it already, so you should stop crying there," I told him. Was I harsh?
"Look, there are people like you who are disabled, but they are still happy with their life. Others have a complete body, complete legs and arms, but they don't feel happy at all."
What am I saying?
He raised his face and looked at me.
If only you were a psychopath like me, you wouldn't cry just because of a leg.
"You know, you just have to be grateful for what you have. Some things cannot be changed, and it's up to you how to handle it." I uttered subconsciously.
He cried louder and hugged me. I was stunned and didn't know what to do. Why is he crying even louder?
"Thanks, Donna! I will remember your words."
I felt like something possessed me. My heart acted shattered, and I felt like I was about to cry.
He pulled himself away and finally calmed down.
"Donna, are you happy?" He asked while sniffing his nose.
That question was something I heard multiple times from different people. A question I will never know the answer to.
I forced a smile at him and said, "I don't know, little buddy. I hope one day, I can answer your question."
I breathed heavily.
"My name is Joshua." He said.
"Nice to meet you, Joshua."
I saw Niana approaching us, and Joshua immediately ran to her.
"Hey, Bella! Come on! Let's go inside. It's freezing here!" Niana called.
We ate dinner inside the house. This place is actually bigger than I expected. We ate something that looked really weird, but it tasted good, nevertheless.
"Are you Niana's friend?" The child in front of me asked. She still has rice and sauce all over her mouth.
"Uh, yeah." I hesitantly replied. It would be ludicrous and confusing for a kid if I said, 'no, I am just using her for mutual benefit.'
"You look more beautiful than Niana." The kid beside me spoke.
"I know," I said and glanced at Niana, who's now glaring at me. I found her expression funny.
After we ate, I looked at the time, and it was already nine pm. I sighed and realized that I might not go to school tomorrow. What if there's a surprise test and I miss it? It's Niana's fault.
I went outside to get some fresh air and inhaled deeply. The atmosphere here is so fresh. It smells like trees and pinecones.
"Hey, you alright?" I heard Niana speak from behind.
"Yeah. Why do you keep asking that? I'm starting to get annoyed."
"I know."
We both inhaled deeply and looked at the sky. It's full of stars and galaxies.
"Was it fun growing up here?" I asked her.
"Yeah, definitely it was." She replied.
After a few minutes, a bell rang inside the house, and the kids started to line up.
"Oh, it's bedtime," Niana muttered.
We both went back to the house and lined up with the kids. The kids here are so well-trained and disciplined.
"Okay, proceed to your rooms quietly." The nun commanded, and the kids peacefully went to their respective rooms.
"The both of you can stay in the guest room." The nun smiled at us and gave us extra pajamas.
...
"What a day!" Niana stretched her body while lying down on the big white fluffy bed.
"Hey, don't tell me you would sleep there alone," I told her and also jumped into the bed.
"Hahaha! Of course not. Let's share!"
We lied down with one blanket covering both of us.
"Niana, I don't want to be ditching class tomorrow. There might be a lot of activities, and I don't want to miss those." I mumbled.
"Don't worry, of course I know that. Why would I bring you here if I know that you are a studious girl who never misses class." She replied.
"What do you mean?"
"Come on! It's a holiday tomorrow!"
"What is there to celebrate?"
"I don't know, but what's important is the holiday."
"Goodness."
I moved to my side against her and closed my eyes. I felt drained and sleepy after the long day.
Not even after a minute, I hear Niana snoring so bad.
At this point, she's going to wake up the children.