"Jim"
Jim turned at the sound of his name, his gaze sweeping across the sunlit courtyard of the orphanage until it landed on Tina. Her presence was unexpected, and for a moment, he was caught off guard. The soft rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze seemed to pause, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
It wasn't unusual for Tina to visit the orphanage—it was, after all, the place where she had grown up. But today, her arrival felt different. Was it coincidence? Or was it something more—something like destiny? Jim couldn't help but wonder.
Tina walked toward him, her steps steady but her expression unreadable. The children, who had been sitting around Jim, listening to his stories, erupted into excited cheers at the sight of her. "Big sis Tina!" they shouted, their voices ringing with joy. "Big sis is back!"
Jim smiled at their enthusiasm, but his attention remained fixed on Tina. She stopped in front of him, her arms crossed and her brows slightly furrowed. "Why are you here?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes searching.
Jim's lips curved into a playful smile. "You can guess," he replied, his voice light and teasing.
Tina frowned, her brows knitting together in mild irritation. "You..." she began, but before she could finish, one of the children tugged at Jim's sleeve.
"Does Uncle Chin know sis Tina?" the child asked, their innocent eyes wide with curiosity.
Jim's smile faltered for a moment, replaced by an awkward expression. 'Uncle Chin?' he thought, a drop of sweat forming on his temple. 'She's your sister, and I'm your uncle? Why do you call me uncle?'
He crouched down to the child's level, his face serious. "You should call me brother," he said, his tone firm but kind.
The children, however, were quick to protest. "Why?" one asked, tilting their head. "But you're so old!" another added, their voice filled with childish honesty. "Aren't you ashamed to call yourself brother?" a third chimed in, their words blunt and unfiltered.
Jim's mouth opened and closed as he struggled to find a response. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead as he muttered under his breath, 'It's impossible to teach these kids.'
Tina, who had been watching the exchange, suddenly let out a soft laugh. But before Jim could turn to see her smiling, she quickly averted her gaze, pretending as though nothing had happened. Jim caught the faintest glimpse of her smile, however, and it was enough to make his heart skip a beat. He didn't say anything, simply smiling to himself as he stood up.
..........
A little while later, Jim and Tina found themselves walking side by side along a quiet path that led to a railing overlooking the valley. The air was fresh, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers from the gardens below. Tina leaned against the railing, taking a deep breath as the breeze played with her hair. For a moment, she seemed at peace, her usual guarded demeanor softening.
"Why are you here again?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "Do you still want to buy the land of the orphanage?"
Jim's expression darkened, and for the first time, his playful demeanor vanished. "Idiot!" he snapped, his fists clenching at his sides. "Am I just that bad in your eyes?"
Tina flinched at his sudden anger, her voice trembling as she replied, "But you've done this before...."
Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He froze, the anger in his eyes replaced by a deep, aching guilt. He looked away, his shoulders slumping as he let out a heavy sigh. "Yes," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I used to do that."
He turned back to her, his eyes filled with remorse. "But now, I don't want to do that anymore." His voice cracked, and he took a moment to steady himself. "I'm here to look for something."
Tina's brows furrowed in confusion. "Look for something?" she echoed, her voice soft.
Jim nodded, his gaze drifting toward the horizon where the sun hung low, casting a golden glow over the valley. "I grew up in a very traditional family," he began, his voice tinged with bitterness. "My grandfather was strict, and to train me to become the successor of Chin Group, he was even stricter. I had a very harsh childhood."
Tina's eyes widened slightly. This was the first time she had seen such vulnerability in Jim. The man who always seemed so confident, so untouchable, was now standing before her, his guard down, his heart laid bare.
"When I came back," Jim continued, "I began to indulge myself. I thought that was the joy I wanted. But it wasn't. Not until I met you." His voice softened, and a small smile tugged at his lips as he turned to face her.
"Me?" Tina asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Jim's smile grew as he looked at her, his eyes filled with warmth. "You're the simplest girl I've ever seen," he said, his voice gentle. "You're kind, strong, and tender, but sometimes you're stubborn." He chuckled softly, the sound warm and genuine. "You lit up my heart like a ray of light."
Tina's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding as his words washed over her. She could feel the sincerity in his voice, the raw emotion behind every word. It was as if he had reached into her chest and gently held her heart in his hands.
"Tina," Jim said, his voice steady but filled with emotion, "you are so good. I'm willing to guard you all my life."
Tears welled up in Tina's eyes, her cheeks flushing as she struggled to find words. "Jim..." she whispered, her voice trembling.
"But I don't know how to express my love," Jim continued, his voice breaking. "Even though I hurt you again and again, I never stopped caring for you. You closed your heart and refused to accept me, but I knew you didn't hate me as much as you seemed to."
He turned his gaze toward the orphanage, a sense of hope shining in his eyes. "I came to this place where you grew up," he said, his voice steady once more, "to find the key to your heart."
He looked back at her, his smile soft but filled with determination. "Do you think I can find it?"
Tina's tears spilled over, her heart swelling with emotions she could no longer contain. Without a second thought, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. "You've found it," she whispered, her voice muffled but filled with warmth. "Haven't you?"
Jim's eyes widened in surprise, but within moments, his arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly. "Tina," he murmured, his voice filled with awe and gratitude.