It's the fourth day of Belen and Noah's trip to South Korea. For the past few days, both were quite busy dealing with A Star Mall. Like meeting new investors, signing proposals, attending charity events, and holding meetings day after day with the ten heads of the departments making sure everything is perfect for customers.
It's afternoon, Belen is just about to finish her pile of work. They both plan on leaving earlier than any other day because they have a place to visit. Not on official business, but personal plans that they have every year.
Belen, in her office, glancing out the window, lost in a trance within the fluffy warm-looking clouds. But she shakes her head, snapping out of the trance sighing out of boredom. "what do I do now? Noah said he'll call me once he's done, should I see what they have on TV?" She gets up to sit on the sofa close to the enormous screen TV grabbing the remote and passing through some channels.
"Nope, nope, umm nope! Should I watch the news?"
As she turns the channel to watch the news, she becomes bothered to see only political news, "really? I hate politics! But I forgot, here they care so much about their laws and justice, ha! If only they were this strict in California, strange, I don't watch TV other than Korean dramas! Oh! I haven't watched any of the latest ones yet!"
She chuckles, talking to herself, "I like watching kdramas, only when the actors and actresses are great, they know how to draw you into their world…hmm, I want my books to be like that too."
Someone knocks, "come in!"
"Are you watching TV?"
Belen quickly turns it off, revealing a mischievous smile, "uh? No?"
"Shall we get going?" Noah can't help but laugh.
"Yes!!" she agrees excitedly, "did you call them? do they know we're coming?"
"I did, but it'll be a surprise for the children."
"Perfect! Ah! I can't wait!"
As Belen picks up her belongings, turning her back to Noah, his smile becomes faint at the thought of visiting that place. While at the same time trying to be happy for Belen's sake since, on the contrary, she loves it.
They make their way to the parking lot, Noah is driving, and Belen is on the passenger seat next to him. As they get out of the parking lot, Everest notices and
decides to follow them discreetly.
***
Little did Everest know that where they're both driving to is a place hour away from Seoul because they are going to visit an orphanage. In other words, Noah's home. And this orphanage is located within a rural setting, with houses made of solid concrete, the walls of cement, steel iron roofs, secured doors, and plantations of growing vegetables, fruits, and rice wine.
Unlike the big city which is full of lights within a foot in distance from lamp posts, stores, traffic lights and cars, this place is quiet by nature and everyone is foreign to new technology, clothing, outdated language, and different dialect.
And as Everest is following them, he notices his visibility and decides to park near a restaurant losing track of their whereabouts. But on the other hand, Noah and Belen park nearby the orphanage, a vast missionary building that once used to be a church in service fifty years ago, but then turned into an orphanage for children.
"Ah! I'm so nervous!" Belen shouts, trying to calm her nerves, but Noah chuckles at the sight of her smile.
They can hear the voices of children excitedly playing in the background, but as they enter the black gate, they're confused about listening to children but not see them. When a woman dressed in a long yellow dress in her early 30's running to welcome them.
"Good afternoon! You must be Noah," she shakes his hand and turns, "and you must be Belen! nice to meet you!"
Noah asks, "Are you new here? The reason I ask is that I don't believe I've seen you before."
"ah please excuse my late introduction, I began working here five months ago, my name is Ko Eun-ah, please call me Eun-ah."
"Where are the children?" Belen curiously asks, glancing around the yard.
"Oh! Their playing in the playroom, would you like to see them?"
"Where is mother? I mean."
"Are you referring to miss Mi-sun? She went out not too long ago. She should be back any minute now."
"Would you like to see the children?"
"Yes…"
"Please follow me."
While following Eun-ah inside the missionary, their eyes widen as the sight of the changes inside. Surprisingly as you enter, its as if coming into a two-story school filled with classrooms, though the first floor has rooms, the second floor is where the children sleep. Altogether there are about twelve rooms, six upstairs and six downstairs, and a separate kitchen like a cafeteria.
But what caught their attention was something more important than the renovations, it is the frames hanging on the walls as they stop.
"were these made and written by the children?" Belen asks, admiring their drawings, written wishes, and pictures of them all playing. Her eyes somehow shine with life, no, more like love at first sight, but as she continued reading the letter, her smile disappears as her eyes become serious, trying to hide her worrisome expression.
"I wish to have a puppy"
"I wish for a mom and dad"
"I wish I can buy a doll."
"I wish I can sleep more."
"I wish to see a horse."
"I wish for a mom."
"I wish for a sister."
"I wish I can eat more."
"I wish to eat meat."
"I wish for a pink dress."
"I wish for racing cars."
"I wish for dinosaurs."
"I wish a bike."
"I wish for crayons."
"I wish for a scarf." and more of children's wishes in frames along with a group picture of all the children smiling.
"Is this all of the children?" Belen asks with a delicate expression.
"N-No this was taken last year, in December, we made the children write a wish to Santa Claus and hang it on the tree, but we thought it'd be best to display their drawings and wishes here in the hallway entrance."
"Have any more come in since?"
"Y-Yes…"
"How many?" she asks with stern eyes.
"Eight…"
Belen sighs, staring at the picture frame full of children from the age range of 3-8 years old. Unfortunately, getting more children in the orphanage isn't a matter of money and staff, but it hurts Belen deeply to think children are being abandoned by their guardians more and more each year. Though it does make her happy to see that she can help provide for them as if they are children of her own. While at the same time, wishes for each child's adoption into great families. As more children come into the orphanage, she happily welcomes them each year with an infinite amount of presents. But as she saw their clumsy handwritten wishes. She can't help but feel dejected after reading their dreams and hoping like a child. They can come true.
But despite knowing this, she clears her thoughts of negativity and mentally prepares herself for the children, "no wonder they're louder than usual, I thought they were outside playing" she lets out a genuine smile.
"Would you like to see them?"
"Yes…"
Noah stares at the handwritten wishes with a blank expression. Showing no sign of pity or even a smile. As if he not knowing how to feel about their dreams or go about them.
Belen isn't surprised at all. Instead, she knows Noah understands the children's wishes more than anyone else.
"Kids! We have visitors!"
At that moment, Eun-ah gestures them to enter, and as they did, the children all widen their smiles, running to hug them like mini bulls. Belen can't help but go on her knees as they all run to hug them, except for some children who she guesses are the children Eun-ah mentioned earlier.
Three boys and three timidly quiet girls are staring at them in the distance, confused about what to do. But Belen waves at them, "who are your new friends?"
The many children turn to them, "remember what teacher Eun-ah say!"
"now, it's okay. They don't know us, let's not force them okay"
"Why?"
She chuckles as Noah distracts them pretending to be a monster, and they go about running within the room, screaming and laughing.
At the same time, the new children hide behind Eun-ah, nervous of her presence, but she asks, "six…I thought you mentioned eight?"
"O-Oh! The other two are infant babies, fraternal twins. They're six months old…"
"wow! Infants…where are they?"
"they're in a separate room, two of our staff are putting them to sleep, would you like to see them?"
"…no, I wouldn't want to wake them, perhaps later."
Eun-ah nods, but the six shy children hiding behind her get Belen's attention as they continue to stare, almost making it impossible for her not to notice. She slightly turns to them, yet they do not look away making her smile as she goes on her knees to match their height, "Hi!" her voice becomes higher and brighter than usual, "what are your names?"
The children do not answer. Instead, they look at one another, confused as if she just spoke a foreign language, which is strange since she just spoke their language.
She goes on to try again calmly, "Oh my! Where are my manners, Hi! My name is Belen. What is your name?"
A boy raises his hand, "my name is Chan-woo" the other two boys gain the courage to reveal, "my name is Do-won" "I'm Ho-jin!"
Belen brightly replies, "Wow! Cool names! Nice to meet you, Chan-woo, Do-won, and Ho-jin! You see that man playing over there?" the boys nod.
"He's my best friend. His name is Noah, No-ah! What do you all like to play?"
The three little boys contemplate, Ho-jin answers enthusiastically, "Pumpkin!"
"pumpkin? And what about you, Chan-woo, Do-won?"
Chan-woo shyly answers, "I like to play hide-and-seek."
"Oh! Then maybe later we can play outside!"
Do-won answers, "I-I! like to play with marbles!"
"Oh! Marbles! Can you teach me how to play?"
"You don't know how to play?" he tilts his head cutely.
She smiles chuckling, "I don't know, I've never played, can you teach me?"
"Okay!"
They go off to play with the rest, as Belen approaches the three little girls, "Hi! My name is Belen. What are your names?"
A little girl in a pink bow shyly answers with her shirt on her mouth, "Han-na…"
"Your name is Han-na! What a pretty name! I like your pink bow! Do you have a favorite princess?"
Another girl shouts, "I do!!"
"and what is your name?"
"my name is Ji-ae, and I am 5 years old!"
"Woah! You're almost going to be a big girl! Who is your favorite princess?"
"I like Rapunzel!!"
"You want to have long hair like Rapunzel?"
At that moment, the other girl speaks up,
"I like Cinderella!"
"What is your name?"
"My name is Mi-hee! I am five years old."
"OH! Nice to meet you all! I hope we can become friends!"
The little girls smile when two run off to play with the rest of the children, but Ji-ae stays alongside Belen.
"you're not going to play?"
Ji-ae shakes her head, "Why not?" Belen asks.
"I want to play with you! You are my friend!"
"Aww! Okay! What should we play?"
***
Hours later, Everest is wandering around, not knowing what to do and what he's got himself into. "Shit! I've been walking from place to place. I'm so sure they came here! I tried asking the people here, but they don't know shit! Damn! When is this jackass Jared going to call me back with the information."
Then he receives the long-awaited phone call, "Hey! Did you get it?!"
"Haha! Why do you sound so out of breath?"
Everest is losing his patience shouts, "cause I don't know where the fuck I am, you piece of shit!"
"Why are you yelling at me? How is this my fault?"
"Jared, just give me the name!"
"…beg me!"
"…I'll bring beer."
"Dreams Come True"
"eh? Are you sure? Hello? Hey Jared!" no reply, Everest calls him back, but his call won't go through, "did he block me? Dammit, whatever! I guess I might as well look for it."
***
Eun-ah shouts, "alright, children! Now that everyone has finished eating its playtime outside!"
They cheer in unison as Eun-ah opens the door to the front yard, the children bolt out like wild boars.
Silence fills the cafeteria, as Eun-ah left to look after the children outside, leaving Belen and Noah inside to help clean up.
"so…how is it being with the children?" Noah asks while taking back the utensils to the kitchen.
Belen tilts her head thinking about how to answer, "not bad, it's exhausting as always, but there is never a time I can stop smiling. My heart feels so full, seeing their cheesy smiles."
"It makes you want to protect them even more, huh…"
"Yes, but more than that, I want to strengthen their smiles so that as they continue to grow, they can learn that having a smile on their faces can help them cope with life a lot better than being pitied."
He smirks with a soft expression in his eyes, "right…"
Eun-ah runs inside, shocking them, "Mother Mi-Sun has arrived! But…she brought someone."
They both stare at each other, confused yet alarmed, as they rush outside. Shocked to see Mi-Sun with a little boy beside her covered in dirt, its hair distressed, barefoot, small cuts on its hands, and smells like urine. But Mi-sun is holding the boy's hand, assuring him that he is not in danger anymore.
"Mother…where have you been?"
"Ah! Ha-neul! It's great to see you. I'm sorry, it's well I received a call that a child was wandering around and stealing, I'm unsure if whether he has a family or not, but I'm going to have him stay here for the meantime, ah! Eun-ah can you please wash and dress him, careful he's timid and does not speak. Poor child, he doesn't understand. Please be patient with him," she says softly, encouraging the boy to hold Eun-ah's hand. He looks back at Mi-Sun, confused when she reassures him, "Go on, child, I'll see you again, don't worry."
As they disappeared, Mi-sun sighs rubbing her head exhausted, "that poor child…" seeing this, Belen asks, "what happened?"
Mi-sun looks up, shocked, "oh my! Belen, is that you? Were you here? I didn't see you! My! Look how beautiful you are! So sweet, my child!"
Mi-Sun began working at the orphanage as a volunteer in her early 20's, she was present during Noah's stay and mainly took care of him compared to the rest of the staff. Throughout the year's many staff came and went, but Mi-Sun stayed. She never left. Since then, she's become the oldest member in the orphanage, and once Noah began working for Belen, he'd often send money to help the orphanage soon after Belen started doing the same. Not only did she donate, but she made sure to provide the children with food, clothing, and shelter. The first year Belen came to visit the orphanage, she asked if she can make renovations and add rooms for the children. In other words, it completely transformed into a school-style orphanage, fresh green grass, tall fruit trees, unconditional love, and support to raise the children with the help of staff.
Though Mi-Sun is the oldest and most knowledgeable in how it is to run an orphanage, Belen gave her full authority because, as a mother, Mi-sun knows what's best for the children. The reason why Noah calls Mi-sun's mother is that she was the only one who cared and gave him special attention. It's thanks to Mi-sun, Noah is where he is today because she never gave up on him and now he's returning his gratitude to his mother by doing what he can by coming to visit her once every year to help.
"Mother! What is going on? Why was that boy covered in dirt?"
"Oh…I was called and asked if I can take in a boy whose been stealing and sleeping in alleyways. The boy was hiding inside a tunnel! Fortunately, he came out once I promised him a place to live, eat, and sleep warmly at night. But as we were coming back, I tried asking him questions about who he is. But he stayed quiet. Instead, he only shook his head and nodded. He held onto my hand so tightly as if afraid I'd leave him," she sighs sadly. "The doctor will not arrive until tomorrow afternoon. I wished the doctor would've come today so I can know if the boy has any allergies, needs any vaccinations, and more…"
Almost immediately, Belen makes a call walking away from them, making Noah smirk not surprised, "Mother, I think you just encouraged her."
"What do you mean?"
She returns, "a doctor will arrive in an hour, is there anything else we can help you?"
"Oh, darling! You didn't have too! It's going to cost you a fortune!"
"Mother, we're doing this because we also want the boy to eat, sleep and live well, I think it's important for a doctor to come now."
"your right son, then while Eun-ah and I attend to the boy, can you two do me the favor of looking after the rest of the children?"
"Of course!" "Yes! No problem!"
Just as Belen walked away to join the children playing in the yard, Mi-sun asks Noah, "Ha-neul!"
"Yes, mother?"
"This boy, he reminds me of when you first came here, do you think after the doctor leaves, can you care for him? I believe only you know better than I do, how that boy must be feeling about everything will you son?"
"…Yes, mother, leave it to me," he poses a fake smile.
***
It's evening, and the lights brightly lit within and outside the orphanage like a Christmas tree, making it impossible not to notice. But at that moment, Everest finally finds the destination he's been looking for, hoping that's where the two are. When he peeked over the fence, he notices the children running around that he hides from their sight. He continues to walk to the side of the orphanage when he hears Belen's voice, and peaks over discreetly.
"what are you two doing?" the children ask Noah and Belen sitting on a bench underneath an apple tree.
"Umm, we got a little tired, so we're taking a break."
"No-ah is Belen, your princess?"
Noah's flabbergasted, "W-What? Where did you get that?"
But Belen takes the initiative by holding his hand and smiling while putting her head on his shoulder, "does he seem like a prince charming to you?"
The little girls' cheer, "which princess are you Belen?"
"Hmm…which princess do I look like?"
"you are prettier than any princess!" "Yes! Benen! It is pretty!" "Belen you are Cinderella!"
She asks, "and why is that? Why am I Cinderella?"
"because No-ah is your prince charming!"
She smirks, teasing him, "he is, isn't he?" they all chuckle.
Noah sighs, unable to control himself when he says, "come on now children its time for dinner! Now go on!"
The children run inside, leaving them alone, Belen pulls her head away thinking that she's teased him enough but is taken aback when he pulls on her hand, "is there something you want to talk about?"
Noah makes a troubled expression, as if there is something he wishes to say, but afraid to speak. She notices his uneasiness and calms him down by caressing his cheek, "is something bothering you?" she asks in a mellow tone.
But silence follows as Belen holds his hand, staring up at the sky with the apples on the trees getting in the way, "remember when we first met? It was under this tree! My dad decided to put me in this orphanage so I can feel like a normal high schooler, though you thought I was an orphan…"
He replies quietly, "When you told me the truth about yourself, I couldn't believe it…I envied you."
"Right…but even still, we became friends under this tree. In this same old bench, gosh, it feels so nostalgic."
She sighs, continuing, "does it have to do with the boy Mi-sun brought earlier?"
Noah looks away embarrassed, unsure whether to say what's in his mind, but Belen gets up, making him feel sad, thinking that she probably got tired and decided to leave him alone. He's caught off guard when he feels Belen's warm embrace around his shoulders leaning her head against his gently relaxing posture. From afar, they look like a beautiful painting of a loving couple sharing a night under the sky hidden within the apple tree.
Though Everest overhears their conversation and getting a glimpse of their intimacy, his shoulders slump, knowing that what he's doing is wrong. "I…I shouldn't have come, this is probably the lowest, what an idiot, I should've stopped myself…" he looks back at them, turning away with sorrow in his eyes, "she already has someone…like I used to."
***
Noah breaks the silence, "I think it'd be best we leave now."
"Why don't we stay and sleep here?"
"but…we might have to sleep with the children, are you alright with that?"
"why not? We haven't passed out the gifts we brought for them yet, why don't we stay for tonight and, Oh! Wait! What time are the photoshoots tomorrow?"
"in the afternoon, I guess staying the night won't be that bad."
"come on! We can talk later, let's see what else we can help Mi-sun with!" she cheerfully pulls his hand inside.
As they entered, Mi-sun joyfully asks, "My! Belen, Ha-neul! I need help, our staff just left, Eun-ah is with the twins, and we need help with the children, can you two do that for me?"
"mother! Where is that boy?"
"Oh don't worry the doctor didn't find anything wrong, he just has many small cuts and needs a healthy meal, I'm going to look after him, so can you two please help me?"
"Yeah, sure!"
***
Nightfall, the children are sleeping soundly as Belen and Noah come outside to eat a midnight snack. They go on to sit on the same bench they were earlier eating leftovers, "I forgot how crazy it gets whenever we come here."
He wipes away the sauce on her lips, calmly smiling, "this whole day, you haven't been able to talk to me, huh."
She chuckles, "I love coming here, it feels like a new world, I don't think about anything else, but the time I spend with you."
"It's been four years since I started working for you."
"Nah-uh! You may be a regular employee in the eyes of others, but to me, you'll always be my best friend" her smile becomes so radiant catching Noah off guard he begins to choke on his food.
Her eyes widen frightened, "are you alright?! Noah! Do you want me to get some water?!"
He stops her by grabbing onto her hand, "I'm fine, please stay… I want to tell you something."
"what is it?"
"Remember our past…?" he stares at her crystal bright eyes.