"Eric, did James come here this afternoon?" Noel asked, his eyes still on the business magazine. Eric, who was busy with his phone, now turned to his brother.
"Yeah, did Jamie tell you?"
"Eh? Jamie here? I haven't seen him in a long time! Let's take Jamie here again!" Gabriel squealed with delight. Luke beside him didn't seem interested in their conversation, the man was more engrossed in drinking his American coffee.
"I heard it was Gwen who was sick. Is she okay?" Noel's question made Gabriel even more surprised. Luke even looked up.
"Gwen sick?"
"She said she was just dizzy. So I guess it's fine," Eric replied casually.
Gabriel furrowed his brows. "So what was the sudden business she said was sick? I was such an insensitive idiot." The youngest man's face was so sad. In contrast to Luke, who felt suspicious.
"But her face doesn't look pale."
"Sigh, you don't care about things that you don't think are important. That Gwen is really sick!" Eric's words irritated Luke. The man put down his coffee cup.
"Hey, how long do you think I've been acting? I know what's real and what's not!"
"What? So you think Gwen is acting and lying to me?!" said Eric, not wanting to lose.
Luke shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, I don't care. Whether she's lying or not, it doesn't hurt us either."
"You-"
Noel closed his business magazine. "Luke is right. Besides, I'm not asking this to make you two argue about whether Gwen is really sick or not. I want you to make time for tomorrow," Noel's finale made his three brothers look at him curiously. It was not unusual for Noel to suddenly gather them together and ask to spare his time where each had a very solid time.
"What for?"
"All of a sudden."
"It appears that I can."
Noel smiled meaningfully. "We haven't spent time together in a long time because we have our own things to do. Let's go visit the Camaraderie orphanage. And we'll take Gwen with us."
"What?!" they shouted at the same time.
***
Casey blinked. Still digesting what she's doing right now. Suddenly, Noel invites her to visit an orphanage. Even when she asked Eric, the man didn't give an answer, which made Casey stop being curious. Now the girl was sitting among her four young masters. The car drove leisurely towards the intended orphanage. It was very awkward and no one spoke. Casey swallowed hard, so nervous.
"We have arrived." Noel spoke up.
The whole crew got out, Casey was the last to get out of the car. Her eyes did not leave a white building that looked clean and well-maintained. Many flowers are blooming and shady trees are around the orphanage. It seems that the administrators there really take care of the surrounding environment. A group of children, running here and there, laughing together. It is very soothing to the people who see it.
Eric tapped Casey's shoulder. "Let's go."
As the five of them got closer to the place, the children began to notice it and ran towards the four young masters with excited cheers. They scrambled to hug the men, Eric even carried one of the boys who was fat and adorable.
"Hey, champ! Long time no see," said Eric, pinching the boy's cheek.
"Luke, Luke! Carry me!" asked the little girl, who was about six years old with her hair in two ponytails. Luke immediately complied with her request, and the little girl shouted happily.
Casey saw their interaction for the first time, and it was so cool to see. They are very gentle on small children.
When Casey looked down, she noticed something tugging at the hem of her skirt. A boy holding a toddler. Their gazes were so innocent, their red and dense cheeks so tempting to pinch. Casey bent down to be level with the child's height. He smiled sweetly.
"Hello-"
"Who are you? Why are you together with Noel and the others?" asked the boy curtly. Instantly, Casey froze, not expecting the curt words of the figure that was now in front of her. Even though his appearance is so innocent and adorable, it turns out his mouth is quite sharp.
"I—I—"
"Noel! Who is she?" The boy shouted while pointing at Casey a little impolitely. While the toddler, who was in his arms, began to feel uncomfortable and stretched her hand towards Casey as if she wanted to move towards Casey.
Noel, who had been busy chatting with the children, turned to Casey and the boy. "What's wrong, Reo?"
The boy named Reo was still pointing at Casey, his gaze sharp. "Who is she? Why is she here?"
Noel smiled faintly, then took the toddler who was about to cry. "Reo, put your hands down. That's rude." Reo obediently immediately lowered his hand. Still waiting for Noel's answer. "Her name is Gwen. Today she will accompany you. Get along with her." Noel stroked Reo's blonde hair gently. The boy had a face like a living doll. Really very handsome, Casey can imagine how Reo will grow up. For now, Casey couldn't help but smile stiffly as he was still shocked by what had happened.
"Wow! You all arrived! Why didn't you tell me? I've been waiting for you all this time." A man, followed by a middle-aged woman, came out of the building. Welcoming their arrival.
"Jamie! I missed you!" Gabriel ran and threw himself into James' arms. The guy was not at all ashamed to be seen by a child. Gabriel was as spoiled as the children. Meanwhile, Eric hid his body behind Luke. He was a little traumatized by James. Especially because of what happened yesterday.
"I missed you too, Gab. Everything went well, right? Nothing to make you sad?" James asked softly. Gabriel nodded happily. "Of course! Absolutely not!"
James found a stranger in that place. A smile graced his face. "Hello, Gwen. We meet again," he said.
Casey bowed politely and smiled faintly. "Hello, Doctor. It's nice to see you again. Regarding yesterday, thank you for taking the trouble of treating."
The man laughed loudly as he waved his hand. "Hey, don't be shy with me. I'm used to it. Come on in. People are busy coming here. We have to treat them well," teased James, letting them in.
The inside of the building is equally extraordinary. Casey thought she was in a different world. It may be ancient, but the artistic impression is so strong. Even though she had started to feel something uncomfortable earlier, the flash of memory of the heroine had sometimes appeared.
Casey suddenly stopped his steps when she felt great turmoil. Her heart was getting worse and making her short of breath. Memories of the real Gwen kept coming back and making her dizzy. Casey took a deep breath, trying not to panic. People had walked further and further, while she was still standing still.
Casey remembers a place like this. Although not the same place where Gwen lived as a child, but still makes Gwen's original trauma resurface. Her chest growing nauseous, Casey covered her mouth with trembling hands. She wanted to get out of here.
"Are you okay?" rebuked Luke when he realized that Casey had stopped following their group.
Casey gasped in surprise, looking up at Luke in horror. Luke's eyes widened when he saw Casey's very pale face and teary eyes. The man grabbed Casey's shoulders. "Hey, what's wrong with you?"
"I-I... I..."
"Calm yourself first." Luke led Casey into a chair. The man didn't take his eyes off Casey at all. As if diverting a little, the girl would disappear. He quickly took out his cell phone and typed something.
Not long after that, Noel came with a glass of warm water. Casey, with still shaking hands accepted the water. "Have you calmed down?" Noel asked gently and carefully.
Casey took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. She nodded weakly.
Luke took a deep breath. "I told you not to bring her now," Luke protested disapprovingly. Noel didn't respond, the man was still trying to calm Casey down.
"Do you want to go home right now?" Noel asked again.
"I'm... sorry, I'm really sorry." Casey rubbed her palms fearfully, as if a dark hallucination had returned to life. She herself couldn't control the body, as if it was the heroine's own instinct.
Noel without thinking immediately took Casey into his arms. Caressing Casey's mane gently and warmly. It was as if the girl was a weak creature that must be guarded wholeheartedly and should not be scratched by the slightest thing. "You don't need to apologize. It's okay. You're safe, you're with me." Noel had absolutely no idea how to calm the girl down because he was sure Casey didn't need many words. A touch might make her feel better, and Noel just doesn't want Casey to sink deeper into her dark memories.
The sedating words slowly made Casey feel the warmth and serenity of the man's embrace. The uneasiness that had been bubbling up inside of her had subsided. The girl returned Noel's hug tightly.
Luke sighed in relief after Casey calmed down again, he stroked Casey's back.
The hug was gone. Casey blushed after realizing what had been done. "I'm sorry! I troubled you guys!"
"Absolutely not," Noel replied, with a warm smile. The blood inside Casey suddenly rippled violently, which had not been a dream before. Her being hugged by Noel and comforted by Luke is totally real.
"Ah! Finally found!" cried Gabriel and ran to them.
"You guys! We've been looking for it. It's still here. What's wrong?" asked Eric, looking at the three of them in turn. Feeling the atmosphere between the three people looked serious.
"Haah... I'm hungry." Luke nonchalantly went into the kitchen, leaving the others behind.
"That bastard is cold-hearted," Eric cursed, even holding out his middle finger to Luke, who was getting further away. Gabriel didn't like it and hit Eric's hand.
"What the heck?!" Eric protested.
"Your hands are not good! Children can see it!" Gabriel scolded, and this time he was right.
Eric grunted. "Talk to my ass!"
"What did you say?!"
Casey chuckled softly at the interaction of the four brothers. It was as if she had forgotten the panic she had experienced before. Noel smiled, relieved that Casey had behaved as usual.
"Do you still want to continue the visit?" Noel asked. Casey turned to Noel and nodded.
"Yes, I want to."