"Starting today, your school is here. Geona and the twins will be your sister and brother, and we will be your mommy and daddy. Anyway, whatever happens, we will take care of you and be your family." Jacob crouched down when the four kids got out of the car and stood in front of the school building.
"Thank you, Sir." Ozora was still calling sir until Jacob rubbed her head. His eyes turned to his three children.
"Would you like to share your parents with Ozo?" Jacob deliberately asked his children's opinion so that Ozora wouldn't be awkward.
"Of course, Dad. We already agreed that Ozo will be part of our family," Daven answered. Even though he was still five years old, Daven's answer was like a seven year old child.
"Did you hear it? We all accept you. Starting today, call me daddy. Can you do that?"
"Yes, Daddy." Ozora agreed. She was very happy. She had a family. Ozora was not an illegitimate child anymore.
***
Every day Ozora felt the warmth of family more and more. But life was not that easy for a child her age. When she got a new family, Cana actually stayed away from her. The girl who was already considered as a sister slowly avoided Ozora. It's been a month but Ozora didn't know what caused it. As a result, at school, Ozora was happy to meet her three siblings, but at the orphanage she had no friends at all.
"Cana, I bought a ribbon for you. Do you like it?" Ozora gave Cana a pink ribbon hoping that her friend would play with her again.
Cana smiled and accepted it. "Thank you." Slowly Cana's sweet smile turned into a smirk. Cana walked and she approached the trash can.
"Ozo, look!" Cana purposely asked Ozora to look at her even though she realized that the little girl's eyes couldn't leave her movement. "I don't need trash from you." Cana's grip opened right above the trash can. "Garbage is here. Just like you." Cana threw the pink ribbon and raised one corner of her lips and left Ozora just like that.
"Why are you so mean? I bought this using my parent's money." Ozora was crying but Cana didn't care about her..
Ozora approached the trash can and intended to take the pink ribbon that had been mixed with other trash. When she wanted to put her hand in, suddenly a voice interrupted her.
"Do not take it!" A young man approached Ozora. He looked handsome. Ozora believed that the boy was older than her. "Don't lower yourself by taking things that other people have thrown away," the young man said to Ozora.
"Who are you?" Ozora had to raise her head because the man was much taller than her.
"My name…." The young man's sentence was hanging because the other two youths called him.
"Kids, come on inside. The show is about to start." At the same time Bella called Ozora and her friends.
Ozora was sure that the three people were visitors at the orphanage. "Who are they?" Ozora thought wonderingly. Unbeknownst to her, Cana had seen them from afar.
Arriving at the hall, the three youths had gathered with their group. It turned out that they were a group of students who were doing social activities. An orphanage was a place recommended by those closest to them.
The group invites all the children to play, guess, sing and even distribute healthy food and drinks. Ozora's eyes were still fixed on the young man from earlier. Even though she was still eleven years old, she could tell which one was handsome or not. But there was something strange about that man. He just wanted to sit and chat with his two friends.
Cana watched Ozora who didn't stop paying attention to the three men sitting in the corner of the room. She smirked and was planning something. "You will not succeed in getting their attention. I can not let you accept a lot of attention from others."
Children were waiting in line to receive food. Cana, who had already received food rations first walked through the queue and suddenly slipped right next to Ozora.
"Are you okay, Cana?" Bella asked as the food spilled onto the girl's clothes.
"Ozora purposely tripped my leg so that I falled on the floor."
"Ozo, is what Cana said true?" Bella glared at Ozora. She also did not understand why the two children were no longer close.
"N-no, Mommy. I didn't trip her leg. She just fell." Ozora's face was terrified. No one will defend her because the average kids there didn't like her.
"She's not wrong, Madam. I saw with my own eyes. Her friend fell down on her own while she was seriously waiting in line." The man was back to defend Ozora.
"Are you sure?" Bella didn't want to make the wrong decision by disciplining an innocent child.
"Very sure. We've been watching every child waiting in line since."
"Okay. Cana change your clothes and come back here. I will get new food for you but You have to apologize to Ozora."
"What?" Cana was shocked.
"Unlucky! The man defended her again. Watch out for you, Ozora." Cana clenched her fists. She couldn't understand why everyone cared about Ozora. She wanted to have adoptive parents, but why did Ozora get it?
"Are you okay?" The twenty years old man bowed and looked at Ozora. The girl's eyes flashed fear. "Don't be afraid if you're not mistaken." The man stroked Ozora's curls.
"Eldrick, please get the biscuits we bought earlier." One of his friends gave the order.
"Why tell me? You can take it yourself." The man named Eldrick rejected it.
Nicko approached Eldrick. "Are your eyes blind? Look at Niel's hands! He's busy helping other kids." Nicko hit him on the head. "Let's get to the car," Nicko pulled Eldrick's hand.
Eldrick and his friend walked to the parking lot. "Twice I caught you chatting with the little girl. Did you like her?" Looks like Nicko is bored and invites Eldrick to argue.
"Are you still sane? She's still very young. I'm not a pedophile.``
"Who knows." Nicko laughed at him while opening the trunk of his friend's car.
Eldrick, Nicko, and Othniel, three men who had been friends since they were ten years old. Even to this day they study at the same campus even though the majors were different.