"A long time ago when I was a teenager, there was a priest named Patrick who takes care of this place and cares for orphans. When the children grow up to be teenagers, they will disperse and go their own ways. Some people contacted me again, but some people just disappeared and never came back. The Priest Patrick graciously cared for all the children equally, including myself during that time. He tried to find small jobs for the children to do together, such as cleaning around the town, helping people around here repair their houses. They received in exchange rice, dry food, or money for our living. Every day, He would lead prayers and gave advice to the villagers who had faith in him, but…" Helen said, her voice trembling.
"Grandma Helen." A girl came to comfort Grandma's lap.
"Thank you, Mia." Helen answered by patting Mia on the head and then she began to tell the story again.
"One day that there was an army of demons invading the city. Many people died and many wizards fought with all their might. At our place, Patrick took us all to hide in the basement, then he hurriedly closed the door and gave his final orders to us. Then he hurried up to lure the demons so they wouldn't enter this secret room inside where there was a hiding place in the basement. He was killed by the demons along with everyone else. We just prayed to someone would come and help us before the demons find us until Lord Hector and the others arrived and finished them off." Helen said.
"This place, some people are trying to own it after the priest Patrick passed away. I spent many years trying to save this house, did all the work and paid the rent to the government but in the end, someone bought this place completely from the government. The children and I will have to move out in the next few days." Helen concluded.
"Do you have a new place to live yet?" Mariel asked with concern.
"We don't know yet. Maybe we need to live in the forest at first." Helen replied.
Suddenly, there was a loud shout from outside the house.
"Is Helen there?" a tall man shouted. Then Helen came out with Mia. As for the other children, they stayed inside the house. This guy came with 4 other men.
"Mister Hel." Helen said.
"Next three days, all of you will have to move out, understand?" Hel said in a stern voice.
"Can we have a little more time? The children and I are trying to find a new place to live." Helen pleaded.
"No! I will use this place to build a residence for daily rental. Monthly costs for foreigners." Hel refused harshly.
"Wait a minute." Mariel said, suddenly emerging from behind Helen.
"Who are you?" Hel asked curiously.
"I'm just a female student. Why did it happen to be like this?" Mariel asked.
"Do you know what? This house which I bought had a title deed and it is valid. Therefore, I have the right to expel anyone who lived here before." Hel said.
"If I could buy the house back for Grandma Helen, would that be, okay?" Mariel asked curiously.
"Please, don't do that." Helen tried to dissuade Mariel.
"If you want this house back, pay me 20,000 gold coins." Hel said.
"Why is a house like this so expensive?" Mariel asked curiously.
"Well, I'm going to sell it for a profit, so why not? I bought it for 10,000 gold coins. If I want to sell it, I'll have to make double the profit. If you can't afford it, just leave. I'll only give you 3 days and if you don't move out yet. I will have government officials to come and take you all out." Hel said as he walked away with his men.
The other children came out to comfort Helen. Everyone cried because they had to leave this house without knowing where they would live in the future.
(These moments reflect my past as an orphan. Why must there be these things in every world? Everyone can have a house, money, gold, a car, and a warm family. A house full of grandchildren and there is no crime at all. Is there no chance of this happening?) (Chai thinking)
"I can't promise Grandma Helen that I'll help you to find a new house, but I will help you as best I can." Mariel said with tears.
"It's okay, my dear. You can help this much. I am very grateful." Helen said gratefully.
"Beatrix and Mania, do you mind if I give all snacks for all the children to eat?" Mariel asked the other two friends for their opinion.
"Agreed." Beatrix responded.
"With pleasure." Mania agreed.
"This is all the savings I have. Anyway, Grandma Helen, you can use it to buy food for all the children." Mariel said, placing all the money she had with her on the table in front of everyone. It was approximately more than 200 gold coins.
"This is too much. I'm afraid." Grandma Helen said and her feeling was very considerate of Mariel's kindness.
"Please keep it. In any case, I will try to find a way to help Miss Helen about the new house." Mariel said.
When Mariel and friends said their goodbyes, they all walked outside the house but as they were coming out of the deep alley, there was one child following them.
"Hi!" Mariel said after turning to look and saw that it was the boy they had met earlier in the day.
"Sister...please...can you help us?" the boy said with a sad expression.
"I'll try my best. What is your name?" Mariel asked.
"My name is Charlie." the boy answered.
"Nice to meet you, Charlie. See you soon. I'll do my best." Mariel hugged Charlie tightly and waved goodbye.
"How can you find the money to help buy back the house? 20,000 gold coins!" Beatrix asked.
"I do not know but at least I will try to find a new place for them." Mariel said with hope.
Two days later was the annual Valentine's Day. Male and female students gave each other chocolates, sweets, or bouquets of flowers, including various souvenirs for each other to show their love and concern for each other. Mariel gave cookies that she had made to her two friends. Beatrix and Mania also gave sweets to Mariel. Then they brought sweets and cookies to the people. others in the room as well
"Is it too much?" Mariel was shocked by what she saw in front of the table because Mariel's table was full of sweets and lots of chocolate from all the male students in the class who admired her as well.
"You are very charming." Beatrix teased.
"No. 1 in the class forever." Mania said with smile.
"I really envy you." Bellany said with a jealous look on her face.
"Mariel, I would like to present this to you." Jerrick came with a large gift box. When Mariel removed the ribbon wrapped on top of the box, it appeared that a large white teddy bear emerged from the box.
"Wow, it's so cute." The other female students were envious.
"Uh, thank you." Mariel said, forcing a smile.
"My lovely Mariel." a familiar voice came from outside the classroom.
"Here he come, the man who is crazy in love with you." Beatrix teased, turning to look at the doorway before anyone else.
"This is a heavenly gift that the most handsome man, Senior Jack, only wants to give to my lovely Mariel." Senior Jack said, placing the large gift box next to Jerrick's as well.
Mariel slowly unwrapped the present. It turned out to be a light brown teddy bear, about the same size as Jerrick's.
"Hey, you imitated me!" Jerrick said angrily.
"You are the one who imitated me!" Senior Jack shouted back.
"It's definitely bought at the same store…" Bellany and the others said.
After this, Senior Jack handed a letter into Mariel's hand.
"A tribute to my heart. When you are lonely, you can read and watch it when you miss me, my lovely Mariel." Senior Jack said with a heartfelt smile.
Mariel slowly opened the letter with a feeling of uncertainty. It turned out that it was a letter describing his love for her. Including one photograph, Senior Jack wears a pair of men's black underwear, turned sideways, and proudly flexes his muscles with a bodybuilder's smile.
"Oh my god!" The other female students screamed in embarrassment. Mariel sat still and her face was slightly red.
"When my lovely Mariel suddenly misses me. Then you looked at this picture and... Ouch!!!!" Senior Jack had not yet finished his speaking, then he cried out in pain.
Mariel crumpled the photo into a ball in her hand and stuffed it into Senior Jack's mouth. She also threw a punch into the middle of his stomach.
"Don't ever give me something like this again!!!!" Mariel said after knocking him unconscious on the ground. His 4 subordinates' men immediately came and carried Senior Jack out of the classroom.
"Aren't you going to keep it? It's a woman's valuable gift. A picture of a handsome man." Beatrix teased.
"That's it." Mania said with regret.
"Never!" Mariel refused and this made the others laugh with joy.
(If I keep it, I'll be crazy. This is a picture of a man. I'm a man and I look a picture of other man. It's not right!) (Chai screamed)
Mariel gathered all the sweets and chocolates into a large bag and placed them in the back of the room along with the two large teddy bears. Everyone immediately studied their morning class lessons.
In the afternoon, Mariel borrowed the school stroller, put the two teddy bears and a large bag of snacks inside. Then she was slowly wheeled out of the school along with Beatrix and Mania. Seniors Jack and Jerrick secretly follow behind them without realizing.
"Where are they going with these things?" Senior Jack said with doubt.
"Let's follow and see." Jerrick said.
They followed the Mariel and friends until they arrived at the Helens' house. They were amazed at the sight of this but soon everything was cleared up because they saw Mariel, Beatrix and Mania take out snacks from bags and distributed them to the children.
"It's really delicious." Mia said along with the other children. Mariel smiled in response.
"Whose two teddy bears are these?" another girl asked, touching the soft skin of the dolls.
"I brought it to you. You can cuddle and play with them." Mariel said, causing the girls to cheer and play with the teddy bears happily. Meanwhile, a group of boys compete with Beatrix and Beatrix with their magic.
"You are very talented." The group of boys praised.
"Practice often and you'll become like us." Beatrix said.
As for Charlie, he came to sit and talk with Mariel along with Grandma Helen as well. Mariel admits that she hasn't found a new place yet, but her parents promise to help her find a house in the village. They are talking with people in the village and will give her an answer by tomorrow.
"I'm very grateful to you for all your help." Helen said with tears.
"It's okay, Grandma Helen. I'm happy to help as much as I can." Mariel said.
"If we live to your village. May I help your father and mother work in the barn? I want to see a horse." Charlie inquired.
"Sure, I'll tell my father about this." Mariel said, patting Charlie's head affectionately.
Three girls stayed and talked with Grandma Helen and the children until evening and then left this place. Other two men were depressed after knowing the whole truth. Jerrick and Senior Jack chose to wait for Mariel and friends to leave and then they went in to ask Grandma Helen about the whole story again.
"I didn't think that my lovely Mariel would have such a very good woman. I want to be involved in helping Helen and the children with all I can help." Senior Jack said.
"We can do this, Senior." Jerrick said. Then the two young men looked into each other's eyes and shook hands again.
At night, after Beatrix and Mania returned from their part-time jobs at the restaurant, they encountered Senior Jack and Jerrick waiting outside the restaurant.
"We have a few things to discuss two of you." Senior Jack said. Then they all talked about various plans and urged them not to tell Mariel yet.
"I never thought you guys would be this kind-hearted." Beatrix said with happiness on her face.
"Mania is very supportive of this idea. This will be a great gift for Grandma Helen, the children included Mariel too." Mania admired.
"We just want to see our Angel Mariel smile again. Seeing the sad look in her eyes when she walked back from that house was heartbreaking for us. And we saw that children and Grandma Helen to be homeless is unacceptable!" Jerrick said.
"Let's just do this. We have to go back and do a lot of things." Senior Jack said.
That night, Jerrick and Senior Jack were in contact with many people to take action all night until they could hardly sleep. Various materials were brought from various places all the way to the house without stopping until the materials were as big as a mountain. The noise of construction was loud throughout the night, but Grandma Helen used magic to reduce the noise so that it didn't disturb the other neighbors too much.
In the morning's dawn, Mariel talks with Deric and Claudia and comes to this conclusion: If Grandma Helen and children really had to move out today, there would be a small house in the village that neighbors would help clean it up and wait for Grandma Helen and the other 10 children. At least they aren't to be homeless again. As for the food and clothing supplies, Claudia will provide all of them.
"Let's go." Mariel said after cooking a large meal of mixed seafood spaghetti, Garlic Breads, big box of fried chicken and including a variety of cakes for Grandma Helen and the children's last meal.
"Sure." Beatrix and Mania said, and they loaded up lunch and headed straight to Helen's house.
When they arrived in front of that house, Mariel stood stunned in confusion. Is it a place that is a wooden house that is almost completely decaying?
But now, this house has been rebuilt into a house completely covered with cement and built with the meticulousness of many craftsmen who are working hard.
The children and Grandma Helen stood together, watched with smiles and tears of happiness. Jerrick and Senior Jack stood attentively instructing people about their plans for various corners inside the house.
"The kitchen utensils are in that corner and put them in good order." Jerrick ordered.
"Study tables, chairs, and white boards for teaching can be placed in this main hall." Senior Jack ordered as well as the house was finished with construction. Many technicians are starting to carry various equipment and appliances into the house.
Mariel walked inside the fence, shocked by what she saw in front of her. She was speechless. There was only the unexpected joy that these things would happen.
"My lovely Mariel. Don't worry. Just wait for the moment and it was all nearly finished. A new home for Grandma and children with all the equipment." Senior Jack said after noticing that Mariel and her friends had arrived.
"I and Senior Jack contacted Hel. We'd like to pay the title deed of this house for 25,000 gold coins. At first, Hel didn't want to sell this house, so we offered a price that he couldn't refuse. We gave to Grandma Helen as the owner of this house from now on." Jerrick explained.
"You guys…" Mariel was stunned by what she heard.
"It was Senior Jack's and my savings. Doing something good, in return, we received a feeling that we can't describe. I have never done this much for anyone since I was born. Grandma Helen and the children will be able to live in this new home. My father also helped me to find a laundry job for Grandma Helen to earn extra income to cover their expenses." Jerrick explained.
"Jerrick paid about the construction. As for me, I'm responsible for the kitchen utensils, all textbooks and various equipment within this house. Lucky, my house sells stationery and various equipment, so I know people everywhere. This makes it possible to order products quickly in a fair price." Senior Jack said with a smile.
It didn't take long for Grandma Helen and the children's new house to be finished. So, Mariel and her friends brought food out and put it on the large table outside the house. Everyone ate with gusto and there were expressions of joy on the children's faces and eyes which made Mariel and the others feel overwhelmed and relieved from their exhaustion.
"Thank you so much for everything today" Grandma Helen said through tears.
"I would like to represent and thank you to all of you. If there is an opportunity in the future, we will return the favor." Charlie said.
"We would like to give this to you." Mia said, tying colorful bracelets made from layers of multi-colored rope to everyone.
(Even though this bracelet may look similar, but it is something that is woven from the heart of children. I will preserve it as best I can.) (Chai thinking)
"We will come to see Grandma and children again." Mariel said, hugging everyone and saying goodbye, then it was Beatrix, Mania, Jerrick and Senior Jack embracing the children and Grandma Helen until it was time to go back to the dormitories at school.
The sight of Grandma Helen and the children waving goodbye with smiles made a deep impression on everyone. Even Jerrick and Senior Jack, who had hardly done any good deeds to help others before, made them tearful as well.
"Value of life." Jerrick said.
"It feels really good to be able to do this for them." Senior Jack also said.
When they arrived back in front of the female student dormitory, Instead, Mariel stood still as if she was thinking about something in her mind, causing Beatrix and Mania to be suspicious.
"Is something wrong? Mariel." Beatrix asked curiously.
"Did you forget something?" Mania asked further.
Mariel then slowly turned and walked towards Jerrick and Senior Jack whose were chatting happily behind her.
"Is there something? Mariel." Jerrick asked.
"Do you need anything more? My lovely Mariel." Senior Jack asked with curiosity.
"I would like to thank you guys for everything that you has done today. It has been the greatest gift of my life." Mariel said in tears of joy.
"Anything you want. I'm always happy to do it for you, Grandma, and the children too." Jerick said with a smile.
"For my lovely Mariel. It would be an honor for helping this." Senior Jack said with a slight blush on his face.
Beatrix and Mania stood stunned at what happened next because Mariel didn't say anything else, instead she walked up and hugged the two men tightly and kissed their cheeks as a thank you, making them stand frozen in place because they didn't expect to receive such a gift in return like this.
"Thank you again for everything today. See you later." Mariel said, turning and running up to the dormitory, blushing slightly.
"Wait for me!" Beatrix and Mania shouted, running close after her.
As for Jerrick and Senior Jack, when they regained consciousness, they jumped and danced with extreme joy.
"We are equal to Senior Ken now, Lol." Senior Jack said with satisfaction.
"That we have done is worth it today." Jerrick raised his fist to the sky in happiness.
"Our decisions are always correct!" Senior Jack said, extending his hand to the other.
"Of course, brother. If we have a chance, we can do it together again." Jerrick replied, stretching out his hand and holding the other tightly. They walked back to the male dormitory with satisfied expressions on their faces.