Chapter 012

About 45 minutes, we arrived at the orphanage. The nuns didn't know I was going to visit them, because I also wanted to surprise them. Tine was carrying my things. It looks like the nuns haven't noticed our presence yet. They are currently talking while the kids are playing on the grass. I miss them! Fortunately, Sister Fiona turned in our direction, she was surprised to see me and even covered her mouth. "Sisters, Vienna's here," she muttered. Because of what she said, the other nuns also turned in my direction. I smiled and the kids also turned to me. "SISTER VIENNA!!!" the kids shouted in unison. They all ran going in my direction and hugged me immediately. I smiled because their hugs were so tight. "Sister Vienna, we missed you." "Why did you just visit today?" "We've been waiting for you for a long time." "Sister, will you visit here every day?" I couldn't stop myself from squeezing their cheeks because of what they said and asked me. The nuns just smiled but seemed to want to stop the kids. "Kids, your sister Vienna has something for you, here," Tine suddenly said as she reached out to Alicia, the oldest of all the children here in the orphanage. "Thank you sister Vienna, thank you, brother," Alicia replied with a smile. "You're welcome," Tine replied and gently mess her hair. "Brother, what's your name?" "Are you our sister's boyfriend?" "You look good together." My God! These kids, they think too much. They have wide of thinking and imagination. "I'm Tine, a friend of your sister Vienna," Tine introduced himself. They all looked sad because of his answer. They all expect this guy was my boyfriend. "Kids, please share the gifts given by your sister Vienna, don't fight okay?" said Sister Elizabeth. The kids followed what sister Elizabeth said and when they left, I hugged them all. I missed them so much. "I miss you all," I said. "We also missed you, Vienna, we haven't seen each other for a year. I hope you call at least we can prepare food," Sister Fely replied. She is the mother superior of this orphanage and the eldest of all the nuns here. "I want to surprise you that's why I didn't bother to call," I said. "You surprised us Vienna, thank you for visiting here," said Sister Fiona with a smile. She's the youngest among all the nuns here in the orphanage. She's beautiful but she wanted to serve God. "Son, you're Tine aren't you?" Sister Celia asked. I almost forgot that Tine was with me. "Yes, Tine Alvarez sister," he replied. "What happened to your knee?" sister Elizabeth asked worriedly. Tine was embarrassed because the nuns were already looking at his knee. "It's nothing sister, it's getting better. I just fell in soccer practice," he replied. "Next time, you'll be careful." Tine smiled at what sister Elizabeth said. "It's good that you brought a friend here, we won't have to worry every time you leave," said sister Louisa. They're just worried about me and I know why. "Son, please keep an eye on Vienna, and please avoid her from any harm." Tine nodded and smiled in response to sister Fely. "Yes sister, I'll take care of her," Tine replied. "Come inside first to have some rest," said Sister Celia but I shook my head. "Sister, we can't stay here longer, I want to, but I still need to do something. I'm sorry, I promise I'll come back here again," I replied, and sister Celia hugged me as well. "It's okay, visit here anytime we will wait for you. Be careful, you and Tine.. we missed you, Vienna," said sister Celia. Sister Elizabeth immediately hugged me and Sister Fely hugged me as well. I will miss them all, especially the kids, I hope I can visit here again. *** Tine and I are on the way now. After what happened earlier, I feel so much fun. It seemed like almost all the problems I thought were gone because of the hugs of the nuns and the kids. "You're happy," Tine said suddenly. I turned to him and he smiled. "Maybe sisters and the kids are very important in your life," he added. I suddenly remembered what happened 3 years ago. I am very grateful for the help of the nuns and the kids so that I can recover from the accident. If it weren't for their help, I might not have a single memory today. "Vienna, are you okay?" I turned to Tine again. I could see the worry in his eyes. "Yeah, I'm okay... I just remembered something," I replied. "Care to share? I'm willing to listen. My house is still far away, and wherein the middle of traffic." Should I trust him? I can see the sincerity in his eyes but I don't want to tell him what happened to me 3 years ago. Only Michelle knows my story and I don't want to share it with others. "I lived for almost 1 year in the orphanage then after that, I back to the US and lived there. I just come home to the Philippines every first day of the month to visit my mom and brother." I didn't tell him the whole story, I don't want him to know everything. "That's why you love and care for them and that's why I haven't met you before even though your brother always takes me to your house. That's why you lived in an orphanage and in US. Vince told me why you lived in America but he never told me about the orphanage." My brother told him about me, but my brother never told me about him. I haven't met Tine before because I live in the orphanage. "Tine, thank you for coming with me," I said to his surprise. "You're welcome, Vienna, thank you again for helping me and sorry again for what I did." "It's fine Tine, no need to say sorry, it's okay," I said and smiled at him, he smile in return. After an hour, I finally take him home. I'm the girl who is supposedly the one he will take home but I was the one who take him home. Funny, anyways their house was big and a large garden, also a lot of flowers were planted. I didn't want to enter his house because it was already 6:30 pm but he insisted. "Mom, I'm home," he said as we entered their house. It's has a nice interior, there's a lot of pictures displayed, vases, chandeliers, and also the design of the house was beautiful. They have three maids who are busy preparing food on the table. "Finally, you're home." I looked at a woman who walked downstairs who was about 30 to 35 years old. Maybe this was his mom next to it is a man who I think was his dad. "Good evening, ma'am and sir," I greeted with respect and they both looked at me. His mom immediately smiled at me and also his dad. "You didn't inform us son that you were with someone. Hi honey, good evening too, what's your name? Are you Tine's girlfriend?" she said smiling. That's what I'm thinking, that's what they'll think right away. Maybe there's not a single woman that Tine brought here, he's handsome but no girlfriend. "Mom, she's not my girlfriend, she's Vince's sister," Tine replied irritably. It was as if I wanted to laugh because of his reaction. "Oh, I'm sorry honey, I didn't even know you because you're even more beautiful now. How are you? We haven't seen each other for a long time, I guess? Am I right?" I looked at her in surprise. Have I met her before? Why don't I remember her? My mom even my brother didn't tell me about her. "Have we met before?" I asked, which surprised Tine's mom, especially his dad. "I thought they were just lying, so it's true. I'm Victoria, Tine's mom and this is Timothy, my husband, Tine's father. I've met you before, your brother's 13th birthday," she replied which surprised me even more. I can't remember her and I can't even remember what happened on my brother's birthday. "Um.. let's eat, the food is already on the table. Vienna, honey, take a seat and join us the dinner," said Tine's dad when I couldn't answer what Tine's mom said. As I sat in the chair, I was still thinking about what she said. Even Tine, I noticed that he was thinking and maybe he was confused too. We started eating, the table was quiet but I noticed that Tine's mom was looking at me. "Vienna, are you okay now?" Tine's dad suddenly asked, makes me confused. "Yes uncle, I'm fine," I answered. "Good to hear that, be careful okay? Please avoid yourself in any kind of accident. And by the way, please send our regards to your mom and Uncle Lucas," Uncle said and I nodded in response. How come I didn't know and remember them if they knew Mom and Uncle Lucas? They didn't even know what happened to me 3 years ago? Could they not have been told? How come? Is my brain has been totally damaged so well that I even forgot them?