"Seriously, where are we going?" I became so impatient as Rune and I walk somewhere in this village that is very high from the others. We are walking for ten minutes and she wouldn't say a thing where we are heading.

"You will see it soon, just a little more."

"You said the same thing 10 minutes ago before we walk this rocky sidewalk up there." I mumbled. Good thing that I wore my sneakers or I will punish myself using my stilettos.

As we walk higher, the temperate keeps on increasing making it colder and the cool breeze is not helping me. It's a shame that I didn't bring my coat. But if Rune just said it earlier then I would have brought it with me.

A few minutes later, my vision can finally reach where we are heading. There is this huge two storey house where I can loud laughter of children around. Wait, is this a school or something?

"Welcome to St. Dominique's Home for Angels, my lady." He told me as we walked closer to the place. "This is actually an orphanage."

I look at them in awe. I also have my own charity and children are very close to my heart. I always wanted to help each of everyone. But mine is for those abused kids who suffered a lot at a young age. "This is amazing."

A woman in her late 40's came out from the mansion to call all the children and told them to come in for breakfast. And that was the moment she noticed us coming.

"Red, its good to see you, lad." She came and gave him a warm welcoming hug. "I heard from the villagers that you came back and now with your wife."

"Yes, Sam. This is my wife, Carmela. I was showing her around then decided to show her this. She loves kids." Rune informed her like he knows me very well as he tuck me closer to him.

"Hi." I greeted softly to her.

Sam smiled cheekily. "Oh what a beautiful lass you are. Welcome to St. Dominique. You can call me Sam."

"Nice to meet you." I murmured with a smile.

"Oh please come inside and join us for breakfast." She offered, nicely.

"We already had our breakfast, Sam. But do you mind if we stroll around and see the kids?" Rune asked, politely. Seriously, this man is 360. He can quickly switch to one person to another from being cocky to nice then be so flirty then annoying. He can change his attitude so quickly to according to the people he is going to talking to.

"Of course. If you change your mind, you can join us anything at the table." She stated before leaving us as she went inside the house.

"Is she the owner of this place?" I asked him when we were left alone. This place is actually huge. There are playgrounds, a small church, parking area and some picnic area.

"Yes but the real one who build this place up was his husband." He answered, sitting down on the wooden chair at the picnic area where he patted the place next to him for me to sit.

"What happened then?"

"Well, her husband died because of a heart attack so now Sam is the one who is managing the whole orphanage." He answered, looking up to the sky and leaning his elbows back on the table. "And there are many people who volunteered to help her like the nuns you will see inside. Everyone is nice in here and I got closer to the kids during the time I had a mission in this village. This where I always hang out."

"So, you like children?"

"Yep, I can't help but be mesmerise at how happy they look and how they spend their days just playing and enjoying their childhood." His voice sounds softer as he shared his feelings. I can feel his loneliness as he spoke those.

But I didn't bother to ask. I don't want to push him of something so meaningful especially about his past.

"Children really are the source of many happiness and our future." I chuckled, softly as I look at him while I say these things. "I love helping children too like my Mom."

"Carmela would rather spend her millions on helping kids than spend it on expensive clothing and things." He added, sitting straight to look at me. "And it seems like you got that from her."

"I guess." I murmured, lanky. "I actually build up a charity for abused kids and those who were a victim of rape."

"The Carmela, am I right?"

I nodded before giving him a questioning look "You also know about that?"

"Of course, I do." He smirked, standing up from the chair. "I studied you a lot before I arrived at your doorstep."

"Studied? Talking about creepy people and you are one of them." I rolled my eyes and stood up with him. He walked inside the orphanage and I can see kids running around already. Breakfast must be over by now.

"Red!" A few bunch of kids came running when we entered this huge living room where most of them are reading a book

"Hey. Wow, I almost didn't recognise all of you." Rune approached each one of them as he took a sit on the vacant chair with all the kids surrounding him. "How are you? John! Is that you? My God, you got fatter!"

I watch him talk to the kids and this is the first time I've seen him so carefree and so happy. Could those be his real smile?

"Where have you been, Red? You were gone for so long!" One child whined.

"I have been travelling around, kid." Rune playfully messed up the young boy's hair. "Seriously, how old you are now?"

"I just turned 11 last month." The kid answered, cheerfully.

Standing a few meters away from them, a little blonde girl came to me with curiousness in her round eyes. "Who are you?" I quickly noticed the scar she had near at her cheeks. Since she had a very little face, it looks like it enveloped her the sides of her face to her ear.

Rune was so busy talking to the kids that he didn't notice this kid approached me. "Hi, sunshine. My name is Carmela...you?"

"Raven." She answered with a grin.

"How old are you, Raven?" I asked, crouching down to her level.

"I'm four." She raised three little fingers causing me to laugh.

"That's three, baby." I softly raised one more of her finger. "There. Four."

She lets out a giggle when I did that. She looks so cute and so lovely. And I felt a little sad to know that she doesn't have any parents anymore. She's an orphan at a very young age. This is the first time I've seen you here."

"I'm new here." I answered. "Are you going to stay here in the orphanage too?"

"No, baby. I'm just visiting."

"Really? Where do you live?"

"I am actually living with my husband." I told her, keeping up the act. Raven simply looks curious as always and she is asking too many questions.

"What's a husband?" She tilts her head on the side.

"Well, a husband is someone that you are living with and your partner in life." I explained, "But it is only for grown ups."

"Oh." She nodded like he understands me completely then she suddenly stepped closer to me and touched my hair. "I love your hair."

"Really?" I smiled sweetly at her. "But your hair is better.  They are very smooth and long."

"And you're very beautiful." She compliments, caressing my face with her little hands.

I chuckled and wrinkled my nose. "But you're more beautiful than I am, Raven."

"Really? The kids here told me that I am ugly because of my scar." She stated.

My eyebrows touched at I felt her agony. I felt her sorrow as she said that. What a traumatic experience for a kid like her.

"Shrug then off, baby. You are very beautiful, trust me. Scar doesn't remove the beauty of a person. It is more than that." I placed a hand on top of her head. "Always remember that beauty comes within a person especially if you have a beautiful heart and you're very kind to people."

"Who is she, Red?" I heard some of the kids around Rune asked. I think they are referring to me. I turned to see that they are all staring at me.

Rune was smiling at me and it seems like he heard me talking to Raven. "She is my wonderful wife, kids. Her name is Carmela."

"Carmela?" They all said in unison.

"Yep, come here, love." Rune called me. 

I walked closer to her but Raven suddenly held my hand. I sat down next to him and put Raven on my lap. "Hi, beautiful. What's your name?" He softly asked her.

"Raven." She answered, a little shyly. "Are you the husband of Carmela?"

"Yes, and she is very pretty, right?" He asked the kids and they all agreed in chorus.

"You two are a cute couple!" One of them commented, clapping her hands.

"She is such a beautiful girl!"

"I want to look just like her when I grow up!"

"I love her hair. It looks so silky and smooth!"

"How did you met?"

"Will you kiss her!"

Rune let out a laugh at what they said in excitement causing him to wrap an arm around my shoulder. "Slow down, guys."

"They acted so familiar around you." I whispered at him.

"I used to come here everyday and hang out with them but it's been a very long time and they are all grown up now." He whispered back. "She looks so fond with you all of a sudden."

"Yeah, and I like her." I told him, smiling at cute little Raven who looks so shy. "She actually reminds me of a kid that I helped a few years ago."

"Oh, it's time for our class!" One of them pops up.

"You have class?" I asked, a little confused.

"Yep! We do everything here. We study, we pray together, we eat together and we love it here." The boy answered. They all said their goodbyes and went on to the class they are talking.

"I also have to go now, Carmela. It is very nice to meet you!" Raven cheerfully said before she could ran off to somewhere she needs to me.

I also waved at her. That was also the time that Rune and I decided to go back to the house. At least I've been exposed to a new environment. Something that is very close to what I have been doing in my normal life.

Rune and I were walking home and I can't remove the smile from my face. Seeing the kids brings me so much joy and I don't even know why it is making me this happy. Going to places like an orphanage, or some charity, gives me some happiness that I can't describe.

"My lady is smiling."

"What?"

"You have a very creepy smile on your face. It is kind of scary." Rune joked.

"Seriously....for the millions of guys that I met, you are the only one who thought that my smile is creepy." I rolled my eyes as we walk down the rocky and stony road.

"Then that means you will remember me because I am not included in that millions of guys you met. I'm the only one." He remarked with a teasing smile.

I just rolled my eyes. "You are so weird."

"Weird means being unique." He shrugged and let out a husky chuckle.

We reached the house in a few minutes. Jay and Jane will be back by five so Rune and I had the more time alone and as weird as it sounds, I am starting get comfortable at his presence unlike before that I really have it when he is near me. Well, getting to know this new side of him, I found out that we share something the same. He likes to help kids and so do I.

But of course, I should not be too comfortable. He is just my personal bodyguard.

Still, there is a limit of this. Once this mission is done, we are back to being strangers. That's the actual truth.

"What do you want for lunch?" Rune asked, making him to the kitchen.

"I will do it." I tied up my hair in a messy bun and grab some ingredients in the fridge. And the
first thing that my eyes saw was the frozen bacon and there was broccoli.  "Do you like broccoli?" I

He grimaced. "I hate broccoli."

I laughed at his reaction. "Seriously, broccoli is my best friend when its fashion week."

"Supermodels have the weirdest appetites." He murmured silently.

"I beg your pardon." I chuckled, eyeing him. "Supermodels need to maintain their shapes to be able to live but unlike me....I can eat whatever I want and I do not gain a single weight. It happens just that I want to eat like a real model."

"So you eat burgers and stuffs a lot?"

"Yep. I can eat them a lot when I feel like I want to." I muttered, chuckling. "So, are you suggesting that we have burgers for lunch?"

"Yes." Rune answered. "If you can make the perfect one."

"Alright then. Jasmine's homemade burger coming up." I challenged him. "If I succeeded in this one, what will I get in return?"

"You will have my body for dinner."

"Excuse me!?" I gasped, looking at him oddly.

Rune suddenly laughed, genuinely. "I love seeing that reaction of yours. Behaving like an innocent little girl."

I rolled my eyes at punched his stomach slightly. "Get out of this kitchen before I cook you instead."

"Oh so, you really badly want to eat me?"

"Fuck off!" Now, I threw the red tomatoes at his face and he immediately catches them by his hand before leaving me in the kitchen.

I prepared the burger patties, using the recipes that I took from one of my ex boyfriend who was a world class chef. He thought me his secret recipe when he is cooking burgers and they were really delicious. Our stock of food is crazy, I mean. We have everything! I mixed the ingredients on the patty then fried it. I sliced the tomatoes, the onions and grabbed some lettuce then fried some bacons as well. I think we are going to eat a lot this lunch.

But, why do I feel so exciting? Well, of course. This is the first time that I will be cooking to a man that is not my boyfriend. This mission had made my life upside down in the worst and nice ways.

When I finished the burgers, I was able to make only five of them. I arranged them on the plate and served them on the table.

"Hey, I'm done." I called out to see Rune watching some news on tv.

He threw the remote on the couch before standing up. As he strides to the kitchen, I noticed how his eyes stares at the burgers, hungrily. "Wow, I'm pressed. You can work in the kitchen."

Taking the seat on the opposite side of mine, I immediately grab one and took a huge bite. "Woah, this taste amazing! Where did you lean how to make this? It tasted like it came out from a real professional chef."

"Well, I got it from my ex boyfriend." I murmured, grabbing one and also taking a bite.

Rune's chew got slower. "An ex boyfriend, huh? Is he a chef?"

"Yep, he graduated culinary in Amsterdam and he's a world class chef." I just shared, still munching on the burger.

"And you still love him?" He asked with a bored tone.

"No." I quickly retorted. "It's been a year since we last broke up and we lasted for seven months."

"Why did you broke up?"

I laughed at his questions. "Seriously, you sounded like I'm in an interview. I've been asked in every interview I appeared on, that who I am dating."

"Maybe because you dated so many guys." He shrugged, grabbing another burger.

"Excuse me, it is not my fault if I dated so many guys and that didn't end up well. When I'm in a relationship, I really tend to do everything I can to make it work." I answered. "Wait, why am I even saying this shit."

Rune just let out a chuckle. "Let is just focus on eating."

"Yeah, and I miss burgers." I stated, laughing in the process.

The lunch ended well, Rune was the one who took care of the dishes while I go ahead to prepare myself to go to the inn. Since we don't have any uniform, I just grabbed anything that looks nice on me and appropriate.

While I was dressing up, someone must have already came back. It's either Jane or Jay because I heard that Rune is talking to someone who just came in. But then, I saw that it was Jane who was there when I got out of the room, all dressed up in a denim ripped jeans and simple yellow v neck top.

Jane and Rune were having a conversation about something when they noticed me by the door. Seriously, there is is really something fishy between the two of them. It's like they have a relationship that is hidden and Jay surely knows about this.

"Did you apply more makeup?" Rune stares at my face.

"Yes, I did." I proudly replied.

"Alright then, I will be walking you to the Inn." He stood up from the couch.

But I raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Or maybe you want some time alone with Jane as soon as possible?"

Rune gave me a narrowed yet confused look. "What?"

"Nothing." I chanted, walking passed him and Jane as I made my exit. Rune followed behind. Why does my mood always changes every time I see Jane and Rune together. Maybe because they looks like they have something that they are not telling us.

Well, seeing them make out that day proves that they are in a relationship. But this is work, so maybe they are hiding it and let work comes first.

"Why do I have a feeling that you don't like Jane." Rune started.

I scoffed. "Really? What makes you so sure?"

"I don't know. It's just a feeling." He shrugged, giving me a confident smile.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes and continued walking. I didn't care if he can't pick up my pace but I just hurried up.

By the time I reached the inn, I stopped by the door and faced Rune. "You can leave now. I need a babysitter in my own work."

"Just want to make sure that you're safe, my lady." He bowed his head but a huge smile in there.

"Safe?" My eyebrows raised as I ask him. "You're still using that sick line over and over. We should leave this place if I'm not safe here."

Rune chuckled. "You always find a way to shut me up, my lady. I'm impressed."

I scoffed. "I'm not Jasmine Waylord if I don't know how to talk back."

"I know." He smirked then raised his hand to wave at me. "Alright then, I will be leaving if this is what you want."

I tried to bite down my lips not laugh but the smile didn't work with me as it appears anyway. "Do not pick me up later. I can walk by myself."

He shook his head. "No can do. Nothing can stop me from making you safe." With that, Rune finally turned around to walk away. I can finally enter the Inn with a peace of mind...

I guess.

To be continued....

I will be posting the characters next! I realised that I forgot to post it. Sorry. And thank you for those who are suggesting some characters. I appreciate it so much.