(Jasmine's POV)
By the time the class finally ended, it felt like we had been sitting there for hours. Not because of the lecture, but because of him.
Arham walked out without saying anything else, but not before his eyes passed over us one last time.
I blinked once, then immediately forced a small, innocent smile like I had done absolutely nothing wrong in the last hour. Inu did the same beside me, her posture straight, her expression calm like she had always been the perfect student.
The moment he turned and left, I let out a quiet breath I didn't even realize I had been holding.
"That was exhausting," I muttered.
"We deserved that look," Inu replied softly.
"Still rude," I said under my breath.
My attention shifted immediately to Ezra.
She was sitting still, her shoulders slightly drawn in, her hand resting carefully in her lap. The bruising had already started to show faintly across her skin, and even though it was not severe, the way she held it made it clear it hurt more than she was letting on.
She was still trembling. Not as badly as before, but enough that I could notice it.
I felt anger rising inside me as I saw that. Her pale face showed how afraid she really was. It made me want to murder those guys.
"Come on," I said, standing up. "We're not staying here."
Inu nodded without hesitation, already reaching for Ezra's hand, careful not to touch the injured part.
"Let's go somewhere quieter." We both turned to Juvain.
"You coming?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
He didn't even look up from his phone. "No."
"Alright then, stay useless," I muttered, turning to leave. We didn't waste time arguing with him.
Inu helped Ezra stand up slowly, her movements careful, her grip steady enough to support her without making it obvious. I moved to Ezra's other side, lightly holding her arm, making sure she didn't lose balance.
Her steps were small at first. Slightly unsteady.
"You're okay," Inu said softly, matching her pace.
Ezra nodded, but her face was still pale.
We stepped out into the hallway, the noise of other students moving around us, but it felt distant compared to what had just happened.
"Where's the restroom?" I muttered, glancing around.
We walked a little further before spotting a teacher passing by. Inu approached her politely and asked, her voice calm and respectful.
The teacher gave us directions and mentioned where we could find a basic medical kit.
"Thank you," Inu said with a small smile.
We followed the directions quickly, guiding Ezra along with us.
When we finally reached the restroom, Inu led her inside and helped her sit down near the counter.
I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, still irritated just thinking about what had happened.
Inu opened the medical kit and gently took Ezra's hand.
"Let me see," she said softly. Ezra hesitated for a second before letting her.
Inu moved carefully, cleaning the area, her touch light and controlled. Ezra winced slightly when her fingers brushed the bruised spot, but she didn't pull away.
"It's not too bad," Inu murmured. "Just bruised. It will heal."
I exhaled sharply. "I still want to break their legs."
Ezra looked up at me, a faint, nervous expression crossing her face.
I forced a small grin. "Relax. I'm joking. Mostly."
That earned the smallest reaction from her. Not quite a smile, but close enough.
We stayed there for a few minutes, letting the tension settle. To distract her, I leaned back slightly and said, "So... that terrifying man back there."
Ezra watched Inu for a moment before speaking softly, "Is he... your big brother?"
I blinked and let out a short laugh. "Who? Arham? Oh hell no."
Inu shook her head lightly. "Not exactly."
I thought for a second. "He's more like... I don't know. Cousin? Uncle? Something like that."
"Family," Inu added.
"Yeah," I said, nodding. "But he acts like he's everyone's guardian."
"Including yours," Inu said quietly.
I sighed. "Unfortunately."
Then I smirked slightly. "He's the only one who can actually keep us in line."
Ezra listened quietly, her expression softening just a little.
As Inu adjusted Ezra's sleeve slightly to make sure the bandage sat properly, her movement paused. Her brows furrowed.
I noticed immediately. "What?"
Inu didn't answer right away. She gently lifted the sleeve a little higher.
There it was.
A bruise. Not fresh, so obviously not from today. It sat on her wrist, darker, older, shaped in a way that did not look like an accident.
"Ezra," I said, quieter now. "What's that?"
She froze. For a second, she didn't move at all. Then quickly, almost too quickly, she pulled her sleeve down, covering it completely.
"I fell," she said. "On the road. A few weeks ago."
Her voice was steady. Too steady.
I didn't believe it. Inu didn't either. I could tell from the way her eyes lingered for a second longer. But she didn't push. Neither did I.
"Okay," I said, even though it clearly wasn't.
Inu finished wrapping her hand, securing it properly. "Try not to put too much pressure on it," she said softly.
Ezra nodded again. After a moment of silence, I straightened. "We're not going back to class."
Inu looked at me. "I agree."
Ezra hesitated, as always. "But..."
"No," I cut in gently this time. "You're not going back like this."
I pulled out my phone and typed a message to Arham hesitantly.
"Ezra's hand is bruised. She's not feeling well. Can we skip and drop her home?"
I stared at the screen for a second, waiting impatiently. I was fully expecting either a long lecture or a straight rejection. Arham is a bit strict when it comes to things like this.
The phone buzzed. I quickly opened it.
"Ok."
I blinked. Just a single word. No way he actually gave us permission.
"That's it?" I whispered in disbelief.
Inu leaned slightly to look. "That's... surprisingly simple."
"Very suspicious," I muttered. Then I grinned. "But I'm taking it."
I immediately texted Juvain. "We're leaving. Come to the parking lot if you want."
Then I grabbed my bag. "Let's go."
Before either of them could react properly, I was already pulling them along.
"Jasmine, slow down," Inu said, trying to keep up while still holding Ezra steady.
"No time," I replied. "I need to reach first."
"For what?" Inu asked.
"To drive."
We finally reached the parking area, slightly out of breath. I immediately reached into my pocket. Nothing. Then I checked my bag. Still nothing.
Suddenly I froze. "...No."
I checked again, faster this time. Still nothing. That's when the realization hit me like a truck.
"That idiot," I whispered.
From behind us, a familiar voice spoke. "Looking for this?"
I turned sharply. Juvain stood there, casually holding up the car keys, a small, irritating smile on his face.
"You," I pointed at him, "are the worst person alive."
"Thank you," he replied calmly.
"Give me the keys."
"No."
"Give. Me. The keys."
"No."
I stepped toward him. "I got here first."
"And yet," he said, raising the keys slightly higher, "you still don't have them."
I groaned loudly. "Why does this always happen to me?"
Inu, the peacemaker, stepped between us before I could launch at him.
"Enough. We're not doing this again."
"It's important," I argued.
"It's unnecessary," she corrected calmly.
Juvain walked past us and unlocked the car. "We're wasting time."
I glared at his back but got in anyway. As I reached for the door, something made me pause. I suddenly looked up.
From the building, Arham was standing near one of the upper corridors, his gaze directed toward the parking area. Toward us.
His expression did not change. But I understood it. Juvain noticed too. For a second, neither of us spoke. Then, almost instinctively, we both gave a small nod.
Then we got into the car. The engine started, and just like that, the tension began to loosen.
"Alright," I said, turning the music on louder than necessary. "We're fixing the mood."
Inu sighed, but there was no real resistance. Of course she knew that was useless.
I started singing immediately, not caring how off-key I was. Juvain joined in just to annoy me, making it worse on purpose.
"Please stop," Inu said, but she was trying her best not to laugh.
We did not stop. We kept going, louder, more ridiculous, completely ignoring everything that had happened earlier.
Ezra sat quietly beside Inu. She was not tense anymore. Her shoulders were still slightly stiff, her hand resting carefully in her lap, but she was listening. Watching with a quiet, faint smile. She was not pulling away, and I think that was the biggest win.
After a while, I glanced back at her. "Where do you live? We'll drop you."
She shook her head quickly.
"No, it's okay. You can just drop me in town... or near a bus stop. I'll go from there."
"No," I said immediately.
"We're not doing that," Inu added gently.
"It's not a problem," I continued. "Just tell us the way."
Ezra hesitated for a second. Then, slowly, she gave directions. We followed.
The drive continued, a bit calmer now.
We asked her about Balshim, about the college, about the people, about the changes. She answered quietly, sometimes pausing before speaking, but she answered.
And little by little, the silence around her started to feel less heavy.
After a while, Ezra leaned forward slightly from the back seat and pointed ahead. "Take that turn," she said softly.
Juvain followed her direction without questioning, turning the wheel as instructed. The road became quieter as we moved further away from the main streets.
"Straight," she added after a moment, her voice still gentle but more certain now.
We kept driving until she spoke again. "Here... stop here."
Juvain slowed the car and brought it to a halt in front of a large gate.
For a second, none of us moved. My eyes shifted toward the board fixed beside the gate.
I read it once. Then again.
"Heaven Orphanage."
The words sat there, clear and undeniable. I felt something inside me go completely still.
Inu did not say anything beside me, but I could feel her quiet reaction in the way her posture shifted slightly.
Juvain's hand paused on the steering wheel. My gaze slowly moved toward Ezra.
She opened the door and stepped out of the car, her movements calm, like this was completely normal for her. Like she had done this a hundred times.
But it was not normal for me. Not at all.
She turned back toward us after stepping out, her fingers lightly holding the edge of the door. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering between us, like she was unsure of what to say.
Like she did not know if she should invite us in or not.
I pushed the door open and stepped out anyway.
"You live here?" I asked, even though the answer was right in front of me.
She nodded with a small, soft smile.
"Yeah."
That was it. No explanation. No hesitation in her voice this time. Just quiet acceptance.
She turned and walked toward the gate, her steps steady now. She reached out and pushed it open.
Juvain drove the car inside without saying anything. We followed her in on foot. The moment I stepped past the gate, I stopped.
It was... beautiful.
Not in an expensive way. Not in the way we were used to. But in a way that felt real.
The courtyard stretched out in front of us, covered in soft green grass that looked carefully maintained. Small flowers grew along the edges, adding color to the space. Trees stood tall, their branches spreading wide and casting gentle shadows on the ground.
To one side, there was a small playground. Simple.
A couple of swings moved slightly with the breeze. A slide stood beside them, its paint slightly worn but still bright. A few small bicycles were parked nearby, some of them tilted slightly like they had been left in a hurry.
It felt... alive. Not quiet in a heavy way. Not empty. Just peaceful.
In front of us stood a single-floor building.
It looked more like a large house than an institution. The walls were clean, the windows open, curtains shifting slightly with the air.
I was still taking everything in when suddenly the front door burst open.
The sound was loud enough to snap my attention forward. Something small moved fast. Really fast.
Before I could even process it, the small figure ran straight toward Ezra and jumped.
For a split second, I thought he was going to crash into her. But Ezra reacted instantly.
She bent slightly and caught him in her arms, holding him securely as his momentum carried him into her. Her grip tightened around him, steady and protective, like she had done this many times before.
She lifted him slightly and spun once, the movement light and effortless.
A bright giggle filled the air. It was soft, high, and completely carefree.
The kind of sound that did not belong in a place filled with fear or tension.
I blinked, trying to adjust to the sudden shift.
The boy in her arms looked no older than five, maybe six. He had soft brown hair that fell slightly over his forehead, chubby cheeks tinted with a natural pink, and wide brown eyes that shone with excitement.
His small hands clung to her as if she was the most important thing in his world.
Ezra smiled. Not the small, hesitant smile she gave us.
This one was different. It reached her eyes completely, lighting up her entire face in a way I had not seen before.
The boy in Ezra's arms slowly turned his head toward us.
His bright expression changed immediately. His small eyes narrowed slightly, and a little frown formed on his face as he looked at each of us one by one, clearly trying to figure out who we were.
He tightened his hold around Ezra's neck just a little, almost like he was claiming her.
"Masha... who's this?" he asked, his voice small but suspicious.
The name caught my attention. Masha.
Ezra smiled at him softly, the kind of smile that came naturally to her around him. She adjusted her hold on him and brushed his hair back gently.
"They're my friends," she said quietly. "Go on, say hi."
The boy did not move immediately. He looked at us again, still unsure, still protective.
I crouched down slightly to his level, tilting my head. "Wow," I said dramatically, "that's a very serious face for someone so small."
He blinked at me. Then his frown deepened.
"I'm not small," he said, his voice firm despite how tiny he looked.
I raised both my hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Not small. My mistake."
Inu stepped forward gently, her expression soft. "What's your name?" she asked.
The boy hesitated for a second, then answered, "Nathan."
"Nice to meet you, Nathan," she said with a warm smile.
I leaned closer, lowering my voice slightly. "Do you always interrogate your sister's friends like this?"
He looked at me again, then at Ezra, then back at me.
"Yes," he said simply with a shrug.
I let out a small laugh. "Good. Keep doing that."
Ezra shook her head slightly, but she was smiling. Before we could continue, a voice came from inside the house.
"Ezra? You're already here?"
The tone was gentle, but slightly surprised.
"You're early... didn't you have work toda-"
The voice cut off mid-sentence. A woman stepped out from inside the house and stopped when she saw us.
She looked like she was in her late thirties. She wore a simple dress, nothing fancy, just comfortable and clean. Her face was soft, but there was a faint tiredness around her eyes, like someone who worked a lot and rested very little.
Her gaze moved from us to Ezra, clearly confused but not unwelcoming. Ezra stepped forward immediately.
"Teresa," she said softly, "these are my friends."
She turned toward us. "This is Teresa. She works here."
We greeted her politely.
Teresa nodded slowly, still taking us in, but her expression softened after a moment. "Oh," she said quietly. "That's... nice."
There was a small warmth in her voice now. Nathan finally slid down from Ezra's arms, though he stayed close to her side, still watching us carefully.
We started walking further inside. As we moved past the courtyard, I noticed more details.
A few children were sitting under one of the trees, playing with small toys scattered on the grass. One of them looked up first, then nudged the others. Within seconds, several pairs of eyes were on us. Wide and Curious.
It was clear they were not used to seeing new people here.
A few empty spots made it obvious that some of the kids were probably at school.
I straightened slightly, suddenly aware of every movement. Then another figure appeared.
A woman stepped out from what looked like the kitchen area, wiping her hands on a cloth.
She looked older, maybe in her late forties. Her face carried a natural warmth, and her eyes were bright, full of life despite her age. A gentle smile formed on her lips the moment she saw Ezra.
But then she noticed us. Her smile paused, turning into surprise. Ezra moved toward her immediately.
"Mariam," she said softly. "These are my friends."
She turned to us and added, "She's... she's the one who takes care of everything here. Our mother."
Mariam looked at us again, slower this time, as if she was trying to understand what this meant. Then her smile returned.
"A first," she said gently. We looked at her, confused.
She let out a small laugh. "This is the first time Ezra has brought friends here."
That hit me harder than I expected. I glanced at Ezra.
She looked slightly embarrassed, her gaze dropping for a second before she smiled faintly.
We greeted Mariam properly after that, and she welcomed us inside without hesitation.
The kids started coming closer. One of them asked Inu something. Another tugged lightly at my sleeve. Nathan stayed near Ezra but kept watching us, still protective but less suspicious now.
At some point, we ended up outside again. And then we were playing. Actually playing. Running and laughing. Arguing over nothing.
I found myself pushing one of the swings, then sitting on it myself when one of the kids insisted. Juvain ended up surrounded by two boys who were asking him endless questions, and for once, he was actually answering instead of ignoring people.
Inu sat with a group of younger kids at first, talking softly, but then she joined us too when someone dragged her into a game.
For a moment, it felt like nothing else existed. No college. No fights. No tension. No family rules.
This was not what I expected.
Not even close.
When I heard the word orphanage, I had imagined something else entirely. Something dull. Something neglected. Something that felt... empty.
This was none of that.
There was life here. Care. Effort in every small detail. The grass was maintained. The walls were clean. The children were not quiet in fear. They were loud and comfortable.
I realized, a little slowly, that I had been wrong. Completely wrong.
At some point, I slowed down and looked toward the house. Ezra stood near the porch. Mariam was beside her.
They were both watching us. Ezra's expression was soft, almost peaceful.
______________________
We did not realize how fast time passed until the sky slowly began to darken.
Kids started heading inside one by one. Some were called by name. Some ran in on their own, still laughing, still arguing about games that clearly were not finished.
And somehow... we stayed. No one suggested leaving. Not me. Not Inu. Not even Juvain.
More kids had returned. The ones who had gone to school came back in small groups, their bags hanging loosely from their shoulders, their voices filling the space with stories. Some of them stopped the moment they saw us, staring openly before rushing toward Ezra with curiosity shining in their eyes.
She introduced us to each of them patiently, her voice soft but steady.
"There are twenty five of us," one of the boys said proudly.
I looked around as he said that.
Different faces. Different ages. Some barely reached my waist. Others stood almost at our height. The youngest looked around four. The oldest were nearly grown.
By the time dinner was ready, the entire house felt alive. Dinner itself was simple. Nothing extravagant. Nothing polished or luxury like we used to have. But it felt warm in a way I was not used to.
We all sat together around a long table that clearly held this kind of gathering every day. Plates were passed around. The older kids helped the younger ones without being told. Small hands reached carefully.
Nathan sat pressed close to Ezra, leaning into her every few minutes, whispering things only she could hear. She would nod, smile softly, or ruffle his hair without breaking the conversation around her.
A little girl insisted that Inu sit beside her and kept asking her questions between every bite. Inu answered every single one, her voice soft, her attention fully focused on the child like nothing else mattered.
At one point, a boy challenged me to eat faster than him. He lost badly.
I made sure to remind him of that every few seconds.
Juvain sat across from us, quiet at first, but even he did not escape. A group of boys started asking him questions, random ones about cars and bikes, and to my surprise, he actually answered properly instead of brushing them off.
After dinner, no one rushed away.
More kids gathered around us, especially the ones who had just come back. They were curious, energetic, and completely unfiltered. Ezra continued introducing them one by one, making sure we knew each name.
And without realizing it, we became part of it.
A small girl grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the courtyard again, insisting that I play.
I did not even argue. I ran with them. I laughed with them. I argued over pointless rules in games that made no sense. At one point, I bent forward, hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath while laughing as one of the kids accused me of cheating.
"I did not cheat," I said between breaths.
"You did," he insisted immediately.
"Prove it."
"I saw you."
"That is not proof." He looked genuinely offended. I laughed again.
Eventually, the energy settled.
The younger kids were guided inside. Their laughter faded into softer voices, then into silence as they were put to bed.
The night had fully taken over. We stepped outside again.
The courtyard looked different now. Quieter. The sky stretched above us, dark with faint stars scattered across it.
I found myself walking slowly along the garden path.
Juvain walked beside me, hands in his pockets, his expression relaxed and playful in a way I did not see often. Ezra and Inu were helping Mariam and Teresa with dishes.
Zohan joined us. He was the oldest here, seventeen, tall and silly. Anna walked with us too, She was younger, thirteen, but her eyes were observant but still soft.
We talked at first about simple things.
Balshim. College. Random topics.
Then the conversation shifted.
"This place wasn't always like this," Zohan said.
I glanced at him. "What do you mean?"
He looked ahead for a moment before answering. "Balshim used to be worse. There were gangs. They controlled everything."
"Gangs? Like gangsters?" I ask cautiously.
Anna crossed her arms slightly. "Yeah exactly. People avoided certain areas. It wasn't safe at all"
Juvain looked at them. "What happened to them?"
Zohan let out a small breath. "No one knows exactly. But someone took them out."
I slowed slightly. "Took them out?"
He nodded. "That's what people say. One by one. After that, most of them moved to North Balshim."
"That's far?" I asked.
"Not really," he replied. "It's not that far from here."
I exchanged a brief glance with Juvain. Something about that did not sit right.
I didn't push further. I could tell that was all he knew.
So I shifted the topic.
"This place... does it have rules?" I asked casually.
Zohan gave a small nod. "A lot."
Juvain tilted his head slightly. "Like what?"
Anna answered. "We wake up early. Morning routines. Workouts. Prayers. training."
That made me look at her properly. "Training?"
"Yeah, Martial arts" Zohan replied casually.
"Martial arts?" I repeated.
She nodded. "And discipline is strict."
Zohan added, "We are not allowed to step out after evening."
"And the younger kids," Anna continued, "they cannot even step outside at night."
I slowly looked around the courtyard again. She was right. There were no small kids outside anymore. Only older ones remained.
"And we cannot go out without an adult," Zohan said. "Except for school."
Something tightened in my chest. I looked back toward the house. Ezra grew up here. With all this.
"No freedom, poor ezra.." I muttered to myself.
Zohan suddenly laughed as if he heard it. It caught me off guard.
I turned to him. "What is funny, dummy?"
He shook his head slightly, still smiling. "You think she had no choice?"
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
Anna looked at me calmly. "Ezra made these rules."
I stopped walking. "What?"
Zohan nodded. "She implemented most of them."
I stared at them, trying to process that. "Why would she do that?" I asked quietly.
His expression shifted, becoming more serious. "For our safety."
That answer settled heavily. I did not ask anything else. But my mind did not stop.If she made rules like that...
Then what exactly was she protecting them from?
The night grew quieter after that.
One by one, the younger kids had already gone to bed. The house settled into silence, soft and calm.
It was time to leave. None of us said it out loud, but we all felt it. We walked toward the gate together.
Ezra walked beside us. Mariam and Teresa joined her. We stopped near the entrance.
For a moment, no one spoke. Then the goodbyes began.
Mariam hugged each of us, her arms gentle but firm, like she meant every bit of it.
"Come again," she said, smiling. "Whenever you are free."
"Ofcourse We will" Inu replied softly.
She leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice just enough for us to hear.
"This is the first time she brought friends here," she said softly. "Please take care of her."
Something tightened in my chest.
I nodded. "Don't worry about that, we'll take care of here"
She stepped back, her expression returning to normal as if nothing had been said.
Mariam's smile softened as her gaze shifted toward Ezra for a brief moment.
"She helps me a lot here," she said, almost casually, but there was meaning behind it.
"She is not just staying. She takes responsibility."
I glanced at Ezra without thinking.
Mariam continued, her tone still warm, but quieter now. "Most children leave once they turn eighteen. They have to. This place is meant for those who still need it."
She paused for a second before adding, "But Ezra stayed. She chose to. She works here now. Helps with the children... helps me manage everything."
My eyes stayed on Ezra. She did not look at us. She just stood there, calm, like this was not something worth explaining. Like she had nowhere else she needed to be.
We said our goodbyes to Zohan and Anna too.
We got into the car. As the engine started, I looked out the window.
They were still there. Standing near the gate. Watching us leave.
I raised my hand. Ezra raised hers too.
As the car rolled past the gate, my gaze drifted back one last time without thinking.
Something caught my eye.
A bouquet was tied to the side of the gate.
It did not look like something that belonged there. The flowers were too carefully arranged, the wrapping too neat, too expensive compared to everything else around it.
My eyes narrowed for a second as I tried to make sense of it.
But the car had already moved forward. The gate slipped out of view before I could look any longer.
I leaned back in my seat and shrugged it off. Probably nothing.
"I like that place," I said after a while.
"Yeah," Juvain replied quietly.
"Me too," Inu added with a soft smile.
I let out a small breath, resting my head back. And for the first time in a long time...
I knew I wanted to go back.
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A/N:- Important
I know this chapter was long, and the pacing feels slower than usual. Thank you for being patient and reading this part.🙂↕️
Well.. That is intentional.
This story is layered, and I am building it piece by piece so you can understand every character, every dynamic, and every detail properly. Rushing it would take away from what is coming next.
This story is not something that unfolds all at once. It builds gradually, layer by layer, because there
is a lot beneath the surface that needs to be understood before things move forward.
Trust the process.
Things will start shifting soon, and when they do, everything you have seen so far will matter.
Be ready.
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