Chapter 1: THE NEW US
Kaizer's POV
The walk back to the orphanage was quieter than the walk to the hill.
Maybe because Millie was sleepy.
Or maybe because Iris and I had suddenly become very interested in everything except looking at each other.
The road was almost empty.
The night air had become colder.
Millie walked between us, holding both our hands.
She took a few steps.
Then stopped.
I looked down.
She was staring at me.
"What?"
She didn't say anything.
Instead, she tugged lightly at my shirt.
Once.
I understood.
"You're tired?"
She nodded.
I sighed quietly.
Then I bent down and picked her up.
She immediately wrapped her little arms around my neck and rested her head against my shoulder.
Iris smiled at us.
I looked at her.
She quickly looked away.
I almost smiled.
Millie, however, seemed to notice.
She lifted her head.
"Sister Iris..."
I looked at her.
Iris turned toward her.
"Hmm?"
Millie looked between the two of us.
Then she asked, completely seriously,
"Why are you and Brother Kaizer smiling?"
I paused.
Iris paused too.
Our eyes met.
I noticed the faint redness spreading across her cheeks.
She looked away almost immediately.
Millie frowned.
She was genuinely confused.
I looked down at her.
"Maybe we're happy because you finally stopped making us carry you."
Her eyes widened.
"I wasn't making!"
Iris covered a smile.
"You were."
"No!"
"You were," I said.
Millie looked offended.
"I was tired."
"That's what people who don't want to walk say."
She crossed her arms around my neck.
"I can walk."
"Then you can walk from here."
I pretended to put her down.
She immediately tightened her grip.
"No!"
Iris laughed.
I looked at her.
She was still smiling.
This time, she didn't look away.
---
By the time we reached the orphanage, Millie was almost completely awake again.
One of the women was waiting near the entrance.
She smiled when she saw us.
"You're back."
I nodded.
"Sorry for being late," Iris said. "She fell asleep on the hill."
"Oh, no. It's completely fine."
The woman looked at Millie.
Then at us.
"I should actually be thanking both of you. She hadn't stopped crying before you came."
I smiled politely.
"It's nothing."
I didn't think it was anything extraordinary.
We had only taken her somewhere quiet.
Given her something comforting to believe.
Stayed with her.
Sometimes that was enough.
The woman gently held out her arms.
Millie looked at her.
Then suddenly looked at us.
She pointed at the ground.
"Down."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
She pointed again.
"Down!"
I looked at Iris.
She looked equally confused.
Still, we both crouched down until we were at Millie's height.
Millie looked at us seriously.
Then she leaned forward.
A quick kiss landed on my cheek.
I blinked.
Before I could react, she turned toward Iris and kissed her cheek too.
Iris smiled.
"What's that for?"
Millie smiled innocently.
Then she said—
"I gave both of you a kiss because you are both my favourite."
I smiled.
Then she added,
"Now you can kiss each other too."
I choked.
Iris's face turned completely red.
The woman behind us went silent.
I slowly looked toward Iris.
She was staring at the floor as if it had suddenly become the most fascinating thing in the world.
I heard the woman's thought.
*Ohhh... this couple is so cute.*
I immediately coughed again.
Iris looked at me.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
Millie looked between us.
Then smiled.
I had a feeling she was going to become a problem.
The woman thanked us once again before taking Millie inside.
I nodded politely.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight, children."
I turned around.
Iris was already walking ahead.
I followed her.
For some reason, neither of us spoke.
The street was quiet again.
The cold wind moved through the trees, carrying the faint sound of distant traffic.
I glanced at Iris.
She was looking straight ahead.
Her cheeks were still slightly red.
I smiled.
She noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're smiling."
"So?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"You're making fun of me."
"I didn't say anything."
"You don't have to."
I almost laughed.
She looked away again.
We continued walking.
After a few moments, I reached for her hand.
My fingers slipped naturally between hers.
She stopped.
I stopped too.
She looked down at our hands.
Then at me.
"Iris."
"Hmm?"
"Why are you silent?"
"I am not."
I raised an eyebrow.
She looked at me for two seconds before gently pulling my hand.
"Let's go."
I let her pull me along.
She walked a little faster than before.
I smiled to myself.
She was embarrassed.
And apparently, walking faster was her solution to it.
I was about to say something when—
*Come with me.*
I stopped.
The thought hadn't come from Iris.
*They don't love you.*
My smile disappeared.
*You're alone.*
I looked around.
The voice came again.
*Come with me.*
Iris noticed that I had stopped.
She turned around.
"Kaizer?"
I lifted one finger to my lips.
She frowned.
But she didn't ask anything.
I listened.
There.
A little farther ahead.
I could hear it.
The same voice.
Getting weaker.
I started walking.
Iris followed silently.
We turned into a narrow alley.
And then I saw her.
A girl.
She looked almost our age.
She was standing in the middle of the alley, surrounded by them.
Golden threads.
They wrapped around her like countless thin strands of light.
Her eyes were closed.
Her face was pale.
I looked at Iris.
She had already recognized her.
Her expression changed.
"Nia..."
She stepped forward.
I followed.
Iris reached out and held the girl's shoulder.
"Nia."
The girl moved slightly.
Her eyes opened halfway.
For a moment, the golden threads became lighter.
I heard another thought.
*Don't listen to them...*
Then her eyes started closing again.
The threads began glowing.
"Nia, look at me."
I stepped closer.
"Miss?"
Nothing.
She didn't seem to hear me.
I frowned.
Iris shook her shoulder again.
"Nia."
The girl's lips moved.
"Iris...?"
"Yes."
Iris's voice was soft.
"I'm Iris. Why are you here?"
Nia looked at her.
I watched Iris carefully.
Her hand was shaking.
Only slightly.
But I noticed.
"Nia—"
"I don't have anywhere to go..."
Nia's voice broke.
Iris's expression tightened.
"No."
The golden threads faded slightly.
I heard the voice again.
*Don't...*
Iris shook her head.
"No, that's not true."
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't have anyone."
"You do."
Iris's voice trembled.
"You have people."
Nia stared at her.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Nia suddenly leaned forward.
Her body went limp against Iris.
Iris caught her.
The golden threads disappeared.
Completely.
I stared at the empty space where they had been.
"What?"
Iris immediately placed her index finger against her lips.
"Shh."
I looked at Nia.
"She fell asleep."
I nodded.
Iris carefully adjusted her position before taking out her phone.
She stared at the screen.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then she made a call.
"Hello..."
She closed her eyes.
"Your sister... is with me."
I looked at her.
She opened her eyes and glanced at me.
Then her expression changed.
"Stop the nonsense and come to pick up your sister."
I blinked.
Iris froze.
She slowly lowered the phone.
Then ended the call.
I cleared my throat.
"Who was that?"
"Her brother."
"And...?"
"It's a long story."
I nodded.
"Okay."
Not long after, a taxi stopped near the alley.
A boy stepped out.
I recognized him from somewhere.
Iris helped Nia stand.
She looked half-asleep, almost like she was drunk.
Her brother hurried toward her.
"I've got her."
He took Nia from Iris.
Then he looked at me.
Briefly.
I didn't say anything.
He carried his sister toward the taxi and helped her into the back seat.
I looked at Iris.
Everything seemed fine now.
I reached for her hand.
"Iris—"
"Wait!"
I turned.
The boy had stopped.
"Iris!"
She looked at him.
I frowned.
He walked back toward us.
"You could've called me normally."
Iris stared at him.
"You're welcome."
"That isn't what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
"You always do this."
"Do what?"
"Act like you don't care."
Iris blinked.
Then gave him a completely unimpressed look.
"I don't."
He stared at her.
I almost smiled.
He clearly hadn't expected that answer.
"I mean—you could've just told me where she was."
"I did."
"You know what I mean."
"No."
He sighed.
"You're impossible."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I accepted it as one."
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
I stood beside Iris, listening.
I wasn't going to interfere.
She could handle him.
But I did hold her hand.
Firmly.
She glanced down at our joined hands.
Then at me.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
The boy noticed.
His expression changed.
"So..."
He looked between us.
Iris raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"Nothing."
"Good."
He looked slightly irritated.
"I was just going to say—"
"You should go."
"Iris—"
"Your sister is waiting."
He glanced toward the taxi.
Then back at her.
"You haven't changed."
Iris smiled sweetly.
"You haven't either."
He frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're still irritating."
I coughed lightly to hide my laugh.
Iris looked at me.
I immediately looked away.
The boy stared at the two of us.
Then at our hands.
I tightened my fingers around hers.
Not enough to hurt.
Just enough to make it obvious.
Iris noticed.
She didn't say anything.
The boy sighed.
"Fine. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
He walked back toward the taxi.
Before getting inside, he glanced at us one last time.
Then the taxi drove away.
I waited until it disappeared around the corner.
Then I looked at Iris.
"So."
She looked at me.
"What?"
"You roast everyone?"
She smiled.
"Only people who deserve it."
I nodded thoughtfully.
"Good to know."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Why?"
"Nothing."
Iris's POV
I started walking.
He followed.
Our hands were still joined.
And this time—
neither of us seemed to notice.
I was again feeling the mild pain in my head.
I tried to ignore it.
I closed my eyes for a moment, then looked at our joined hands.
I just tightened my hold.
And looked at him as he walked ahead.
