Mother Lucy's words hung in the air, "He wants me to inform you of something." Luzella's curiosity was piqued, and she asked, "What is it, Mother Lucy?"
Mother Lucy's eyes sparkled as she conveyed the man's words to Luzella, "Find your love and be where your happiness is and light your life."
Luzella's face reflected a whirlwind of thoughts as she processed the mysterious man's words. She looked down at the golden chain, her fingers tracing the sun pendant, and then her gaze drifted away, lost in contemplation. "He wants me to find my love, be with my happiness and light my life?" she repeated softly, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. With a gentle smile, she seemed to let go of her doubts and replied, "Well, let this universe help me to find it." Her words were a quiet affirmation, a resolve to trust in the journey and see where it would lead, embracing the uncertainty with a sense of hope.
Mother Lucy's warm smile illuminated her face as she gently patted Luzella's head, nodding her head to give a silent affirmation of Luzella's resolve. "Go and take your rest," she said softly. "You are already exhausted by the long journey." Her eyes fell upon the golden chain in Luzella's hand, and she added, "And wear the necklace with you." The gentle tone and soothing words wrapped around Luzella like a comforting blanket, easing her weariness and filling her with a sense of peace.
Luzella's smile was a warm reflection of her gratitude as she looked at Mother Lucy, her voice filled with appreciation. "Thank you, Mother Lucy," she said. "For giving me home." Her eyes lingered on the golden chain, "For keeping this safe and returning it to me." and she added, "Good night, Mother Lucy." The words were a gentle farewell, but they carried a depth of emotion.
After leaving Mother Lucy's room, Luzella made her way to her own room. Upon entering, she placed the chain on her bedside table before heading to take a quick shower. Refreshing herself, she came back and slipped into her cozy pyjamas, feeling the soft fabric envelop her.
She took the chain as she lay on the bed, the soft glow of the room's lighting casting a warm ambiance, Luzella's fingers closed around the pendant, and she gently rubbed it. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she asked, "What's our connection?" The words were a quiet inquiry, a personal reflection rather than a question expecting an answer. With a sense of gentleness, she fastened the necklace securely around her neck, the metal cool against her skin. As the pendant settled into place, she felt a subtle sense of comfort, as if the sun's warmth had somehow seeped into her being.
In the stillness of the night, Luzella's subconscious took her on a vivid journey. She drifted into a dream, and the stranger's face appeared before her. In the dream, she felt an inexplicable pull, drawing her towards him as if in a trance. Her hand reached out, attempting to touch his face, but he caught her wrist, his grip firm yet gentle. The dream replayed the moment from their earlier encounter of stranger with eerie clarity, leaving her with a sense of deja vu when she woke up.
Luzella's mind lingered on the question as she tossed and turned, trying to shake off the vivid dream. "Why did I dream of him?" she thought, the stranger's presence was still resonating in her subconscious. She threw off the covers and got out of bed, and took the water glass on her nightstand. Taking a sip, she felt the cool water calm her dry throat. With a quiet sigh, she settled back into bed, hoping to drift into a dreamless sleep this time.
When she woke up again it was already early in the morning. The morning light streamed into her room. She stretched, feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep. With a newfound sense of energy, she got out of bed and headed to freshen up and ready to take on the day.
She went out of the room and the warm aroma of breakfast wafted through the air as Luzella joined the lively gathering. Children chattered and laughed, while the sisters bustled about, setting out an array of delicious food. Luzella's bright "Good morning" was met with a chorus of cheerful replies from the children and warm smiles from the sisters. The atmosphere was filled with the simple joys of breakfast, and Luzella felt a sense of belonging as she took her place among them.
"Lizzie, This evening, our orphanage is arranging an auction event. Would you like to participate as a volunteer?" One of the sisters asked her.
Luzella's face lit up with a warm and enthusiastic smile as she replied, "Of course, I will," her eyes sparkling as she nodded in agreement. The sister smiled back, clearly pleased with her response and replied "Great! then, I'll add your name to the list. Be there on time."
After finishing her breakfast with the children, Luzella headed to the classroom to assist the sisters in teaching the orphanage students their day's lessons, bringing enthusiasm and support to the young learners. As she entered the room, the students' faces lit up. Together, they dove into the lessons.
As the day drew to a close and evening descended, Luzella headed to her room to freshen up after a fulfilling day of classes. She had promised to volunteer at the auction event, and knowing she needed to arrive early, she quickly showered and changed into a suitable outfit. Luzella felt a sense of excitement and purpose, ready to contribute to the evening's success.
Luzella arrived early at the auction venue, to lend a hand with the event setup. As she made her way to the designated area, she was greeted by the organizers. Together, they worked efficiently to arrange the items for auction, set up the bidding stations, and ensure everything was in place for a smooth and successful event.
With the setup complete, She glanced at her watch, noting that the venue would soon be bustling with attendees, just half an hour away. Luzella, taking a deep breath, smoothed out her attire, ready to shift into her role as a volunteer, ensuring the evening's auction event proceeded smoothly.
As the guests began to arrive, Luzella warmly welcomed them and escorted them to their designated seats. Once everyone was settled, the event commenced, kicking off on a high note with everyone's efforts.
Luzella finally took a break in the middle of the event, slipping away for a brief moment to collect herself amidst the bustling event, her tasks having kept her busy since the guests arrived.
Luzella walked out into the night air, letting the gentle breeze refresh her. As she took a deep breath while stretching her hands, she overheard a group of girls giggling and discussing a guy. "Wow, such a handsome guy!!!!!" One of them exclaimed.
Another chimed in, "I want to go ask him to be my boyfriend."
A third girl whispered, "Girls, look at his sexy thin lips, I want to taste them."
One bold girl challenged the others, "You girls just ogle him from here, I'll go do all the things you mentioned."
The others gasped in unison, "Whattt!!!!"
One girl tried to caution her, "Stop doing problematic things look how he's looking, don't you dare approach him."
Another suggested, "Yes, he's handsome but look at how serious his face is, how scary his vibe is. Sometimes it's better for us to enjoy it from afar."
Another girl agreed "True, he's looking very frightening"
The girl who challenged scoffed, "He must be one of the guests, what's the big deal? Even if he's powerful, with my dad around, he can't do anything to me. So chill and just look, how I'm going to kiss that hardcore guy." The others looked on with concern, as the bold girl seemed determined to make a move.
Luzella listened silently, intrigued by their lively conversation and she discreetly turned her head to catch a glimpse of the man the girls were swooning over. Her eyes scanned the area, and she finally spotted him.
Luzella's eyes widened in surprise as she recognized the man, it was the stranger she had met yesterday. She wondered what he was doing here, and a fleeting thought crossed her mind "Probably one of the guests."
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, he leaned against the tree, his fingers absently playing with the lighter, a lone shadow surrounding him. The dim lighting highlighted the solitary figure. She watched as his fingers continued to toy with the lighter, the soft click-clack of the mechanism a subtle sound in the stillness.
A thought flashed in Luzella's mind, "Is she going to kiss him? No way. I need to stop her."
She took a few steps forward before halting, questioning her motives. "But, why should I stop her? He can handle her, right? I don't need to be concerned." She turned to walk away.
The bold girl approached Alaric. Before he looked at her, the girl leaned in, her lips inches from Alaric's.
However, before they could make contact, a sudden tug on his left hand yanked him away, throwing off her aim.
Alaric's right hand, poised to push her back, froze mid-air as he stumbled slightly from the unexpected pull.
The girl's kiss landed on thin air, her lips brushing against nothing but the faint scent of Alaric's cologne.
Luzella's grip on his hand remained firm, her eyes flashing with a mix of determination and concern as she positioned herself beside Alaric.
Luzella tried to go away, but something pulled her way towards Alaric.
Alaric's gaze settled on Luzella, his eyes acknowledging the girl he had met yesterday, without any notable change in his expression.
His gaze then shifted back to the bold girl, who was still fuming, her anger evident in her stance and she was glared at Luzella and asked. "Who are you?"
Luzella's eyes met the bold girl's glare calmly. "I'm Luzella," she replied, her voice even and polite. "I'm a volunteer here. And you are...?"
The bold girl's face reddened with rage as she spat, "You're just a mere volunteer, how dare you do this?"
Luzella's expression remained composed, her voice calm and polite as she replied, "Sorry, but I don't understand what you're talking about. Could you please explain clearly what I did?"
The bold girl's face scrunched up in anger. "You know exactly what I'm talking about," she snapped.
Luzella's expression remained calm. "I'm not sure what you're referring to, could you explain?" she asked politely.
"You pulled...," the bold girl started, but her words trailed off as Luzella's calm response threw her off guard. Her anger faltered, and she realized she couldn't justify her behavior.
"It's nothing" she said and with a final, angry glance at Luzella, the bold girl turned and stormed off, leaving Luzella looking composed and unruffled.