Operation: Threads of Connection

Rain

  Anya's POV:

I couldn't wrap my head around the pain Damian had to endure all these years. As a kid, I thought he was just another stuck up, snotty kid, I had it so wrong... Operation Strix was a mere disguise for me to get Papa into the social gatherings. I had to tell Damian the truth, I had to tell him everything, it was only fair. I promised Papa I wouldn't tell a soul, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of trust when I am with Damian. We walked towards the swings, it was one of my favorite places to go, I know I am a kid at heart, but I truly believe in doing whatever makes me happy.

I happily sit on the swing, the breeze felt nice against my warm skin. Baking for an hour straight really heated me up, but the fresh air was refreshing. I looked at Damian, who seemed hesitant, his eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and confusion. He always had that tough exterior, but I knew there was so much more beneath the surface.

"Damian," I started, my voice soft but determined, "I need to tell you something important. Something I should have told you a long time ago."

He looked at me, his expression unreadable, but I could see a flicker of interest. "What is it?" he asked, his tone cautious.

"If I were to tell you this... would you treat me any different?" I ask scared of the outcome. Damien stood up from his swing and made his way towards me. He bent down and grabbed my hand giving it a small squeeze.

He shook his head, Nothing can change the way I feel about you

"No matter what, I won't see you or treat you differently. I promise Anya." He said softly. His hair began to flow as the wind started blowing a bit more faster. I looked up to the sky, noticing some dark clouds coming, was it going to rain? It's now or never Anya!

"Okay... I'll begin with my family, since you've met Papa and Mama already," I began. "I'm actually adopted, Papa adopted me when I was 5 years old, that same year he enrolled me at Eden Academy, when it was time for the parent interview papa had to search for a wife. Somehow , my mama was in some trouble, they both had.. Umm.. tasks of their own, this was beneficial if they pretended to be a family. So, they decided to get married and form a fake family."

Damian's eyes widened, but he didn't interrupt, his grip on my hand reassuring. I continued, feeling the need to explain everything clearly.

"Papa enrolled me to Eden Academy that same year, I barley passed the test, I got a score of 30! We also barely passed the interview test... I was in the waitlist for a couple weeks before getting the call that I had made it in."

Damian sat there thinking over what I had just said. "Wait you were 5 when you enrolled? How is that possible?"

I sighed deeply, remembering the first time I saw Papa. "When Papa walked into that orphanage, I just had a sense that I could trust him. He needed a child who could read and write. The owner suggested me, but of course, I looked young. Papa needed someone at least age  6. Although I was 5, I was able to convince Papa to adopt me. We've had our hardships along the way, but I truly do love my parents."

"I see. Your dad can be a bit serious, but I can tell he cares a lot about you too, Anya. And your mom—she has to be one of the kindest people I know," Damian replied, smiling. "Have you told them the truth? About your age?"

I shook my head. "No. Can you imagine how guilty Papa would feel? Yes, he was tough on having me study, but I was only 5. It was like having a preschooler do 1st-grade work! He would feel so bad, and I lied to them all these years. There's no point in telling them the truth."

Damian nodded, he quickly was on his feet " Wait, Anya does this mean you're actually 17?" he asks his eyes widening.

I nodded slowly, " My parents believe I will be turning 19 in October, but I really am turning 17. All my paperwork was lost due to the war, so there is no actual proof about my real age."