"Woahhh! Is that Miss (Y/N)?"
"Miss Yanny wasn't lying when she said she looked very pretty!"
"Danny, for the last time, her name is Miss Laurel!"
"Does Miss (Y/N) have some donuts with her? I'm hungry..."
"You're always hungry, Bobby!"
"Are those boxes for us? It'a huge!"
The children were already talking about you as if you were some celebrity walking on the red carpet. You smile at the children, some turning away from embarrassment, some blushed and awkwardly smiled back, some enthusiastically waved at you.
The boxes come out, most of which your parents has sent over the hours to Laurel.
Coming in, you inhale the nice and inviting atmosphere the orphanage had given.
Laurel comes from behind you, excitingly bouncing up and down.
"Okay! Talk out on how you're gonna explore this huge place! I'll be listening to Grandma over here!"
You turn to the side, Grandmother Susan already has a story book in hand, given by an 8-year-old boy and a small crowd forming.
The children looked so focused on what she was reading, you couldn't help but giggle.
You finally take a look at the guys.
"All right! I think it's best if we all split up, we can take a look at the places we want to look at."
You were about to end it there but then you meet Edd's eyes.
Something was off about them.
His eyes weren't usually so dull like that...
"...he would be taking drugs that would have some side-effects,"
What kind of side-effects are we talking about here?
You bite your lip.
"...Edd, why don't you come with me?"
You smile, a bit awkwardly.
The doctor did say to keep an eye on him.
He seemed to jump a bit, nodded and walked beside you.
'Wait...wasn't he just being clingy to me like 20 minutes ago...?'
You give him a concerned look but he doesn't seem to notice.
By this time, the others have wandered off, to which you were relieved. The thing with Tord earlier just made you more conscious on what they were doing around you.
"Ah, (Y/N). Can we get going now?" He suddenly asks.
You shake your head and smile at him.
"Sure! Let's check out the garden first." You say, grabbing his hand out of habit, only to it getting pulled away.
You turn around just in time to see Edd sticking it into his pocket.
You frown.
'I guess the first side-effect is mood swings?'
The garden was beautiful to say the least.
Though it only had around 5 or 6 children in it.
Maybe it's because the actual playground is at the front.
"Woah, the atmosphere is just so beautiful here!" You say, going to one of the vacant tire-swings.
The children there seemed to notice you two walking to the tree, and decided to approach you.
"Are you...Miss (Y/N)?"
A child maybe around 9-years-old had asked.
"Oh yes! That's me...um...what's your name?" You ask in return.
"Lexie. Is Mister here your boyfriend?"
'Why is it whenever I hangout with a boy, everyone suddenly assumes it's my boyfriend?'
"Ah no—"
"Yes."
You turn to look at Edd, stunned by his reply.
He smiles and kneels down to Lexie's height.
"In fact, me and Miss (Y/N) have been happily married for the last 3 years, living on unicorn island! We are the rulers of the puppy empire and also have this cute little daughter named Lexie too!" He says.
Lexie's eyes brighten.
"Wow!"
Edd nods, "And you know what? Our Lexie from the puppy kingdom looks a lot like you! Cute and pretty!" He pats Lexie's head.
Lexie looks at you, eyes filled with amazement.
"Is that true, miss (Y/N)?" She asks.
You were too affected by her cuteness to deny it.
"Aha...yes...yes it's true, Lexie." You giggle.
"Wait! I'm gonna go get something inside! Wait here!"
She runs off inside the orphanage in a rush, excited to show you something.
Edd stands up, dusting off some dirt from his pants.
He looks at you and smiles playfully,
"My head hurts."
You couldn't help but chuckle, "You're so cute."
"I'm not kidding. My head hurts."
You sigh, standing up on your tippy-toes, kissing him on his forehead.
"Feeling better, sweetie?"
You jokingly say.
He seemed a bit surprised by your action.
He looked away, embarrassed and flustered was what his face was basically saying.
"Aww! Someone's shy!" You poke his cheek repeatedly.
"Ah...I regret telling that story to Lexie now..." He mumbles.
You giggle.
~
Tord got separated from Matt and Tom, seeing as Tord got interested in the hospital area, Matt and Tom decided to wander the halls aimlessly.
"Orphanages always had a bad place in my heart." Matt suddenly says.
"Ah...because of...that?" Tom replies, making random gestures, but Matt knew what he was trying to say.
"I-It wasn't your fault, Tom...it's just...ah..." Matt stammers a bit.
"You know what? N-never mind." He waves it off.
Tom shrugs, "If you wanna keep silent, sure."
They walk for a few more minutes.
"Hey Tom, what do you think of (Y/N)?" Matt—as he always does—randomly asks.
Though, a hint of seriousness was mixed in his voice.
"As a friend or more?" He asks.
"...More."
"I think of her as my aunt."
"Pfft. C'mon, Tom...I don't mean that!" Matt elbows Tom, chuckling a bit.
"...Well I think she's really...kind. When talking to her, she listens to you, not just hear you. She looks at you with such genuine...care. Have you ever looked at someone's eyes and just think that they're so deep that you think you might just drown?"
Matt thinks really deeply about what his older brother is saying.
"...Ya see, you fall in love with every girl you cross-paths with. Like...For all we know, you might be falling for (Y/N) next."
Tord's text suddenly clicks in his mind.
"Right, You're desperate for any girl to like you. Are you that desperate for love or something? For you, it's like anyone will do."
Have you ever looked at him with care before?
Matt suddenly feels all bubbly inside.
"Tom, have you ever fallen in love before?"
"Where are all these questions coming from?" Tom chuckles.
"My head, obviously."
"Wanna hear something mind blowing, then?"
Matt nods.
"I love me." Tom whispers.
"Can you not?" Matt whisper-yells in response.
"Sorry, it's fun teasing you."
An awkward pause.
"Ah...that came out really really bad."
"It's okay."
"I've seen how you look at her."
"Ah, was it obvious?"
"..."
"Okay, I'll admit it then if you're so desperate."
Tom inhales, then exhales.
"Me, Thomas Ridgewell, has fallen in love with (Y/N) (L/N)."
"...No offense, Tom, but that was kind of cringeworthy."
"Oh shut up. Like you could do better."