Leonardo's Journal: first time I saw pretty flower.

A young boy was crying inconsolably near the lifeless bodies of his parents lying in a pool of blood on the floor. His mother, still conscious before her last breath, tried to reach for the unfortunate boy's cheek, but she had no strength left. The boy attempted to pull his mother's hand to wake her up, but at his tender age of five, he wasn't strong enough.

The boy didn't know who had caused his parents' condition. All he could remember was returning from play with a bright smile, only to find his father and mother lying on the floor. His smile vanished instantly.

The next day, the house felt incredibly empty. The little boy sat on the porch steps, hugging his knees, listening to his Uncle and Aunt arguing. His ears burned; he wanted to cry, but his tears wouldn't come.

"What about our finances if we adopt Leo?!" he heard his uncle emotionally exclaim.

"Let's just send him to an orphanage, Paul. We don't need the trouble of taking care of someone else's child," replied Joanne. His uncle fell silent and glanced at the little boy sitting on the steps, Leonardo. After a moment's thought, Paul nodded.

"Fine," he said definitively. Leo's heart was shattered. He recalled how his parents, while still alive, had always helped his uncle and aunt financially. Paul and Joanne also seemed very kind back then, always inviting Leo to play in the village.

Soon after, Joanne approached Leo and sat beside him. She gently rubbed the small boy's back, offering sympathy. Then, she picked him up without saying a word, carrying him to a horse-drawn carriage. The boy knew exactly where this carriage was taking him. He saw the fields from the window, devoid of the usual joy in his eyes.

Upon arrival, many welcomed him. Numerous children in similar circumstances threw bright smiles at him, making him wonder if living in an orphanage could be this joyful.

All the kids gathered around, inviting him to introduce himself, but Leo's smile was gone. So was his heart. Leo built a metaphorical wall to keep the other kids away. Paul and Joanne informed the others that Leo had recently experienced a traumatic event, explaining his aloofness.

After Paul and Joanne arranged Leo's belongings in his room, they said, "Uncle and Aunt will always visit you here, so don't worry, okay?"

Leonardo nodded with hopeful eyes, asking, "Really?" to confirm.

Paul and Joanne nodded and ruffled his hair. However, it didn't take long before Joanne and Paul left Leo without returning, even for a casual check-in. Leo could only befriend his journal to converse. Other kids found him strange for his lack of facial expressions.

Every night, Leo dreamed of his parents but always concluded with horrifying scenes like blood suddenly pouring from their noses and eyes. The dreams haunted him, but he could only write about them in his journal, locking away his expressions.

In the orphanage, he felt like he was in prison. No candies or snacks were allowed whenever he pleased; caregivers wouldn't permit it. Even in one room, there were dozens of children, making Leo frequently lose his belongings. Everything was strictly regulated, and Leo couldn't find any joy in the food provided. Rules were tight; he was only allowed to play for 30 minutes a day, the rest dedicated to studying, studying, and more studying.

Leo fell into the category of intelligent children, consistently scoring the highest among his peers in the orphanage. The staff recommended him to potentially adopt families multiple times, but no one was interested in Leo because he was different from kids his age.

He had no friends. Leo was utterly alone. His world's sun had set, leaving only darkness in his eyes. One night, Leo couldn't sleep at all, a punishable offense if caught. He built an imagination with his parents, daydreaming that if they were still alive, he wouldn't be here. Even making friends seemed impossible for him now.

By the time he turned nine, he had to face the reality that most of his peers had found new families. Meanwhile, Leo was still waiting for a good family to come and take him away. He didn't cry; he couldn't, even though his heart was sad. He could only observe everything that came and went.

One day, the most beautiful visitor arrived. Her name was Isabella. Leo couldn't take his eyes off her, even without displaying any expression. Her golden hair looked so soft and well-groomed. Her attire resembled that of a noble. Rumor had it, that Isabella was the daughter of the Baxter family, and her father was a Five-star General. When she and her parents came, everyone swarmed around her. Leo could only watch from afar.

The Baxter family held a charity event at the orphanage for donations. During the event, Leo just threw stones into a quiet fountain. Suddenly, there was rustling near the flowers. Leo, instead of being scared, turned to see who was there.

When he turned, the rustling stopped. Leo approached the flower bed and found nothing. However, he noticed something sparkling on the ground. He picked up a pair of white diamond earrings, but only one pair. Leo put the earrings in his pocket, thinking someone had been there. 

Afterward, Leo looked left and right, thinking about how to escape. He approached the fence quickly. His mind wandered about how high the fence was. His heart believed he could overcome it. He gripped the fence tightly and raised his leg to climb. 

"Hey!"

Leo froze upon hearing someone. His heart almost leaped; he was surely caught trying to escape. The boy dared to turn and see who had caught him.

"Do you want to run away?"

Leo was surprised to find the person was Isabella. His hands trembled, causing him to fall to the ground. Isabella hurriedly approached Leo.

"For heaven's sake, you're not okay at all."

Leo, who was wincing in pain, burst into laughter upon hearing "For heaven's sake." It was the first time he laughed at the orphanage. Isabella pouted, "Now you're okay, apparently. Okay then, I'll leave."

"Wait!" Leo raised his voice, grabbing the hem of Isabella's billowing skirt. She stopped. Leo spoke again, "At least help me stand. I'm really in a lot of pain."

Isabella snorted and then helped Leo stand. She placed Leo's arm on her shoulder and guided him carefully. Leonardo was mesmerized, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Isabella up close. He felt warmth after so long, even catching a whiff of her scent like that of a baby.

"By the way, what's your name?" asked Isabella as they walked.

"I don't want to say it. It feels strange if someone else calls me by name other than my family."

"Well then, you'll tell me eventually," she chuckled. "I thought you wouldn't talk to me after seeing you always alone at this festive event. But I'm really glad you not only spoke but also laughed."

They reached the infirmary. Isabella genuinely guided Leo with patience. She also spoke eloquently, as if trained and born as a princess. A doctor interrupted their activity and promptly helped Leo lie down for an examination.

"Why is he like this?" the doctor asked Isabella while assisting Leo.

"He played cat and mouse with me and fell," she said. Leo widened his eyes in disbelief; he thought Isabella would tell the truth. Internally, he thanked her. Isabella winked playfully, making Leo involuntarily smile.

"Leo, this is the first time I've seen you have a friend. But that's good; it means you're developing well socially," praised the doctor with a wide smile. Leo responded to the doctor's words with a nod.

"Your leg is just sprained. I've prepared some balm to make your leg and arm feel better. I suggest resting here for a few days so I can monitor your progress," said the doctor, then turned to Isabella. "Isabella, I'll excuse myself. You can stay with him."

Isabella nodded enthusiastically, smiling, "Thank you."

Isabella approached Leo, extending her right hand for a handshake, "Nice to meet you, Leo."

Hearing someone else call his name gave an odd sensation to the boy. It felt warm and friendly. Leo hesitated for a moment, looking at Isabella doubtfully, before finally accepting her handshake weakly due to his arm. Once again, that sweet smile appeared on Isabella's glowing face.