**Chapter 27 - Orphanage Part 1**

It has been Two days since I started living with the children. In this time, I have come to learn that this is an orphanage and that Sofi is their caretaker.

In this short while, I have become very close with Milly, Rodrick, and most of the children—except Ronix. I don't know why, but whenever he sees me, he just hides. I think he's scared of me.

As for me, I still don't remember anything—who I am, what my name is, or where I came from. Nothing.

"Kathleen."

Kathleen. Milly had given me this name, and I quite like it.

"Coming!" I answered.

It was Sofi calling me because it was already time for lunch.

I help around the orphanage with chores since they are taking care of me, but I still feel bad about just crashing in.

"Kathleen, let's go!" Milly hugged me from behind.

I turned toward her and said, "Let's go," with a smile.

Milly has very distinct pink hair, and for her age, it was way too thick. Everyone in the orphanage wears the same kind of clothes, which you can typically buy very cheap. But who can blame them? It's not like they get funds from the village or anything. Still, it looked great on her. As for me, I borrowed one of Sofie's clothes for now. They are larger than me, but they do the job.

"There you are, Kathleen. Come here and help me serve," Sofie asked with her gentle smile.

"Yeah, sure."

"Rodrick, what did I say about washing your hands before eating? Now go wash your hands properly, will you?" Sofie said angrily toward Rodrick.

"Okay, I'm going," Rodrick said, pouting and leaving.

"What's for lunch today, Mama?" Milly asked excitedly.

"Oh, you all are going to love what I made today!" Sofie said, puffing her chest and grabbing everyone's interest. She even caught mine.

"Milly, remember the neem leaves we picked together? I fried them today!"

"Ohhh!"

Everyone's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Cool! Mama, how does it taste?" Mark asked.

"You will know when you eat it. Not only that, but I've also made some curry with soya chunks and rice!"

The food Sofie makes isn't fancy, but it tastes very good. So, seeing the children's excitement, I also got excited to try this neem leaf fry and the curry. Oh boy, that was a huge mistake on my part.

In the meantime, Rodrick came back after washing his hands.

"Oh dear," Sofie exclaimed again at his wet face and hair.

Rodrick's light blue hair was shockingly wet along with his face. He was very cute, and his fair skin suited him quite well. I'm sure he's going to have some killer looks in the future, and girls will line up just to talk to him. But I'm also sure he isn't going to care about them one bit—because he has eyes for only one person, and that would be Milly.

He tried quite hard to hide it, but we understood it quite clearly, which made it cute. Well, I said we understood, but there was someone who was as oblivious to Rodrick's situation as he was, and that was Milly herself. Well, they are just kids—they'll figure it out themselves.

First, I gave plates to everyone, and then I served them rice. At this point, I was about to give them the neem leaf fry, but Sofie said, "Give them a very small portion, okay? If they like it, they can take more."

The look on her face—I don't know why, but she was trying to control her laughter for some reason.

I did as she said. The neem leaf fry wasn't looking appetizing at all. It was deep-fried, so its color had changed from green to black. I think everyone was agreeing with that sentiment—the excitement on their faces faded as they stared at their plates.

"Now, now, don't just stare at your plates—eat," Sofie said with her gentle smile.

They all started to mix a small portion of rice with the fried leaves. As they mixed, the white rice started to turn black as well.

"Hey, Kathleen, why don't you try some too?" Sofie said, looking toward me.

"No, let them finish first. Then I'll eat with you," I replied.

"Yeah, but at least try it with them. I'm sure you'll like it. Now hurry up, they're waiting for you."

I took a little bit of the fry in my hand and brought it closer.

Oh… what is this smell? So far, I'm not liking it.

"Let's eat!" everyone shouted in unison, and at that moment, I put the small portion in my mouth along with the rest of the children.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

Cough!

Cough!

"Ahh! Water! Give me water!"

"What is this?! It's so bitter!"

The children weren't exaggerating—it was very bitter. I was barely keeping a straight face.

But the kids? They had already started chugging water just to clear the bitterness from their mouths.

I looked toward Sofie, and she was smiling—as if she had planned this all along.

"Now, now, it's not that bad," she said.

Oh, I strongly disagree with her. It's horrible. But I didn't say that out loud.

"You all know what happens to children who waste food, right? Now finish it."

"Okay…" they all said in unison—except for two.

Milly and Rodrick.

Oh, they messed up big time. I felt pity for them.

"Why did you mix so much rice with it?" I asked.

"I thought it would taste good," Milly said.

As for Rodrick, he put on a brave face and said, "I… I actually like these neem leaves."

Yeah, no. That didn't work. We could tell just by looking at his face.

"Ahh, good boy, Rodrick! It's very good for your health! You guys should learn from him," Sofie said. Then she turned to Milly, "If you want, you can eat just a small portion of that, and I'll take the rest from you, okay?"

Rodrick's heart shattered upon hearing that. Now he was the only one who had to endure it.

"Oh, poor Rodrick," Milly said.

We all burst out laughing at his misfortune.

The rest of lunch passed uneventfully, and after that, Sofie and I ate as well.

"Do you want some neem leaves?" Sofie asked, laughing.

"No, thank you."

"Oh, come on, it's not that bitter."

If I ignored the neem leaves Which, for some reason, Sofie gobbled up all of it.

"Yuuuck! How can she eat that?"

the soya chunk curry was delicious, so I enjoyed that quite well.

"Oh, Kathleen, tomorrow our instructor for magic and swordsmanship will come to teach the children. Why don't you join them?"

"Do you remember what magic you can use?"

"No, actually."

"No worries, you'll learn soon."

To be continued...