(6) - BROKEN PROMISES.

Hands tucked casually into the pockets of of the black pants of his school uniform as he looked at the retreating figures going out of the cafeteria, Micheal's gaze rested on the new furni-ture he had ordered for a few seconds, before moving onto the old table, now having the remnants of the food and drinks from Joan's team.

Watching the now dirty table, a contrasting ima-ge to theirs after using the table, an irritation star- ted bubbling up from his previously calm self.Try-ing to gain his control back, he took in a deep breath whilst stifly unclenching his now stony fists in his pockets - his eyes closing briefly.

Upon opening his eyes as he exhaled, his dark gaze met Philip's calm ones looking back at him with understanding and a small smile.

" Annoying as hell, I know." Philip stated and chu- kled.Glancing at the dirty and wet table with the disorganised chairs and tables, he shook his head and looked away. At that moment, they both heard a commotion at the counter where the remaining boys and Mrs. Blunt with two new little humans were, then a loud yell from Richmond;

" Lion!"

" I'm not Lion! I've told you that already! I'm Leo! Leo! You know....like the zodiac sign. Leo!" The boy corrected sternly and fiercely, offended at the change of his name. Even though it was actually the same in meaning.

Focusing on the causes of the commotion, Michael and Philip saw Richmond and Raymond now teamed up on little Leo, refusing to let the poor boy take the cookies away with his sister exasperated and slightly scared. 

" I don't give a damn - what your name is!" Ray - mond snaled, glaring at the boy with jealousy and annoyance. " I don't care if you're Lion and your sister is Lioness or... Tigress! All I care about is you letting go of these cookies right now! 

" Hey! " Leo's petite and cute sister called out de-ffensively, looking interestingly more like her bro-ther in that moment. " I'm Leona! Not Lioness or Tigress!" 

" Wow!" Chris said, laughing so hard that he was half bent, holding his stomach. " Great twin names! I really love them!" 

By then, Micheal and Philip's faces were red with holding in their laughter. Unlike Chris who was openly laughing freely, they knew laughing like that would offend Richmond and Raymond. 

" You boys know these kids? "Mrs. Blunt, having had her fair share of laughter finally asked upon noticing the familiarity between the kids and the boys. 

" Not really. " Richmond said disdainfully." We only met twice. And in both cases, these Lion and Tigress kids rill me up so much! They are so trou-blesome!" 

" Hey.... You...." Leona began to object again, but Mrs. Blunt, still controlling her laughter signaled her to keep quiet. Not having any other choice, she just kept her anger in. Looking away from him with a loud huff. 

" Okay boys.....why don't you just let the kids have the cookies?" Mrs. Blunt suggested. " Honestly speaking, I initially made them for you boys but now, I've given them to Leo and his sister. Why not just let them have them while I make new ones for you boys? "

" No! " both Richmond and Raymond objected sternly, with a tone of finality.

" Okay then Philip, share the cookies equally amongst them for now.... " Mrs. Blunt was saying. But what she didn't expect was what followed;

" No... Mrs. Blunt! We're offering these cookies to Stella as her birthday present!" Leona said ster-nly. Her brows furrowed as she rushed to her bro-ther's side and held the other side of the contai-ner.

" Stella?" Mrs. Blunt asked in surprise." Is today her birthday?"

" Yes! She's sixteen today but unfortunately isn't feeling well." Leona said, her voice turning lower and sad. " She couldn't even go to school today and can't rest either."

" Why?" Mrs. Blunt asked seriously. Her worry and concern for the just mentioned girl evident." What happened to her? "

" She's been having a hard time lately with Mrs. Clause and her daughters over some Crazy rent and bills issues. And some stupid bullies from her school destroyed her artworks for a school project this coming Monday. Aahhh! I'm so upset just thinking about it! " Leo answered, his hold on the cookies tightening.

" Goodness! " Mrs. Blunt exclaimed then remai-ned quite - her eyes looking up into thin air loo-ked distant with her brows furrowed. Very likely in deep thought. 

" Hey kid...." Raymond called gently this time, lett-ing go of the cookies. 

" What!" Leo snapped, looking at him with an annoyed look. 

With a different and more serious purpose now, both Richmond and Raymond seemed more warmer and calmer. They only chuckled at the boy before Richmond, lowering his head and back slightly to Leo's level, asked ; 

"What is your friend.... Stella's last name? 

" Skyluck." Both Leo and Leona replied together.

" Her full name is Stella Skyluck. Why? Do you know her?" Leona continued in a calmer tone, but it certainly didn't affect her hold on the cookies. 

" Are you people suffering from Multiple Persona-lity Disorder or something? " Leo asked sarcasti-cally, just as the second and final bell went off. 

" You boys should go to your classes. I'll start making some cookies now. We'll talk later." Mrs. Blunt said warmly. Finally back from her deep thoughts. Though her voice was warm and seem-ingly lively again, the worry and concern deep in her voice and demeanor could be detected upon closer inspection. 

" There's a girl here too....you know.. Mrs. Blunt?" Leona said, dissatisfied about her being so easily overlooked. 

" Oh... Sorry dear. You see.... the boys have out-numbered you." Mrs. Blunt apologised with a chuckle. 

" Alright.... bye.... everyone! " Leona said, waving at the older boys who seemed somehow lost and distracted.There seemed to be something bother -ing them - but who really cares?" They gave up the cookies and now they're free to give them to Stella! What can be better than that! "

" Come on, let's go." Leo, taking his sister's hand in his, began rushing out of the cafeteria with her. But a few steps to the entrance, he stopped after Leona said something to him. They then rushed back to Mrs. Blunt. Holding up the cookies, Leo asked; 

" Mrs. Blunt, can you please keep these cookies with you till closing?" He side eyed the five big boys suspiciously before adding ; " We don't want to lose it. Thank you again for the cookies. We'll be using our monies to buy her some painting supplies after school and....maybe some wrappers too. " 

" Okay....kids, I've got everything under control. I'll have you send some gifts to her for me. " Mrs Blunt replied, taking the cookies from Leo and and keeping it away at where she took it from. 

" Turning around, Leo and Leona noticed the boys were behaving quiet out of character - so far as their knowledge of the was concerned. Micheal, looked particularly troubled, and from a closer look and a more deeper thought, it seemed the rest were trying to cheer him up or reassure him of something. 

"Without lingering any further, the male and female - pair of siblings ran out of the cafeteria. 

" It has to be her. " Raymond said, his gaze on the disappearing figures out of the door." It is too accurate to just be a coincidence. "

" it's really her." Philip, who had been silent all along said in his usual calm tone " And she needs help now." 

" You boys know Stella?" Mrs. Blunt asked, looking intently at them. 

" I do." Micheal answered, his voice sounding low and almost lifeless." I met her five years ago on a holiday trip with my family on the mountains. I wondered off to explore and got lost. Then I almost died from a deep knife wound and a bite from a poisonous snake. But luckily I met her and her family....and here I am today. " 

" Oh... I understand now. " Mrs. Blunt said in understanding." But why didn't you look for her before now? The girl and her family have suffered so much. It's just a miracle she's still alive today."

" I wish I knew where to find them." Micheal repli-ed with a self deprecating laugh. " I broke my pro-mise. I broke all the promises I made to her and her family. I made her suffer so much. I can't even be a good friend. "

" Come on Mike.... " Chris objected, patting him gently on his shoulder. His voice consoling. " You know things were out of your control. You have been trying your posible best." 

" At least there is a chance to make amends, you know? You can help her and her family now. " Ri-chmond said, hopping his words would somehow comfort him. But Mrs. Blunt's next revelation sha- ttered ninty percent of his hopes;

" I don't really know the full details of it all, but she's the only surviving member in her family."

" What! "

Micheal, Chris, Richmond and Raymond exclai- med in sync, shocked. Philip, whose eyebrows were furrowed with his lips pressed together into a thin line in deep thought jerked his head in her direction ; his eyes wide, but otherwise re-mained silent. 

" When?" Micheal asked through clenched teeth, his eyes reddening with his chest heaving in an-ger as he clenched his hands into stony fists." Do you know how they died?" 

" No." Mrs. Blunt answered, her voice tinged with sadness and regret." The poor girl doesn't re - member much from what happened that year ei-ther, she only remembers fragments of things that happened occasionally. She once suffered a fatal blow to her head, once some people tried to kidnap her after her mother's burial. I wish I had been in the country then. Maybe I could have been of some help."

" When did you learn about all these grandma? "Philip asked. Calling Mrs. Blunt by grandma was an occasional occurance back then. Usually when he was feeling emotional, just like now. It was either that or simply nanny when he wasn't using his real name." You've been back in the country for just two weeks." 

" Most of what I know were gotten from Leo and his sister. They grew up with her in the Grace Care Orphanage for four years after her mother's death." 

" Orphanage! ?" Micheal snaled, nearly shouting the question in rage. Feeling like his head might explode from information overload. His head might control was snapping gradually as well. It would only be a matter of time. " She was there all along!? " Noticing Micheal losing control, Mrs. Blunt held back the rest of her words - advising ; 

" If you boys really want to help Stella, I suggest you all go back to your classes first. Then talk to Leo and Leona after closing. I believe they might have more information than me. They might show you boys where she stays too." 

" Okay.... Mrs. Blunt. " Chris replied seriously, laying his right hand firmly on Michael's shoul-der. Silently offering his support, while also telling him not to lose his cool. " We'll do just that. Thank you for your time and everything. " He offered a light smile at the end. 

" No problem kids." She replied with a forced chuckle, forcing himself to remain calm and composed. " Go on. Hurry along!" 

Nodding at her, all five boys began leaving the cafeteria when suddenly Mrs. Blunt called out ; 

" Micheal!" 

Micheal merely stopped and looked back at her, not responding orally. But his undivided attention was worth just as much as the expected respon-se he could have given her if he wasn't feeling the lesser need to respond orally. Mrs. Blunt continued ;

" Please protect her for me. Don't let your family know." 

A moment of silence passed before he respon-ded, nodding ; 

" You have my word Mrs. Blunt, She means a lot to me." 

" See you later grandma." Philip and Raymond said together, their voices low in enthusiasm. 

Realising they spoke in unison, they mementarily looked at each other before chuckling - their mods improving a bit. Before all five of them left the cafeteria.