Chapter 44

ZAVIER [Zero]

Lani is unwell. She's been for a few days even though she tries to hide it and because of that, I didn't want us to go to the orphanage today but Lani had pleaded and pleaded.

I saw a different but just as beautiful kind of Lani at the orphanage the next day. It was the first time of me seeing an orphanage and the what the fvck it looks like.

There were so much kids. Even adults. From my estimate, I think the goddamn oldest will be eighteen years old.

They were all so happy to see Lani, and I saw a very radiant smile on her face, I was famed captivated.

She walked round everywhere and smiled at every-fvcking-one. She prayed with the kids and gave them the....

Oh. So that was why we had to buy some goddamn foods and fvcking sweets on our way here, I thought with understanding.

She shared it amongst them all, and then carried the little ones one after the other. She looked so beautiful when she carried the little ones, she gazed upon them with a different light on her eyes.

Do all women look so beautiful when they carry little humans?

From the door where I stood, I cocked my head to the side and thought of it. I've never really thought of children before, I've never had an interaction with any of them except once.

And that once, was the most confusing moment of my life. If you think adults are confusing, you've never interacted with little humans before. I do well to avoid them.

But, as I stare at Lani with all of them, I can't help thinking that she looks really beautiful and comfortable with them.

🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏

Hours later, she sat with the older one and talked and played.

They sat at the backyard, secluded too.

"Who is he, Lani?" The oldest amongst them asked with plane curiosity.

She had no fear on her face and when I cocked my head and thought about it, I decided that she's the first female apart from damned whores who aren't afraid of me.

Lani smiled as she looked at me, and then she stared at the girl. "He's my bo-- friend. He's my friend." She quickly corrected.

The girl's eyes surveyed me very slowly and then, "You really don't go things halfway, Lani. So you wanted to get yourself a boyfriend and you got yourself the scariest and hugest of them all."

"Jesus, Miranda!" Lani's cheeks turned pretty shades of red.

Miranda grinned and shrugged her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll tell none of the sisters. They'll all have a heart attack if they find out."

The girl walked boldly to me, "Hi, I'm Miranda." She struck out her small hand.

I stared at the hand like it was an alien out to attack me, but my eyes caught Lani's indulgent eyes and I took the hand carefully so it wouldn't break under pressure from mine.

"I'm Zavier. Nice meeting you too." I grunted.

"So, when are you and Lani getting married?" She asked bluntly, a very expectant look on her face.

"Miranda!" Lani asked, looking shocked by the question.

I, on the other hand wondered on it. Getting married to Lani.

I don't know much about that goddamn term, it's been a fvcking alien to me, but for the first time I tried to remember every damn thing I know about that word.

When two people get married, they don't ever leave each other, isn't it? Or do they?

If I marry Lani does it mean she's mine forever? Won't have to keep trying to make her mine, or trying to keep the paws and eyes of damned motherfvckers from her?

The girl, Miranda stared back at Lani, looking bewildered. "He's speechless....does it mean, you two are not getting married?" She looked positively horrified.

Lani lowered her head but not before I saw the shame and sadness that resides in her eyes.

"We're getting married." I spoke for the first time, "Lani and I will get married."

Lani looked clearly dumbfounded and very surprised, while the horrified look on the girl's face cleared, replaced with a huge smile.

"I knew it. You two look so good together I know you must want to bind yourself together for eternity." She said smugly and happily.

Then, she turned and started hurrying away. "I'll go and tell Brenda and Benny!"

"Miranda!" Lani called and she turned, "C-can you at least, keep it b-between you three for a while, please?"

"Of course! Cross my heart!" She shouted back and skiddered into the house.

Lani still looked well shocked as she stared at me. I made a mental note to do a well fvcking research on that word 'Marriage' as soon as I can.

🌹🌹🌹LEILANI🌹🌹🌹

Lani and I will get married.

I can't get those words out of my mind. I can't forget how happy those few words made me before it dawned on me that maybe he said it to keep Miranda off our track.

He might not mean it, the thought was disheartening. But still, I'm glad he said that to Miranda.

Children at the orphanage are being trained in the way I was. Marriage first before anything else. It's when they grow they get to find out that there's a thing like 'relationship' too.

Although, they knows this well, it would have scandalized Miranda if she'd gotten the idea that there's no plan of marriage at all.

I gave Zavier a grateful smile. "To the convent, right?" I asked hopefully.

He shrugged, "Anything you want, doll."

We started walking back to his car. When we got there, I reached for the door handle only to be slammed by a wave of dizziness, so hard I felt lighthearted.

Strong arms caught me and held me. "That's it. The convent is getting postponed, we're going home, you need to rest."

I wanted to agrue but I didn't. I really do feel so unwell. "We'll go another time, right?" I whispered as he helped me to the car seat.

"I promise." That's enough for me and I gave him a grateful smile.

"I'll get you to the hospital." He stated firmly.

"No, don't worry, Zavier. It's just a little headache and nausea. It's the stress of everything happening lately. It'll pass."

"No. I'm not taking a chance with your life or your health, I'll take you to the hospital on our way home and that's final." He locked his jaw and closed the door of the car.

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

We drove for hours on the way home and I slept off. I didn't know when I did, all I knew was that I was suddenly snapped awake at the deafening sound of gunshot.

"Get down, Lani!!" Zavier shouted.

I snapped my head down instantly as more gunshots sounded from our direction. We're being attacked!

"Don't panic, doll, do you hear me!?" Zavier pinned me with an intense stare as he maneuvered the steering wheel.

I nodded vigorously, trying my best to calm down but it's difficult. I breathed really heavily like someone that has ran miles.

"That's good, honey, you're doing good. Now, with your head down, try to get into this hole in front of you. Get in and stay down, okay?" His voice was calm and collected but deadly.

I nodded vigorously again. Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm, stay calm, stay calm.

It was like a mantra in my head as I proceeded to do what he asked. More gunshots rang out...even as another wave of dizziness slammed into me.

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