Chapter 2: Suspicious

The more I shed some sweat, the longer it'll take for me to finish my work. I'm applying floorwax while Adrian scrubs the floor. The nun wants it shimmering and clean, all polished flawlessly.

The collar of my black dress is heavily wet from my sweat. I smell ugly and my stomach trembles for food. Beans and porridge is not enough especially if we were to put into a vigorous work.

"Have you ever thought of... getting out of here?" Adrian asked as he continue to scrub the floor. He's also dripping in sweat. I stared at him with my hand wiping the floor. I can't help but be amused because of how dashing he is even when showered in sweat.

He's 19, two years older than me. He's quiet when he's around with the other orphans except for us. He's protective and he's also wise. He loves studying more than anyone here. I bet he even knows a lot more than the priest and the nun.

"I've dreamed of living in a vast field, in a small cottage. I dreamed of the things the girls in the books have. Fashion clothes, make-ups, jewelries, and a nice life but... we both know it's impossible for our case."

"Impossible?"

"Yes! We're orphans, Adrian. We live in an orphanage in the middle of nowhere. How can we possibly get out of here? Be chosen by foster parents? Funny." I said sarcastically with bitterness burning in my throat.

I locked my eyes on the floor as I continue to do my work. I didn't mind Adrian even if he stopped scrubbing.

"I'd rather be lost than to continue my life here, Kina. I'll make my way out of here. I don't want to die here."

I surely don't want to die here either, no one wants that but is it even possible? If not the nun and the priest, it would be the seminarists you should be afraid of.

They're disgusting and just like the priest, ruthless and cruel. They would stare at us whenever we would crossed paths with them. Their lustful eyes, scanning us from top to bottom.  Happi would usually hide behind us in fear and disgust.

There is no escape here.

"Is it done?"

"Yes, sister." I answered with my head down.

"What is the meaning of this?" Fear consumed me when her voice roared. It could possibly mean one thing, we messed up.

"A blank spot?" I followed her with my eyes and she pointed out a small patch that we missed to polish.

"Tell me, Aquina." I despise my name if it's coming from her or anyone of them.

"Were you doing as your told or..." her voice starts to trail off and from me, her eyes darted into Adrian. "Both of you are doing... something else?" She asked suspiciously.

"We are doing as we're told to." I was lucky enough that I didn't stutter at all.

"Then, why?" She walked towards me slowly and with full of power. I gulped and looked away in fear when her face got so close to mine.

"W-we didn't noticed it."

"You've been here for 17 years, Aquina. I don't think it's possible that you didn't noticed a small patch not unless you're distracted." Sister Ara eyed me suspiciously from head-to-toe.

"We were just talking and we ran out of time... we didn't have any time to check the floor entirely."  Adrian answered for me. I couldn't let a voice out of my mouth because of fear. I glanced at Adrian and he's standing straightly with his eyes staring at Sister Ara confidently.

He's brave. He was never punished, that's a thing about him. He always finds a way out through his words.

"Adrian, Aquina," she said our names and squinted her eyes, like a police doubting the suspects. "I'll keep an eye of you two."

I was glad that we managed to changed her mind. I was worried she'll eat her own assumption and tell the others.

Days passed and things are starting to get weird. They would always partner me up with Adrian. It's weird because the usual time we would be together for a task only happens once every week. Actually, there are also times that we won't be in a group for a month because of the random rotation.

"Something suspicious is going on." Yna said as we quickly walk towards the main ground in front of the church.

"It's about what happened at the lobby." I said. I told her about what happened few days ago and this is the thing that we're afraid that will happen.

"Adrian," I said his name when we came across each other. He's also walking so quickly as he gets close to us.

"Hey you, listen." Yna pulled him from the collar of his shirt.

"No matter what happens, the two of you shouldn't speak to each other for a while."

"Yes, I know. I get it." He agreed as if he also knew what's going on.

"They're looking forward for the two of you to mess up, don't let them be." That's what she said before she proceeded to her line.

The entire place was filled with silence when we reached the main ground. Only the four of us are grown up, those other kids that we grew up with were all chosen for adoption.

There's only a hundred of us left, including those who are still in the nursery. It's scary to think that our life is pinned in this place, that we'll surely die here.

Sister Aya looked at me before glancing at Adrian who is two rows away from me. She keeps glancing at the two of us with a smirk on her face.

During breakfast, Sister Aya still has her eyes on me. Sister Ara and Ana also keeps glancing on our way. Yna noticed it, she pushed me before I could even sat in front of Adrian.

"Stay away from him for a while." Me and Yna ate alone in the utmost corner of the cafeteria while Adrian also understood his assignment, he sat with Happi who is clueless on what's happening along with the kids.