Arya discovered that Leo was an adoptee. She's been digging Leo's past for almost two days. Fortunately, she found an old man who knew Leo. In order to be more familiar with Leo, she needs to have a glimpse of his past. She needs to know him deeper to discover his weaknesses and fears.
She sets her phone's destination to Don Crisologo Orphanage. Driving long hours don't bother her since the prize of her minor sacrifice is to know more about her foe. It is one hundred twenty three miles away from her apartment so she called Divonne to extend her so-called "sick leave". Arya still has no idea about Ythan's situation and Divonne has no plan on telling it to her.
She didn’t make any stops or slow down so it only took about one hour and fifty three minutes of total driving time, at a constant speed of 65 mph, before she arrived at her destination. Arya can conclude that it's a timeworn orphanage since it is obvious from its outside appearance. It's an old two-story house with a gray gate and deciduous trees around the area.
When she entered the premises, a young girl caught her attention. She's not playing with anyone. The child looks like she isolated herself voluntarily from the other children at the orphanage. Arya looks at her wristwatch. She still has a lot of time before dusk so she walks toward the lonesome child.
"Uhm, hi." Arya greeted her with a smile but the girl didn't show any sign of interest.
"Why are you here alone? You don't like to play with them?" Arya asked in a cheerful way but she's been ignored again.
"Are you a newcomer here?" Arya still insists on talking to the girl even if there's been no response since she starts engaging. The girl walks away from her but Arya runs towards her.
"Hey! Don't leave me. I have no friends here either." She begged.
"What do you want from me? Don't you get it that I don't like talking to outsiders?" The girl finally utters.
"Finally, I heard your lovely voice. You're too distant." Arya frowned. "I just want us to be friends." She continued.
Arya panicked when the girl cried suddenly.
"Hey sweetie! Why are you crying? I'm sorry if I have said something that hurts you." Arya still wants the girl to feel comfortable towards her.
"I'm sorry. I became emotional. Honestly, it was my fourth time to be adopted but they all returned me here just after a couple of days." The girl sobbed.
Arya tapped the girl's shoulder. She forgot that she has the power to read people's memories. She saw how the girl's parents died. The little girl poisoned them. Arya was taken aback by what she grasped. She suddenly takes a few steps away from the girl. What the girl says next even startled her.
"I actually killed my parents. I know it's a mortal sin but I don't really know what I'm doing at that time. My emotions dominated over me - anger, sorrow, pain and fear." The girl wailed while biting her fingers.
"That's the reason why no one likes to adopt me. I am a murderer of my own family." The girl added.
"Why? Why did you…"Arya can't continue what she wants to say. She's talking to a girl that's seven to nine years old based on her calculations who admitted to a serious crime.
"My mom just gave birth to me but she never shows any kindness, care and love towards me. I was so jealous when Mama and Papa caressed other children. I am their only child but… but I can't feel it. It was like I was a spell or a bad luck in their lives. Every time they ignored me… Every time they disregarded my feelings, I felt like I wanted to die. One day, I just found myself thinking about killing them both so that I won't feel any pain anymore." The girl narrated.
Arya doesn't know what to say. She's just a little girl but she's been through a lot already.
"They made me eat leftovers. They're hurting me and they never allowed me to talk to someone else. I didn't even remember playing with children until I have reached my age now. Later on, I discovered that I am an unwanted child. My father doesn’t have the capacity to bear a child so he ordered my Mom to have sex with someone she doesn't even know. Maybe, that was the very reason why they’re always arguing. That day, I hated them so much.. So much that I was able to kill them both." The girl laughs out of nowhere.
Arya remembered how her parents often missed out on important occasions. She remembered how they love their work more than her. The spark on her eyes vanished when she realized that she can't be with them to celebrate any good news she has.
"You're an unwanted child and I am not; but our feelings are mutual. What could be more painful than being invisible to the eyes of your loved ones?" Arya said while holding back her tears.
"Where are your parents? You still have the chance to discuss it to them. You're still lucky. You know them while I don't even know whose uterus I came from." The young girl utters.
"They're in heaven now. I still love them despite their shortcomings and flaws. I'm going to make them proud. I am going to give them peace. I will catch the bastard who killed them." Arya said while clenching her fists.
"I hope you find them. Maybe, I will grow old here. No one will adopt me anymore. I don't have any friends here. Sisters hate me too. They said I'm evil. I have planned to leave but I always come back because I have no money to satisfy my thirst and hunger." The girl wipes away her tears while recalling how hard her life is.
“I… I regret what I have done. Mom and Dad didn’t love me but at least I have a decent house.”
"Repent. God will still accept and love you. You have to pay for your sin by doing good deeds to other people. You have to accept the fact that people will always have something bad to say about you because of your dark past, but don't let it define you. You're still young. I know you can make it through. You can still live a new life. When you reach the legal age, leave this place. Know what you want to become and pursue it. Things may get hard but don't lose hope. You have to become successful for you to be able to help the needy, those children who are orphans or unwanted children like you. You need to earn a lot of money to influence and to have an impact on the lives of the poor. You need to be strong. Pray and repent okay?"
The young girl understands what she meant. Arya touches that girl’s life by giving advice. After saying those words, Arya left the young girl and started doing her task before the night came.