Whispers of Hope ✓

CHAPTER 45

JOSHUA'S POV

"Are you sure you don't want to come Layad?"

"Tito Joshy, how many time have you asked that already and for the hundredth time, I'm telling you, it's a no. and don't worry about me, I won't go anywhere and besides am already a grown-up lady, what do you take me for? Jeez Tito and am very well sure that you will be leaving your old secretary here to watch me."

I was left rolling my eyes at my niece as I heard my secretary sighing with his shoulders already heavily dropped down. I just giggled at the situation. Although Layad and my secretary always bicker, they are just like uncle and niece and I know they care for each other as much as we do.

"Okay then, I'll be leaving you two here. Call me right away if anything happens and Layad, you behave. Don't make it too hard for uncle secretary okay?" Layad only nodded with her focus just on her phone. I sighed at the sight of the two as I took the call from Mr. Joy telling me that he's already at the orphanage and telling me I should just follow even later than 1pm as what we planned. He also informed me that a foreign sponsor suddenly appeared at the orphanage so our supposed meeting was moved by 3pm in the afternoon. I wasn't in a hurry or anything so I was okay with the sudden change of schedule but I couldn't just bear hearing and watching Layad and my secretary fight here and there so I decided to just go to the orphanage already.

And since the meeting was moved to 3pm, it'll be a perfect time for me to roam and tour around the orphanage. I did a little research about the orphanage and it was shocking for me to find out that the orphanage held some historical story as the current-existing buildings was once a headquarter of the Indian missionaries of way back 1900s; it was also where many ancestral rites were held way back the rampage of ancestral activities of Japanese monks even earlier than when the missionaries started staying at the now known as orphanage.

I was already at the address Mr. Joy sent me and upon entering the large gate, I was already mesmerized coz I could feel the historical breeze lingering amongst the premises. The buildings looked old but still elegantly standing together. And was just nature-wise because of the trees and bushes seemingly have been trimmed well and designed to everyone's liking. I sent Mr. Joy a message telling him I already was at the orphanage and even asked him where to meet him or where should I go from here coz I don't know where to go; I might get lost here for who's sake, jeez. I was walking straight at the long straight road and looking around; it was just so peaceful here and it smells very nature until I bumped to something—someone. I looked down as a bright wide dough-like eyes stared back up at me.

"I'm sorry Mister; and you should be careful too and look where you're going as well."

I blinked a couple of times when the little boy talked and even scolded me like an old man. I crouched down to his level and looked at him wholly. He was wearing a pair of pajamas and he was also wearing a jacket. It wasn't so cold tho not hot either so I was a bit confused at why he was warmly dressed.

"Hey there little boy. What's your name and what are you doing out here alone?"

"I'm no little boy mister; I'm already grown and this is my home so I should be asking you that rather; what are you doing here? Roaming and looking lost even?"

It took me five seconds before giggling at how the five-year-old looking little guy talked really like an old man. I patted his small head as he only crunched his brows cutely making me smile more.

"I'm Uncle Joshua and I came here to visit the orphanage. I'm actually called by Mr. Joy if ever you heard his name around here coz I heard he is a big sponsor of your house, this orphanage."

He didn't answer and just stared cutely. "Uncle Joy is a good man so if you are friends with him then am guessing you are also a good man." I chuckled again and I was about to answer him again when my phone rang; 'twas Layad. I glanced at the little boy and winked at him signaling that I was just to answer the phone and again, I chuckled at how clever he was to understand that little gesture coz he nodded at my gesture.