Counting Stars ✓

seven

King got out of his car, a smile gracing his face as he looked up at the orphanage. It had been so long since he had last been able to take part in volunteering, and he missed it a lot. Volunteering had been the only thing that helped him truly feel free and alive, especially whenever he saw the people he helped smile.

The amount of gratitude they would express always managed to warm his heart and remind him to keep away from the road of greed.

"Ow, King!" Khun Rain exclaimed excitedly. She put down the basket of vegetables she was carrying and rushed over to hug him. He chuckled, returning the hug, "Hey, Khun Lin."

"My, you've gotten even more handsome since I last saw you!" She gushed, pinching his cheek. She had known the boy since he was five and treated him as her own grandson.

In fact, after seeing and knowing more about his life behind the closed doors, she would say she treated him even better whenever she could, simply because he lacked so much of the basic familiar love in his life.

It broke her heart that such a sweet child didn't have anyone who he could call a true family. And her stupid grandson had lost the chance the befriend such a genuine boy back when she introduced them - making her all the more frustrated because she truly believed at that time Rune could've been the friend King needed.

Therefore, she prayed today would be the day they could become the friends she's wanted them to be all those years ago during her private birthday celebration. And maybe King would finally teach her grandson what it meant to hold more responsibility.

Because while she loves her grandson, it was clear he has been spoiled up until now. And she couldn't understand his need to hide his wealth, either.

'Because I want to see who genuinely wants to be my friend, and who's after my wealth,' she remembers it being his argument. But lying can only get him so far. One day it will eventually come back to bite him.

"And you've gotten more beautiful," King smiled down at the elderly woman, her energy never failing to amaze him.

She slapped his arm, laughing, "What a charmer you are. Oh, did you bring the gifts?"

King nodded in affirmation, "It's in my car. I'll get it in a bit. Is there anything I can help with?"

"My grandson, Rune, is out playing with the children in the back. Would you mind joining him?"

King froze at the mention of Rune, momentarily having forgotten the said boy was supposed to be joining them. Nonetheless he nodded and made his way to the back. He looked at the scene before him in slight amusement. With a guitar set aside, and laying on the ground as the children laid on top of him, Rune looked to be in pain.

The owner struggled as she tried to get the children off of him. She let out a breath of relief when she saw him.

"Everyone, N'King is here!" She announced. At the mention of King's name, Rune, who had been trying hard to escape from the captivity of the children, froze up. He watched as the children scrambled to the said boy with great joy.

"P'King?!" They shouted excitedly, all trying to get a hug from him. King chuckled, "Hey, how are you guys?"

"You're the one with the gifts right?!"

He crouched down, ruffling the hair of the child who asked the question. Khun Rain had informed the owner of his name and the fact that he would be bringing in presents beforehand, therefore he wasn't surprised at their reaction upon hearing he had arrived.

He was rather happy to see them so excited for it. "Yep, it's in my car though. I'll pass it to you once the barbecue starts, okay?"

"Aww, why not now, P?" another child asked.