Torned Pages

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7: INNOCENT SMILES

HANNAH

"Let's go inside?" he said and took my wrist and walked towards the gate of the orphanage so I have no choice but to follow him. I want to ask him about his life yet I decided not to talk and to just keep quiet. The guard walked towards the gate and greeted him.

" Hey little fella, you're already a man. Holding a lady. Keep it up Axel boy."  the guard said and smile with naughtiness and winked.

Is it just me or I saw Axel's cheeks flushed with red coloring. But he just quickly faced away me and shook his head and chuckled.

" She's my boss sir Manuel. No love included. " And he laughed again.

Mr. Manuel faced me and gave me his hand.
" Nice to meet you beautiful little lady. Im Manuel."

I grabbed Mr. Manuel's hand and shook it. " Nice to meet you too. I'm Hannah by the way. " I said and smile.

" What a lovely name, perfect for Axel's surname." He said and winked at Axel. I laughed .

" We'll go now Sir Manuel." Axel said squinching his eyes to Mr. Manuel. I smiled because they looked like a father and son teasing each other. Axel pulled me towards him and finally walked towards the orphanage building. I waved my hand goodbye to Mr. Manuel.

As we entered the halls I can hear little children singing. It was a very nice place. More likely to call home rather to my house. It has a warm loving ambiance specially for little kids. I feel like a child again in this place. We walked towards the garden and saw the little children singing with some Nun guiding them. When they saw Axel their faces had a big smile. " It is Brother Axel!" a little girl said and rushed towards us and finally hugged Axel.

Axel almost becomes out of balance yet managed to handle himself to not fall. The little girl hugged her tightly while the other children also rushed in to hug Axel. While they are in a group hug I felt Axel's hands gripping my hands tightly so he won't let go of me.

" Hey children easy. Its just me your handsome big brother. " He said and all the children laughed including me. And suddenly I can feel Axel intently stared at me with amazed look. I gazed back at him and wrinkled my forehead.

" What?" I asked as I raised my right eyebrow. He didn't even bother to answer my question and quickly faced the nuns also approaching him.

" Umm easy children. sisters are coming. " he said sweetly. The children started to form a line and managed to lessen their excitement of seeing and hugging Axel. The two nuns approached Axel and hugged him. He let go of my hands to hug back the nun.

After the warm greeting to Axel, they all looked at me at the same time.

I got akward so I moved towards Axel and as my habit I held his arms with both of my hands and hid half of my body at his back.

" Oh sister Lara and Emma, and all of you little ones, this is Hannah --" Axel's sentence was interrupted by a little boy

"Is she your girlfriend?" the little boy asked. He looked at me and he lookes like amazed also. I chuckle by his question.

"Yeah is he your girlfriend? She's really pretty. I wish I could have a girlfriend as pretty as her. " Another boy said. I giggled again. And I saw Axel at the corner of my eye scratching the back of his head.

" Answer the question Axel, is she your girlfriend?" sister Lara said.

"What are you all saying? " he laughed too. " Will you introduce yourself?" he looked at me and took my hand.

I nod and started speaking. " Hello. Im Hannah Willows umm actually Axel works for my family as a guard. And he asked if he can take me out so I said yes. And he brought me here to see all of your beautiful innocent smiles." I said and smiled brightly.

" Nice to meet you Sister Lara and Emma. " I said to the two sisters infront of us. I extended my hand but they hugged me instead of shaking my hand.

Axel went near me and whispered at me in my ear " We don't do hand shakes here. Always hugs." While he was whispering, I can feel his warm breath in my ear and smell his minty fresh breath. I smiled literally just like Max.

After the the sisters' hugs the children hugged me too. It was so warm and the feeling it gave me was so good. Hugs will always make you feel home.

" Axel, we'll leave the children to you for a while okay, jump, run, play and be happy, just never sin. " sister Emma said and pats Axel's head.

All of the childrean gathered infront of Axel ready to play.

Axel smiled and looked at all of them. " So what are we gonna play?" he asked the children.

One little  girl walked infront and suggested a game. " All of the girls will gather to make her beautiful and all the boys will gather to make him handsome and we will play, fake marriage of you two." she said and clap afterwards. Seems like everybody agreed with that game because they all started yelling 'yiee' as a sound of their support at our love team. I smiled at their innocence. How can the little me lose its innocence. I hope I can be back to being a child.

Axel looked at me and asked " Is it okay with you? " I nodded then laughed.

" So its game time!" Axel shouted.

And all the girls gathered in front of me and pulled towards their bedroom. They are all busy gathering clothes for me and they ended up giving me a big white blanket and designing it with ribbons and they fixed my hair into a beautiful bun and placed a laced whute curtain as a vail. It's good to have a tank top under my hoodie because they wanted me to remove my hoodie to make the dress look good. They put some powder in my faced and asked me if I have lipstick or something so I gave them my tint and put it on my lips and cheeks.

I saw a boy entered the room and told the girls the groom is ready and they had romantic excitement. I looked at myself in the mirror and saw how creative these  little girls are. I really do look like a bride. I smiled and a tear dropped on my eyes. A little girl noticed it and asked. " Why are you crying?" she asked being worried. I kneel down to have the same height as hers and held her beautiful small face. " I'm a bride right? " she nods. "I need to act like one. Brides cry because of happiness. Okay?" She nods again and smiled brightly. They pulled me in the garden and and walked away shen I reached the garden door. I saw a little boy carrying a speaker and a wedding song played. I smiled. They are putting all of their efforts at this fake marriage.

The music became louder and the door opens. I saw Axel in his tuxedo. I can totally see Max in him. I don't know why, but I started crying again. He was facing the sculpture of Mary help of christians sorrounded by plants. And I can see the children picked flowers and placed it at the ground as an aisle.

My heartbeat becomes faster and louder as Axel is turning around to face me. I can't stop crying. It's weird but I am really hoping that the guy in the altar would be Max. I wish that we can reach our dream wedding but can't. Because now he's gone.

I don't know if its only me but everything is in a slow motion. And when he finally turned around he smiled. And in him I saw the most innocent smile Max used to wear.

And now I can't stop crying.