" You are saying you want to take over taking care of the girl?" 'Nay Rosa was appalled. Lea knew she would as she sought to talk to her this night.

" I took care of people like her for a couple of months," Lea answered. She knew that is not even enough for the woman to believe her. Maybe just leaving out the part that no one survived. Just that she watched them in their last breaths. Their throats would run dry, find it hard to breathe, and simply be come home to their families, dead.

" You're still young. How old are you again? Fifteen, right? It would be better if you would focus on being your age than thinking of these things," the woman answered. She was avoiding her gaze. Seated while Lea is standing.

" It's not the physician that healed her," Lea interfered.

" Azalea," the older woman did not even raise her voice. It was serious enough." It would be better if you let the adults do their job and the children remain in their place." Her voice was calm but the grimness still seeped into her tone.

" Apologies," 'Nay Rosa is still the elder one. " I was just worried because she hasn't been herself since. The other children might not like it," Lea said.

" I understand because we do not know her yet."

" She has deep, green eyes, like mine." Lea blurted out. She paused and watched

'Nay Rosa react. She couldn't immediately muster a word. " I just thought that since we look alike, we can be friends."

The woman smiled. ' Sei would be glad when he hears that. That young man, so hardworking. Always smiling and you can't even hear him complain..."

She went on and on about Sei, but that was better than her probing questions on Lea.

***

For the next few days, Lea took care of the girl. She would help her eat in silence and assist her whenever she would vomit. There are a few odd things that she has noticed in her like the her long hair that is not common for a girl from the streets. No sign of calluses in her palms. Even though the girl is with her every waking moment, the girl never looked at her in the face. She was even considering if 'girl' is even the right way to call her at noticing her figure. This 'girl' might be even older than her, not noticeable because Lea is a lot taller.

Sei would visit whenever he is done fooling around with the other children in the orphanage. It seems like he is dismissed early from workdays by his superior for the past few days. He's been annoying her lately. That man, he can't stand doing nothing. Nothing is bad when he's helping but he can be rough sometimes.

One night, Lea is on her way to bring the girl's food but Sei has already gone ahead of her. Before she can even knock, she heard the clang of spoons and bowl. Sei went out with his shirt wet. It was even his uniform. The spoons and bowls were on the floor.

"The rice we have here is a debt we owe," Lea muttered. She rattled the doorknob as she went inside, trying to suppress that urge to just snap the girl to her senses. It was very irresponsible to be wasteful.

But she found her huddled in the corner. Staring in space, shaking. It was not right to let her temper get the better of her now. She hugged her. She almost heard her speak, but she was not sure.

When she went out of the room, Sei stood waiting. " Sorry," he said. " Must be scared of me. Must be the first time he's seen someone like me."

" I can handle this alone," Lea said.

" You can't do this alone."

" I don't trust anyone here in this place. Of all people, you are the one who knows that best." Maybe she has said this too many times but she can't eve tell an reason on why she does not want to stay in this place for Sei might tattle. This guy, he doesn't run out of stories. No minute passes without hearing his voice.

" I can help you leave if you want to. " He was almost whispering. This does not seem like Sei. If anything, it would be a different person encouraging her to escape. He was the only person in Limpio who showed her help.

" Thanks, but I want to stay here for awhile. If my hunch is correct, I will do something so she can go." And when she comes home. She will leave for home also. Far from the Capital Limpio, maybe down south. " She must be a runaway like you. It must be grace that you found each other here." Lea smiled a little at what he said. He was right in a way. At least here she can eat properly. But nor for long, her smile faded bitterly.

" You know I wouldn't come to this city if not or my brother. Those uniform punks still think that he himself caused that fire." Lea said. Sei can only bow his head while tapping his foot in irregular rhythms.

" But I know they are doing something too." The lass broke the silence.

" Brother will never know of this after all." Lea muttered. Sei shot a glance at her, " But still-"

" If he is the one who'll be here, no doubt. He' will do what I'm doing." She wiped her face." No one was there for him.

Sei stretched his arms over his head, making it too obvious. The silence is uncomfortable now." Can I come in now?"

" Yes, she would be asleep by now."

" Sure do. I'll help clean."

" No need. I already did."

Lea went down leaving Sei alone. Again, Sei wasn't able to do anything. Sei kept thinking of that conversation. If he will stand by his word to Lea, what about 'Nay Rosa? The children are leaving the orphanage. Aside from that, Lea doesn't want to receive any help from him.