AINA
Upon coming back to the orphanage, I step into my room and close the door, crying my heart out, making myself strong.
A rage is slowly growing in me, desperate to take revenge.
Sera was wronged. She was killed and abandoned in a far place.
"It was a man," I remember the shadow.
The gut feeling tells me someone from her family is behind her murder. Each of them hated her, including her father.
An opportunity is all I'm craving.
After almost two weeks of silence and mourning, Miss. Song invited me to her office in the middle of the night.
I step inside and Miss. Rachel instantly closes the door.
"What's going on?"
"Have a seat." Miss. Rachel pulls a chair.
The moment I perch on the chair, Miss. Song comes closer to me, looking into my eyes, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Aina."
"We need your help." Her lips whisper.
"Rachel told me that you'd be the perfect person for this role."
My eyes glance at Miss. Rachel. She slightly nods her head, hinting that I play along. Something is off.
"You see…" Miss. Song grabs my palms.
"Mr. Ryu is coming tomorrow to get his older daughter back."
"The one who is locked in the east wing?"
Miss. Song nods her head, gulping.
"Isn't that good news?"
"No, my child." Her voice is shaking.
Doubts rise in my head.
"Hana Ryu is dead." Miss. Rachel answers.
"What?"
"Hana was brought here when she was six. She was always a difficult child, crazy. Many times, Hana tried to hurt the nurses and anyone who tried to get closer to her."
"One night, she attacked Miss. Song."
"As a punishment, we tied her hands and legs and abandoned her in her room for three days with no food."
"She couldn't survive it."
Every part of me is shaken.
"No one knows about this secret. The Ryu family never asked for her."
Miss. Song inhales a deep breath.
"After Sera's death, Mrs. Ryu lost her mind completely. She was already in pain losing her first daughter. Mr. Ryu thinks that if he brings back his older daughter home, his wife might recover from the trauma."
"He will burn down the entire orphanage if he finds out what happened to Hana."
I have never seen Miss. Song so terrified.
"The Ryu family doesn't know what Hana looks like after turning adult. You can pretend to be her and go to the Ryu family."
"Sera was your best friend. You know more about the Ryu family than anyone else."
"Do this for us, Aina." Tears fill her eyes.
The opportunity has fallen into my lap.
"I will do it for the orphanage."
"Oh! Thank you so much, child." Miss. Song sighs. The terrified look slowly fades away from her wrinkled face.
Stepping out of the office, Miss. Rachel takes me to her room.
"Was she telling the truth about Hana?"
"No. She killed her out of anger. That night when Hana had one of those crazy episodes, she hit her head with a candlestick." Miss. Rachel confirms.
"What about her body?"
"A man helped her bury Hana in the backyard."
Every inch of mine is shocked. Miss. Song killed Hana Ryu and covered up her murder.
Both the daughters of the Ryu family are gone.
"From today onwards, you're Hana Ryu."
"This is your chance to find out the truth." She comes closer and smiles.
"Thank you, Miss. Rachel."
"No worries, child."
Sera meant the whole world to me, and I would do anything for that world.
"Hana had a burn mark on her upper back." She whispers, scared and anxious.
"No problem." I slide my straps down.
Miss. Rachel grabs a stick from the fireplace and approaches my upper back. The moment the hot wood touches my skin, I bite my bottom lip and clench my dress tightly.
She leaves a circle mark on my back.
"This looks similar." Her lips mutter softly.
I drop to the floor, feeling the stinging sensation on the wound. The pain is unbearable, extremely nerve-wracking.
Miss. Rachel applies an ointment to my wound, comforting me with her warmth.
"Hand had red hair like you. We don't need to dye your hair but your eyes are brown. She has hazel eyes."
I slowly stand on my feet and she gives me a pair of hazel lenses.
"Always wear these lenses when you're with the Ryu family, okay?"
"Yes, I understand." My gaze drops to the lenses in my palm.
"Don't ever let them find out that you're Aina. The Ryu family will not only make you disappear but might destroy the orphanage."
"One more thing…"
My eyes look up at her, inquisitive.
"You can't trust anyone in that household. Even if they treat you nice, don't lose your guard. A wolf always hides underneath sheep clothing."
"Yes, Miss. Rachel."
As the morning spread rays, Miss. Rachel takes me downstairs wrapped in a new dress. The other girls are strictly instructed to stay in their rooms. Miss. Song would later inform them that I'm adopted by the Ryu family.
They don't need to know more than that.
She killed someone but was living with dignity, pretending to be a generous nun. If not for my revenge, I would have exposed her sins.
"Mr. Ryu is here." Miss. Song whispers.
As the massive gates creak open, a tall and imposing figure strides confidently into the courtyard, enveloped in an air of authority.
He is clad in a perfectly tailored black suit that fits him like a second skin, exuding a sense of power and sophistication. The suit's fabric catches the light in a way that enhances its sleek appearance, making it look almost ethereal. His polished black boots glisten like obsidian gems, reflecting the sun's rays with a brilliance that seems to command attention.
Behind him are two guards dressed in black uniforms and carrying guns. I have heard a lot about him from Sera but this is my first time seeing the man in person.
He carries a mysterious aura.
My body naturally feels nervous and maybe somewhat anxious.
He slowly comes closer and stands before me, looking suspiciously into my eyes. The piercing gray eyes remind me of Sera but she was soft.
"You're Hana?"
"Yes, of course." Miss. Song replies.
"I didn't ask you." He glances at her and she immediately lowers her head, frightened.
"Are you really my daughter?" His sharp gaze lands on me again.