When Paola arrived at her destination, she got off the bus.
Standing on the sidewalk, just an inch away from the road, with her back facing the road, Paola's gaze was fixed on the building up ahead.
With a soulless expression on her face, she slowly made her way there. Taking a step at a time.
As she arrived in front of the fence gate that was about her height, she touched it and looked at the building, including the surroundings that were behind the gate.
"My home". She muttered.
Her eyes shut, and a smile formed on her face as she heard the noises of children from the distant building.
The building was a three-story building. And the building was not only tall, but it was also wide and was painted brown and white.
"I didn't know I would miss this place so much". She muttered and automatically opened her eyes upon hearing the voice of the security guard.
"Who is there?". The guard asked.
He was an elderly man in his late fifties and had gray hair.
Paola did not reply to the man. She stopped holding the gate and turned away from it. "I made the wrong decision coming here. I should not have come here". She muttered, before she began to hurry away.
"Paola, is that you?".
Paola instantly halted in her tracks the second the man said that to her. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she muttered, "He recognized me?".
She slowly turned to the man and tears welled up in her eyes as she saw him.
He wasn't the one she came to the orphanage for, but he was a part of her life.
He saved her life when her parents abandoned a helpless infant like her in a dumpster.
"Albert". She said his name with a smile on her face.
When Albert got busy opening the gate, Paola quickly wiped the tears that fell out of her eyes. She didn't want Albert to see her crying.
Albert finished opening the gate and hurried outside. He didn't allow Paola to say anything and just went ahead and hugged her. "You silly child. Why have you not come to visit us all this while? That is very unfilial of you". He said to her.
"I- I know, Albert. I am sorry". Paola apologized, before Albert stopped hugging her.
He noticed that Paola's eyes were red, and that made him ask her, "Did you cry?".
Paola acted confused after Albert said that to her. She pointed a finger at her own chest as she asked him, "Me? Cry? Of course not, Albert. No way. Why would I cry? And even if I cried, it would be tears of joy, because I get to see you again".
"Very well. I know that there's no way my little Paola will be a crybaby. You have been very strong ever since childhood". Albert said to her with a smile, before he placed both hands on her shoulders.
He admitted, "I am really happy, because I get to see you again, Paola. You have become such a beautiful woman". And after he let go of her shoulders and saw that his hands were wet, that was when his attention focused on Paola's head, down to her feet, and saw that her body was wet.
"Oh my. What happened to your clothes and your hair? Was this caused by the rain? Were you not with an umbrella? Wait here. Let me buy some new clothes for you". Albert said to her and was worried about her, but Paola simply laughed it off.
"Don't worry about me, Albert. I am alright. It's only a little bit of rain". She explained, before she changed subject and added, "Em, Albert, do you have any idea whether Mrs Felicia is inside the orphanage?".
"If you had come five minutes earlier, you would have met her. She went out. But she will probably return soon. But until then, can you spend some time with this old man and tell me how you have been living these past years after you left the orphanage?".
"Sure". Paola replied to him and followed him inside the orphanage.
She helped him lock the gate, before going to sit on the bench with him.
The bench was positioned in front of Albert's residence.
Albert was the one who began the conversation again, as he was very curious about how life had been for Paola ever since she gained independence and left the orphanage.
Throughout her conversation with Albert, Paola told him that she had been living very fine.
Albert believed Paola's every word because he trusted that she wouldn't lie to him.
Paola stayed with Albert and did not bother to go inside the orphanage building. Because Mrs Felicia had not come, Albert gave Paola some cookies and chocolate milk meant for kids.
He always had refreshments like these with him, because he loved to share them with the kids.
So many old memories came back to Paola after she accepted the cookies and the chocolate milk from Albert.
She remembered the time when she was still in the orphanage, Albert usually gave her these same cookies and chocolate milk.
Trying to forget her sorrow, she ate the cookie and drank all the chocolate milk. And after some hours of having a heartfelt and lively discussion with Albert while waiting for Mrs Felicia, Paola stood up, about to leave, as she had already gotten tired of waiting for Mrs Felicia.
"I wish you could stay much longer and discuss more with me, Paola. But, the sky had darkened earlier today, maybe because of the rain that fell in the morning. You should return home and rest since you said you are free from work today and would resume work tomorrow. Anyway, don't forget your old man. Make sure to visit again".
Paola nodded at Albert. She had already turned to leave, before she turned to Albert without warning and hugged him tightly.
"Thanks for today, Albert". She greeted him, and he hugged her back with a proud smile on his face.
"It's nothing. To me, you are the daughter I never had". Albert told her, and a drop of tear escaped from her eyes and landed on the floor.
Paola stopped hugging Albert, before he followed her outside the gate. After walking further from Albert, Paola turned to him and waved her right hand at him with a smile.
Albert smiled too and waved his hand at her.
The instant Paola turned her face away from Albert, her face became gloomy, and her eyes were lifeless.