Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 122: SunFlower Orphanage

Chapter 122: SunFlower Orphanage

"Sir?"

Knox blinked, snapping from that nostalgic trance. He forced a small smile at Ragel and urged him to start with the briefing.

The guy began, "The Sunflower Orphanage was founded twenty-five years ago. It was a small foster care for stray children around here. Oh, it might be quite hard to believe that such a remote area could have stray kids, but unfortunately, this place had become like a dumpsite for unwanted children."

Knox and Ragel briefly glanced at the back when they heard a gasp. Knox’s eyes darted on Knoa as the child’s comprehension was getting better, he worried that he understood what they were talking about.

As he expected, the child had wide eyes, looking at Ragel like he had done something wrong. The latter scratched his head and awkwardly smiled at the kid.

Shawn suggested, "Should I have him listen to music with these?" He pointed at his headphones resting on his neck.

Knoa pulled on his uncle’s arms and shook his head. "Knoa wants to listen..."

Shawn and Ragel glanced at Knox, waiting for his answer. He just smiled at the two and turned to Knoa, "Sure, baby. But you have to listen properly, okay? Don’t interrupt the adults talking and just listen."

The kid nodded enthusiastically. His eyes brimming with anticipation and he even sat properly like a good student. Franz and Alex ended up waiting for Ragel’s discussion as well.

Due to this, Ragel’s face tinged slightly with red for gaining everyone’s attention in the van. He swallowed his shyness and continued, "Some parents who birth a child but couldn’t take care of them would bring them to the beach, and then abandon them. The growing number of children was what made the town mayor founded the orphanage, which they named after the flower that follows the sun."

"Is there a deeper meaning behind the name?" Knox inquired, genuinely curious at the origin of the orphanage’s name.

Ragel nodded, "There is. It was named like that because children who got abandoned on the beach would trail the sun’s path and end up reaching the lighthouse on the western part of the coastline.

"During that time, this place wasn’t as inhabited as like today, so houses weren’t visible from the beach and the only structure they could see was the lighthouse. That’s probably why they walked toward it."

’Then, why name it sunflower instead of lighthouse?’ Shawn kept the question to himself as he listened along with the kid next to him. He peeked to the side and his eyes bulged after seeing Knoa’s scrunching face.

His lips were curved downward and his chin was creased. It was the face of someone trying to hold back their tears.

Instead of comforting the kid, Shawn felt like Knoa would bawl if he paid attention, so he quickly turned his head to the front and pretended like he saw nothing.

However, his eyes remained on the corners, watching the child through his peripheral. His shoulders trembled as he pressed his lips inwardly, suppressing his giggles from coming out.

Ragel continued, "However, the Horizon Foundation only began supporting the orphanage ten years later after its founding. They focused on providing comfortable and complete facilities in the first five years, and as the institution began entertaining adopting families, the foundation reached its hands to help them find safe, stable, and permanent families.

"But of course, not all children were adopted and not all families passed the evaluation. Most of the children ended up reaching the age where they had to start school or go back to school again. Thus, the foundation decided to prioritize their education next, by helping the orphanage send the kids to school at all levels and providing tutoring programs done by volunteers.

"Some children graduated secondary school with the help of the foundation, but since the town doesn’t have a college school, those who wanted to pursue a career had to move out to the city. This is where the scholarship program given by the HZF enters."

Knox was already aware of the scholarship program of the HZF even before he met Shawn and Steve. He was on a different scholarship back then, but he could remember some of the students in his department were part of that program.

"They provide monthly allowance and shoulder the student’s tuition and miscellaneous fees as long as they maintain a GWA of 2.0. The first batch of orphanage kids who attended universities will actually be graduating next year."

Ragel meekly smiled and added in a lowered voice, "I’m actually one of them..."

"Really?!" Knox was genuinely surprised. ’This guy is still in college?!’ He exclaimed inwardly. It was true that the man looked younger, but Knox thought just a year or two younger than him.

Still, he couldn’t be certain so he asked in the end, "How old are you?"

"I’m twenty-one years old, sir Knox," Ragel replied.

’Oh, four years younger than me...’ Knox thought. Ragel continued to discuss the orphanage’s mission and vision, and he had to memorize at least half of them in case they asked for a speech.

Knox looked back to check on his child, but then Knoa quickly looked away and stared at the window instead, covering his face with the bear he carried.

This behavior baffled him, so he threw Shawn a quizzical look, but the latter shrugged his shoulders and looked away to the opposite side. Knox furrowed his brows. He was about to ask his son directly when the driver informed them of their arrival.

The van entered the gates and parked under a large pine tree nearest to the administration building.

The orphanage was like a school; the administration was on the front, the learning facility on the right, the canteen and other amenities on the left, at the back was the dormitory, and in the center was the open gym where the event was held.

"Mr. Arden, it is a pleasure to meet you. I’m the director of the Sunflower Orphanage. I’m glad that you’re able to come, Mr. Arden," a middle-aged man politely spoke and extended his hand to Knox.

Knox shook hands with him as he replied, "It’s a pleasure to meet you too, director. I came here on behalf of HZF Director Althea Horace. Aside from showing my face and delivering the presents, she didn’t orient me on what to do. I’d be truly grateful if the director can guide me."

The director nodded enthusiastically, "Of course, sir. I’m glad to be of help."

The older man’s eyes moved to the people behind him, so he also introduced his companions. They were received warmly and were immediately taken to a comfortable area before the event started.

The director excused himself after. Knox asked the others, "Where is Ragel? He didn’t come?"

Alex answered, "He helped the staff to unload the gifts. I’m not sure where he went afterward."

The door opened a female staff peeked her head inside, "Mr. Knox, the ceremony will start. Please, allow me to guide you to your seat."

"Okay."

All five of them stood simultaneously.

They followed the female staff to the gym decorated with arches made of balloons in the middle which serve as the entrance point. Shawn and the others were told by the staff to sit at the front rows of the arranged chairs, while Knox was told to enter at the arched balloons, head to the stage, and sit on the central seat.

His companions had already taken seats at their designated positions. Thankfully, Knoa did not insist on coming with him and just sat obediently between Shawn and Franz.

When the march sounded, Knox followed the aisle to the stage after his name was called. Behind him walked next were the town mayor, the director of the orphanage, and some people Knox was briefly introduced to.

After them, the children who would be moving up to the second level of education marched onto their seats.

And soon, the ceremony began.