The orphanage was your typical type of orphanage with a huge cathedral in front. Possibly was it to accomodate better the orphans found, mostly when winter kicks in. At least, they would be kept warm since the cathedral was open 24/7 a whole year. Sungyeol pulled back his sleeves and taking in a deep breath, he said, more to himself than anyone in particular

"I wonder if someone like me can go in without being hit by a bolt of lightning?" Myungsoo, that had just parked the car, walked up next to him and, with his usual curious tone, he asked

"What exactly do you want from Father Rodriguez?"

"What else would i want from a servant of God? Guidance, of course", Sungyeol answered, though from the look Myungsoo gave him he didn't buy it at all. Not that he blamed him, he himself wouldn't have bought it if he had said it in front of a mirror. Fixing his hair messed up by the wind, Sungyeol briefly glanced at the outside architecture of the church, before finally walking into the sacred place. Now that he was thinking about it. When was the last time he had been in a church? Was it at his parents funeral? Perhaps.

The cathedral weren't that different from the one they had his parents waking at. It was big, with the ceiling so high of the ground, Sungyeol felt naturally small under it. The glasses were pretty amazing too. Clearly, it was authentic stained glasses. A piece of art in Sungyeol's point of view. Whoever did it was a real artist. The pieces, he realized, must've been put together carefully, regardless of the long process just so they could achieve something as amazing as that.

"Hyung... I mean boss, why don't you wait here and i'll try to see if Father Rodriguez can receive us." Myungsoo said, pulling him out of his contemplation. Sungyeol merely nodded in response at the younger man, more interested in the painting of Jesus pasted on the wall to really listen to Myungsoo. Not that Myungsoo minded. The minute Myungsoo left to the back of the cathedrale where the Father's office were probably at, Sungyeol walked up to the confessing cabinet. More out of boredom than curiosity. It was then that he noticed a pair of pink sneaker behind the dark curtains. With a smile, Sungyeol scoffed, amused at the scene and pretended to be oblivious of it. He walked up to the rosette with his hands shoved deep in his pocket, discreetly glancing back at the confessing cabinet.

"Wah, i can't believe this place is so big. I wonder who cleans this place."

"How big is this place anyway?" Sungyeol continued, slowly making his way back to the confessing cabinet. It seems like the kid won't be coming out anytime soon, Sungyeol thought. Feigning hunger, Sungyeol sat on the stairs near the confessing cabinet and said with a slight pout on his face

"Ah, i'm soooo hungry. Is anyone here? Will anyone help me? I guess not." Sungyeol proceeded to walk away then, when he felt someone's hand on his pant. Grinning at the completed mission, he instantly wiped it away and turned to the cause of his halt. And there, he inwardly smiled at how freaking lucky he could be at times. Because in front of him, the little girl he had seen only on picture, and was suppose to be missing, barely look past his knees. Was she that scared of a stranger, but was still willing to help him? That was certainly something you don't get to see everyday. Sungyeol eyes soften at the little girl's courage and asked tentivaly

"Can i help you?" Instead of answering, the little brunette quickly dropped her hand from Sungyeol's pant and handing him what looked like a chocolat bar, she kept her head low as she carefully backed off. An evident sign of fear, that reminded Sungyeol of a past memory, he didn't particularly want to dwell on. Sungyeol knelt on one knee and smiling nicely at the orphan, he said

"Thank you. So there is someone that could help me after all. May i know the name of my savior?"

Without answering, the girl fearfully kept her head so low that Sungyeol barely could decipher any expression her face could possibly hold that moment. So with a smile, Sungyeol confidently sat next to the little girl then breaking the chocolat in two , he gave half at his anxious companion and just like that they silently ate, knowing that engaging any sort of conversation with her would be pointless. And he realized, he didn't want to put her in any more discomfort than she was already.

Myungsoo, on the other hand, was incredibly chatty when he, luckily, found the man of God in his office, working on some papers.After the usual greeting, Myungsoo accepted politely the man's offer in seating in front of him then asked with a smile spread all over his face

"How have you been, Father? It's been so long since i last saw you. Wah, I can see that you're still in shape. Are you working out?" The old man laughed at the words of the maknae and pushing aside his paper, he said

"Well, having to take care of kids is a pretty intense training. So what brings you here, son? Although, i'm glad to see you here, i'm sure you're not here just for a simple greeting exchange." Myungsoo laughed embarrassingly at the old man's word and said apologetically

"How come you're always right? Actually, i'm here for a favor."

"What is it?"

After exposing him the situation, who was pretty vague, the Father, strangely, accepted  to receive Sungyeol. However, on the condition, that he will talk alone with him. A request that Myungsoo took with a smile though, he was slightly disappointed of being pushed aside, once again, on things involving Sungyeol. Despite that, he went to inform Sungyeol about the old man's decision. Myungsoo was just around the corner separating the hall to Father Rodriguez office and confessing cabinet and was about to call out Sungyeol, but stop halway. Or more precisely, his jaw dropped at the sight of Sungyeol happily eating, what looked like chocolat in company of a little girl. Did something happen when he left him alone? Possibly. Sadly, he would certainly never know what. At least, not until Sungyeol fully trusted him again. And he will make sure Sungyeol would no matter what.

"Boss, Father Rodriguez is willing to receive you. Alone." Myungsoo finally said, slowly approaching them. Sungyeol only groaned in response then getting up on his feet, he turned to the little girl and said

"Thank you, princess." With that, he walked away, leaving a very confused Myungsoo behind.

As soon as he was in front of the Father's office, Sungyeol knocked briefly at the door, slightly uncomfortable to be in front of a servant of God. If it had been a simple man, he would've been the usual cold and rude him but being a christian, he was by far comfortable in questioning a man of God. It was too late to back down anyway. When the old man gave him the permission to enter, he politely greeted the man and said sincerely grateful

"Thank you for receiving me, Father."

"No need to thank me. So tell me Mr Lee, how can i help?" Sungyeol sat at the seat offered by the old man and choosing carefully his words, he said

"I'm here for the Han couple. You might have heard of the incident."

"Yes, i did. What a shame. They were good people."

"Were they? Father Rodriguez, do you mind if i ask you a few questions on them?"

"Since you're here, let's not waste your time. But why are you so concerned about it? For what i can tell, you are not a cop."

"Indeed, i'm not. You're pretty observant, sir." The old man smiled at the compliment and leaning more comortably on his chair, he continued

"Just tell me what you want to know." Sungyeol let out a breath, he didn't he held then leaning forward on the table, he said

"On the day they were suppose to take Sae ron, the little girl they were suppose to adopt, she went missing. Have you heard of that?"

"Missing? It's that what they told you?"

"They?"

Barely listening to the question uttered by Sungyeol, Father Rodriguez said in an annoyed tone

"Daebak, i knew they were useless but not this much... Anyway, it's not true. The day they were suppose to get her from the social worker, the parents didn't turn up. When we called to ask what happened they said that something came up and so they couldn't make it. But they were willing to take her a week later. I've found it weird, knowing how much they wanted to adopt so i went to visit them myself but even in front of me, they couldn't tell me what really happened that day. All i can say was that Mr Han wasn't in very good shape." Frowning, Sungyeol bit his thumb pensively, as he wondered how that could be possible. Just what was he missing on this case?

"Who else knows about this? Did you tell the police about it?"

"Of course not. The police was going to close the case anyway so what's the point in involving Sae ron any further. She had already been through enough."

"I see. But Father. Why are you telling me all this so easily?"

"I don't know. But, Mr Lee, there's some things in this world you can't really explain. And me telling you this is one of them."

Sungyeol didn't quite understand what the elder meant but he decided to leave it for later as he asks

"Wait a minute. Father, when you said they. Who were you talking about?"

"The cops. Why do you ask? Weren't they the one that told you about Sae ron going missing?"

"No. I've checked the administrative papers. And they were gone. There was nothing about Sae ron besides the adoption papers."

"It's probably an administrative error. It happens often."

"Probably" Sungyeol said though he doubted it was that simple. Bowing once again at the man, Sungyeol said politely

"Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it. But can i ask you another favour? May i speak to Sae ron?"

"How did you know she's here?" The Father asked skeptical. Sungyeol smiled in response and said

"Wouldn't it be logical for a kid to return home when she or he is scared?"

"I guess you're right. Ok, but i'm coming with you"

"Of course. Oh and Father? Why don't you ask me why i'm so interested in this case?"

"Would you have answer me if i did?"

Without answering, Sungyeol lowered his head, looking slightly dejected. Of course, he couldn't tell the man. That would jeopardize everything he had worked so hard in achieving. He couldn't even talk about to his own brother so to a stranger. How could he?

"I take your silence as a no. Don't worry. For some reason, i have a feeling that i can trust you. Odd, isn't it." 

On the way back, Sungyeol felt more drain than he had been before. After his little chat with Sae ron, he realized something that he had been mistaken all along. Sae ron didn't hate the Han couple. Actually, she actually wanted to be with them. Mainly because she sympatized with their history of miscarriage. Like them, she just wanted to fill the empty space in her heart. Nothing more. So basically he was back to the starting point and that exhausted him to no end. And to make matter's worst, miles away from the town and the cathedral, the car just gave out. So basically, he was stuck in the middle of nowhere, pretty much like how he was with the Han's case.