Chapter 7 Who am I

THREE STRANGE WORDS

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CHAPTER SEVEN

Carl's POV

who does she even think she is? It wasn't my intention to make her cry but she was just so rude. Natalie is way better than she is.

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I hooted at the gate and the security opened it. I parked my car in the garage and stepped down.

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"mom I'm home" I yelled immediately I opened the door. she wasn't in the living room so I guess she's in the kitchen.

"Carl my son"

I turned to see grandma. she was smiling gleefully

"Mama" I hugged her. "you came?"

"yeah. can't I see my grandson. just look. you've grown so big" she squeezed my cheeks

"ouch grandma that hurts" I shrieked

"I just missed you so much"

"missed you too" I said, eyes trailing round the house "where's mom?"

"you know her. probably in the kitchen like she always is"

I walked to the kitchen and stood by the door, mom was whisking the mixture in the bowl. she didn't notice my presence until I walked up to her and hugged her from behind.

"Carl honey" she said almost out of her skin

"Hey mom"

"how was school today?"

"good mom"

"hope you're taking your studies seriously Carl?"

" mom I... "

"please Carl. no more excuses. I'm sick and tired of listening to them. for goodness sake try to do something about it." she heaved

"I'm trying mom"

"try harder then. I expect distinctions or I'll be forced to get you a tutor and trust me, you're not going to like it" she returned to her baking

"ok Mom. who placed an order?"

"the Conner's. they're having a wedding ceremony this weekend"

"oh"

"so have you met your grandma?"she asked still whisking the mixture

" yeah"

"how's the search for a helper coming along?"

"still looking. no one's showed up yet. I guess it's because of the other job offers going around"

"don't worry mom. you'll find someone"

"I sure hope so. the bakery is going haywire with orders and I can't handle it alone"

"oh you will. you're super mom after all"

she smiled and playfully hit my cheeks. mom has been the best part of my life. Ever since dad passed away, she has been my only source of joy. my only hope and I love her so much.

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"hey go freshen up. I'll serve dinner"

I nodded and ran upstairs. I had my shower and wore a T-shirt with blue jeans.

"I may be poor but at least I have my dignity and self respect. Arrogant bastard... " her words played inside my head constantly. fuck you Astral.

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Astral's POV

"don't let what he said get to you. you're stronger than that. where's that brave Astral of mine huh?" Kristen nudged me on the elbow

I smiled

We're walking home after our stressful day at work. my uniform smells like ketchup. I'm all sweaty and a complete mess now.

"for the first time in my life, I'm actually missing my parents now. I'm beginning to think. will they ever let me work like this if they were alive?"

Kristen held my hands

"gosh I swear I'm not gonna cry anymore"

"everything happens for a reason best. sometimes, we're just not destined to know about it" she said squeezed my hands in hers

"thanks Kris"

"you're welcome"

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we walked to the orphanage. she waved and ran to her house. I walked inside.

I went to my room. My heart was aching so badly.

I sat on my bed and cuddled on my pillow

mom Theresa walked in

"you're back"

I didn't respond. just stared at the ceiling

"is something wrong?" she asked for the second time

"have you met my parents mom Theresa before I was born?" I asked. her eyes widened in shock

"N-No" she stammered

"how did I end up here" I asked again "was I just brought here or my parents got tired and sold me here"

"Astral, stop getting these thoughts in your head" she sat down

"for the first time mom Theresa. I'm actually missing my parents" I felt the tears build up.

"Astral. we saw you lying in front of the orphanage one blessed morning. we kept you with us and since no one came looking for you, we raised you as our own. you've been a blessing. since the day you came to this orphanage, this place has been filled with joy" she smiled

"Did you call me the name Astral"

"no. but the person who did thought very carefully before choosing that name. Astral means light. and you're a light to all of us"

I sat on the bed.

"I have something for you Astral" she said and went down. few minutes later, she came back.

"I've been saving this for the right time and I think it's now" she opened a small box and brought out two items. A necklace and A photograph.

she gave them both to me

the necklace has my name imprinted on it ASTRAL. it was made of pure gold.

"we found you wearing that necklace when you came here so we figured, it was your name".

" maybe I was from a rich... "

"no one knows about that but we thought so too"

I looked at the picture. it was a lady smiling. she had blonde hair and fair skin just like me.

"could this be my mother?" I asked. air vanishing from my lungs all of a sudden. she looked exactly like me.

"I guess so. we don't know for sure but this are yours now"

I smiled putting on the necklace.

"thanks Mom Theresa." she nodded and left the room. I felt my mom's presence with me all of a sudden.

But if this necklace was mine, that means my parents were wealthy and if they were then how did I end up here? why am I in an orphanage? is this one of the secret mom Theresa is hiding from me?....