Capítulo 13: HOW WE MET

[ABSTRACT]

FIVE YEARS AGO

On the outskirts of Eston City, in Gotham's orphanage.

Outside the building, children were playing, and little chatters could be heard.

"Hey, let's run away," Jane said quietly as they sat on the swing and watched them play.

"Stop saying this, I'm sick of hearing it; we can flee, but where will we go?" Eric inquired.

"We've been here since we were children, the nuns will be tired of us, they might sell us, let's run before it's too late," Jane urged.

"The nuns will never sell us, and you want to leave the family you've been with for 14 years?" Eric let out a sigh. Jane had been bothering him ever since her seventeen birthday. She desired to be released from the orphanage.

"We've been best friends for ten years and you can't trust me," Jane grumbled.

"It's not that, outside the wall is a life that is harder than ours, we are not mistreated here like other orphanages," Eric held her hand, attempting to make her understand his point of view. He, too, would like to see the outside world, but he prefers to stay put. Why rush when the nun wasn't going to let them go sooner?

"I couldn't have saved you from those bullies," Jane said, her lips clenched.

"That happened a long time ago. For God's sake, we were six, and you keep reminding me whenever I disagree with you, "Eric sighed and shrugged.

"Come on, I'll look after us,"

She shook him with her hand on his shoulder.

"Leave me alone; we're free to go whenever we want; all we have to do is ask," Eric tried to take her hand away, but she refused.

"Sister Maria refused to agree, saying we couldn't until we were 18,"

"Then we wait until we're 18,"

"I'm hungry," Jane said as she let go of his shoulder and held her stomach.

Eric looked at his wristwatch; it read 6:00 p.m. It was time for him to go shopping in town for dinner. He was in charge of buying foodstuff along with the nuns.

"I need to call Sister Theresa," he said as he stood up from the swing.

"You didn't hear; Sister Theresa isn't well; she caught the fluid," Jane explained.

Eric frowned.

"That means I'm buying everything myself," he mumbled.

"Let me go with you," she said, leaping from the swing.

"So you're going to flee," Eric glared at her.

"No, I've heard what you're saying; I promise I'll wait until I'm 18."

He locked his gaze on her for a while.

"All right, let me take permission," he agreed as he walked away from her.

"I promise she'll be on her best behavior when she's with me," Eric said as they exited the chapel.

"I should call her," Eric said as he turned to walk away.

"Wait, I think we have another child," Sister Maria said as she noticed the car approaching the gate.

"You're right," Eric said as he approached the car.

The old red car came to a halt inside the orphanage. An elderly man in a hat emerged, carrying a rough-looking boy with messy hair and swollen, red eyes.

"Here's one of yours!" He shoved the boy towards Sister Maria. Eric caught him and began inspecting his face.

"Who was it that did this to him?" She asked, her gaze fixed on the boy.

"Did you not hear what I was saying?" As he approached her, the man's jaw was clenched.

"Ferdinand, Thank you for saving the boy; here is a token of my appreciation," Sister Maria quickly took money from her pocket and handed it to him.

"Haha, now you're talking. Don't worry, I'll keep bringing his type instead of going to the cops," He laughed as he adjusted his hat and got into his car.

"Young boy, where have your parents gone?" Sister Maria bent down to ask the boy as the car drove off.

The boy's lips tightened as he wore an angry expression.

"Take him to the dorm," She told Eric.

Jane, who was dressed up, came out and saw Eric and the rough-looking boy walking to the male dorm.

"Hey, I thought we were going out?" She questioned as she approached them.

"We have a newcomer, Mr. Ferdinand brought him," he explained.

"I see," Jane muttered, then smiled at the boy, "What is your name? My name is Jane "She asked.

The boy remained silent, staring out the window.

"I don't think now is the time for introductions," Eric chipped in.

"I guess so, I'll wait outside," Jane said as she walked away.

Jane paced about while she waited for Eric; she wanted to get out of the Orphanage as soon as possible as if something from the outside world was calling her.

"If only Eric would agree to let her run away with him," she grumbled.

Eric knows his way around town, so she needs him to flee.

Today will be a wake-up call for her.

"What are you thinking, let's go," Eric touched her on the shoulder, jolting her out of her reverie.

"Nothing, wait, did sister Maria give you permission?" She asked, wide-eyed.

"I'm Eric Wilson, aren't I?" he replied, smirking.

As they approached the Eston bus stop, Eric spotted Jane staring at the folks waiting for the bus.

"Are you going to stop gazing at people like that?" He tapped her on the back of the head.

"Hey!" She yelled at him while rubbing the back of her head.

"What? You act as though you haven't gone out in a decade "He yelled back.

"I haven't in half a decade," she said with a pout.

"It was because..." He was going to complete his sentence when he realized the bus had already come.

"Let's go," he said, taking her hand in his and walking into the bus.

Jane kept glancing out the window, while Eric looked at her amusedly.

"You know what? The majority of the people on this bus are from the countryside, but you appear to be more local than them "He stated.

"Don't say that, look at the trees, aren't they more beautiful than ours?" She asked, making sure their gazes were locked.

He glanced at the trees; he had passed the road a lot of times, but he hadn't noticed the trees in the bushes. And she was correct; they were lovely just like the town is.

"Hmm, they're quite beautiful," he grumbled.

"Do you see? I'm sure you haven't noticed. "That's why you need me in your life," she grinned.

"You're already bothering me," he chuckled.

"Get some sleep, we only have an hour until we get to the market," he continued.

"I'm not going to sleep; instead, I'm going to stare at these magnificent trees and watch them dance to the rhythm of the trees." She said cheerfully.

(ONE HOUR LATER)

Eric chuckled softly as he looked at Jane, who was sleeping with her lips open and her head next to the window. It was clear that she wasn't comfortable. He tried to rest her head on his shoulder, but she kept waking up and peering out the window, so he let her do her thing.

"Bonehead, we've arrived," He said, touching her on the shoulder.

"Have we arrived?" She inquired, yawning and stretching her arms.

"Sure, let's go down." He took her by his hands and went down.

"Wow!" Jane's lips widened as she step outside, seeing the market.