The living room inside the foundation felt completely different from the quiet front yard. The moment Fero and Angelo stepped inside, several little children came rushing over, their tiny hands reaching out one after another to greet the new arrivals.
"Fero's here!" one close-cropped little boy shouted, grinning broadly and revealing a missing tooth on one side.
Fero bent slightly and patiently returned each handshake. Angelo watched from the side, secretly amazed to see how naturally his usually cold cousin interacted with children.
"Is he Fero's big brother?" a little girl asked, staring at Angelo with open curiosity.
"My cousin," Angelo corrected with a smile, then gently patted the girl's head.
They were invited to sit on a long sofa facing a large wooden table. Mr. Hardi took the chair across from them, while several staff members busied themselves arranging cups in the small kitchen next door. Before Angelo could ask more about the foundation, Mr. Hardi spoke first.
"Did you know, Angelo, that this building exists because of Fero?" Mr. Hardi smiled proudly and glanced at Fero, who looked slightly awkward. "All of this—the land, the building, even the equipment inside—came from his personal money."
Angelo quickly turned toward his cousin, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Seriously? You never told me."
"It wasn't important enough to mention," Fero replied briefly, his tone as flat as usual, though the tips of his ears reddened slightly at being called out in front of someone else.
Angelo fell silent for a moment, looking at his cousin differently than before. Until now, he had known Fero as a private person who rarely talked about personal matters, but hearing this made a quiet admiration grow in his chest. He was certain that even Fero's parents knew nothing about it, considering how carefully Fero always kept his distance from the extended family's affairs.
A short while later, Sita appeared from the kitchen with two other staff members, carrying a tray filled with several cups of hot tea. The fragrance of jasmine immediately filled the room when they set the cups on the table.
"Please have some tea first," Sita said as she placed a cup directly in front of Angelo. Her smile was warm and effortless.
"Thanks," Angelo replied, hurriedly reaching for the cup even though he wasn't particularly thirsty. He just needed an excuse to keep his hands busy instead of staring at Sita for too long.
Fero, sitting beside him, held back a quiet laugh but chose not to say anything. Instead, he called to one of the children sitting in the corner of the room.
"Andy, come here for a second," he called.
A boy of about ten hurried over. Fero reached into his wallet, pulled out several bills, and handed them to the boy.
"Go buy snacks at the shop out front for everyone here. Buy plenty. You can use the change to get yourself something, too."
Andy's eyes lit up happily. "You got it, Fero!" He immediately jogged toward the exit, full of enthusiasm as he carried out his sudden assignment.
Mr. Hardi waited until the room had quieted down again before pulling a thick brown folder from his work bag. He placed the documents on the table and opened them one by one in front of Fero.
"It's a good thing you came today. There are a few things we need to discuss about the operating permit with the education department," Mr. Hardi said, pointing to one of the forms. "They've asked for the complete data again, along with several additional requirements for this year's renewal."
Fero picked up the documents and skimmed them, his brows drawing together slightly. "Is this about accrediting the study program or about the building?"
"Both. That's why I need your opinion before I reply to their letter next week."
Their conversation grew serious as they moved from one document to the next. Sitting beside Fero, Angelo began to feel like he didn't belong there. He didn't understand administrative terms like those, and he was more interested in watching Sita help the other staff members rearrange the empty cups on the tray.
"I'm heading outside," Angelo whispered to Fero, who merely gave a brief shake of his head without looking away from the documents in his hands.
Fero let out a quiet sigh but made no attempt to stop him. He already knew exactly where his cousin was headed.
Angelo rose from the sofa and followed Sita outside. She had just finished tidying the tray and was walking toward the front porch. The late-afternoon sunlight had begun to soften, leaving golden streaks between the leaves of the mango trees.
"Mind if I join you?" Angelo asked after catching up with Sita.
Sita turned, slightly surprised but not bothered. "Sure. Are Fero and Mr. Hardi still having a serious conversation?"
"Yeah, something about paperwork. It's complicated. I don't get it," Angelo replied with a grin, then sat beside her on a long wooden bench facing the yard.
They made light conversation, discussing the foundation's daily activities, the children's study schedule, and little stories about the antics of the kids who lived there. Sita spoke casually, occasionally letting out a soft laugh as she recalled funny things that had happened with the children in her care. Angelo listened enthusiastically, occasionally asking questions that kept the conversation flowing without an awkward pause.
Time passed before they realized it. Nearly half an hour had gone by since Andy left for the shop, but the boy still hadn't returned. Angelo glanced at the watch on his wrist, slightly puzzled because the shop in front of the foundation wasn't actually far away. A round trip should have taken no more than ten minutes.
"Andy sure is taking a while," Angelo muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Sita nodded and looked toward the gate as well. "He is. He's usually quick when he's sent to buy something."
Before they could continue, the sound of running footsteps came from the gate. A child appeared in a hurry, breathing hard, his face pale and filled with anxiety that was clearly visible even from a distance.