Even before this whole adventure began, I had already regretted opening my mouth several times. It would have been so much easier if someone had shown me, by their own example, exactly how not to do things. But it seemed I was surrounded by people far too perfect to ever make mistakes. Was I really the only one jumping on a rake, mistaken it for a trampoline?..
Somewhere deep inside me, a tiny shred of hope still lingered that Father would finally agree to Roana's offer, and that a carriage was waiting for us just around the corner. But, of course, he didn't. No one was waiting for us anywhere.
Sweating bullets and dragging myself toward the school under the scorching sun, I tasted the full glory of a desert stroll against my will. Come to think of it, why did I even care about Ben's relationship with that girl? Exactly. I didn't.
Even if that girl really was Luisa's friend—couldn't she have handled it herself if she wanted to?.. What on earth possessed me to betray my old habit of avoiding everything I found too exhausting?
Unfortunately, none of these complaints did a single thing to get me out of this torture, and my mood was... well, pretty lousy.
"You look like a melted pudding, and we haven't even made it halfway yet."
Father's comment did absolutely nothing for my motivation. I wanted to snap back with something like, "Should I laugh now?", but I didn't even have the energy for that.
"Carry me."
I only had enough strength to hold out a single hand. I felt like a girl forgotten at a ball, ready to give an arm and a leg at that moment just to leave this place as fast as possible.
"Ho-ho-ho, how could I steal your moment of glory?"
Is this a joke? I glanced at him sideways, asking the question with my eyes alone.
We stared at each other for about thirty seconds before he just started walking again. Apparently, it wasn't a joke, nor was it funny. Why did he even think that arriving wet as a floor rag was more dignified than riding on my father's shoulders?
And yet, slouching and letting my arms hang like a walking corpse, I was forced to trudge on.
Usually, this happened with eyelids, but right now I could clearly feel my legs growing heavier. With every step, my feet felt like they were sinking into the ground. Why was this happening? Maybe it was because of the rare breeze brushing against my skin? Maybe it carried poison?
Thinking about this, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and sighed. Even the air leaving my lungs was hot. Looking down at my toes peeking out of my slippers, it felt like steam was rising right off them.
I might actually melt like this, I thought, sighing again.
"Look at you, so full of energy, ha-ha-ha." He intentionally stopped and turned around just to laugh at me.
To my great surprise, for such a minor occasion, Papa had dressed up quite formally. His T-shirt looked brand new, his pants had no scuffs, and his shoes were clean and fresh. However, if anyone thought this meant he would act normal—they better think again.
Before we even left the house, Father had almost taken the door off its hinges by slamming right into it. And right now, honestly, things weren't any better.
"Yeah. Sure..."
Apparently missing my sarcasm completely, Father walked back and stepped behind me. His hands came down on my shoulders, pushing me forward as if I were a boulder that refused to budge.
I remember hearing somewhere about a valley where rocks moved on their own. And, most interestingly, the reason had nothing to do with magic at all. Supposedly at night—due to high humidity—the sand would get covered in ice, and thanks to that, the wind could nudge them forward bit by bit.
Wait, stop.
"Enough. Stop it."
I tried to shake him off, but I barely had the strength to keep from falling over while he pushed me. Come to think of it, I had zero chance of stopping him anyway.
Well, whatever.
"Forward, forward. We haven't even gone three hundred meters, and we left ten minutes ago."
"Huh?.."
That had to be a joke, right? Just to be sure, I turned around to check. But the house really was still visible. A bit blurry, but still there.
"I can't go on..."
"Seriously? Out of steam already?"
While I was barely breathing, Father was swaying his body from left to right, as if mimicking some strange tribal dance. It was hard to tell what he was trying to portray, but in my condition, his cheerfulness felt almost like a mockery.
Could it be that he was an energy vampire, draining all my strength for himself?..
That, of course, would sound reasonable if I actually had anything left to drain in the first place.
"Are you going to carry me or what?"
"Well, maybe."
Deciding not to drag it out any longer, Papa stopped pushing. I felt his large palms wrap around my ribs from behind. He squatted slightly, tensed up—and suddenly, with a single motion, hoisted me up.
The ground instantly vanished from beneath my feet. My stomach dropped, just like on a free-fall drop tower.
The next second, I was sitting on his shoulders. The world became taller. The wind didn't get any less scorching, but now it blew freely across my wet neck and back. Feeling a wave of relief because I no longer had to move on my own, I immediately kicked my feet against his chest.
"Look how lively you got all of a sudden."
He burst into a loud laugh, making me jolt up and down a bit on his shoulders. As the bouncing continued, I suddenly realized that my mouth had gone completely dry. Not even saliva was gathering, as if it was magically turning into sweat instead.
"Don't we have any water with us?"
"Water, huh? We still have time to stop by the well."
Hmm? A well? Come to think of it, I don't think I had ever even walked past it with Mama. In moments like these, I realized even more how practical Mama's abilities actually were.
The way his cheeks puffed up as we walked showed that he didn't mind carrying me at all. Why go through all that trouble then, if we could have moved like this from the very start?
Thinking about it, there was something right about this. His hair, sharp as a hedgehog's, served as both my steering levers and handrails, and there was that ridiculous, skipping gait of his. This image was so familiar that it felt like I had become very little again. Not that I had grown too much, of course.
"How have you been lately?"
"Lately? As in, between the last second and this one?"
"Oh, right." He laughed again.
.
Amazingly, the ride on Father's shoulders took only a few minutes. I think I was starting to understand better why kids were in such a hurry to grow up. First, when you look at the world from above, everything stops looking so scary. There wasn't a single person looking down on me. Second, the ten minutes it took me just to step outside the house would have been enough to reach our destination, with time left over to wait.
On the other hand, these few perks brought along plenty of other things I didn't want to think about just yet. So as long as I have Father's shoulders and Mama's hands, I have nothing to complain about.
Even though I had drunk some water, my lips had already managed to get dry and chapped again. Some bits felt so sharp that it was hard to keep my mouth closed. I bit my lip as if trying to peel off these blades, and as a result, a little blood got onto my tongue.
It was hot. This made its taste sharper, and my tongue began to tingle.
"No need to worry so much. No one's going to bite you. Except yourself, of course, ha-ha-ha."
"I'm not worried. They're just dried out."
"Well, of course."
That was how we spent the next few minutes at the school gates. Papa would wipe my mouth with a napkin every now and then, whenever blood pooled on my lips.
The bell finally rang. Its sound hadn't changed at all since that day. No, it remained just as memorable. Surely even a symphony orchestra would have a hard time recreating that sound.
Either way—it meant that classes were over, and very soon Luisa and Ben would show up here. I couldn't help but wonder: how was I supposed to act in this situation?
While I never thought twice about how to behave around Luisa, what exactly was Ben to me? Just because our parents were friends didn't automatically make us close too, right?
And yet, here I was. Waiting not just for Luisa, but for Ben too. Would there come a day when I'd have to wait for that other girl as well?.. I hoped not.
"Good afternoon."
I nearly jumped right then when large hands rested on my shoulders. Considering that Father had been standing in front of me the whole time and couldn't have done it—the whole thing came as a bit of a shock.
Unlike me, Papa wasn't even surprised. He just raised an eyebrow, striking some sort of triumphant pose as if proving his superiority.
"What are you doing here? I volunteered first."
"I know, I know. I got bored, so I tele—" Euriel cleared his throat quickly, taking his hands off my shoulders. "So, I spotted you from the temple and decided to come over."
"Were you just about to say you 'teleported'?"
I wouldn't have been surprised if he had. At least that would explain how and where he always appeared from in our house. But unfortunately, from his laugh, I could tell he wasn't going to answer me.
It felt as if he looked at the world not from the same level as other people, but from somewhere up above. Had Euriel been a bird this whole time?
"Had your fun? Now go back where you came from. The kids will be out soon."
"So what? Can't I greet my foster daughter?"
"You could have greeted her when we got back home."
"Reasonable. I'll do that too."
Full of confidence just a second ago, Father quickly began to deflate. His eyes were narrowed as he looked at Euriel. It seemed like he suspected Euriel would stalk us, hiding behind poles like a jealous girlfriend.
"Oh, here come the kids."
These words quickly distracted Father, and he whipped around—apparently to be the first to greet them. And though Euriel hadn't lied—the kids really were coming out—none of the ones we were waiting for were there.
"Why, you... Hmph..." Without finishing his sentence, he turned back around.
Papa's reaction made me turn around. As it turned out, Euriel was already gone. Did he really teleport? Or did he just run really fast? If Father hadn't been here, I probably would have decided it was just a mirage.
I dragged my sole across the gravel, as if wanting to determine that way whether I would have noticed Euriel leaving. I had to admit, I liked the sound my slippers made. As for the investigation itself—well, I probably would have noticed.
With every passing moment, the stream of students grew denser. I noticed that quite a few kids had rather peculiar hair colors.
There was someone with black hair and white streaks, as if they'd started going gray from birth. Another had orange hair, like autumn foliage. Someone else's was blue, like the sky.
A whole variety of them. But the moment I saw emerald hair, for some reason I immediately knew who it belonged to. Just watching her hair move, like grass in a meadow, made me feel the summer heat even more. And her eyes—just as bright, almost blinding.
I felt a smile appearing on my face. Because of that, I instantly covered my mouth with my palm, pretending to yawn.
Weaving through the students, she noticed me too. Or maybe Papa. I couldn't tell for sure. After all, he was much taller and we were standing right next to each other.
Pushing through the crowd, she stopped, appearing to hesitate. But only for a moment. Then she came straight toward us.
Her final step was very wide, as if she were stepping over an imaginary finish line.
We just stood there, looking at each other. My hand shifted from my face to the back of my neck, and I could no longer hide my smile. How could I not greet her? What was I supposed to say to her?
"Welcome back," Father announced loudly, putting his hands on his hips.
It looked like he was very proud to have greeted her first. In any case, Euriel wasn't here, it seemed. So it was hard to say who he was competing against right now.
"Good afternoon," Luisa nodded back to him. "Yo," she tilted her head slightly, looking at me.
What kind of a greeting was "yo"? Still, I quickly shot a "yo" right back at her.
Right after that, as if finally feeling safe, she buried her face in my shoulder. The scent of summer foliage mingled with hers, creating a completely new, unique aroma. She had to slouch to stand like that. It felt like her knees could buckle at any moment, so I offered her some support by wrapping my arms around her from behind.
Was she really comfortable like that?
"You fought well."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
She lifted her head, staring at me with bewildered eyes.
"Um, well, I mean... Yeah."
"You're impossible to understand sometimes."
Just like you, I wanted to say, but decided to keep it to myself.
"Well? Are we just going to stand here?"
The moment I met Luisa, I had already forgotten we were waiting for someone else. I don't know if it was the noise of the crowd or if Ben just walked very quietly, but if he hadn't spoken up, I probably wouldn't have noticed him at all.
"Do you want a greeting hug too?"
Papa spread his arms, which seemed to throw Ben off a bit. Taking a step back, he pretended to look for something in his bag.
"Hello. No, I don't..."
At the same time, Luisa suddenly stepped around me, pressing my head against her chest. The pose she struck reminded me of a small animal defending its den. It was kind of funny.
"Do you think I'm going to steal her or something?" Ben grumbled, narrowing his eyes.
"Who knows? You already tried to drag her away once."
Luisa huffed and seemed to turn away from him. However, I could only judge by her hair, which covered my face. I blew out a puff of air to get my view back.
"That... That was a misunderstanding!"
"Yeah. Just like you."
I don't know if it was because of the heat or something else, but Ben's face turned practically beet red. He kept raising and lowering his hand while his jaw moved from left to right. And though he seemed to be trying—he didn't say a thing.
Considering everything I had seen today and before, doubts were growing inside me that my presence here was even appropriate. Ben wasn't bullying that girl. His motives were reasonable in a way. His methods, of course, remained questionable.
And Luisa... She was capable of anything. So strong and bright, like someone out of a painting. I really didn't think that if she ever ran into trouble, she would need my help.
So, what exactly was driving me then? Maybe I was afraid of being left out?..
"Yori?"
Poking her fingers into my forehead, she tilted my head back, making my spine ache unpleasantly.
"Yes, yes. I'm Yori."
This answer didn't come from my brain, but from somewhere else. Needless to say, I quite justifiably earned a frown from Luisa.
"No, seriously. Are you guys going to walk or what? It's hot." As if to confirm his own words, Ben wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"You're free to go. No one's holding you back."
"You!.. I've had enough of you..."
Ben sighed and, grabbing the strap of his bag, turned his back to us. Was he really about to leave?
Before he could even move, Father dropped a palm onto his shoulder and rested his other hand on his hip.
"Looks like you two have become great friends."
"What!?"
Their yet another shout in unison instantly cleared my head of the fog that had gathered there. I even had to stick a finger in my ear to shake out the sound stuck inside.
"What do you mean 'friends'? I hope I never see them again after this!"
"Agreed," Luisa chimed in, slapping my shoulders and reminding me once again that I was her table.
"Ho-ho-ho."
Judging by Father's reaction, he wasn't particularly convinced by Luisa and Ben's words. To be honest, I wasn't thrilled either. Why? Well... I hadn't really thought about it. Or maybe I didn't want to. Just like with most things in this world.
The real world was filled with all kinds of trouble. I felt myself getting tired just thinking about it.
"And now, time to hit the road."
It was a common thing for Father to bring up a topic and then end it just like that. Of course, I knew this, but I couldn't stop marveling at just how thoughtless Papa could be.
"Finally..."
Continuing to hold onto his bag strap with both hands, Ben headed north. Or maybe south. Not that I was any good at that kind of directions. In any case, we all followed him.
Now we were walking a bit faster than when I had first left the house. Obviously, we didn't have a set time, but Ben was clearly trying to get this over with as quickly as possible. Not that I didn't support him in that.
And yet. If you boil it all down to the main point, the only reason I liked this trip was that I was discovering more and more new places together with Luisa. It seemed I didn't even need a compass to figure out my location. Instead, I had the wind, which could carry me anywhere and make me forget about the scorching sun.
Not enough time had passed yet for me to look back on these events and talk about them. Besides, they hadn't even come to an end yet. Will it actually happen in the end? Will I remember what happened one day? Almost certainly. As I looked at our hands intertwined with Luisa's while she pulled me along, it felt like I had gained not just memories for the future, but something much greater.
"All I have to do is apologize, right?"
I didn't even notice when Ben slowed his pace to walk beside me. Apparently, he really did walk very quietly. It was a little impressive.
"Yeah."
"So, you're coming with me?"
Luisa stopped instantly, pulling me back toward herself again. We were definitely in a bit of a hurry, but Luisa didn't seem to notice. Sometimes I doubted she even considered me a human being.
"Why would she?"
The tone she used sounded as if she were reading the lyrics of some song.
"What do you mean 'why would she'? And anyway, I wasn't talking to you!"
"Hmph."
I didn't really like that Luisa had picked up this thoughtless trait from my father. If something didn't suit her, she didn't hesitate to shut the topic down.
"I don't think it's appropriate."
"Why?"
"It'll be weird if you show up with someone like me."
Confusion showed on Ben's face. He quickly scanned my figure as if trying to compare the two of us. A bit late for that. Well, whatever.
"Don't you want to make sure I actually apologize?"
"She's not going. The end."
I felt Luisa's palms slap my shoulders again, making my knees nearly buckle.
"Cut it ou—"
"I trust that you won't lie," I had to interrupt him before they clashed again.
Plus, my papa will be right there. But I decided to keep that to myself.
Truthfully, the main reason was that I simply didn't want to go anywhere. Why on earth would I want to watch someone apologize anyway? If it has some sort of effect on the girl—that's enough. If not... well, I tried, right?
"Fine."
"I had no doubt you wouldn't take responsibility for your own words."
"Shut up..."
As expected, my protest was mercilessly swallowed up by Papa's roaring laughter. If he knew it would turn out like this from the start—why did he drag me along? It was hard for me to understand his motives.
"Don't talk like that."
Luisa huffed, wagging her finger threateningly at Papa. This unexpected action caught Father completely off guard. His eyes even went round, as if he had been challenged. In fact, both Ben and I were confused too.
Was she always this bold?
"O-ho-ho, I give up, I give up." He even raised his hands in surrender.
I wonder if anyone would believe me if I said that at a moment when neither Mama nor Euriel was around—Luisa protected me from my father? Sounds almost like a joke, doesn't it?
But it didn't matter. Luisa stood up for me, against Ben, against Papa, and I didn't care even if the whole world considered it a joke.
While the others moved forward, I just stood there, looking at her. Sometimes I could be selfish. Very selfish, even. And despite that, Luisa always answered me with a smile.
"Are you sure?"
She asked the question so unexpectedly that the meaning of her words didn't sink in right away.
"Huh? About what?"
"Do you really not care what Amirel has to say?"
"Amirel? Who's that?"
Are you serious? she asked with her eyes alone.
Even though Luisa was always taller than me, it always felt like she was looking up at me, not the other way around. I wonder why that was?
Completely serious, I answered with a nod.
For a fraction of a second, I fancied that she looked a little happy. But then her face took on a slightly grumpy shade again.
"Lately, I can't tell if you're joking or making fun of me."
Of course, it was neither. But instead of saying that out loud, I just shrugged.
Usually, when I didn't want to talk about something, I stayed quiet. Sometimes I stayed quiet even when I did want to say something. Come to think of it, I probably stayed quiet much more often than I spoke. Of course, that wasn't particularly good.
"The girl we're going to see."
"Oh, I see."
Not that her name really mattered to me, but at least now I knew it.
Even though apologizing to Amirel had been my initiative, I hadn't given any thought to actually interacting with her. I suppose that regardless of what kind of relationship Luisa had with those two—they were outside my coordinate system.
Maybe it was heartless of me. Maybe even cruel. But I really didn't think there was anyone more suited to be Luisa. Like a guiding star that ships held onto when they were lost at sea, I helplessly kept following her.
"I really don't care. I just... wanted to be useful."
Even I could tell my voice sounded a bit high-spirited when I answered her.
I wonder if Luisa noticed it too? I quietly prayed that she hadn't. I really wished that at some point, we could provide for each other in equal measure.
"What do you mean?"
A warm breath touched the tip of my nose—nothing like the dry summer heat.
"Hey! You two. Don't fall behind."
As always, our little world was met by the cold touch of reality. Though right now, I didn't particularly mind.
In the end, we were forced to move forward. I only just noticed that this was a completely unfamiliar neighborhood to me.
Following Father and Ben, we passed a shopping district and then crossed some old road. Almost all the cobblestones on it were either dug up or raised in a way that made it hard to walk on. I definitely would have fallen, tripping over one of the protruding stones, if Luisa hadn't grabbed my hand at that moment.
After that, a very narrow path began. So narrow that two people would have to pass each other sideways. Of course, if they were like Papa. For Luisa and me, it was more or less comfortable to walk together holding hands. Mostly because on both sides of this path there were slopes: one led to fields, the other into some marsh.
I think I understood now why Father had turned down the carriage. With enough will and driving experience, a bicycle could pass through here at best.
"You know, I'm still curious. Why did you suggest it if you didn't want to go yourself?"
"Hmm?"
I placed a finger against my chin and tilted my head back a bit, pretending to ponder. Obviously, I had an answer to her question. But how would she react if I told her I did it for her sake?..
This Amirel, if I wasn't mistaken, had clearly called out Luisa's name during our first meeting. And Luisa knew her name too. So they must have interacted, right?
And yet, what if I was wrong?
It was still hard for me to understand what made people truly friends. What we even were to each other. And whether all these labels were even needed if you were just comfortable around someone.
All these questions only confirmed what I already knew: my feelings for Luisa were far too different from what I felt for everyone else.
Of course, if these words were spoken aloud, I would show the whole world just how much of a child I still was. Even though I was one, it didn't mean at all that I needed to act like someone was trying to take my toy away or something. I wonder, if we were sisters, would life be simpler?
Luisa, become my older sister... No, no way. I would never say something like that.
I sighed and looked back, where the already sparse houses were getting smaller and smaller as we distanced ourselves from them. The path finally widened, turning into something resembling a familiar road, and other buildings were already visible around us.
All the ground around was covered in sand. There wasn't a hint of green anywhere, except for the trees. It looked as if Bedouin tents should be standing somewhere nearby.
But there was also something that completely clashed with the general picture. The children and adults didn't quite fit this place. Not that I knew what people living in such neighborhoods were supposed to look like, but they weren't much different from Luisa and me, or Ben. In other words, they didn't look like paupers at all.
Quite a mystery indeed.
"Well? So what?" Luisa nudged me with her shoulder, making me sway a little to the side.
"What what?"
"Why did you do it?"
"Oh, well... you know, it just felt right. An apology, and everything will be fine. Probably."
What on earth am I babbling about?
Luisa tilted her head to the side, staring at me with completely blank eyes. Just like myself, she seemed to notice that the beginning of my sentence had nothing to do with the end.
"We're here."
Papa stopped so abruptly that I didn't have time to brake and ended up hitting my face right against his leg. I immediately reached for my nose, as if afraid it might have shifted to the wrong place.
Still holding my nose, I looked around. Luisa's hand suddenly tightened around mine, causing my gaze to snap back to her.
Are you okay? she asked with her eyes alone. I'm okay, I answered with a nod and turned to Father to say the next thing.
"Her house is quite spacious. But it's kind of dry and hot."
"And the smell is... not great," Ben added on his own, covering his nose with his shirt.
I couldn't help but agree with him. The air here really was nothing like the other side of town. Mustier. And denser, I suppose. But I completely didn't expect him to play along with my joke. Or did he not get it? Hmm...
"Ho-ho-ho, look how delicate you are. You can tell right away—city kids."
Kicking the sand, Father walked up to a structure that looked more like a barn and pointed a finger at it.
"This is where our target lives."
Looking at this house, if you could even call it that, I didn't know what was better: living on the street or in a building completely full of holes. Well, it probably had decent ventilation. Maybe.
"And? What now?"
"What do you mean, what?"
Without hesitating, Papa knocked on the door right away. He didn't use much force, but even that was enough to make the whole house creak.
Because it was a weekday, there weren't that many people around. Even so, I couldn't stop looking around. I don't even know why, but it felt like this knocking would attract unwanted attention to us.
"If you don't want to go inside, you can stand by the house," Papa pointed to a spot in the shade at the corner of the building.
"Is it safe?"
I was so surprised by Ben's question that I think I overdid it with my surprised look. Was he actually worried about us?
"Of course it's safe. They've been living here for so many years and the house hasn't collapsed yet," he placed a hand on a wooden plank, and it immediately crumbled away. "Well, maybe in some places."
"Whew, good..."
Well... yeah. Of course, he wasn't worried about us.
We wandered along the side of the house for a bit, and as soon as the door swung open, we immediately hid around the corner. I didn't know who opened it for Father and Ben—it was hard to tell by the voice—and it didn't really matter anyway. I was sure Papa could find a way out of any situation. And as for where all of this would lead... honestly, it didn't concern me anymore.
An old chain was hanging on the sill of one of the windows. When I touched it, my fingers got covered in rust, but it rubbed off right away once I rubbed them together.
"Aren't you scared?" Luisa asked, wrapping her arms around me from behind.
"Should I be?"
"No."
"Then everything's fine."
It felt like I was being fussed over like a baby. There was nothing bad about it, but I didn't quite like that in Luisa's eyes, I was like a houseplant.
"This place... it's not what it seems."
I tilted my head to the side, unsure of what she meant. What was it supposed to seem like to me? Based on her previous question, probably scary. Something told me that in normal situations, it would be the right thing to avoid places like this.
And yet. Papa didn't look worried walking through these local streets. Ben wasn't paying attention to every rustle. Only Luisa, it seemed, was feeling something I couldn't quite understand.
"Have you been here before?"
A lot of questions were crowding my head, but in the end, this was the one I voiced.
"Maybe."
I felt the warmth and vibration of her voice seep into the crown of my head as she buried her face in my hair. Apparently, that was all she was ready to tell me right now.
Well, whatever.
.
Usually I felt very tired after waking up, and today nothing had changed.
The trip was over, and to be honest, I hadn't even bothered to find out how it ended. All my thoughts kept revolving around Luisa and that place. What connected them? But I never found the courage to ask her directly. Even though I tried to push these thoughts aside, they kept coming back again and again, playing over in my head like an intrusive catchy tune.
For a while I just stared at the ceiling, and then I shifted my gaze to my right hand—the one stretching upward, as if trying to shield my face from the blinding sun. Soft light seeped between my fingers, and there, in those rays, barely noticeable gray particles flickered.
My palm was slightly warm, as if it had already heated up under the sun.
Quite a bit of time had passed since the moment Luisa returned to her own home. And for some reason, I still couldn't completely get used to it. Every morning, the first thing I did was turn my head to the half of the bed where she usually slept. But I only found her there on weekends.
I wonder if similar thoughts cross Luisa's mind when she wakes up in her new bed? No, most likely not.
Tossing the blanket aside, I finally decided to get out of bed. Sitting on the edge, I tried to smooth down my stray hair with my fingers, but nothing substantially changed. It still resembled a spruce tree.
Leaving this useless task behind, I stepped down from the bed, instantly feeling the fuzz of the carpet sink beneath my feet.
I walked noiselessly across the carpet in my room and stepped outside. It was very quiet all around, and no one was in sight. Just in case, I peeked into my parents' bedroom, but there was no one there either.
What time was it?
I looked at the clock in my parents' room, but the hands told me nothing. However, it seemed it was still far from noon. It was hot inside the house, but not so much that it became unbearable.
Leaving the bedroom, I went down the stairs and found myself in the living room. There was no one on the couch, and no one in the kitchen either. Maybe Mama had gone out to town, hoping I was still asleep? But the door to the outside was open. Then... where was everyone?
In the end, I just stood there in the middle of the living room, scratching my nails against the wooden floor.
I was just about to go back to my room when suddenly Father walked past the window. I don't know why, but there was a shovel on his shoulder. And following right behind him, with a completely exhausted expression on her face, came Mama.
"Oh, Yori. You're awake?"
Papa stopped instantly when he noticed me while walking past the door. It looked like the shovel was so new that it reflected the light, making me squint.
"As you can see."
"Ho-ho-ho. That means it's time to get to work."
"Don't drag Yori into your stupid schemes."
Mama nudged him with her shoulder as she walked into the house. One look at her hair made it clear that she had no intention of leaving the house today. Her bangs were brushed upward, and her summer pajama top looked completely rumpled. Another proof that Mama had only just rolled out of bed was that she hadn't even managed to put on shorts yet.
I immediately looked away and scratched my nose. There was nothing strange or wrong about her appearance. But did she really go outside like that? It looked like I had found another detail that connected me and Mama.
"You're early today. Did something happen?" she asked, rubbing her eye.
"No. Just... woke up."
"I see."
She knelt down in front of me, placing her palm on my head and moving it from side to side, as if trying to smooth my hair. Of course, she didn't succeed. It was far too stiff and stubborn to be handled so easily. Like everything else around, it required too much effort for me to even want to try tackling it. Probably for that reason, Mama took her hand away.
"Why does Papa have a shovel?"
"Better not ask."
"That's an excellent question," Papa interrupted immediately. "Put on your slippers and let's go, I'll show you."
I blinked a few times, looking at Papa, and then brought my gaze back to Mama. Why? I asked with my eyes alone. He won't let it go now, she answered, shaking her head.
Mama stood up from her knees and stretched upward, making me look away again. Not that I saw anything new. It was just more peaceful that way.
"And if Quint gets too annoying, just knock him out."
"Hmph?"
Mama smirked and, holding an imaginary shovel in her hands, swung it, and then sliced through the air as if stunning a fish. The sight, undoubtedly, was impressive. But how exactly was I supposed to do that? Even if I stood on a chair, the task seemed impossible.
After a short demonstration, Mama waved her hand and headed for the stairs. I just stood there, watching her back.
"I'm going to sleep a little more. Have fun."
And before I could clarify what exactly was meant by the word "have fun," Mama had already gone up to the second floor.
It seemed I had no choice left. I went to the door to put on my slippers and stepped outside after Father. The light hit my eyes so sharply, it felt as if someone had scrubbed the entire sky until it was white. It didn't take me very long to get used to it.
We were already outside, but Father just stood there, watching me with a suspiciously pleased look on his face. I found myself starting to worry because I didn't understand at all what was going on inside his head.
"What?"
"Are you ready?"
"For what?"
"To dig, of course."
He pointed his gaze toward the shovel, proudly puffing out his chest. My first reaction was to stay quiet. I simply didn't know how to react to statements like that. But I decided to clarify anyway.
"You want me to dig?"
"Ho-ho-ho. Of course... not. I'd have to wait a week just for you to lift the shovel."
Naturally, there was some truth to his words, but it wasn't like I was happy about it.
"I'm sure I can manage on the first try."
"Really now?" He raised an eyebrow and held out the shovel to me.
Considering the length and likely weight of the shovel, I realized I wouldn't be able to hold it with one hand. So, spreading my arms wide, I grabbed the handle from both sides. I gripped it so tightly that even my shoulders tensed up. Taking a deep breath, as if there were a barbell in my hands, I nodded, as if to say I was ready.
The moment he let go of his palm, I was instantly dragged downward. I had to let go of the tool immediately to avoid experiencing the fate of an ostrich firsthand. Not even a second passed before the shovel fell, sending sand into the air, and my hands were already shaking as if I had been holding it for hours.
A muffled laugh escaped Papa's lips as he closed his eyes, leaning back slightly. A second later, he opened them, wiping away the tears that had formed with the corner of his finger.
"Have you ever heard of negative numbers?"
"What about them?"
I intentionally answered in the most vague way possible, thereby earning myself a brief breathing room. I hadn't even managed to fully feel the weight of the shovel, and my back was already aching.
"We'll start counting from there until we get to the first try. Ha-ha-ha."
"Very funny."
If I had to summarize this whole situation to tell Luisa what I did today, I would prefer to keep quiet about it. But since Papa was watching, I wouldn't be surprised if by tomorrow the whole town would be discussing my failed attempt.
Obviously, it was a joke. Probably. Overall, I would say it was a rather curious experience. I won't be repeating it, of course. Not today, in any case.
Papa slouched, picked up the shovel, and held it out to me again. It seemed he was deliberately holding it with one hand right in front of my nose to show off.
"Shall we continue?"
"Maybe another time."
"Thought so," he smirked, putting the tool back on his shoulder.
Papa showed no signs of disagreement. He just accepted things as they were, and I had to admit, I really liked that about him.
A small pause arose in our conversation as we both just looked at each other. It was some strange feeling that I didn't know how to properly describe. There wasn't a soul around. Mama was most likely already asleep on the second floor. Only the faint singing of birds and light gusts of warm wind echoed the silence.
I raised an eyebrow, as if asking him, "What next?" Looking almost proud of himself, he leaned down to me, covering his mouth with his hand.
"Now the most interesting part begins."
Right after that, as if marching, he headed toward the corner of the house. The way the shovel stuck out from behind his shoulder really did look a bit like a musket from the side. Granted, with a peculiar barrel.
I took a deep breath, letting the still-fresh air fill my lungs, and followed after him. The rustle of my slippers in the grass didn't sound at all like the noise they made on the gravel.
Only when I reached the corner did I notice that I had been holding my breath, as if afraid to let out the clean air I had breathed in before.
"We're here."
I tilted my head to the side, looking around. Aside from the ground, the grass, and a single tree casting a shadow—there was nothing. Maybe he hid a treasure somewhere here or something like that?
"Um... And what's here?"
"You'll see in a moment. Sit under the tree for now."
I hesitated for a moment, wondering whether I should go or still watch the events unfold from the front row. But the sun, slowly creeping upward and gradually getting warmer and warmer, forced me to retreat into the shade.
I rested my back against the tree and carefully slid down. Suddenly I felt so good and peaceful, like after taking a long bath when your skin slowly cools down and even the sun doesn't seem so scorching. I lifted my head up, watching its rays break through the swaying leaves.
When the sound of metal striking the ground reached my ears, I brought my gaze back to Father. As if sizing things up, he jabbed the shovel into the ground a few times and pulled it out again. And then, probably finding the right spot, he began to dig.
How bad was it to have things to do, knowing you would never have time for them? It seemed Papa was unfamiliar with that. Unlike other people, he never held back and never left anything for later. Even now—I didn't understand why at all—it crossed his mind to dig a hole, and he was doing it. I couldn't help but admire his enthusiasm.
Will there come a day when I can just up and do what I want myself? Without excuses or weighty reasons. With a single, pure and sincere impulse. Just like this wind.
I stretched my hand out in front of me, letting the air play between my fingers.
If I really was more like Father than Mama, I hope that when the time comes, I'll already be so tired of life that I'll welcome death with open arms. But for now, I could say with confidence that I had at least one more day to just sit in the shade and do absolutely nothing.
"Tell me, what did you think of that neighborhood yesterday?"
Papa asked suddenly, without turning to me, continuing to dig. Considering how detached from reality I must have looked from the outside, it was no wonder his words caught me off guard.
So, what did I think of it? It didn't look like any neighborhood I had been to before. It was also very different from our house. I guess that was all I could say.
"Nothing special. Is there something wrong with it?"
"Who knows. Things in themselves mean nothing; we give them names ourselves."
Although I had my doubts about his answer, I was forced to agree with him. No matter how strange the neighborhood looked, for those who lived there—it was home. And for me, just a strange place. And no one was wrong here.
"Why ask then?"
"Just curious. Maybe you were scared. Or uncomfortable. Whatever."
The memories of those buildings and the path to them were still clear in my mind. Beyond the horizon, where my hands couldn't reach before, lived a girl just like me or Luisa. Her house was different. But we weren't.
"I guess it's just mysterious. Why are their houses like that?"
"Interesting, isn't it?"
A loud laugh suddenly escaped Father's lips. The sound echoed a little, as if he were laughing somewhere in a cave. It turned out he had already dug so deep that only his hair was peeking out of the hole, looking somewhat like some strange exotic grass.
It quickly became clear to me that Father's explanations ended there. If that could even be considered an explanation.
I sighed and got up from the ground, brushing the sand off my shorts. I had been so focused on this question that I barely slept. But as soon as I got a chance to find out everything, I couldn't find the right words. I couldn't say my mind was completely blank, but it was close to it. Probably, I was just too tired.
Papa's laughter died down, and his hair gradually vanished from sight too. It felt like an eternity passed while I stood there, staring at the hole in front of me. Never before had I felt such fondness for my carefree days without Roana, Ben, and Ami as I did now.
"So why did you dig this?"
Leaving the rest aside, I decided to focus on what I could actually reach.
Standing on the edge and looking down at Papa, I think for the first time I felt truly tall. As if at that moment I could touch the sky. The man who usually made me strain my neck just to look at his face was now forced to experience my fate. There was something ironic and beautiful about it at the same time.
"Ho-ho-ho. The best part is coming right now!"
He pulled the shovel out of the hole and tossed it nearby onto the grass. Taking a deep breath as if preparing to dive underwater, Papa... collapsed onto the dirt, kicking up clouds of dust and vanishing behind them.
I was so baffled that I just stood there, uselessly trying to find his silhouette behind this fog.
"Um. Well... uh..."
"This is the best way to survive this hot day. My personal cooling room! Ho-ho-ho!"
Papa's triumphant laughter echoed over the hole while the almost black clouds of dust gradually settled, revealing his face. His cheeks were already heavily covered in streaks of dirt. Even his red hair was taking on a sort of burgundy shade.
"Why didn't you just dig a pool or go for a swim in the river?"
Granted, when Mama sees this, he probably won't need a body of water anymore. However, I decided to keep that to myself.
"Eh? Oh... Ah-ha-ha..."
I sighed and shook my head, watching a grown man literally bathe in the dirt, treating a hole like an ice bath. And yet, there was something in his actions that managed to pierce through to me and touch my heart. It seems that sometimes the most meaningless actions make the most sense. Even if only to you alone.
"Jump in. It'll get hot here soon too."
"Um, no. Thanks. I'd rather go back inside."
"Huh? What a softie. More for me then."
He scooped up a small mound of dirt under his head and rolled onto his side, giving the impression that he really intended to sleep here. For many reasons, it felt like a bad idea to me.
Leaving Father in the hole, I walked up to the entrance of the house. The door was still open, and I could go inside without any trouble. But I decided to take another breath of fresh air, as if afraid it might disappear.
Looking at the unfolding silhouette of the town, I suddenly spotted a human figure in the distance.
The distance between us grew shorter with every step as the person made their way toward me from the other side, casting a shadow that, although long, couldn't quite match the massive trees growing behind.
I thought there was still plenty of time before Luisa's return. Maybe today was some sort of shortened day? Or was it not her?..
I stepped under the awning, hiding in the shade, and decided to wait. The approach was accompanied by the sound of heavy sighs and all kinds of curses directed at the heat and something about a long road. Before I fully realized what I was doing, I found myself craning my neck, trying to get a better look at the silhouette.
This... it can't be. I rubbed my eyes to make sure they weren't playing tricks on me. But the image didn't change. It really was her. What did she want?
For a short time, the beating of my heart became so loud that it completely drowned out her complaints about the heat.
"You!.."
Amirel practically poked a finger at me, baring her teeth, and then collapsed onto the ground, spreading her legs. What was that even about?
"Luisa isn't here. And anyway, I thought you weren't going to skip school anymore."
"Today... is the last... day. And I'm... not here for her. Phew..."
Not for her? Could it be that she had business with my father? I certainly hoped so.
"Why the—"
"Quiet." She sharply flicked her index finger to the side, as if mimicking a conductor.
"Hmph."
For a while, she just lay on the ground. Her chest was rising and falling so fast it seemed like she had run the whole way from home. Now it became clear to me why she smelled so strongly of sweat. But remembering how she was trudging along the road just a minute ago—that was unlikely.
I also noticed that her chest was smaller than Luisa's. Not that it mattered at all.
All of this was very well, of course, but one problem arose. What was I supposed to do now?
Although I was at a sufficient distance from her after she fell, even from here I could see how her eyes—with a slight glint of gold—shook nervously as she looked at me.
The longer I stared at her, the more I noticed all kinds of details. For instance, how clumsily her hair was cut, as if she had done it herself. And then the earrings. Now I could say with certainty that my eyes hadn't played tricks on me that day. They were absolutely tiny, shaped like crescents.
Her shoes looked considerably worn, and I really hoped she had put them on on purpose just for the trek out here.
I sighed and scratched the back of my head. I really wished she would finally get up from the ground. Having a girl lying at my feet as if we had just held some sort of duel was unlikely to create a good impression of me.
"What? Not even going to offer me some water?"
"Um, well..."
I could, of course, but... It was too much trouble to go to the kitchen and drag a chair over to the sink just to fetch water. Besides, there was a chance that all the glasses were kept too high up.
"Fine... Just kidding."
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath as if gathering her courage, Ami finally stood up halfway. Granted, the way she did it gave the impression that she was trying to coat as many parts of her body in sand as possible.
Right after that, Ami inspected herself and began frantically brushing at her clothes from all sides, as if it had only just registered with her that she had been lying on the ground the whole time.
"Can you... help?" She turned her back to me, pointing behind her.
There was a distinct sense of hesitation in her voice. It seemed I wasn't the only one feeling lost here.
We hadn't managed to say many words to each other yet. But judging by the little that had already been said, I got the feeling that we were old friends. Otherwise, I simply couldn't explain why she so easily trusted her back to a stranger.
Maybe she just didn't see me as a threat? Hmm...
Nevertheless, I placed my palm against the girl's back and, as if sweeping away dust with a broom, brushed it down. While dusting off Ami's clothes, I noticed there was also a bit on her hair. But I wasn't sure if I could touch it.
"There's still some left on your hair."
"Oh? Too high?" Without hesitating for a single second, she squatted down in front of me.
At least, that's how it seemed at first glance.
The moment I reached for her hair, an awkward laugh escaped Ami's lips. The girl's shoulders tensed up so much, as if she were trying to support her own weight with her hands alone. It was a little strange, but at the same time... reassuring.
Most likely, she wasn't used to trusting someone enough to display her vulnerability. The same, of course, applied to me. We had both exposed our inexperience.
I gently touched her hair, feeling that despite how it was cut, its texture was actually quite pleasant. As her strands flowed through my fingers like streams of water, I suddenly remembered Mama. And then the smell—for some reason, Amirel smelled faintly of the sea.
"Finished."
"That fast? Thanks."
Even when the girl straightened up and turned to face me, I just stood there, looking at my palm. The sensation of her hair was still tickling my skin. I wonder what Luisa would say if she saw that I had become a sort of groomer for Amirel? Would she get angry? I hoped not.
"What? Is it dirty?"
She peeked into my palm, and I quickly clenched it into a fist, dropping my hand.
"No. Everything's fine."
Thinking about it now, all of this did feel rather wrong. Why had she asked me to help? And why had I agreed so easily? Probably it was precisely the absence of such questions that allowed us to go this far.
However, there remained one question that I couldn't help but voice.
"Why are you here?"
"Hold on."
She took a few steps back. For some reason, parting her lips and closing her eyes, she pointed her index finger into her mouth. Only now did I notice that her fingernail seemed to glow with a soft ashen light, and its shape resembled a wave crashing against the shore.
The more details I noticed in her, the more I wanted to notice new ones. It must have been one of those useless modern inventions: my attention was getting caught by completely unnecessary things.
I shook my head and tilted it to the side, watching the girl's actions.
"Aguacorriente."
Right after her words, against the backdrop of distant birdsong, I heard a quiet, faint gurgling of water—as if someone nearby had turned on a small tap. A completely transparent stream trickled from her slender finger. Caught mid-air, the sun's rays began to play in the wind, and a barely noticeable rainbow bloomed right by the girl's lips.
There was something mesmerizing about this simple, strange sight. Ordinary as it might look, I couldn't take my eyes off her.
So, she really had been thirsty then? Hmm...
Whatever, it didn't matter.
I decided to take the initiative once again. And this time, I was firmly determined to get a result. Any result at all.
"Are you ready to talk now? Why are you here?"
A baffled sound escaped her lips. It was as if she had been avoiding this topic in every possible way and was now surprised that I brought it up again. But then why did she come here? Asking myself this question again, I found that I was just walking in circles.
"I'm here to say thank you." The girl smiled somewhat mysteriously, only to poke her finger at me again. "And also, that I'm mad at you."
"Huh?.."
"Don't 'huh' me. You didn't think that just because of our age difference, I'd go easy on you, did you?"
This was all becoming rather complicated. No, actually, it had been that way from the very start. And yet, I wished my own contradictory feelings could coexist just like hers did.
No, wait.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb. Yes, you're a total shorty, but you bring as much trouble as a hurricane."
Her words ultimately clarified nothing for me. If I could summarize my facial expression solely by the feeling of my tensed muscles—it was somewhere between confusion and total confusion.
"Oh, you didn't know? My mama is half natural disaster."
Considering she had already seen my father, I decided to make a joke, using Mama as a shield. I quietly prayed that she wouldn't happen to be standing right behind my back. Just in case, I cast a quick glance behind me. Fortunately, Mama wasn't there.
"That explains a lot... And... enough jokes. I'm serious."
Narrowing her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest, the girl really did look angry. So, was that the end of her gratitude? Will I really never find out what it was for?
Well, whatever.
In a normal situation, if we had met somewhere outside the house, I most likely would have been on my guard. But adding up all the advantages of this position, I found I had nothing to fear. In that case, why did my foot take a step back? Very strange.
"I don't understand what you mean."
Returning my foot to its original position, I kept staring at her. Looking into her eyes, I could see something completely inexplicable. The sun was shining at her back, and a shadow lay across her face, but they sparked like real gold. Endless rays reflected, forming patterns that looked like waves before dissolving into the blackness of her pupils.
And even her pupils weren't the end. There was some barely catchable light in them. Maybe that was what they called "blazing with anger"?
"I saw you and Luisa yesterday. Outside the window." She pointed her thumb backward, as if her window were located somewhere out on the empty street. "But that's not what's important. We've been studying together for several months, and she ignored me the entire time. But the moment I talked to you, that arrogant upstart showed up at my house."
She saw us? That wasn't good. But, no, that's not what's important right now.
So, it was all about Ben? Knowing him, I wouldn't be surprised if he apologized the wrong way. Whatever that meant. But where was Father looking?
In any case, I wanted to believe that even a failed attempt was still an attempt. But it seemed I was wrong.
What on earth could he have said to her to make her anger switch to me? On the other hand, remembering our first meeting, her obsession with insignificant things was very characteristic of her.
"Did he say something wrong?"
"Of course he did! He snitched on me! And I... got reamed over the head for skipping classes."
Although she did a great job portraying annoyance, her slumped shoulders gave away the truth. In this, she was almost like a child. There was something charming about it.
No, no, no.
I shook my head, as if trying to shake out the distracting thoughts and get back to the main point. Come to think of it, I could understand her. It was like you finally managed to get out of an aquarium, but the moment you saw the ocean in front of you, you were stuffed right back into four walls.
How ironic: the one who would avoid such a fate with all her might had imprisoned another in that cage with her own hands.
And who was better off for it?.. There was no answer.
My hands and feet were burning, and the sun was definitely not the reason. I brought my palm to the back of my neck, feeling my fingers tremble. This was reality. My irresponsible actions had actually ruined someone else's life. Would anything have changed if I had gone along with Ben and Papa? I doubt it. I shouldn't have poked my nose into adults' business in the first place. Well... older kids', in any case.
Standing like that for a while, I found it hard to look at the girl.
"Well, that's... um..."
"No need for apologies. If you were going to, of course."
She held out her hand, stopping me. But how did she know? Was it really that obvious?
"Benneford said he won't bother me anymore—provided I stop skipping classes, of course."
"Huh?"
I stared at her with wide eyes as she awkwardly scratched her cheek. So, it wasn't Ben's intention to snitch on her? Then what was all that about?
"What? Yes, one problem is solved. But does that cancel out the other one?"
"I really don't understand you."
"Of course. How could you?"
I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. Whichever way you looked at it, reproaching me for my age was a rather boring choice.
After a short sigh, Ami reached out and placed her hand on my head. It felt almost as if she were touching my cheek. Though in reality, she wasn't. My shoulders flinched, and my hair fell onto my face, blocking part of my view.
"Why?" I lifted my gaze to her, asking silently with my eyes.
"What? You touched mine."
"You asked me to."
"Hmph. That doesn't matter."
Luisa, Mama, Papa, and even Euriel had patted my head more than once, but this was the first time a stranger had so unceremoniously invaded my personal space. Come to think of it, she hadn't exactly held back during our first meeting either. And yet, for some reason, I caught myself still looking away.
How long was this going to continue?
It felt as though she wasn't quite sure when to back off either. No matter how good it was to have an outgoing personality, it seemed to me that she had crossed the line into familiarity. Besides, I doubted Luisa would approve of what she was seeing. So I took a step back, making it clear that it was time to wrap this up. Judging by how calmly Ami withdrew her hand, she didn't mind at all.
Speaking of Luisa. Did I hear correctly that Luisa was ignoring Ami? Why? Weren't they friends? And another thing...
"Tell me, has Luisa... has she ever been there before... you know, where you live?"
"Did she tell you that?"
In a single instant, the expression on her face changed. Once again, it felt like she was angry. Before I realized it, a sense of anxiety began to creep into my mind.
"Well, something like that."
"Ask her yourself."
Apparently concluding that she had been too harsh, she sighed and tossed her hair back. After that, the girl stared intently at my face. What? What was so interesting about me?
"Don't pout like that. Or you'll grow up fat."
"What?.."
Ami laughed lightheartedly, as if surprised that I didn't know something so obvious.
Seriously. What absolute nonsense. I had never heard anything of the sort. As if the air behind my cheeks somehow affected my stomach. And besides, I wasn't pouting. Not at all.
Looking at me, the girl laughed even louder, almost doubling over. I didn't understand what made her laugh so much.
"You should... you should see... yourself."
But before I could say anything, she stretched her hand out to my face, pinching my lips between her fingers. This completely threw me off.
I tried to object, but with my lips pinched together, only a clumsy mumble came out. I don't know what she was trying to achieve by doing this, but she was definitely applying too much force.
"Seriously. Stop pouting. Your head's gonna pop."
There it was again. Where on earth did she pick up this rubbish?
I wanted to swat her hand away, but... for some reason, I didn't. The longer I looked at her, the more she reminded me of Luisa. Not in appearance, of course. She seemed just as chaotic, unceremonious, and brazen.
Luisa also had a tendency to carelessly close the distance between us. However, when that happened, I felt differently. It wasn't that I was categorically against her presence. And yet... not this close.
Could it be that Luisa ignored her precisely because of such a blatant similarity in their characters? Most likely. If they ended up in the same room together, they would probably cuddle each other to exhaustion like puppies.
When she finally noticed that I had stopped pouting—though I hadn't been pouting anyway—she let go of my lips. I exhaled immediately, as if too much air really had gathered behind my cheeks.
"Well, see ya."
"Leaving so soon? Why don't you come in for some tea?"
The voice didn't belong to me. It sounded right above my head. Unsurprisingly, we both flinched as Mama suddenly appeared.
"Oh, um... Good afternoon."
"Are you awake already?"
I turned around too sharply, almost hitting Mama with my head. Though more likely, I would be the one getting hurt, not the other way around.
"And then some. I even managed to watch such an amusing spectacle."
I felt the tip of my nose begin to tingle. how much had she seen? The way the girl laughed at me? How she patted me? Or... everything?
"So, what do you say?"
"Well... I..."
I was tugged back slightly as the fabric of my t-shirt tensed. I brought my gaze back to Ami and noticed her eyes darting between me and Mama, as if she were asking for permission. Or did she just not know how to refuse?
I kept staring at her more intently, trying to figure out what she meant by that. She even hitched her eyebrows, as if that could somehow help me. But I still didn't understand a thing.
In any case, if she left before Luisa arrived, I suppose nothing bad would happen, right?
"Yeah, let's go inside. I never did give you that water."
After a short pause, probably swallowing her confusion, Ami nodded and let go of my t-shirt.
"Thank you for the invitation."
"Oh right, what about Papa?"
Because of everything that had happened, I had already managed to forget that I had gone outside with him. Did he just stay out there? I looked around, but I didn't notice him anywhere.
"Where is he?" Mama tilted her head to the side, seemingly only just noticing that he wasn't with us.
"In the hole."
"In the hole, is he?.." Mama lifted her hand to her face and tapped her finger against her chin. "Let him stay there, we'll bury him later."
Noticing Amirel's pupils dilating, I hurried to smooth over the situation.
"Oh, don't worry. He's alive."
That didn't seem to help much. I could see her eyes widening even further, and her lower lip began to tremble.
Failing to find the right words, I decided to abandon my futile attempts. So I just followed Mama into the house, gesturing for Ami to follow me with my finger.
It looked like this whole situation promised to be quite entertaining. And as for her "see ya," for some reason it didn't seem like something impossible right now. The places we had been turned out to be closely connected. And, in truth, I wasn't so strongly against this meeting anymore.