Maya led as we walked back into town, in silence. She obviously wasn't gonna say anything, and I didn't know what to say. What is this situation? Well, it is my fault. Maybe I was a bit insensitive.
We went to the marketplace and entered a store named "Joe's Meat." wait have I been here before? The store had a huge serving table that stretched all around the shop, but behind that was a large cutting board where a fat, round man butchered meat.
"Hmm?" an old, short man with white hair turned to us as we walked in.
"Hii," Maya said angelically with a sniffle.
"Ho, hoo, Maya! Look at you now, gorgeous," he said as he approached her with wide open arms.
"Yes, it has been a while. Joe, I'm happy you're alive," she said sweetly, her voice one of joy and relief.
"Of course I'd be now come here you" they hugged, and Maya looked genuinely happy to see him.
"Look at you! Ah, haha, you're even taller than me now."
"No, you're just short joe."
"Always have been maya but you were shorter, which gave me so much joy, being shorter than kids, you know. It's the best." Wait, what is this old man saying? Is Maya pretending to listen?
"Hahaha," she seems like she's enjoying herself. She seemed happier here than after our run.
The Joe guy glanced back at me, then at her, then at me again, then at Maya again. "Your boyfriend"
"No chance," she said, sending a side glance my way.
"Yeah i figured! Haa!" This man is very loud. "He's got eyes like a dead fish. Looks like the type that only cares about himself….ooh, can he hear me?"
Oh joe, you ask that now after insulting me to my face, great. And I can't do anything about it, great. I'd have said something, but right now, I can take anything coming my way…for now.
"Nero, go sit over there. I will join you soon."
Sitting, I watched them laugh and eventually, Joe's face grew grim. Maya probably told him why she's back. Now I don't want to watch anymore, what's happening outside the window. People are happening, well, that's better, I guess.
After a while maya came to join me, sitting in front of me. "Joe is preparing something for us, be grateful, okay? I know you have no money."
She's aware.
"Listen maya, I'm so sorry. I was extremely inconsiderate and shouldn't have done that," or I should have picked a better time, but it makes no difference; I am sorry.
"Please forgive me."
I'm not sure what else to do but this. I will definitely find something to make it up to her.
"Well, we might as well talk," she said as she turned to look at the window, then back at me. "also why can't you look at me straight. It's either me or the window; that's not how you have conversations. Why do you people act like this?"
You people? I can't help that I'm shy, but I didn't even notice I was doing that.
"About what happened to your father and the others—" Maya held her hands out at me out of nowhere.
"Stop! We will not do that, not now." Why is she stopping me? "I have things I want to ask you."
Are they more important than talking about your dead loved ones? Probably not, but she's been trying to distract herself all this time. I shouldn't press her.
I nodded, "Go ahead. I promise to tell no lies."
Flustered, she looked down, then back at me again. And before I knew it, I was looking out the window again.
"Nero, since I met you, you have been trying to make advances on me," she paused, "with no mention of marriage…"
Marriage?....what is marriage again? I paused to think, holding my chin in thought as her face flushed.
Wait!
"Marriage! Why would I marry you?"
"What! " Wh-what do you mean?!?" she leaned back in shock, her mouth left gaping. "Do you people have no morals!?" Because that's how it is!"
"Oohhh, so that's what 'you people' do huh?" I said, eying her wearily, "And who told you that?"
She stiffened in her seat. "That's not important, it's just how it is!"
"Shhhhhh," I shushed her, but she only pouted her lips in displeasure at my antics. Saying no one cares anyway.
"How old are you?" Maya asked.
But for some reason, my brain twitched. I saw something ever so faintly flash through my brain. That's weird.
"I'm 15."
"Me too…"