The realization made her feel even more tired. She wondered why she was even bothering to fight so hard to start a business. Wasn’t it easier to just find a simple job and live like everyone else?
But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, her heart rejected it. So did her mind.
Something deep inside her refused to let go.
Suddenly, a rich, addictive scent drifted into her nose.
Her eyes fluttered open. What was that...?
"Oh, who’s this beggar sitting here all alone?"
A deep, arrogant cool voice, followed by a low chuckle.
Before she could even react, a small bag landed in front of her with a soft thud.
"I’m not hungry anyway. Take it," he said casually.
Slowly, she lifted her eyes to see who had tossed it, but the ghost didn’t stop walking. All she caught was a glimpse of his long blonde hair flowing behind him.
Just as she was about to look away, he paused – as if sensing her gaze. He glanced back over his shoulder, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. His eyes were blue, deep and cold like the sea during winter.
Her heart skipped a beat.
But before she could process it, he turned back around and continued walking, chatting with someone as if nothing had happened.
What... was that? she thought, pressing her hand against her chest. Her heart thudded unevenly, as if trying to catch up with itself.
Shaking off the strange feeling, she looked down and opened the bag. Inside was a neatly packed meal, still warm.
Hmph. She let out a soft scoff, her lips curling slightly.
"Such an arrogant man, i mean- ghost," she muttered, but despite her words, she pulled the food closer, already feeling a warm.
The food smelled too good to resist, so she ate happily, savoring each bite.
Am I shameless? she wondered for a brief second, but quickly dismissed the thought. No, it’s just free food.
After finishing the meal, she felt a little better – warmer and less bitter. With a soft sigh, she pushed herself up, dusting off her clothes as she stood.
It was time to head home.
The path was familiar, but the dense fog made everything look unfamiliar and hazy. Shapes of houses and trees blurred together, and she found herself squinting, trying to make out the direction.
I know the way... I think, she thought, hugging herself as she continued walking, her footsteps light.
As she walked, she noticed several people glancing her way, their curious eyes lingering a little too long. She chose to ignore them, keeping her gaze fixed ahead.
A dull ache throbbed in her chest, a reminder of her earlier fall. Every step seemed to make it worse, and she pressed her hand lightly against her ribs, wincing.
I’m really careless, she thought, sighing to herself. I should pay more attention.
"Where is she...?" Julian muttered to himself, his brows furrowed with worry. It was already late at night, and she still hadn’t come back.
Adrian sat on the sofa, leaning back casually, but his eyes flicked toward the door every now and then. Meanwhile, Milo paced around the room, his footsteps tapping softly against the floor.
Karl sat nearby, biting his lip as he watched them. After a moment, he stood up abruptly. "Hey... I’ll be back. I need to ask Brother Kenji something," he said, trying to sound casual.
Adrian’s sharp gaze landed on him, narrowing slightly in suspicion.
Julian and Milo were too preoccupied with their worry to question him, so Karl slipped out, opening and closing the door quietly behind him.
Hmph! Stupid wife... Karl thought as he hurried down the street, careful not to make too much noise. Where did you run off to this time?
His eyes scanned the foggy streets ahead, following the faint trail Ruby had left behind.
He felt a little scared walking alone, the thick fog making the streets feel even emptier. Still, he pressed on, muttering under his breath.
"Stupid wife... so stupid. Why did she run off without thinking?"
His frustration bubbled as he jogged through the quiet streets, calling out, "Stupid wife! Stupid wife!"
But no matter how much he searched, she was nowhere to be found.
Sweat began to bead on his forehead, and he finally stopped, bending over with his hands on his knees to catch his breath. His chest rose and fell heavily, the cool night air doing little to ease his nerves.
Where could she have gone?
Suddenly, a thought struck him – maybe she had gone to the market area.
Without wasting another second, he took off running in that direction, his heart pounding louder with each step.
However, even after searching the market, she was nowhere to be found. Karl slowed down, frustration building as he muttered under his breath.
"Stupid wife... where did you run off to... stupid, stupid...?!"
He grumbled, running his hand through his hair. The word stupid slipped out over and over because, truthfully, it was the only curse he ever used. Other swear words felt too harsh or disgusting, so he stuck with the one insult that felt safe – stupid.
"Why can’t you make things easy for once... stupid wife," he mumbled, sighing heavily as he glanced around.
"I always have to look for you... Milo and Julian claim they love you, acting like those delicate soul-stream leads..." Karl muttered to himself, his voice trembling slightly. "But here I am, the only one actually thinking about her..."
His hand brushed against his cheek, wiping away the tear that had slipped down without him noticing.
"I’ve never met anyone as kind as me in my entire life," he said softly, sniffling as he glanced around the empty street. His big blue eyes searched the foggy paths ahead, desperate for any sign of her. "Even if I tried to find someone like me, I doubt I ever could..."
He let out a heavy sigh, shoulders sagging.
However, as he scanned the area, his eyes suddenly caught sight of someone familiar in the distance.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
—To be continued...🪄