Ruby noticed the dismissive glance but chose not to let it bother her. She smiled lightly, turning back to Pillu.
"Mr. Pillu—" Ruby began politely, but Pillu quickly raised his hand to stop her.
"No, Miss Ruby! We’re neighbors. Just call me Pillu," he insisted, his face flushing slightly.
Ruby chuckled softly. "Alright, Pillu. If you’re running late, you should get going. And you can call me Ruby—no need for formalities."
Pillu’s eyes sparkled at the offer, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Okay! I’ll see you later then, Ruby!"
He waved energetically, his green hair bouncing with the motion.
Ruby waved back, watching him hurry off with the other ghost.
He’s sweet, but I really need that bath, she thought, finally heading back to her house.
"What were you talking to her about, Pillu?" the ghost asked, his tone laced with curiosity as his eyes narrowed slightly.
Pillu’s demeanor shifted immediately. His usual soft and shy expression hardened into something more arrogant, his chin lifting slightly.
"Why do you care?" Pillu snapped, clear displeasure in his voice. His black eyes narrowed. "And I don’t like the way you were looking at Miss Ruby."
The ghost raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax. I didn’t mean anything by it. But come on, Pillu... she’s jobless. Useless, even. You probably didn’t know this, but she used to be an alcoholic," the ghost added, his voice lowering into a whisper as if sharing a secret.
Pillu’s eyes darkened instantly. "Don’t."
The single word came out sharp.
"She’s different now. My eyes are sharp—I can tell who’s capable and who isn’t. Otherwise, how do you think I managed to marry Anabelle?" Pillu crossed his arms, glaring at the ghost with obvious irritation.
The ghost’s eyes widened, his mouth dropping open in shock. "Oh my god! You’re married, Pillu, and you still have a crush on Miss Ruby!"
Pillu rolled his eyes dramatically, waving off the accusation. "Bastard! I don’t have a crush. It’s admiration, okay? There’s a difference."
The ghost snickered but quickly straightened under Pillu’s intense stare.
"Listen," Pillu said, his tone lowering dangerously. "If you see Miss Ruby again, show her respect. Understand?"
The ghost nodded stiffly. He knew better than to argue with Pillu.
After all, everyone in the neighborhood still remembered the shock when Pillu married Anabelle.
Anabelle, the quiet and overlooked witch no one thought much of until she landed a stable government job.
Pillu hit the jackpot, they whispered.
Now, no one dared to underestimate Pillu’s judgment. If he said Ruby was worth respecting, then perhaps she was.
After breakfast, Adrian left quietly for work, his usual cold expression in place as he stepped out the door.
Ruby had barely set her plate down when Karl appeared in front of her, arms crossed and chin raised with that familiar arrogant air.
"You’re teaching us how to read today," Karl declared, as if it were already decided.
Ruby arched a brow, silently observing him. His cocky stance was familiar—he’s back to his normal self.
"Oh," she replied nonchalantly, pushing back her chair.
Karl nodded firmly, clearly expecting no argument.
So, the guilt’s worn off already, huh? Ruby mused, recalling the strange guilt-ridden Karl from the past few days, when he could barely meet her eyes after taking the missing money.
Now, it seemed that phase was over.
"Alright." Ruby sighed, brushing past him toward her room. She rummaged through her things, pulling out a worn notebook, a few pens and fabric she had set aside.
As she gathered her supplies, her thoughts drifted.
That’s all she could make with the fabric she had.
Two robes aren’t going to bring in much money.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the fabric as she let out a quiet breath.
If I raise the price, no one might buy them. But if I keep selling them cheaply, I won’t make enough to survive.
The weight of it lingered in the back of her mind.
She glanced briefly at the door, wondering when her PIC card (Personal Identification card) would finally arrive.
Once that’s here, I can officially register my business.
That was the first step.
For now, teaching Karl, Julian, and Milo to read would help take Ruby’s mind off the lingering stress that hovered at the edges of her thoughts.
With a notebook in one hand and a stack of materials in the other, Ruby returned to the living room. Karl was already there, waiting impatiently, his foot tapping against the floor.
"Alright, let’s start," she said, lowering herself to the floor and spreading the materials out in front of them.
Karl plopped down beside Ruby on the floor, his shoulder brushing against hers as he got comfortable. On her other side, Milo quickly claimed his spot, hugging his pillow tightly.
Julian lingered behind them, his brows slightly furrowed. His lips pressed into a thin line as he glanced at the space beside Ruby, which was now occupied.
Ruby, noticing his awkward stance, let out a quiet sigh.
"Julian, sit in front of me," she said, tilting her head toward the open space across from her.
Julian’s eyes brightened slightly, and he gave a quick nod before settling directly in front of her. His mood lifted almost instantly—it wasn’t next to her, but at least he could see her face clearly.
Ruby placed her notebook on the table between them, glancing at the three men.
"I’m not teaching you anything new today. You’ll just memorize the alphabets, and I’ll ask each of you to recite them individually. Got it?"
She handed out the papers where they had previously written the alphabet. Ruby gave each of them their own paper, easily recognizing their handwriting.
Karl’s was the ugliest, filled with messy and uneven letters. Milo’s was crooked, as if he still hadn’t figured out how to hold the pen properly. Julian’s handwriting, on the other hand, looked normal – at least compared to the others.
"Got it," the three said in unison, though Karl’s enthusiasm already seemed to be fading.
Ruby didn’t linger, turning her attention to the unfinished robes laid out beside her. She carefully threaded the needle and began stitching.
The faster I finish these, the better.
—To be continued...🪄