She gave him a deadpan look.
He grinned wider, his eyes sparkling with pure mischief. "Title will be: ’Wife Who Loved Me So Much She Bought Soulstream Without Me Asking Again Ever.’"
Ruby’s smile dropped instantly, her eyes narrowing like a warning storm. The moment Karl caught that shift in her expression, he squealed—actually squealed like a child caught stealing sweets. He snatched the notebook back, hugged it to his chest, and dashed across the room, his messy hair bouncing as he ran.
"Mine! My masterpiece! You can’t take it back now!" he shouted over his shoulder, nearly bumping into the wall..
Ruby could only roll her eyes at his ridiculous, childish act. She let out a quiet sigh as she watched him disappear down the hallway, still chanting about Soulstream and essays like it was the greatest plan in history.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to buy it for him—she really did. He was childish, but his small wishes always tugged at her heart sooner or later. But right now, she had bigger things on her shoulders: the computer setup for the company, the new weaving machines for the Dreadmire fabrics, and her upcoming monsoon project that would swallow half her budget before she even made her first sale.
She leaned back on the sofa, laptop still warm on her lap, and exhaled slowly. One thing at a time, Ruby, she told herself. One thing at a time.
In the other room, Karl’s muffled dramatic voice could still be heard: "Wife is stingy now but generous later! Soulstream will be mine! Just you wait, notebook! Just you wait!"
It was the day of the Flame Blessing Ceremony—a day that always brought a gentle buzz of warmth and hope to the village. Even though the main ceremony would be held at night, the energy had already wrapped itself around the house like a soft blanket from the moment the sun rose.
Ruby woke to the sound of faint giggles and tiny footsteps echoing outside her door. When she peeked out, she saw little children’s running barefoot across the yard, their faces painted with soft red marks, tiny cloth pouches tied around their waists to collect sweets.
She stood by the doorway for a moment, her hair loose over her shoulders, and just watched as Julian stepped out ahead of her. He wore a simple but new robe—a deep ash grey with subtle embroidery at the sleeves. There was a calm, almost fatherly softness in his eyes as he crouched down to hand out small paper-wrapped candies one by one.
"Be careful, share with your brothers," he said gently to a little boy tugging at his sleeve. "And don’t run on the stones, alright?"
The children giggled and nodded, sprinting away as soon as they got their share. Ruby noticed that Julian must have prepared everything since dawn—there was a small basket near his feet still half full of sweets, dried fruits, and tiny coins tied with ribbon.
Ruby smiled, her heart warming at the sight. She could hear Karl’s voice from the kitchen, loudly arguing with Milo about who had the prettier new robe.
Their small house felt so alive—full of shuffling feet, quiet laughs, clinking sweet wrappers, and the distant sound of children squealing thank-yous from the yard.
Ruby tucked a loose hair behind her ear and stepped forward to help Julian hand out the last of the sweets. Her own new robe felt fresh against her skin—a soft off-white fabric with tiny blue stitching. She felt the early sunlight on her cheeks.
The soft creak of the door opening made everyone glance up. Adrian stepped inside, his calm footsteps barely making a sound on the old floorboards. In his hand, he held a small bundle of letters tied neatly with a red string.
"We got post," Adrian said, voice quiet but clear enough for everyone to hear.
Karl, who had been half-busy arguing with Milo about who would light the first incense tonight, froze mid-sentence. His eyes widened. "Post? For who?! What is it?!"
Ruby wiped her hands on her robe and walked closer as Adrian carefully handed her the small bundle. She immediately noticed the neat script on top—her name written clearly, the seal pressed in a style she recognized. She tugged the string open.
She unfolded the letter tucked inside and out fell five glossy slips of paper. Movie tickets.
Her eyes widened a little, surprised, but a soft laugh slipped out when she saw Sylvia’s name scribbled on the corner, along with a short note: "Keep your promise. Take your family with you."
"It’s tickets," Ruby said, holding them up for everyone to see. "For all of us. For the movie I helped edit."
Karl’s eyes grew so wide they looked like they might fall out. He squealed—actually squealed—then threw his arms in the air and did a ridiculous little jig in the middle of the living room. "Movie?! Wife, you’re the best! We’re going to the big screen!! Big, big screen!!"
Julian chuckled, his hand covering his mouth, shoulders shaking as he watched Karl’s silly celebration. Even Milo, who tried to keep a straight face, ended up giggling as Karl grabbed him by the wrists and spun him around too.
Adrian didn’t say much, but he stepped closer to Ruby’s side, peeking at the tickets in her hand. His eyes softened, just a small, almost hidden smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Ruby laughed again, shaking her head as Karl started singing about infamous popcorn and big screens, Milo joined in clapping, and Julian just stood there with his gentle smile, taking in the sight.
As the soft dusk settled over the village, a gentle red glow spread across the sky, brushing the rooftops with warmth that felt comforting yet a little sacred. One by one, families began drifting out of their homes, robes rustling quietly, voices low with that festival hush that always came with the Flame Blessing Ceremony.
—To be continued...🪄