The kitchen had gone silent, except for the soft bleating of the goats and the mess crunching under their hooves.
Aron's face twisted with frustration as he stared at the ruined dinner.
"I gave you one job, Lynette," he shouted, running a hand through his hair. "Just one! And now look at this!"
He turned sharply toward her.
"It's my fault," he added bitterly. "I should've known better than to rely..."
But before he could finish, Rowan stepped forward.
He moved instinctively, planting himself between Lynette and Aron like a shield.
"That's enough," Rowan said firmly, his voice cool and even. "I saw it with my own eyes. Lynette closed the door. I don't know how it got opened, but this isn't only her fault."
Lynette stood behind Rowan, head bowed, hands clasped tightly together. The weight of the stares made her feel small.
Aron didn't respond, he just stared at her for a moment longer before muttering, "Then what are we gonna eat now…"
Rowan let out a slow breath, thinking fast. "The market's a good twenty minutes away. Even if we leave now, it might be closed by the time we get there."
He turned to the group. "There's still some food we brought on the bus. I'll go check what we can use."
He glanced at Lynette and added, "Come with me…."
But before he could finish, Lynette stepped forward, shoulders squared, voice steady.
"No," she said. "This is my responsibility."
Everyone went quiet.
Lynette bowed slightly and looked around. "I'm sorry, everyone. I was the one asked to watch the door. I should've checked again. I should've made sure."
Rowan looked at her, his expression unreadable.
"I saw a scooter by the gate," Lynette continued. "If someone can ride it with me, we can still make it to the market before it closes, and I'll cook everything myself when we get back. I promise."
A long silence followed her words. Then,
"I can ride," Rowan said, stepping up beside her. "Let's go."
Aron nodded. "She's right. You two go. We'll clean this up and figure out what else we've got."
Lynette looked at everyone, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she said softly.
From the window, Mysha watched the scene unfold, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. Her plan to isolate Lynette had only drawn Rowan closer. Her jaw tightened.
Outside, the sky had turned golden with the setting sun.
Rowan grabbed the helmet from the scooter's handle and handed it to Lynette. "Hop on. We don't have much time."
Lynette slipped on the helmet, hesitating only slightly before getting on. She held the side rails awkwardly at first.
"Hold on tight," Rowan said. "I'm not exactly slow."
"I'm fine," she began, but the scooter lunched forward with a loud rev.
Startled, Lynette squeaked and instinctively wrapped her arms tightly around Rowan's waist. She felt his chest shake slightly, he was trying not to laugh.
They raced down the winding road, trees blurring past them in streaks of green and gold. The wind tugged at her hair, and the silence between them settled into something strangely comfortable.
Then Lynette spoke, her voice quiet but clear against the wind.
"…Thank you. For speaking up for me."
"I wasn't covering for you," Rowan said, eyes fixed on the road. "I really saw you close the door."
Lynette huffed softly. "Still. Thanks."
A small smile tugged at Rowan's lips.
By some miracle or maybe fate, they reached the market faster than expected. The last few vendors were just beginning to pack up.
Rowan parked and turned to her. "Do you know what you want to get?"
"Oh, hell yeah," Lynette said with a mischievous grin.
Rowan blinked. "That's… oddly confident."
Her eyes sparkled. "Let's just say I am an adult from the inside rather than how I look. Cooking and bargaining? Piece of cake."
Rowan just stared at her for a second, then gave a soft chuckle. "Alright then, Miss Adult Chef. Lead the way."
The marketplace was a patchwork of colour and motion, stalls with vibrant vegetables, fruits, spices, and dry goods scattered in a fading golden light. Most of the vendors had begun packing up, but a few lingered, chatting and laughing among themselves.
Lynette stepped off the scooter with purpose, her dress swaying just below her knees, her eyes scanning the stalls like a seasoned pro. Rowan followed behind, a little amused.
"Alright, we don't have time to be polite," she said, already walking toward an elderly woman selling fresh vegetables. "We need ingredients for something warm, simple, and crowd-pleasing."
Rowan raised an eyebrow. "So what's the plan?"
"Rice porridge. With veggies and egg. Simple. Comforting. And I can stretch it to feed an army if needed."
Before Rowan could respond, she was already leaning in and chatting with the vendor.
"Grandma," she said sweetly, flashing a soft smile, "you wouldn't leave a group of hungry kids starving, would you?"
The vendor chuckled. "Oh dear, not if you call me grandma like that."
It worked like magic, her voice warm, her tone casual, and her timing sharp. She complimented the freshness of the carrots, offered a gentle tease about the green onions, and before Rowan knew it, she had negotiated a full basket of vegetables for almost half the original price.
"You… you're terrifying," Rowan said as they walked away.
"It's called charm," Lynette said, tossing him a wink.
Next came the eggs from a grumpy uncle vendor who initially ignored them. Lynette waited until a small child tugged at the man's sleeve, then smiled as she handed the kid a candy from her pocket.
"Your daughter?" she asked.
The man nodded stiffly.
"She's got good taste in candy. You must be raising her well."
The vendor cracked a smile, barely, and gave them a dozen eggs and a small pouch of anchovies for almost nothing.
Rowan watched her in amazement. She carried herself like someone who had done this a hundred times before, smooth, fast, confident. It was hard to imagine this Lynette being the shy, quiet girl who had once stood apart at church.
"You've done this before?" he finally asked.
Lynette laughed. "Oh yeah. When I was working…. I mean, with my mom, when buying groceries, I learned it from her. "
Her voice softened, but there was a flicker of something odd behind her smile, something Rowan couldn't quite place.
They walked back to the scooter, arms filled with bags. The vendors waved them off, shouting, "Take care!" and "Good luck with the dinner!"
Rowan put the food into the compartment and turned to her.
"Okay. I'm impressed."
"You should be," Lynette said, pretending to flip her hair dramatically.
"Oh, wait. I'll be back." And she left.
Rowan waited while resting his back on the scooter, continuously checking the time. After 10 minutes, he heard Lynette's voice calling him.
When he turned back, his eyes and mouth were wide open.
Lynette was running towards him, carrying a whole fresh chicken in her hand with dirt on her face and arms.
Lynette smiled brightly and said while breathing heavily, "I…helped that…man catch his chickens…and…he… gave me this…a whole chicken."
He chuckled. "But you still have to cook it."
Lynette rolled her eyes playfully. "Watch and learn."
He helped her clean the dirt on her face and arms with his handkerchief, with a slight smile.
She climbed onto the scooter again and this time, wrapped her arms around him without hesitation.
The ride back was quieter, more comfortable. The wind blew gently, the last light of sunset streaking the sky in orange. Lynette leaned her head slightly forward, close enough for Rowan to feel the brush of her hair against his neck.
He didn't say anything, but his hand on the handle tightened slightly.
This moment, brief and fragile, felt like the beginning of something new.
The sky had turned dusky purple when Lynette and Rowan returned to the retreat. A soft breeze rustled the tall grass and dandelions in the field. The moment they stepped off the scooter, they noticed the front yard was spotless again. Aron and the others had done their part.
As they carried the bags inside, Aron looked up from stacking chairs near the porch.
"You're back," he said, slightly out of breath. "Good timing, we just finished cleaning."
"Thanks," Lynette smiled, a little out of breath herself.
Rowan handed off the last bag of groceries and looked at her, concerned. "Are you sure you can cook all this by yourself?"
Lynette gave him a quick glance and a small, confident smile. "Watch me."
As she disappeared into the kitchen, Rowan stood still, still watching the door she went through.
Aron came and stood beside him, arms crossed. After a moment, he asked quietly, "Hey… was I too harsh on her earlier?"
Rowan was silent for a beat. "You were stressed. But… yeah, maybe a little."
Aron sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She's handling this better than I would."
Rowan let out a short breath, eyes still on the kitchen. "You're not wrong."
Inside, Lynette washed her hands, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work. Her movements were smooth, practiced. The way she chopped vegetables, fast and even, without hesitation, made it look like second nature. She moved from the cutting board to the stove with graceful efficiency, as if she had spent years doing this every day.
Rowan peeked through the door and did a small double-take. "She chops like a pro," he murmured.
"Right?" Aron echoed, genuinely surprised. "Where did she learned that?"
A pot of rice porridge simmered gently as Lynette added diced carrots, spring onions, and a few herbs. Meanwhile, she started marinating the chicken in a quick blend of soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil. Soon, the smell of sizzling stir-fried chicken joined the warmth of the porridge, drifting outside and pulling curious glances from the group.
Though she said she'd do it alone, Rowan couldn't stop himself from walking in.
"Didn't I tell you I've got this?" Lynette said with a raised brow as she stirred the chicken.
"You did. I'm ignoring you," Rowan replied, already reaching for plates to help.
She chuckled softly but didn't stop him. His quiet presence beside her made the work feel lighter, like she wasn't carrying the whole weight alone.
Outside, the others were starting to gather near the tables again. The sun had dipped lower, and the field was bathed in amber light.
Soon, Aron and Rowan helped carry out steaming bowls of porridge and plates of the fragrant stir-fried chicken. The moment the food was set down, surprised murmurs broke out.
"Wait…this is porridge?"
"It smells so rich…"
"This is insane, who knew porridge could taste like this?!"
Lynette finally stepped out, wiping her hands on a towel, a shy smile on her lips. The group erupted into thanks and praise. She caught Rowan's eye for just a second, and he gave her a small thumbs-up before silently handing her a water bottle.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
"I'm good," she said, her voice soft. "Tired, but… I feel good."
Rowan nodded slowly. "You were amazing."
She blinked, surprised by the compliment, then smiled, genuinely this time. "Thank you… for speaking up for me earlier."
His ears turned a little red again. "I just said what I saw."
From behind the window of the retreat hall, Mysha watched it all with narrowed eyes. Her plan had backfired. Instead of driving them apart, Lynette had risen even higher in everyone's eyes, and Rowan was clearly getting closer to her.
The night rolled in gently, and the retreat field was filled with the sound of clinking spoons, warm laughter, and contented conversation.
The air was crisp after dinner, filled with laughter and the soft crackle of the campfire. Everyone sat in a loose circle, wrapped in sweaters or blankets, telling silly stories and joking about the chaos that had happened earlier. Some helped with the dishes inside while others roasted marshmallows on sticks. Rowan sat quietly near the fire, watching Lynette across the circle as she laughed with Cressa, her eyes glowing with peace.
An hour passed, and one by one, people began drifting into the retreat hall to sleep. Soon, the fire dimmed to soft embers, and only one figure remained sitting outside. Aron, his arms crossed, gaze lost in the dark.
Rowan walked up quietly and sat beside him.
"They're still not back," Aron muttered, glancing toward the road. "What if something happened?"
Rowan looked at the fire, then at Aron. "They'll be okay. Ella's smart. And they've got the caretaker with them."
Aron sighed but didn't respond.
"You're tired. You've been doing everything all day," Rowan continued. "Go rest. I'll wait. I'm not sleepy anyway."
Aron looked at him, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks, man."
He clapped Rowan's shoulder and finally walked inside, leaving Rowan alone with the quiet hum of crickets and wind brushing through the trees. The fire's glow lit his face as he stared into the flames, lost in thought. A small smile tugged at the edge of his lips. Today had been a mess, but somehow... it ended up okay.
At the edge of the retreat hall, a small figure walked past in pyjamas, Lynette. She had tied her wavy hair into a messy bun, and she moved quietly toward the kitchen, unaware of Rowan watching her.
Rowan chuckled softly. "Seriously?" he whispered to himself and got up.
Inside the kitchen, Lynette opened the fridge and reached for the ice cream tub she had bought earlier at the market. As she closed the door, a voice from behind startled her.
"What are you doing?"
She jumped and turned around. Rowan was leaning on the doorway, arms crossed, and an amused look on his face.
Caught red-handed, Lynette grinned mischievously. "Want some?"
They ended up sitting side by side at the riverbank, their feet barely touching the water, each holding a spoon and their share of ice cream. The stars shimmered above, and the moon cast soft silver light over the flowing river.
"Today was insane," Lynette said, kicking her feet a little. "Goats, porridge, scooter races... I still can't believe we pulled it off."
Rowan smirked. "You pulled it off. I just carried bags."
"You also defended me," she said with a small nudge. "That was cool."
He didn't say anything. Just looked at her. He looked at her as if there was nothing else to see but her.
"Hey, your ice cream's melting," she said suddenly, pointing at his bowl.
He blinked and looked down, flustered. "Oh. Right."
She giggled. "You were staring again. Do I still look like a ghost?"
Rowan scratched the back of his neck, his ears turning faintly red.
Lynette turned her gaze to the moonlit river. "Isn't this night beautiful?"
"Yeah," Rowan said, eyes still on her. "It is."
The silence stretched comfortably before Lynette turned to him again, more serious now.
"Can I ask something?"
"Sure."
"What's your dream, Rowan?"
He stared ahead. "I don't know. Never thought about it, I guess."
"What would make you happy?"
He shrugged. "I haven't figured that out either. What about you?"
She nodded slowly, then smiled. "I want to be happy too. Live without regrets. Be a good daughter. And… someday, have my dream boyfriend."
She laughed at her own words, light and unbothered. Rowan chuckled with her, but she turned to him again, this time with something different in her eyes.
"But Rowan… listen to me. In the future, you have to take care of yourself first, okay? Don't get hurt. I've noticed. I've seen the wounds on your hands and face since the first time I came to church."
He glanced at his hands, surprised.
"I want you to enjoy the little things, laugh more, smile more," she said, while pointing at his face with one finger. "Your mom loves you so much. Don't make things harder for her."
Then, softly, she added, "You have your family. Your friends. And now… You also have me."
Not sure what Lynette thought while saying these words so lightly. But it was not light for him.
Rowan's heart skipped. Her words were warm, too warm. Like they have reached into a part of him no one had ever touched before.
"I'm not sure how… but I'll do my best to protect you, Rowan," she whispered to herself with a gentle smile.
Rowan didn't know what came over him. He wasn't the type to act on emotion, but in that moment, something shifted inside him. Without saying a word, his body moved on its own, and he came closer to Lynette and hugged her.
Lynette didn't resist. She simply patted his back gently, comforting him.
Suddenly, a rustle came from the bushes behind them. Both froze.
"…Is that a cow?" Rowan muttered.
A large white cow emerged, chewing grass lazily.
Lynette gasped. "That's the same one from earlier! What is it doing here?"
Rowan stood, ready to chase it off, but before he could, Lynette grabbed his hand. "No! Run!"
Barefoot, she took off along the riverbank, as the cold water splashed on her legs. Rowan didn't say anything. He just ran after her, still holding her hand.
It was his first time holding someone's hand like that. His first time smiling this wide. They ran for a while, until the cow disappeared behind the trees. Breathless, they stopped, catching breath, and burst out into a laugh, looking at each other. Their hair was messy, faces flushed, eyes bright.
Rowan looked at her, really looked, and thought her laugh under the moonlight was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
No one saw it. No one knew.
But something had quietly sparked between them. And it wasn't going away.