I had always been a man of action — once I thought of something, I'd just go and do it.
＂Remember to take your lunch box home after you finish, or Mom will get mad,＂
Karen reminded me.
After hearing my story of love, Karen gave me only a half-hearted response!? Was my romance tale not interesting enough? Why didn't Karen want to listen? I asked him, agitated.
＂Don't you want to hear your father's great love story!?＂
＂I've already heard it many times. Besides, break time is almost over — Uncle is about to finish eating.＂
While I was recalling my romantic past, lunchtime had almost ended. Karen told me that Gray was nearly done with his meal. I glanced at Gray's lunchbox — it was already half empty. I hurriedly called to Karen.
＂Crap! Karen, quick, give me my lunchbox!＂
＂Here. Don't be late, okay?＂
Taking the lunchbox from him, I quickly untied the cloth, pulled out my spoon, opened the lid, and began shoveling food into my mouth. My wife's cooking was just the best! Then Karen called out to Lina.
＂Lina, the lunch is delivered. Let's go.＂
＂Okay.＂
Karen always went to play with Lina in the southern forest after lunch. Gray asked Karen for a favor.
＂Karen, please take good care of Lina for me.＂
But Lina was the one who responded.
＂Geez! Mom says that, and now Dad too! I can take care of myself!＂
Lina seemed unhappy about being treated like a child, but Gray just smiled gently.
＂Is that so? Then take good care of yourself, okay?＂
＂Mm!＂
Lina nodded energetically, then waved goodbye to us before heading south with Karen.
＂Bye, Dad, Uncle!＂
＂See you!＂
Gray and I waved back. Suddenly I remembered how messy the southern path was and warned Karen to watch over Lina. But that boy didn't really worry me — he was always careful of his surroundings.
＂Karen, make sure you protect Lina! Otherwise, you'll be punished when you get back!＂
＂Got it.＂
Karen replied firmly. Feeling reassured, I returned to my meal — every second counted now.
By the time I finished my last bite, break time was over. Gray had already eaten and was waiting for me.
＂Ha~ finally done.＂
＂That's what you get for bragging about your love life.＂
After packing up our lunchboxes, we headed toward the oil-pressing shed. On the way, I brought up the wild boar incident.
＂When I saw Karen dodging just like Atris used to, it reminded me of that wild boar event.＂
＂Oh, the one where you got all those injuries, huh?＂
It seemed Gray remembered it too.
＂Those were honorable wounds! That's how Atris started seeing me in a new light.＂
＂And after that, you couldn't wait for work to end every day.＂
＂Of course! I wanted to see Atris so badly — you don't understand how cute she was!＂
Atris's workplace was near the oil house. After work, I'd walk her home and chat with her along the way.
Whenever I tried to hug her, she'd dodge and claim she smelled bad to hide her shyness. So adorable! But in the end, she never actually let me succeed.
＂Still, Yalisa is cuter,＂ Gray said suddenly.
Gray rarely brought up Yalisa — his wife, Lina's mother. She and Atris were close friends, known in the village as "the Twin Blossoms Blessed by Heaven." But Atris was definitely the cuter one!
＂No way, Atris is cuter!＂
＂Yalisa is.＂
＂Atris!＂
＂Yalisa!＂
It was rare for Gray to argue back — maybe all my bragging about Atris's cuteness made him want to show off his wife too.
＂Shut your mouths! You two morons, enough showing off your wives!"
＂Crap, we got scolded.＂
＂That's your fault.＂
Apparently, we'd been too loud.
We returned to our respective stations — I worked the oil press while Gray handled the boiling of palm fruits in another shed.
We kept working until dusk. Soon, I'd get to see my lovely wife and son again.
＂Why's it so noisy outside?＂
＂Yeah.＂
Shouts echoed from outside — terrifying, desperate ones, as if disaster had struck.
Then came hurried footsteps. A man rushed in, gasping for breath — it was Riz. Leaning on the doorway, his face was pale, like he'd seen something horrifying. He spoke between pants.
＂The demons… the demons…＂
He was still catching his breath, but I couldn't wait any longer.
＂The demons what!? Say it!＂
＂The demons has appeared!＂
＂What!?＂
The demons had come here. This was bad — Atris and Karen must be terrified! I grabbed Riz by the shoulders, shouting.
＂Riz! Where did they come from!?＂
＂From the forest behind the palm grove… Dabri is already… he's been…＂
＂Been what!?＂
＂Killed!＂
＂Elvin, wait—＂
Hearing that someone had died, my legs moved before I could think. I sprinted toward home.
Since the demons came from the palm grove, I'd take Atris and Karen to the eastern mountain. There was a cave there — one Gray and I had discovered when we were kids.
I didn't encounter any demons along the way. Reaching my house safely, I burst through the door shouting.
＂Atris! Karen!＂
The moment I opened the door, I saw Atris in the kitchen cooking. She turned at my voice.
＂You're home early today. Why are you drenched in sweat and panting like that? What happened?＂
Seeing how breathless I was, Atris's expression filled with worry. But I had no time to explain. I looked around for Karen — but he wasn't there.
＂Where's Karen!?＂
＂Karen hasn't come back yet.＂
Karen wasn't back!? Was he still in the southern forest? But he was smart — he'd notice if something went wrong in the village. I'd told him before: if danger ever struck, go to the cave.
＂Then Atris, come with me to the eastern mountain. We need to take shelter.＂
＂Shelter? What happened?＂
＂The demons appeared.＂
＂Demons!? Why would demons appear!?＂
Atris gasped, shocked — but only for a moment. Then she asked why they had come.
＂I don't know. We just have to leave now.＂
＂But Karen hasn't returned yet!＂
＂Once I get you to the cave, I'll come back for him. We need to go.＂
＂No! I have to wait for him!＂
Atris's voice trembled — she refused to leave without Karen. I tried to reassure her.
＂Karen is smart. If he sees what's happening, he'll head straight to the cave.＂
＂But…＂
She still looked uneasy. Truth be told, I was terrified too — but I had to believe in him. Believe that Karen could protect himself.
＂He's our child — he'll be fine.＂
＂…Alright.＂
Finally, Atris agreed to go to the cave and wait for Karen there. I took her hand, and together we stepped outside.