"You're late."
"Sorry, the traffic. And my husband, he didn't want to let me go."
"Just go shower. I'm finished." Honestly, I couldn't care less about his excuses. He just smelled like money to me.
After we finished, I straightened myself out, preparing for a bed battle.
After the act, he gave me his talent fee.
"Here's three thousand."
"Wow, an increase? Thanks. Next time, just text me if you need me."
"Okay, babe."
--
"Oh god, yours is really huge, ahhh, push it in deeper!"
"As you wish, honey."
"Go faster, ahhh!"
A few moments later, my eyes nearly rolled back from the intense pleasure he provided.
"I transferred five thousand to your bank account. I also ordered the things you asked for; just wait for them to arrive at your house. They're already paid for."
"Thanks, boss. You're truly the best, not just in bed, but also for being so generous. Just make sure your wife doesn't catch you."
"Of course. You're so good that you even follow me into my dreams."
"My charm is just on another level, ha-ha."
I jolted awake, blinking as the remnants of the dream faded. So, it was just a dream. It felt like a reminder of who I truly was before I landed here in Dayesh's world.
I stared at the ceiling, a hollow ache in my chest. I missed my old life. What about my cats back there? Was I in a coma, just unable to return? Or was I truly gone, and this was some twisted permanent reality?
I didn't know what time it was, but I decided to move. The house was still silent, everyone fast asleep. My restlessness had chased away any lingering dreams.
There was so much to do: laundry, cooking rice, preparing a stew that could be reheated later, sweeping the yard once the light broke. Perhaps I could take a walk, too. Maybe I'd find something interesting on the way.
Hours passed, and it still hadn't dawned. I decided to head out anyway, armed with a shawl to ward off the biting morning mist and enough money for a meal, something I hadn't cooked myself. I was growing tired of my own cooking.
After a few minutes of walking, the horizon finally bled with the first light of dawn. I had left food for Rosarie to serve, trusting the instructions I'd given her in previous days.
The local market was beginning to stir, the air thick with the intoxicating scent of frying garlic and fresh bread. I found a small stall that offered dine-in service and ordered enough to satisfy my hunger.
Once I finished, the day was still young. I wandered until I found a secluded bench in a quiet corner. I sat down, savoring the morning sun—the kind that wasn't yet harsh on the skin—and nibbled on the bread I'd bought as a takeaway.
"Could I… possibly have a bite to eat?"
The voice made me jump. I looked down to see an elderly woman, her face mapped with deep, weathered wrinkles.
"Food?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied simply. I handed her the rest of my bread and, reaching into my pocket, gave her the remainder of my cash so she could buy something warm later.
"Thank you so much," she whispered, settling down on the bench beside me. A few moments passed, and she leaned in, her eyes piercing. "Do you wish to return to where you came from?"
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. "H-how do you…?"
"As a reward for your kindness, child. I can grant your wish."
I hesitated, the temptation clawing at my heart. But then I thought of the uncertainty of my old world, and the strange, unfolding life I had here. "Ah, maybe later. I'm not ready to go back yet. I'm still happy here."
"If you ever need my help… you will find me at this very spot."
"You're quite the mystery, ma'am. Fine, I'll give you a little more so I can find you quickly if I change my mind. I should head home now, it's nearly midday."
"Go on, child. And thank you."
The heat was beginning to intensify by the time I walked back. I was nearing Dayesh's house when I noticed a crowd gathered outside. Confusion clouded my mind, but I didn't rush.
Khafa rushed toward me, her expression a mix of relief and frustration. "Where in the world have you been?!" he hissed, his voice low but sharp.
"The market. Why?"
"They've been looking for you. You didn't tell anyone you were leaving."
"Huh? Why? There was already food prepared for them."
"That's not what I mean. They thought you had run away."
"Oh." I blinked, genuinely surprised. Wow, I must be pretty important if they were that worried.
"I'll go catch up with them and tell them you're back."
"Y-yeah, thanks. And please, tell them I'm sorry." I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling a strange weight in my chest.
Ghoth arrived first, breathless. He didn't say a word, he simply pulled me into a fierce, desperate hug, and seconds later, I felt his tears soaking my shoulder.
"Hey, don't cry. I just went to the market. You guys are being so over-the-top."
He didn't answer, and I let him hold me until his tremors stopped.
"Next time, let us know," he said, his voice cold, almost like a frustrated older brother scolding a reckless younger sister. When he sensed Dayesh approaching, he wiped his face quickly and ducked into his room without looking back.
"Where did you go? We were worried sick about you."
"I'm sorry, Dayesh. I was just bored, so I went to the market to clear my head. Please don't assume I was with Ghoth again, I know both of you were looking for me."
"No, that's not what I'm thinking. Just… don't ever do that again, please. I'm begging you."
"Alright, I'll let you know next time." Honestly, I had always hated having to ask for permission to leave, but to avoid another scene like this, I conceded.
The atmosphere in the house shifted after that incident. The air felt heavy, almost fragile, as if everyone was walking on eggshells. Dayesh became more attentive, his gaze lingering on me a second longer whenever I walked into a room. It was suffocating yet strangely grounding.
I spent the next few days trying to blend into the routine, but my mind kept drifting back to the old woman on the bench. Her offer wasn't just a fantasy, it was a tether to a life I thought I had lost forever. Was she a deity? A witch? Or just a fragment of my subconscious manifesting my own internal conflict?