I'm The Protagonist?! 16.2
Roosters’ cries woke the villagers up to get ready for the day. Some excited for the prospect of a new day, others just wanted to get it over with while the rest stayed in bed. Feng Shi and Xiao Wang are one of the first type of morning people.
Xiao Wang wiggled out of her arms and stretched his limbs, opening his jaws wide to let out a growly yawn. Feng Shi soon followed in his wake, sitting up in bed, hair ruffled and tangled up, eyes still closed.
“Morning master” Xiao Wang greeted and was greeted back with a “hm” as they both got up to get ready for the day since Feng Shi still had to get her plans moving and can’t stay in this tranquil village for long.
Feng Shi finally opened her eyes and looked at the little wolf who went back and burrowed his head on her arms. Unlike before, where he can still settle all of his entire body in her arms, Xiao Wang have grown into nearly the size of a juvenile wolf cub.
Combing her fingers on his soft and fluffy fur, Feng Shi was relieved that she truly has her companion back and last night was not a dream.
Unlike before, where she simply felt acknowledgement towards the wolf pup as an amusing pet, she can see what her feelings truly was then, their time apart made her realized just how use she was to be having her little companion by her side.
She took his presence and company for granted because she didn’t know or didn’t realize how that small fondness, she had at the beginning had turned into true love for the little cub along the way in their first mission. She has no idea when she started merely acknowledging the wolf as a travel partner, to liking his companionship and finally loving him as one would love a family member.
Feng Shi herself didn’t know how soft her usually icy gaze become as she enjoyed simply brushing her fingers on his fur while waiting for her sleepiness to clear and the hazy feeling of just waking up just as the sun rises finally disappear.
While everything was peaceful on this side, near the village was a morning bus speedily approaching the place.
Inside was an elderly woman, pail as a ghost, anxiously biting the nail of her thumb. Her eyes were slightly reddish at the corner with giant circles under them. It is clear that the old lady did not have a wink of sleep due to worry and fear.
When the bus finally managed to get on the station, the old lady abruptly stood up and pushed a student returning home for the school break causing said girl to stumble and fall on the chair, her neatly tied up long hair spreading as the band holding them break.
“What the?! Watch where you’re going!” The girl’s best friend, a highschooler with short hair but huge temper shouted after the old woman wanting to curse her but refraining herself considering the elderly’s age. As they say, one should respect their senior just because their older than you even if they deserve no respect because of their actions, or something like that.
“Are you okay, Hoah?” The short hair girl asked her friend worriedly, helping her steady herself back.
“I’m fine, Gemma. The grandma must have been in a hurry. But can you help me fix my hair later?” The other girl assured before blushing at the last part making the short haired girl, Gemma, grin mischievously.
Ruffling her friend’s hair, she teased. “Of course, what are best friends for if not to make sure their bestie catches their boy, hahaha.”
“Gem! You know that Jun-nii-san and I are just friends!” Hoah exclaimed embarrassed, the accident long forgotten as Gemma continued to tease her.
The forgotten grandma on the other hand, hastily made it back to her home where her grandson was still sleeping without a care to the world.
“Pan! Get up! Get up you stinky brat!” The old lady shouted at her lazy grandson kicking and slapping the man awake.
“Grandma, stop! Stop! I’m awake!” The man responded immediately covering his face and scuttling away from the hits.
“Go pack your things. We have to go; we can stay with my cousin for a while. It would be safe there.” She ordered going back to packing their other things.
God know how she almost had a heart attack when her grandson called her yesterday telling her that there was a girl looking for her. A girl so similar to her old mistress.
For a brief moment she was glad, she was truly glad that the baby girl she used to take care off, the innocent and pitiful young miss she watched as a babe managed to grow up, healthy and alive before that was replaced by guilt and fear.
The old woman had collapse in the floor with tangled emotions as tears stream down her face knowing what she had done but for her grandson, for the only family she had left, she had no other choice. She could only wrong the little miss and her kind mistress.
The man was confused by his grandmother’s action but got no answer and seeing the urgency and seriousness of things, he immediately went to packing the things he needs.
The old woman removed some wood from the floor revealing a small box, his eyes lit up noticing the pile of money inside as his greed engulfed his heart, but the old lady did not notice, instead, the old lady stared at the blue gemmed necklace in her box with complex emotion.
An image of an older version of Feng Shi flashed in her mind, smiling at her with respect and care while putting the necklace on her as her fiftieth birthday gift. She could not return to her family to celebrate her birthday then due to a storm, so the madam had ordered the others to prepare to celebrate it with her.
“Grandma?” The man asked his greed slowly being replaced with worry for the woman that had taken care of him.
Seeing her grandson’s worried face, the old woman hardened her wavering heart and took the money before putting the necklace back in the box. For this child, she can only continue to wrong the madam.
“Have you packed everything?” She asked shakily.
“Yes, grandma I have everything” He answered raising his backpack. “Grandma, what is going on?”
“No more talking we need to---” The grandma no longer finished her sentence when she opened the door because there stood the youthful face of the mistress she used to serve, the face that cried wrongfully in her nightmare only they may look the same, but the unfamiliarity of that gaze made her freeze.
Cold, it was too cold, as if she was looking at nothing more than something not worth her while, as if she was already looking at their corpse.
“Going somewhere, grandma?” Feng Shi asked sweetly, her face lifting up as she charmingly looked innocent but her eyes, her eyes did not hide the cold, cruel shadow behind the lights there are trying to display.