38 Dirty hair.

"You know what? Go sell your weed and I'll wash it myself. You don't need to waste your time taking care of my hair, there is a mirror over there, I'll be just fine." He said and stuck that strand of hair behind his ear.

"Okay then, I should probably get to it now, we don't have much time. I have to go to work tomorrow." As Anna smiled at him, she could sense his growing interest, which heightened as she stood up and reached for a towel to dry her body.

Every move she made seemed to captivate him, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of power in her ability to mesmerize him.

"I'll pick you up in half an hour, is that okay?" She smiled at him as she tangled her long, dark hair in a low messy bun.

His breath got short and he had to force himself to look away from her naked figure bathing in the afternoon sun, when she started to take her clothes on. He wanted to hold her in his arms and adore the shit out of her. But he was confused thanks to what she just said. Last day she can be here this long? Even today, she was out for more than 10 hours and he certainly wasn't happy about that.

"I'll be back before you can find out I was gone, Bugak." With tender affection, she leaned in, her lips gently touching his cheek.

She ran down the stairs with her backpack filled with herbs and other goods she was able to pick. It's a pity she wasn't able to find any rare plants, though. These plains might be still marked as territories for beginners, she realized and took out her map. That's probably it, they are still by the very edge of this world.

She nearly bumped into someone as she rushed through the door, so she quickly apologized and continued to walk through some shops to check out the prices. After paying for her clothes, their room and his food, she ended up with only 32 golden coins.

While it could have been worse, the reality remained: she was completely broke.

Bugak, on the other hand, aggressively rubbed all this dirt and sweat from his skin, splashing the water all around the floor in a desperate effort to finish as soon as possible.

He couldn't help but feel a strange sense of vulnerability as he looked at his collection of jewelry, meticulously arranged on the table. The absence of his precious accessories made him feel exposed, as if a part of his identity had been stripped away.

Each piece held a personal meaning, representing milestones and memories.

 Due to his early childhood experiences, he despised being fully immersed in water and only preferred washing himself using a damp cloth and hay.

But this was much faster and he wanted to be done with it by the time she came back. He put all of his piercings back to their places and carefully sat on a stool too small for his ass, ready to braid his thick long hair, still wet from his bath.

"I made it in time!" her pleased voice resounded from the door and he froze with his hands up only halfway through the first braid "Please allow me, I want to braid them for you." She leaned closer, kissing his head just above the ear. But it was the last straw for him.

Bugak quickly rose from his seat and wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her closer to him. He wanted to ask her so many questions, but he was overwhelmed by a wave of anger that silenced him. 

Doubts flooded his thoughts, consuming his ability to gather the words he so desperately desired to say.

'Are you leaving me? Am I not good enough? Why are you so cruel?'

He was afraid. Afraid and angry.

So he decided to use her the same way she used him, quickly and without any feelings attached.