Aaron slowly walked away from her house, towards the tent he was staying in - if he could call it a home.
She looked back at her father in surprise. Her father was glaring as if to say, “Are you a thief?” He even shouted, “Collie, go and bite him!” Of course, since Collie is not a dog that bites people, Leila wasn’t worried at all. Her father’s pace quickened, so Leila followed suit.
“Dad, dad, dad, wait a minute, ah...”
“Isn’t this our family’s basket?”
Leila blinked and looked at the basket in front of the house. It was the basket she had left behind when she had brought food to Aaron. But.
“What kind of trick is this?”
Her father said, glaring at the basket with sour eyes.
The basket was filled with the autumn of Casnier. The wild grass of this season, the autumn flowers that came to life after the rain, and the red cosmos were the most striking. Leila's heart started pounding. She turned her head, but she couldn't see Aaron. Her throat was sore.
“What the heck is this!”
“Cosmos? And wild flowers?”
“I wonder if this father doesn’t know that! This pitiful thing!”
“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
Leila picked a fresh flower from the basket and put it in her father's ear. She was so happy that she almost cried, but then her father hit her hard and said, "Who are you kidding me?" and she was able to cry proudly.
“What the hell are you doing out there? You’re not dating, are you! I’ll tell you what happened! Get a club...!”
Her father stared at the basket that had become a flower basket with a displeased look for a long time, then stomped into the house.
Leila crouched in front of the door for a long time, looking at the basket that had become a flower basket. Collie waggled his tail around, so she pushed his face away and said, 'Go away.' Fearing that the scent might disappear, Leila ended up burying her face in the basket and smelling the flowers.
Fall in Casnier is always beautiful, but this fall was especially beautiful.
The next morning, she felt refreshed. Leila had been decorating a vase with cosmos and wild grass all day long since early morning. Her father, who had been glaring at her as if she were crazy, actually scolded her, saying, "It's too red," and "It's not green enough!" and made Leila laugh out loud.
The day's work was over, and the sun was setting. Leila packed freshly baked bread and warm potato soup made from dried meat and ground potatoes that her father had secretly saved. For daily necessities, she sneaked two blankets and a shirt she had taken from her father's closet. Her father shouted at her with his eagle eyes, "Where are you going to run away with that piece of garbage?" But he didn't shout anymore at Leila's cheerful greeting, who smiled brightly.
“I’m going to meet a friend!”
“Again, again! That calf thing!”
After running for a while with a pounding heart, she stopped near where Aaron's treasure trove was. She carefully checked if her skirt was dirty or if there was anything on her face, and then she walked forward with an elegant step.
Aaron was sitting near the river. He didn't move at all until she approached him, as if he were lost in thought. He had his hair pulled back, which seemed wet, and for some reason, he was naked with his top off. Suddenly, her face felt hot. There was a dripping garment hanging near the campfire.
Plop, plop, plop. The sound of water droplets flying was heard.
There was a pile of flat rocks next to Aaron. He didn't notice Leila until she was about twenty steps away. 'If he was really a soldier, why did he fall like this?' he thought to himself.
“How on earth did you know where my house was? What would you do if my father found out and came looking for you like that? My father is a very scary person.”
Aaron, who had been staring blankly at the dark river water, was so deep in thought that he suddenly got up in surprise.
“...Leila?”
“Why are you acting like you saw a ghost?”
It wasn't a joke, it really was. Aaron was looking at her with a strange face, as if he had seen a ghost. His somewhat blank expression was slightly distorted. Soon, he was frowning as if he was going to cry. Really, no, really, he was frowning as if he was going to cry, which surprised Leila.
“Ah... I’m surprised.”
“I’m more surprised. What happened? Did you starve while I was away? You're cold. You're catching a cold, but you have to wear clothes...”
Aaron denied it with a low laugh.
“That’s not it...”
There was no sign of her welcoming her. Leila felt a little disappointed. Aaron, who read her sullen expression, quickly denied it.
“No, that’s not it... I was just thinking that you might not come anymore. That’s why.”
Leila could tell he was being sincere.
“Then what were those flowers? Were they a farewell gift?”
“No, since I received something from you, I think it would be polite to return the favor.”
Leila dropped the basket she was holding with a thud and slapped Aaron's naked arm. Clap! Clap!
“So what you’re saying now is like a farewell gift!”
“Oh, it hurts. No, that’s not it. No, that’s not it.”
“I will bring something to eat to the person who gave me a flower basket as a farewell gift.”
Leila, who had slapped his bare arms until they turned red, turned her head away. Aaron smiled awkwardly and grabbed her wrist, but then let go of it on his own.
“It’s better to just get hit. Hit me. Do whatever you want.”
He smiles and extends his other arm.
'Dumb.'
Leila looked at his reddened arm and belatedly felt a little sorry, softening her voice.
“Yes. But how did you know about my house? I almost got caught by my dad.”
“I hope you don’t misunderstand. Before I left the city last time and settled down here, I took a walk around the area. I even took a lap around the other town... If I remember correctly, there are only three houses in the direction Leila heads every day... I think one of them is an old couple in an orchard. In the other house, there seems to be an old woman who lives alone and plows the field.”
“This is Auntie Mia. She's been living alone ever since my daughter died two years ago.”
“And I remember the other one as having a large cow pen. I remember when I first saw it, Leila was pulling a donkey with a hay cart. I guessed that must be the house.”
“...”
“So... I didn’t tail Leila or find out your house for some reason. I really hope you don’t misunderstand. I just thought that if I don’t see you again, I’ll feel bad about not being able to give you a single flower.”
“...”
“Oh, I didn’t really mean to say goodbye. I just wanted to say it to you, but I didn’t think I’d get the chance.”
“...What the, really.”
Leila pouted. Her heart kept pounding because of Aaron's long-winded excuses.
“Anyway, I’m so glad you’re back, Leila. Much more than I could have imagined.”
The sadness had cleared away like the sky after a heavy rain. Leila, who was rolling her eyes, suddenly noticed that the strong arm she had hit was turning red, and she rummaged through the basket.
“Yes. He said that whining to a man is useless.”
"Who?"
Leila was about to say, "Penny," but then realized how unreliable and untrustworthy Penny's words were, and she bit her lips tightly. It might not matter to Aaron, who had no idea about Penny's chatter, rumor-mongering, falsehood-mongering, or talent for changing words, but maybe he'll find out someday.
What Leila chose was to grumble and change the subject.
“These are my father’s clothes, so they won’t be too small. Whatever you wear will look better than that piece of shit.”
“...”
“I brought a blanket too. It’s getting cold. But if it really rains, you have to move away from the river. It would be so sad if you got swept away by the current and drowned while sleeping.”
“...”
“Are you listening to me?”
Aaron looked at the clothes and blanket in her hands. His eyes looked very complicated, contrary to her expectations. Leila tilted her head in confusion at the completely unexpected reaction.
"Why?"
“...Thank you.”
“But why is your expression like that?”
"...No, just, no. I guess I should start looking for work soon, too.”
Aaron smiled brightly and put on a clean white shirt that her father had cherished. It was nice, whether the clothes were wings or he was originally a neat person. Maybe it was something in his eyes. In any case, Leila liked him.
Aaron, who had been feeling the clean clothes he was wearing for a while as if they were unfamiliar, asked with sparkling eyes.
“Leila, have you eaten?”
She was always puzzled by the way he would repeat back to her every word she said.
"Yes?"
“Do you like fish?”
A hint of mischievousness flashed across Leila's smiling face. Leila tilted her head.
Leila looked at the three fish that were skewered over the campfire and cooked in every corner. She was speechless. She wondered why he was soaking wet, and they said that he had been hunting for fish all day through the strong current. When she asked why, he said that he always seemed to get what he wanted, so today he was going to throw the fish in front of her house and leave.
She looked at the dark river flowing rapidly, and then at the man smiling gently in front of her. It didn't feel real at all.
Is it because he's a soldier? He has a bit of a slacker temperament. Up until a little while ago, she thought, 'Are you really a soldier? Why are you so slack?' But isn't a woman's heart like a reed?
“It would be more delicious if you steamed it. Next time, I’ll bring a pot, so do you want to steam it together?”
If her father heard this, he would laugh at it and say it was nonsense, like eating a pickaxe.
“No. If you bring them one by one like this and your father catches you, you’ll get in trouble. It’s okay. I’ll catch more later and give you the bigger ones, so take them and share them with your father.”
She thought it would be nice to eat with him. Leila felt a bit awkward for some reason, but soon found herself surprised.
'Dad, I'm sorry. I don't know why I became such a selfish daughter. But I still love you.'
Aaron, who handed her the skewers, smiled delicately.
“It’s hot. Eat carefully.”
“It's hot...”
She ate well. Very well.
“I can’t eat it.”
She looked back at her father in surprise. Her father was glaring as if to say, “Are you a thief?” He even shouted, “Collie, go and bite him!” Of course, since Collie is not a dog that bites people, Leila wasn’t worried at all. Her father’s pace quickened, so Leila followed suit.
“Dad, dad, dad, wait a minute, ah...”
“Isn’t this our family’s basket?”
Leila blinked and looked at the basket in front of the house. It was the basket she had left behind when she had brought food to Aaron. But.
“What kind of trick is this?”
Her father said, glaring at the basket with sour eyes.
The basket was filled with the autumn of Casnier. The wild grass of this season, the autumn flowers that came to life after the rain, and the red cosmos were the most striking. Leila's heart started pounding. She turned her head, but she couldn't see Aaron. Her throat was sore.
“What the heck is this!”
“Cosmos? And wild flowers?”
“I wonder if this father doesn’t know that! This pitiful thing!”
“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
Leila picked a fresh flower from the basket and put it in her father's ear. She was so happy that she almost cried, but then her father hit her hard and said, "Who are you kidding me?" and she was able to cry proudly.
“What the hell are you doing out there? You’re not dating, are you! I’ll tell you what happened! Get a club...!”
Her father stared at the basket that had become a flower basket with a displeased look for a long time, then stomped into the house.
Leila crouched in front of the door for a long time, looking at the basket that had become a flower basket. Collie waggled his tail around, so she pushed his face away and said, 'Go away.' Fearing that the scent might disappear, Leila ended up burying her face in the basket and smelling the flowers.
Fall in Casnier is always beautiful, but this fall was especially beautiful.
***
The next morning, she felt refreshed. Leila had been decorating a vase with cosmos and wild grass all day long since early morning. Her father, who had been glaring at her as if she were crazy, actually scolded her, saying, "It's too red," and "It's not green enough!" and made Leila laugh out loud.
The day's work was over, and the sun was setting. Leila packed freshly baked bread and warm potato soup made from dried meat and ground potatoes that her father had secretly saved. For daily necessities, she sneaked two blankets and a shirt she had taken from her father's closet. Her father shouted at her with his eagle eyes, "Where are you going to run away with that piece of garbage?" But he didn't shout anymore at Leila's cheerful greeting, who smiled brightly.
“I’m going to meet a friend!”
“Again, again! That calf thing!”
After running for a while with a pounding heart, she stopped near where Aaron's treasure trove was. She carefully checked if her skirt was dirty or if there was anything on her face, and then she walked forward with an elegant step.
Aaron was sitting near the river. He didn't move at all until she approached him, as if he were lost in thought. He had his hair pulled back, which seemed wet, and for some reason, he was naked with his top off. Suddenly, her face felt hot. There was a dripping garment hanging near the campfire.
Plop, plop, plop. The sound of water droplets flying was heard.
There was a pile of flat rocks next to Aaron. He didn't notice Leila until she was about twenty steps away. 'If he was really a soldier, why did he fall like this?' he thought to himself.
“How on earth did you know where my house was? What would you do if my father found out and came looking for you like that? My father is a very scary person.”
Aaron, who had been staring blankly at the dark river water, was so deep in thought that he suddenly got up in surprise.
“...Leila?”
“Why are you acting like you saw a ghost?”
It wasn't a joke, it really was. Aaron was looking at her with a strange face, as if he had seen a ghost. His somewhat blank expression was slightly distorted. Soon, he was frowning as if he was going to cry. Really, no, really, he was frowning as if he was going to cry, which surprised Leila.
“Ah... I’m surprised.”
“I’m more surprised. What happened? Did you starve while I was away? You're cold. You're catching a cold, but you have to wear clothes...”
Aaron denied it with a low laugh.
“That’s not it...”
There was no sign of her welcoming her. Leila felt a little disappointed. Aaron, who read her sullen expression, quickly denied it.
“No, that’s not it... I was just thinking that you might not come anymore. That’s why.”
Leila could tell he was being sincere.
“Then what were those flowers? Were they a farewell gift?”
“No, since I received something from you, I think it would be polite to return the favor.”
Leila dropped the basket she was holding with a thud and slapped Aaron's naked arm. Clap! Clap!
“So what you’re saying now is like a farewell gift!”
“Oh, it hurts. No, that’s not it. No, that’s not it.”
“I will bring something to eat to the person who gave me a flower basket as a farewell gift.”
Leila, who had slapped his bare arms until they turned red, turned her head away. Aaron smiled awkwardly and grabbed her wrist, but then let go of it on his own.
“It’s better to just get hit. Hit me. Do whatever you want.”
He smiles and extends his other arm.
'Dumb.'
Leila looked at his reddened arm and belatedly felt a little sorry, softening her voice.
“Yes. But how did you know about my house? I almost got caught by my dad.”
“I hope you don’t misunderstand. Before I left the city last time and settled down here, I took a walk around the area. I even took a lap around the other town... If I remember correctly, there are only three houses in the direction Leila heads every day... I think one of them is an old couple in an orchard. In the other house, there seems to be an old woman who lives alone and plows the field.”
“This is Auntie Mia. She's been living alone ever since my daughter died two years ago.”
“And I remember the other one as having a large cow pen. I remember when I first saw it, Leila was pulling a donkey with a hay cart. I guessed that must be the house.”
“...”
“So... I didn’t tail Leila or find out your house for some reason. I really hope you don’t misunderstand. I just thought that if I don’t see you again, I’ll feel bad about not being able to give you a single flower.”
“...”
“Oh, I didn’t really mean to say goodbye. I just wanted to say it to you, but I didn’t think I’d get the chance.”
“...What the, really.”
Leila pouted. Her heart kept pounding because of Aaron's long-winded excuses.
“Anyway, I’m so glad you’re back, Leila. Much more than I could have imagined.”
The sadness had cleared away like the sky after a heavy rain. Leila, who was rolling her eyes, suddenly noticed that the strong arm she had hit was turning red, and she rummaged through the basket.
“Yes. He said that whining to a man is useless.”
"Who?"
Leila was about to say, "Penny," but then realized how unreliable and untrustworthy Penny's words were, and she bit her lips tightly. It might not matter to Aaron, who had no idea about Penny's chatter, rumor-mongering, falsehood-mongering, or talent for changing words, but maybe he'll find out someday.
What Leila chose was to grumble and change the subject.
“These are my father’s clothes, so they won’t be too small. Whatever you wear will look better than that piece of shit.”
“...”
“I brought a blanket too. It’s getting cold. But if it really rains, you have to move away from the river. It would be so sad if you got swept away by the current and drowned while sleeping.”
“...”
“Are you listening to me?”
Aaron looked at the clothes and blanket in her hands. His eyes looked very complicated, contrary to her expectations. Leila tilted her head in confusion at the completely unexpected reaction.
"Why?"
“...Thank you.”
“But why is your expression like that?”
"...No, just, no. I guess I should start looking for work soon, too.”
Aaron smiled brightly and put on a clean white shirt that her father had cherished. It was nice, whether the clothes were wings or he was originally a neat person. Maybe it was something in his eyes. In any case, Leila liked him.
Aaron, who had been feeling the clean clothes he was wearing for a while as if they were unfamiliar, asked with sparkling eyes.
“Leila, have you eaten?”
She was always puzzled by the way he would repeat back to her every word she said.
"Yes?"
“Do you like fish?”
A hint of mischievousness flashed across Leila's smiling face. Leila tilted her head.
***
Leila looked at the three fish that were skewered over the campfire and cooked in every corner. She was speechless. She wondered why he was soaking wet, and they said that he had been hunting for fish all day through the strong current. When she asked why, he said that he always seemed to get what he wanted, so today he was going to throw the fish in front of her house and leave.
She looked at the dark river flowing rapidly, and then at the man smiling gently in front of her. It didn't feel real at all.
Is it because he's a soldier? He has a bit of a slacker temperament. Up until a little while ago, she thought, 'Are you really a soldier? Why are you so slack?' But isn't a woman's heart like a reed?
“It would be more delicious if you steamed it. Next time, I’ll bring a pot, so do you want to steam it together?”
If her father heard this, he would laugh at it and say it was nonsense, like eating a pickaxe.
“No. If you bring them one by one like this and your father catches you, you’ll get in trouble. It’s okay. I’ll catch more later and give you the bigger ones, so take them and share them with your father.”
She thought it would be nice to eat with him. Leila felt a bit awkward for some reason, but soon found herself surprised.
'Dad, I'm sorry. I don't know why I became such a selfish daughter. But I still love you.'
Aaron, who handed her the skewers, smiled delicately.
“It’s hot. Eat carefully.”
“It's hot...”
She ate well. Very well.
“I can’t eat it.”
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