And I was right. A man and a woman, who appeared to be partners, exchanged knowing glances and nodded in my direction. They pointed their hands towards the path I was supposed to take and simultaneously directed me with their words.
Appreciatively nodding and thanking them, I set off in the direction they had indicated, making sure to trek carefully along the path to avoid getting lost.
Walking along the path, I caught glimpses of scattered wooden huts nestled near the crop fields. The sight of these dwellings, surrounded by nature’s yield, added a certain charm to the view. Occasionally, I also caught glimpses of several slender and incredibly protruding asses, which were either exposed or covered and each with its own unique shape and form, providing a visual treat.
Continuing forward, I finally reached the location where I spotted some familiar faces. They were diligently cutting down towering stalks of leaves. As I stepped into their line of sight, I noticed their eyes widening with surprise at the sight of me. Word quickly spread, and soon, everyone seemed to be aware of my presence, causing a hushed buzz of whispers and gossip to fill the air.
However, their conversations pricked my ears, even if their words remained elusive to me. .
Once I effortlessly crossed the small field fence by swinging my leg over it, I scanned the area, my eyes seeking out a familiar figure diligently engaged in cutting down a stalk.
Even before she turned around to face me, I knew it was her -the one I had been longing to see. As she finally turned around, a look of confusion and annoyance etched across her face, she voiced her concern, “What’s wrong? Why is everyone not working?”
Observing her furrowed brows and scowl, her gaze sweeping past the crowd, I held my breath, waiting for her eyes to find mine. And when they did, a blend of fear and surprise flickered in her widened eyes.
Time seemed to freeze momentarily as her attention became solely fixated on me. With a quivering voice, she uttered my name, “Orion…” Her body trembled in sync with her quivering voice, causing the cutlass in her hand to slip from her grasp and clatter to the ground.
Teardrops began to pour down her cheeks, and she instinctively used her right arm and elbow to hastily wipe them away. “Orion… is that you?” she whispered, her words laced with a raw vulnerability that seemed to get caught in her throat.
At that moment, as I contemplated how to make amends, my steps towards her came to an abrupt halt. Surprisingly, before I could even utter a word, she dashed towards me, her arms flung wide open, crashing into my chest. I felt the warmth of her tears on my skin as she whispered, “I thought that you didn’t need my presence anymore, that you had forgotten about me… sniff?”
Gently, I raised my hands to embrace her, providing a soothing haven for her fragile heart. In a soft voice, I spoke into her ear, my words laced with sincerity, “I didn’t forget you…” Pausing for a moment, I glanced around at the growing crowd, their whispers growing louder, providing only snippets of their conversation. “… If I had forgotten, would I be here now?” I cleared my throat, redirecting our attention. “….. Ahem! Now, let’s find a more private place to talk.”
While I was aware that privacy was a rare commodity in this world, there were certain moments when I couldn’t bear to carry out important matters in the public eye.
When I expressed my desire for a more secluded space, she shook her head, her voice trembling, “No, you wouldn’t… sniff… But if I leave you, I’m afraid you might disappear again?”.
Her words resonated deeply within me, speaking volumes about how much she had yearned for my presence. And, without a doubt, I too had missed her dearly. “No, I’m not going anywhere,” I reassured her, gently stroking her back and running my fingers through her silky, flowing hair. “In fact, I’ve come here to take you somewhere.”
Those words were more than enough to evoke a reaction from her. She looked up at me with teary eyes and asked, “To where?” Her curiosity was evident, swimming within the depths of her gaze.
I lowered my head once more and whispered into her ears, “My family is currently at the farm. I want you to come and meet them.” After all, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce Sura to my mother and the rest of my family, especially since they hadn’t yet moved to their new residence.
And also, considering everything that had happened up until now, my initial plan of taking them out of the farm due to the incident at the pit seemed like a stupid idea to execute at the moment. Because, firstly, my strength and influence were currently lacking, making such a move risky. Secondly, the village was the safest place right now, and for a group of pregnant women needing proper attention for their deliveries, the farm was the best option.
But, there was still one solution to all these problems -ensuring the completion of the new settlements. This project held the key to creating a safer and more secure living space, but the only downside was that it would take several years to accomplish.
So, for now, my only course of action is to keep a close watch over them while they’re at the farm until they are ready to deliver. Even though the Village Chief seems trustworthy and committed to his plans, all I can do is hope that nothing goes awry until that time.
Meanwhile, upon hearing my words, Sura’s eyes widened in surprise, and she stared at me in disbelief. “Your family…,” she stammered, raising her right hand and pointing a finger at herself, “…are here to meet me?” Her astonishment was evident as she tried to process the unexpected news.
With a broad, toothy smile, I calmly replied, “No, they are here for something different. However, since they are currently here, I wanted to use this opportunity to introduce you to them.”