“Are you sure?” Grandma Vivian asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “After all, it’s not the first time we’ve made such an agreement.” Even though she was aware of his current task to fulfil his promise to a girl she had just heard about, she still had some doubts.
Orion smiled brightly, fully aware of what she was referring to. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about the first one. Things were a bit rushed and unplanned that day,” he responded. “However, no matter what happens, you can be sure that I will b…” .
“Enough!” Grandma Vivian exclaimed loudly, interrupting Orion’s words. She quickly grabbed Derry’s ears and twisted them, causing her to cry out in pain. With a firm grip, Vivian pulled her friend upright, ignoring the fierce glare she received in return.
In a matter of seconds, Grandma Vivian redirected her attention towards Orion, extending her hand to help him stand once again. She firmly grabbed Orion’s arm and placed it on her shoulder for support. Then, Grandma Vivian shifted her gaze towards Grandma Derry, her eyes filled with disappointment.
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to restrain yourself from doing something foolish, and that’s why I decided to come with you,” Grandma Vivian said, as she narrowed her gaze at Grandma Derry. “We’re not going to take him anywhere. In fact, we’re going to stay right here with him and make sure he doesn’t leave until Greta and the others arrive.”
After Grandma Vivian finished speaking, Grandma Derry stared at her in frustration. She furrowed her brow and locked eyes with Vivian, her voice carrying a hint of coldness. “Vivian, I believe it’s best if you leave,” she said, her tone unusually sharp. “Pretend you didn’t see anything and put the blame on me when they come looking for us. I’m willing to accept the consequences that follow, whether it’s punishment or any agreements that have been made.”
Grandma Vivian’s frown mirrored Grandma Derry’s own, but her voice carried a calm and composed tone that contrasted with Grandma Derry’s agitation. “Derry, I don’t believe you’re thinking clearly right now,” she said, “Consider the consequences if the Village healer, Greta or Celeste were to find out about this, especially with the Village Chieftess present. Even if you manage to avoid punishment due to our close relationship, do you really think it’s worth risking the trust we have built with them?” Shaking her head in defeat, Vivian emphasized the importance of preserving their relationship.
At that moment, Orion was on the verge of stepping in, but Grandma Derry’s sudden outburst caught him off guard. “Oh! I am not thinking clearly….. How did you determine that?” she shouted, her voice filled with irritation. “Vivian, weren’t you the one who cried like a child when you found out you had lost your baby? And didn’t you stop crying only when Orion came to you, proposing and reassuring you that he would penetrate you again and again until you could get pregnant?”
Derry’s anger seeped through her words as she exhaled sharply. “Now, I finally have the opportunity to secure my own assurance, and you question whether I’m thinking clearly…. Well, if you want an answer, then yes, I’m not thinking clearly. And yes, I’m willing to risk my relationship with all of you just for the chance to become pregnant.”
Derry paused, trying to calm herself down, but her emotions continued to overpower her. Without giving Orion or Vivian a chance to respond, she continued, her voice now trembling. “Eighty-seven years…. Vivian, for eighty-seven years, the only time I had kushi was during my awakening ceremony and when I had to use half my wealth to barter with a young man for a chance at pregnancy.”
She wiped away her tears with her left arm. “But it didn’t work…. It didn’t fulfil my longing. And wasn’t that one of the reasons we became friends? Because we knew our chances were slim, which led to those foolish oaths we made….”
Derry took a deep breath, her voice cracking with emotions. “But now Celia is pregnant, Ingrid is pregnant, you were pregnant but lost the baby. I don’t know what’s happening in Meldra’s mind right now, but I won’t let this opportunity slip away. After eighty-seven years….. after meeting a young man who is willing to penetrate me, love me, and help me get pregnant, if being stupid and risking everything is what it takes to have even a glimmer of that, I will embrace it. I will be foolish, and I’m prepared to risk it all.”
·?θm She approached Vivian and Orion, gently removing Orion’s arm from Grandma Vivian’s shoulders and placing it around her own. “I’ll face the consequences of my actions, Vivian. We’ll talk later,” she said, preparing to move forward. But then she paused, turning her attention to Orion, who hadn’t budged. “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to go out or have you changed your mind?” Grandma Derry asked, her smile now weary and trembling, as she locked eyes with the deeply frowning Orion.
After listening to their conversation, Orion released his hands from Grandma Derry’s shoulders and hopped towards the front of the door on one foot. Facing the two confused women, one at a loss for words and the other having said everything she had to say, Orion locked eyes with both of them and made his decision clear.
“Both of you are coming with me to my destination. However, to avoid any suspicion or problems, we will take a detour along the way,” he expressed. The two beautiful aged women stared at him with furrowed brows and a bewildered expression. Orion didn’t waste any more words, knowing he had made up his mind.
He turned around, stretching his arms apart, signalling for the two of them to come forward. He continued, “Having one person assist me to Ursa’s hut would be good, but having two would be even better. Grandma Derry… Grandma Vivian, let’s go. We are already running late.”
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