Chapter 92 – Chapter 3: Pure Hands – 4
Time to make dinner for the villagers.
In front of Aunt Merid’s house, men who had finished work were gathered in groups of twos and threes to rest.
On the contrary, women diligently went in and out of the kitchen.
Since we regularly prepare a meat feast on this day of the week, it was inevitable that a lot of work would have to be done.
Tia helped make the stew.
It involved continuously stirring a jar large enough to fit one person with a long stick.
Bubbly-.
The heat of a strong burning fire.
My cheeks heated up in the subtly warm air.
“…”
Without any rules, watching the bubbles rising from the stew.
Tia waved the stick absentmindedly.
Things that happened during the day kept coming back to me.
I happened to see it… Man Posao masturbating.
She was so shocked at that time, she didn’t know what to do, so she just ran away.
Now that she thought about it, she wondered if it was really necessary.
Uncle Posao must have been very embarrassed to be caught masturbating.
At that time, I was scared and tried to run away, so I must have felt unfair and embarrassed.
Although I skipped it because I was in a hurry.
She felt bad for not being able to apologize right away.
If that’s a good thing…
I guess I have a chance to apologize properly tonight.
‘Then… Oh, can you come back tonight?’
Uncle Posao asked that at the end.
I don’t know the details.
He was just asking me to come once at night, so I said yes.
But I was still curious.
What is the story?
Since I already received the medicinal ingredients, it won’t be a story related to medicinal ingredients.
Why does it have to be night?
Does it have to be said that secretly?
If… A story about the war that will take place in Deseo?
But can such a serious story suddenly come out in an awkward atmosphere?
Bubbly-.
Aunt Olivia passed behind Tia, who was stirring the stew.
“Merid. “What about lean meat?”
“Marvin cut it and put it there.”
“Hmm, you’re here. Oh, my.”
Her aunt noticed something about her and giggled.
“Look at this, Merid. “My husband accidentally put the ‘big one’ in there too.”
“What? Ugh-. “Get it away.”
Haha!”
It became noisy inside the kitchen.
Tia unconsciously turned her head in that direction.
Aunt Olivia was tapping something on her with the end of her skewer.
Among the neatly cut pieces of pork meat, there was a large bulging pouch.
… It was the genital organ of a pig.
Aunt Mary snatched it up and threw it into her garbage bag.
“Really… Ollie, tell Marvin to stop playing pranks like this.”
“Isn’t it just a wrong mix? “I don’t think it’s a joke.”
“It’s definitely a joke. Does it make sense in common sense? “You would mistake something that big for meat?”
“Why, I could be mistaken-.”
Aunt Olivia sautéed the vegetables slyly.
“Because something similar is hanging underneath. Haha-.”
“…”
The kitchen became quiet again.
Aunt Merid cut the meat without saying a word, Tia started stirring the stew again, and Aunt Olivia made the food with only a hum-hum sound.
A subtle air floats around.
In the past, there was Grandma Madrina, Aunt Sherry, and Marie, so it was always harmonious and noisy.
For some reason, there was an edgy atmosphere in the air.
Bubbly-.
I could barely focus on something else.
As soon as I saw the pig’s genitals, that ugly thing came to mind again.
That means something similar is hanging underneath…
Of course, you’re talking about ‘that of a man’, right?
The moment I remember what Uncle Posao’s hand was holding.
Tia’s hand suddenly lost strength.
Pak!
“Oh!”
The hot stew splashed onto Tia’s hand.
Aunt Merid asked.
“Tia? “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s okay.”
“Be careful. And she looked dazed earlier, but she came to her senses.”
“… Yes.”
After hearing her scolding, Tia cupped her stinging hand.
The dinner was completed safely.
She took some food and brought it to Aunt Sherry’s house.
I wanted to see Ritsu, but I couldn’t meet her because she was fast asleep just now.
Night has come.
When the villagers take off their clothes and go to bed. Tia put on her clothes and left her house.
She quietly goes down the hill and naturally enters the secret passage in the bush.
Even the strong winter wind blowing through the valley could not stop Tia.
The light was on in Posao’s general store.
Tia knocked on her door with a slightly nervous expression.
Knock. Knock.
“Come in…”
The man’s voice was small.
At the same time, there was a feeling of being a little depressed, as if she did not welcome Tia.
As soon as she opened the door and entered, Tia’s keen senses took notice immediately.
It’s not the typical smell of boiled mushrooms, but rather a pungent smell like you’d smell in a bar.
Sure enough.
Posao had a bottle of alcohol stretched out on the table and was drinking.
Tia was surprised to see her for the first time.
“… Mister? “Have you been drinking?”
“Yes…”
Posao’s shoulders slumped down.
Something, something must have happened.
Tia carefully approached the table and looked at Posao’s face.
It was a sad face.
“What’s going on?”
“Well, that…” …”
The man lowered his head sullenly.
“Good cow, I was going to tell you some news… It didn’t work out…”
“Tell me properly.”
“T, after hearing Tia’s words, I gained courage… Yes, I confessed. To the girl you like…”
It is said that she went down to the village below and confessed to the woman she was in love with, but what came back was an insult that she could not even put into words. And it is said that she was beaten by the surrounding men.
“Well, as expected… I am… No. Don’t be old, you’re old… Because I’m not good at it…”
“Mister…”
“I am, ah, a useless piece of trash…” . Okay, I’m going to live alone for the rest of my life…”
“Mister!”
Tia held Posao’s shoulders firmly and spoke firmly.
“I told you so! “You’re a decent enough person!”
“But… T-Tia doesn’t know…”
“I know.”
“No…”
Normally, if you pressed me this harshly, I would have come to my senses and bowed down to apologize.
Perhaps because the shock was too great, Posao still spoke with a sad voice.
“I’ve been alone all my life… T, for Tia… “There is a Ritz, right?”
“… !”
“I was wrong.”
“…”
Posao took a gulp from his glass and spoke softly.
“Tia.”
“Yes?”
“T-Why is Tia… Continue… My, I can meet a girl… Are you saying it exists?”
Tia closed her mouth.
I didn’t have the confidence to say that I could fully understand Uncle Posao’s lonely life.
The assessment that he was a ‘good enough person’ was ultimately my own standard.
In the eyes of other women, it may not be the case at all.
Asking me to keep trying is… Wasn’t it an act of giving Uncle Posao vain hope and pushing him into a painful place?
I answered as if making excuses.
“Because I believe you can do it.”
“I’m serious… ?”
“Yes! It’s true!”
Posao laughed weakly.
“If only all women in the world were as kind and kind as Tia… I could have more courage and show it off.”
“So, gather your strength again…”
“Stop it now. I’m tired…”
As if he didn’t want to hear any more words of encouragement, Posao let out a deep sigh.
“Meeting a woman is… “Oh, I’m scared.”
“…”
Tia closed her eyes.
I didn’t mean it like that.
Really, she was rooting for Uncle Po Sao because she wanted him to do well…
What you said is right.
Me, who always had Ritsu by my side, telling a man who was a loner his whole life to find her partner… Because it’s rude to say something without knowing the situation.
Still.
I wanted to somehow help her depressed man.
“… Mister. Are you afraid of women?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m not a woman? “We are talking face to face like this.”
“T-Tia… “It’s a little different.”
“How is it different? Are you so young that you don’t look like a girl?”
“No…”
Posao said hesitantly.
“Tia is too much for me.”
“… Yes?”
“What can I say… How dare I… I got this thought. It’s okay.”
“What is that…”
Tia’s ears turned bright red.
The girl shook her head and stammered.
“Well, I’m not that bad!”
“That’s right.”
“Anyway! That’s not the story… Eight-!”
Whisper.
Suddenly, Tia hugged Posao tightly.
It was a very small hug compared to his pig-like body.
It was enough to warmly embrace a wounded hermit hiding in the depths.
Tia closed her eyes and whispered softly.
“You are not a loner.”
“Tia?”
“I am there.”
“…”
If I have Ritz, you just need me.
“Thank you.”
Fortunately, it seemed like some kind consolation was delivered.
I felt the man also hugging me with strength.
They pressed their bodies against each other like that.
“… !”
At that time.
Tia opened her eyes.
It was because something touched her belly button.
At first, she thought it was her uncle’s protruding belly, but the more she touched it, the more it felt like something like a stick.
She turned her eyes to the side without saying a word.
Mister… You have an erection.
Although it was a little uncomfortable, Tia closed her eyes again.
I was also sorry about what happened last time. I hugged her to comfort her, but she pulled away…
She finished the deep hug and pulled her body away.
Posao hesitated and bowed.
“Yes, I’m sorry for calling you out late at night.”
“No. I’m glad I found it helpful.”
“Yes… Well, then let’s go now… ?”
“Yes.”
Tia walked towards the door.
Posao also came along to see us off.
Whiiiiing-!
I could hear the harsh winter wind blowing outside.
To open her door, Tia placed her hand and said her goodbye.
“I’ll go.”
“Yes…”
Greetings are over.
Now, just apply some force and push the door.
“…”
Tia’s hand remained as if frozen.
Stay like that for a while.
She turned around again and looked up at Posao.
She had a vague feeling…
The man still felt despondent.
“Why, what’s wrong, Tia?”
“…”
Tia asked softly, placing her hand on the door.
“Mister.”
“Huh?”
“That during the day… “You haven’t done it since?”
“Ah…”
Posao was embarrassed and scratched his head.
“I guess… Joe, I was a little concerned… “I couldn’t do it.”
“Then…”
Her fingers curled up, clenching her small fist.
“… What should I do?”
There was no answer.
The only sounds are the two people’s breathing and the cry of the winter wind blowing through the crack in the door.
Sigh.
Posao’s large hand passed over Tia’s shoulder.
And then I gently grabbed the white hand resting on the door.
“Oh, you don’t have to do anything.”
“…”
“But, if you help me… “I won’t stop you either.”
Posao asked.
“Gwae, are you okay?”
My heart is pounding.
My heart beats like it’s broken.
I felt that echo lingering in my ears.
Only after a long time.
Tia nodded with a small nod.
“Ta, follow me…” .”
As if being led.
The innocent hand of the girl caught by Posao falls off the door.
Dalgak.
The bars of the general store are coming down.
The fire in her furnace went out, signaling that she was done with business.
In a general store on a dark night that I have never been to before.
As Tia held Po Sao’s hand, she looked up to the second floor.
Her chest tightened with tension.
‘Help’.
I don’t know exactly what that means.
She seemed to vaguely know Hagen.
… Still.
If this can be of comfort to you.
If I could repay you for the kindness you have shown me so far.
“…”
Sabak.
Tia followed Posao up the stairs.
