Chapter 21: Love

What happened next can already be imagined.

Juan would do the work and pick up the meat by piercing it with a stick, which he would then send to Ceth's opened mouth for her to eat.

"??", Ceth eyes widened for a bit, clearly surprised.

Then, paired with bread, he ripped it into small pieces. Ceth started the life of a madonna without her asking for it.

"Only for today."

Juan muttered in front of Ceth, who looked clearly happy yet still had that silent expression.

Juan sighs in his heart. There are many things he really wants to ask right now, but in the end, he can only suppress them for now.

He wasn't in the right place after all. A while later, the soup came out of the kitchen. Juan received his own soup with a piece of mutton meat on it.

It's kind of hot, so there's a need to cool it off to prevent being burned.

Of course, he can't just wait for it since he has been drooling for some soup to nourish his tongue and stomach.

After blowing around the edges, he drank some bit by bit.

"Oh, oh, hot hot....mm...delicious."

He couldn't help but utter a praise. It was hot, but it's within tolerance. There's no salt, but it's moistened his mouth.

The warmness spread out all over him the moment it entered his stomach, making him feel reinvigorated and awake.

"Here, have some. It's not that hot anymore."

Juan passed the soup into Ceth's hand and let her drink it herself.

Ceth nodded softly before lifting the soup near her lips and drinking some soup gently.

"Mmm."

Juan nodded, hearing her response. Soon, Ceth passed back the soup, which Juan drank more of before he passed it back to her.

He didn't know what he was doing, actually. But he had an idea why, and it must be his hormones taking control over his body.

There's no way a sane old soul like him would still be willing to play this kind of game.

Then it must be coming from his youth, which is prone to all kinds of reckless behavior. The mind can't control the body urges, after all.

Men around would sometimes nod while looking at them from time to time. Yet no one said anything or called them out.

They seem to be afraid of destroying the atmosphere around the two of them. Are they secretly supporting him maybe?

...

"Is the village chief back?"

Juan asked with his two hands, supporting him from behind.

"Not yet."

Ceth answered softly by the side, her face looking up above the vast sea of stars.

"I see."

Since the village chief hasn't returned yet, Juan started to worry somewhat.

"It's okay; it's normal for this to happen from time to time."

Ceth seemed to hear the worry in his words this time and said something to assure him.

This made Juan somewhat interested.

"From time to time?"

He asked for confirmation.

Ceth nodded, and then she said.

"Father would sometimes gather the hunters to patrol the village outskirts and the forest edges. It usually starts anytime and ends during the deep of the night."

If that's really the case, then Garu and his hunters must have been doing this whole thing for a long time.

Monster's might not even be a rare encounter for them at all. But more like prey, they usually hunt, which is less common than animals in the forest.

"I got it."

However, those monsters. Are they that easy to hurt? What will Garu and the other hunters do if they meet one?

He will find that out soon. But for now, he had to keep things calm and peaceful.

So after resting for a while, Juan stood up, took his bowl, and wanted to return home and take a rest for today.

"Going home?"

Ceth asked, noticing this.

Juan nodded.

"Yes.".

"Then come with me; my father asked me before this afternoon to give you something."

Ceth stood up and then led Juan back to her home.

"To give me something? Could it be some bedsheets and pillows?"

This was the only thing Juan could think of.

"Yes," Ceth affirmed.

Soon they arrived back at Garu's house.

The two entered and were greeted by Ceth's mother, who was knitting some yarn while waiting for Garu to return.

"Juan, have you eaten yet?"

"I already had, madam."

"Hm. That's good. How about you Ceth?"

"Done."

A while later, while the two were chatting, Ceth returned with a bedsheet, a quilt, and a pillow. It was quite heavy just by looking at it.

That's why Juan immediately moved forward and receive it from Ceth's hand.

"It's quite heavy," Juan muttered calmly while giving Ceth a glance.

She didn't even call me. Juan thought inwardly.

"Madam, please tell Sir Garu I'm very grateful for this help. Madam too, and also to Ceth."

Juan bowed, thankfully.

"Don't worry about it, Juan. It's just a small help from us. Actually, we also apologize for remembering this just now. You must have suffered this past few night."

The conversation continued for five minutes or so. Juan won't know how to end it without disrespecting the madam, were it not for Ceth pulling him out of the house in time.

"Thanks Ceth."

A thanks is enough. Explaining what the thanks were for isn't good since she's the madam's daughter.

It won't be good if the news gets out that he dislikes having conversations with madam.

"I think I should go now. Good night."

Having already gotten the things he needs, there's no need to waste more time here anymore.

"Mm."

Hearing her response, Juan nodded at her with a faint smile before leaving. It was quiet dark and a bit chilly since it's currently night.

Torches can be seen from time to time, which made him relax while walking on the path back to his house. Or it should be.

"Ceth?"

"Mm?"

Juan turned around helplessly. This lady was following him even back to his home without saying anything.

"I'm going back, you know. I'm going to rest early and sleep immediately."

"Mm."

"I won't be coming back to the plaza."

"Mm."

If not for his eyes and hearing telling him this is real, Juan would have really thought he was being followed by some kind of ghostly being disguised as Ceth.

He did not say anymore but just gave her a glance from time to time, seemingly wanting to see what she's up to.

Then it reached to the point when he arrived next to his house. He opened the door and stepped in.

Although it's dark, it's not a problem since there's not much furniture inside.

It's been days after all, and if he can't still familiarize himself with the place he had been staying and sleeping all this time, then he might be into the wrong house.

After placing the bedding, blanket, and pillow on the bed in his memory, Juan turned around, wanting to see if Ceth was still around.

"Alright, Ceth, thank you for walking me back home."

Suddenly, the door closed with a 'Bam'.

Before he could fully understand what happened, a figure had already arrived before him with open arms.

Without waiting for him to react, Ceth fell into his arms.

Juan was stunned, for Ceth to suddenly dove straight, embracing him without saying anything.

This might just be a possibility—something that he thought wouldn't happen along the way.

But for this to happen, no matter how stupid he was, Juan was still a man, and he understands the implications of what Ceth did entails.

"...Ceth?"

Juan tried to call her name out of caution and nervousness. This sudden attack had really caught him off guard.

Even if he understands what this means, he lacks the confidence and courage to give an answer.

That's why he needs a real answer. From her mouth, through her voice. Let him feel what she truly feels.

"Embrace me."

These words sounded just right beside his ears. They carried the heat and softness of the gentle ambiguity of a lady's breath.

Juan's heart shook as his heart beat like a drum. It started getting louder and louder which each passing seconds.

From her arms that wrapped around his back. To her breast that pressed on top of him.

It was her legs and feet that started pushing him back bit by bit to the bed behind him. Then came her soft and hot kiss, meeting his lips.

There's no need to say anything. Juan's mind is already being overtaken by something mixed with both love and lust.

He can't fight it, nor does he want to suppress it. Instead, he let his reason sleep while his passionate youth took over.

Soon the room became lively, yet thankfully the house nearby are empty. The neighbors seems to still be in the village plaza, which could be considered lucky.

There came shouts and cries that were mixed with both pain and pleasure.

"....aahhn!" It was Ceth's soft cry.

In the room where two figures entwined each other, the air had already been mixed with sweat, ambiguity, and a strange scent any adult man would underground.

At this moment, the two figures only has one another in both their body and heart.

"...ahhnn~."