Chapter 80: The Gathering (I)

When a person is bored, they unconsciously loosen the reins that bind their thoughts, letting them roam wildly.

For Lucy, she enjoyed boring moments accompanied by music pulsing at her ears, casually sketching rough impressions in her mind.

Just now, she was staring at the iron gate, her gaze tracing the trails of rust as she slowly shaped in her mind a delicate silhouette of wild, growing iron vines.

"Ding!"

The elevator slowly descended to the first floor, and the iron gate—along with the nearly formed image—was torn in two.

A mature woman with red hair stepped out of the elevator, glanced at Lucy, and politely greeted her.

"Good evening…"

Lucy snapped back to attention and responded in the same manner.

"Excuse me… did you just see my son?" The woman scratched her head, asking with a hint of embarrassment.

"Son?"

Lucy's eyebrows twitched, and she unconsciously tapped her chin with her fingertip.

"The boy with the punk haircut?"

Lucy carefully recalled everyone she had seen tonight.

Aside from a few food stall vendors, there was only one boy who had just brushed past her.

"Yes, him… David… that kid!" The mature woman slapped her palm with a growl, "All because I nagged him a few times about finding a girlfriend… he just ditched me!"

"Mom! You're sneaking bad talk about me again when I'm not around!"

Hearing a male voice approaching from behind, Lucy instinctively pulled down her hoodie's hood, hiding her face in shadow.

"You've got some conscience left, at least—you didn't run far!" Gloria grabbed David's ear and tugged hard.

"May I go now? I'm in a hurry…" Lucy watched the harmonious exchange between mother and son in silence, hesitated a few seconds, then spoke up.

"Sorry, sorry, little girl…" Gloria quickly pulled David aside to clear the path, smiling awkwardly.

"It's fine…" Lucy pressed her lips together, picked up her still-steaming food, and hurried into the elevator.

Saying she had urgent business at home was just an excuse.

Because she often lived in isolation, Lucy was bad at talking to strangers and always wanted to avoid any avoidable social interaction.

Just like now.

She had no interest in building good neighborly relations—heading home early to devour her food was the best choice.

David watched curiously as the girl with an obscured face took the elevator away, only snapping back to reality when Gloria called his name several times.

"Crush?"

"Mom—!" He dragged out the word, "Would you say that about your own son?"

Since Gloria got promoted and raised, and started actively seeking him out to talk, their mother-son bond had grown much closer.

"Pfft!" Gloria stuck out her tongue playfully; her energy and spirit had lifted, making her seem much younger, "Too bad Heda and her husband are enjoying their alone time—otherwise I'd have invited them too."

"So where are we eating? It's freezing outside…"

"That ramen shop on Japan Street… you used to whine all the time as a kid that when you grew up, you'd eat there once… you've probably forgotten—back then you wore open-crotch pants and stuck to every shop door, drooling endlessly…"

"Mom…" David gently took Gloria's hands, scarred and calloused, and his body trembled slightly.

"Let's go to the restaurant you want… isn't today about celebrating you?" He forced his voice steady, glancing sidelong at the ceiling, fighting back the rising tide of tears.

"I don't really have anywhere specific in mind…" Gloria rubbed her chin, scanning the first-floor food stalls, oblivious to David's choked tone, "Let's just grab something from the stalls—it'll save money…"

"Mom…"

"Alright… let me think…" Gloria tapped her head in frustration, "Now that I finally have free time, I realize how dull I am…"

"What if we buy groceries and cook at Heda's place again, like last time?"

"You're still a kid," Gloria glanced at David's confused expression and cut herself off.

"Should I call her then?"

"Fine, fine… call while we walk…" Gloria sighed helplessly, tugging David's arm toward the nearby 24-hour convenience store.

◎

"Bathing is still the best in winter…" Heda exhaled lazily, as if all her fatigue had drained away.

"Isn't the new bathtub nice?" Yahweh, wearing gloves, gently wiped the delicate skin on her back.

"Another reward? I'm so tired… let's just sleep now…" Heda blushed, earnestly lying.

"We can make it up tomorrow."

"I definitely can't tomorrow…" Heda rubbed her waist, exclaiming dramatically.

"The day after?" Yahweh smiled, lightly kissing her rosy earlobe.

"Gloria called…" Heda rose from the bathtub, letting Yahweh dry the water droplets rolling off her skin with a warm towel.

"Hello?"

"Heda! It's so late—did I interrupt you?"

"No…"

Heda understood the hidden meaning in Gloria's words, blushed, and touched her damp hair before replying.

"Good… I just got promoted and got a raise, so I planned to eat out… but David insisted on cooking at your place… is it convenient?"

"Yes, it's fine, very convenient… congratulations, Gloria."

"David and I are buying groceries now—we'll call again once we're done, bye."

"Bye…" Heda hung up and looked at Yahweh, who had been listening silently.

"Let's clean up the house?" Yahweh said—he was glad to have familiar guests over.

"Okay…" Heda replied softly as she dressed, "Should we invite Lucy too? It's a good chance to introduce her to the Martinez family—we're neighbors on the same floor… and it'll keep her from being bored."

"I have no objections."

"Mm." Xida gazed out the window; the cold wind and rain were mercilessly barred by the glass, leaving only a hazy white mist in furious protest.

A month ago, she had curled up alone, hiding beneath the blankets, enduring the long, endless night.

Now, she had friends who could drop by anytime, and together they stayed up all night in joyful company.

"Xida, what are you thinking about?" Yahweh rubbed her still-damp hair.

The night was dark and heavy; the raging wind and rain filled her vision.

After meeting him, she would never again fear nights without the moon.

"Nothing..." she whispered, reaching out to clasp his hand tightly, never to part again.