"Yes, give me my money back. Wait, huh?"
I turned my head, only to see the boy that stole my money face planted onto the ground. Puzzled, I reflexively sat back up.
The boy's back was arched, his butt was raised and his underwear slightly showed.
"Apologize!"
The voice repeated. I looked up only to see an old man with a wooden cane as a support. He had a long, surprisingly well-kept majestic white beard, his back was hunched. Although old, his eyes were like that of a tiger.
"S-sorry Mister..."
"Give him back his money!"
The boy lifted up his clenched hands up to my face before opening it. Sure enough, within his palms was the exact amount I was missing.
"T-thanks" I replied with a forced grin and a shaky chuckle.
"I'm sorry young man, I didn't teach him to do these kinds of stuff. He willingly stole from a man who's struggling no more than us."
"It's fine really. Are you by chance his grandfather?"
"Adoptive. Adoptive grandfather."
The boy lifted up his face slightly before muttering
"We... Need money—"
The old man hit the boy's head, with his cane causing him to grunt.
"When we get back, stand outside with one leg before eating dinner."
That's a way to discipline your adoptive grandchild. Then again, my dad did something similar to me when I did wrong.
"Young man, would you care to join us for dinner? Think of it as an apology for what my grandson did."
The old man's smile was genuine, it held no other reason besides good intention behind it.
*GRRRRRRRRRRR*
"Your stomach speaks for itself. We're having curry tonight."
Suddenly the old man's eyes widened.
"My, my is that your favorite?"
Without me realizing it my drool had poured down like a waterfall. I don't know what was more surprising, the fact that they have curry here or the fact that I have so much saliva.
I shook my head to snap out of my trance-like state.
"Yes."
***
The room was dimly lit by a gas lamp placed right in the middle of the table. The dining room itself was quite spacious, the wall was painted in sage green which symbolizes wealth in this world. Though now the paint seemed to have slightly faded. The table was long, with a table cloth placed neatly in front of each of the six seats.
In front of me was a full bowl of rice alongside a bowl of curry. The fragrant smell of rice and curry only gave all me the more reasons to find a way to stay in this world. I won't have to deal with my problems back on earth.
I scoffed down a spoonful of rice into my mouth. My lips curved in response. It tasted exactly like the rice back on earth.
The kids on their seats looked at me with the kind face you'd make when a stranger's eating dinner on your dining table. Can't blame them really.
"Kiran Renata."
The old man's piercing gaze was focused on the young thief.
Kiran took a short glance back before shoving food into his mouth.
"I hope you've learnt your lesson."
Kiran pouted at his adoptive grandfather's words before giving a nod.
"Mister..."
A small yet, pudgy emerald eyed girl called out to me, she looked no older than five and wore a modest, rosy brown dress.
"You should slow down..."
Without realizing it my bowl of rice was almost empty. I don't know why but I was shoving rice in my mouth like I hadn't eaten them in forever.
"He's a hungry young man. Keep eating, we still have more."
The grandpa added while food was still in his mouth. Can't say no to an offer like that can I?
I reached towards the big bowl of hot rice to scoop some into my own empty bowl.
A lean boy with rusty glasses nudged Kiran with his elbow.
"This is the guy you robbed Kiran?"
Kiran didn't reply, he probably found the whole atmosphere awkward.
The rusty spec boy asked a multitude of questions to Kiran. But one stood out, it wasn't directed towards Kiran the cunning young thief—no, rather, it was a question for me.
"Where do you live mister?"
The emerald eyed girl asked with wide eyes. How could I possibly ignore this little angel?
"Ah..."
I swallowed my food before continuing.
"I live in the forest area, right outside of town."
"That's quite far away..."
She abruptly paused. I noticed her plate is already clean off her food. Either she didn't eat or she just gobbled it all up. Putting that aside, she seemed quite worried.
"By the way, young man what's your name?"
The endless wave of questions directed towards Kiran came to a sudden halt. All eyes were on me—almost as if I was a performer on a grand stage.
"My name... Uhhh"
At that moment, I felt as if I had forgotten something.
"My name is Jean."
"A fitting name for a handsome young lad like you."
"Handsome?"
The man is, afterall quite old so his eyes must have a problem. Jean doesn't look good, I could tell.
"Are you doubting my words young lad? I know a looker when I see one."
He took a short glance towards the still eating Kiran before continuing.
"But even if you look good, if your whole character is terrible then no one would marry you."
I didn't order roasted Kiran but I find it impressive how an old man can still have fire in his words.
I reply with multiple nods in agreement. I genuinely agree with him on a spiritual level, though saying that would be an over exaggeration.
"Can I ask a question next?"
It is only fair that I ask them a question in return for answering theirs.
"Can each of you introduce yourselves?"
"My name is Klaudia Renata!"
The emerald eyed little girl spoke up first, confidence visible in her eyes, paired with a smile as bright as the summer sun.
"My name is, Evans. Pleasured to meet you Jean."
The rusty specs boy followed after, introducing himself in a polite manner—like that of a gentleman on a date.
The old man hesitated for a moment before telling his full name.
"Aldo. Aldo Darian."
My eyes hovered towards Kiran before old man Aldo called him out.
"Kiran..."
"He already knows my name doesn't he?"
"He's asked to introduce ourselves, let's not be rude."
"No, Mister Aldo there's no need. It's fine."
Kiran upon hearing this took his empty bowl and walked out of the dining room, possibly to the sink.
Old man Aldo sighed before speaking.
"If you youngins are done with eating, let me take your bowls."
The dinnerware was picked up one by one by old man Aldo. Seeing him doing so, reminded me of my mother back on Earth. Upon reaching my side of the table, I couldn't help but offer to wash my own dishes alongside the other dinnerware. It was a simple act, really.
***
Old man Aldo offered his place to stay for me. The only problem with that is I would get in trouble for not following the chatbox's order.
A question stirred within me. I couldn't help but ask.
"Where's your system Klaudia?"
"Sister system said she would be back after a while."
Oddly, mine said the same thing. I couldn't exactly remember the details but, I do know the chatboxes official title is a Narrator. The Narrator crew for our town is possibly in a meeting of sorts, hence their long absence.
"Can I see your watch?"
The emerald eyed little girl showed her watch without any hesitation. The watch itself is used to monitor us, the Characters. Each character is assigned with a Narrator so that they may not deviate from their set storyline.
"Crap."
If that's the case then I have already caused this family to deviate from their storyline.
I should've realized it sooner—much sooner. If I am the only person with free will then, whenever I interact with other characters and become so much as a side character in their life, I'd already be causing trouble!
The Narrators would stop at nothing to make sure the set storyline is back to the way it was. I could get killed!
Horror was visible on my face. Hunger has led me to my doom. In search of satisfaction I had ended up in despair!
"You seem... Tired brother Jean."
"A-ah... Brother Jean had a nightmare last night."
Her face brightened, almost as if she had thought of an idea. Besides her bright expression, there also seemed to be a slight presence of worry.
"I-I know what can cheer brother Jean up! Follow me!"
"N-no. You see brother Jean is also very very stressed with—"
"If you don't feel good then you should follow!"
Klaudia tugged on my rags, begging me to follow her.
"If I follow you..."
"Come onn!"
She started to pull on my rags harder. For her age, her strength was admirable.
I want to refuse. I can't be selfish. I simply can't burden others with my own clumsy mistakes.
"Klaudia? What are you doing?"
It was the voice of old man Aldo. I turned to my back and there he was, standing idly with his cane in hand, supporting him up.
"Brother Jean is feeling stresshed..."
"Really? Then brother Jean should follow Klaudia. Maybe that way, brother Jean can no longer feel pressured."
Aldo stroked his long white beard as he said that.
"Listen, I don't want to burden all of you."
I wanted to tell them that I wasn't the owner of this body, tell them that I was the only person with free will. Not to boast, but to have them stay away from me, to not get them in trouble.
"Burden? Hoh, what nonsense. We cannot always do the right thing but whenever we can, we do so."
There was weight in his words. Some say, mere words can move mountains, they were not wrong.
My gaze shifted between the clinging Klaudia and old man Aldo.
"It's fine if you don't want to, young Jean. But do remember, don't leave yourself unattended."
My hand hesitantly reached down to the still clinging Klaudia, patting her small head.
I came to a decision.