Gary was deeply drunk—so drunk he can't even speak nor walk properly. The two of them carried him to his bedroom and carefully laid him on the bed.
Once he was settled. Jessica thanked them for their trouble and both walked outside quietly.
Daniel had witnessed it all.
Jessica's mind churned with tension, embarrassment and awkwardness. Her husband had returned after so many days, just to show his new pathetic drunk version of himself.
"Agh… Daniel," she said, avoiding his eyes. "Let's go and eat."
He nodded. "Yes, Aunt. Let's go."
They entered the kitchen in heavy silence. Daniel sat at the dining table, calmly observing her mood.
She pulled out two wooden plates from the dresser and cleaned it thoroughly, her thoughts elsewhere, her face sorrowfull.
"Aunt, is uncle always drunk like this?" he asked softly.
Jessica's expression slowly shifted from numb to a forced smile.
"No, Daniel. It's just… recently he picked up this habit," she replied, setting a plate on the table before him.
'God… I feel so embarrassed right now. I thought he will come tomorrow but… …' she sighed low in quiet frustration.
Jessica filled the plate halfway with white rice, adding a bowl of fish stew and spoonful amount of chideng—a spicy chilli chutney mixed with roasted chillies, garlic and shallots.
"Aunt, is that why you come to the village alone?" he asked with a neutral expression.
*nom*
"Yes, Daniel," she murmured, gazing down at her plate.
'Fuck, I can't see her sadness like this… she must be embarrassed inside, because of her husband's drunk state. I have to do something to make her happy.'
"Ahm, Aunt, I'll be honest. This is genuinely the best fish stew I've ever tasted in my mouth. No, seriously… it's just fall apart. Look—
*nom*
Mnh… I don't even have words left to describe how flawless your stew is, it's so… tasty, Aunt."
Jessica lifted her eyes. A soft smile bloomed across her face. Her expression brightened slightly, just enough to be noticed.
"And… did you know my father was a great singer when he was a teenager like me."
She shook his head. "No, your mom never mentioned that…"
Daniel made up a tale about his father. Although he over exaggerated it, here and there. Jessica smiled and let out a soft, genuine laugh.
…
"And in the end, he got a chance on the stage but people pelted him with tomatoes. Though at least didn't have to buy any tomatoes for a week. Hehe…" he said enthusiastically.
"Hahaha… that's so… hilarious ," she laughed freely.
"Aunt, it's a secret okay… I mean our secret. Keep it between us, or else my father will kick me out of the house"
*nom*
"O-okay… I wont tell anyone, not even your mom. Hehe."
*nom*
Jessica's mood brightened warmly, and she was smiling again. As Daniel finished his plate, she pointed her index finger toward a door in the far right corner.
"Go out that way, it opens straight to the backyard."
He opened it and stepped into the night air.
..
Hours later in his room, Daniel sat cross-legged on the floor, his back leaned forward, eyes concentrated, tongue poking from the corner of his mouth.
*shhh-crrrk-crrkk*
"And done… phew," he whispered under his breath.
Daniel had crafted two palm-sized dolls from hay and stuffed the remaining scraps into his satchel.
'Hehe… let's make my lonely Aunt's doll,' he whispered with a wicked grin spreading across his face.
He stepped outside the house, stealthy like a ninja. The living room was dark but the ray of the moonlight streamed inside—Barely enough for him to navigate without a lamp.
Outside, in the backyard, he drew the ritual diagram in the sand and placed the doll at its center.
He smirked. "Veiliquandè mikora jim bos ariqueisà"
Slowly the sand surged and covered the doll in a small miniature mound. Black smoke seeped out from inside, gradually turning grey, then white.
After a minute, the sand sculpted an arm, propping the doll upright. Ready to be claimed.
As his finger touched the doll, the sand arm collapsed, and covered all the traces, leaving Daniel with the doll.
*Sniff~*
"Ahh… she smells like depression."
*SNIFF~~ SNIFF~~*
"Ah, fuck… it's already making my lil-bro horny as hell. Calmdown you fucking pussy slayer." he murmured, looking down with eager heat.
Then, he calmly walked into his room, slid his doll under his satchel, and lay down.
"Good night, Aunt," he said, grinning wickedly.
…
Late morning.
Daniel woke up feeling energetic and flung open the window, letting the fresh morning air and sunlight fill the room. He stretched and twisted his body before heading downstairs.
He walked straight to the kitchen and saw Jessica humming as she prepared breakfast.
"Good morning, Aunt," he said with a smile.
Jessica turned, beaming. "Oh… good morning, Daniel…"
"Aunt, can you tell me what time is it, right now?"
"Umm… I checked a few minutes ago… it should be straight eleven by now…" she said, stirring the pan with a wooden spatula.
Daniel's eyes widened in panic. "Oh no… I'm actually late for trials!."
"But what about the breakfast?" she asked.
"I'll come and eat after the trial," Daniel said, walking toward the well, splashing his face with cold water.
Meanwhile, Jessica brought a glass of warm milk and handed it to him. "Daniel, at least drink this before you go."
She was taking care of him as if he were her own son.
Daniel took the glass. "Thanks, Aunt."
*Glug-Glug*
After gulping it down he handed her the glass and hurried back to his room. His finger brushed her palm and her face flushed softly, eyes widening in heat.
'Huh? Why did I get sexually aroused for a moment? Agh… What is wrong with me?'
Jessica pressed her lips together, trying to swallow the confusing heat that had bloomed so suddenly in her lower belly.
Daniel hurried into his room and snatched his satchel and slung it over his shoulder and stepped out.
"Bye… Aunt. I'll be back pretty soon," he said before jogging toward the town center.
She smiled and waved back to him. "Bye, Daniel. Do your best…"
Meanwhile, Gary emerged from the room and spotted Jessica standing at the door.
"To whom you saying goodbye, my sweet potato?"