Two Tattlers Who Managed To Escape

16. Dinner with Guests

Pov: Yohi

After a fairly relaxed day at the bakery, where I even managed to spread a couple of rumors, I finally headed home. Oliver walked alongside me, having spent another bunch of time somewhere outdoors today, but judging by his rather full bag, he also decided to keep busy and spread a couple of rumors...

— So... what were you gossiping about today? — I asked sarcastically as we entered the Rose family's property.

— Pff... nothing special... just a story about a girl who killed herself because of bullying. The twist is that the bullying started because of another girl who wanted to get close to this suicide victim, pretend to be a hero, and save her from the bullies, but she was too late, ha-ha... — the boy recounted, smirking maliciously.

— You, as I've noticed, are a fan of bloody stories? Whether the ones you told back in our hometown or the ones you're spouting now... We've been living here for 2 months, and it's always about the same... — I noted, slightly concerned about such strange and cruel interests, — You look too cute for such...

— I'm just like this city — the embodiment of the saying 'Still waters run deep'! — he laughed, nudging me with his elbow, — And you, are you any better?

— Well, I have such stories too, but more often they're about intrigues, you know... affairs, secret romances, that kind of thing...

— Oh, what a romantic! — the boy laughed as he opened the door to the house and stepped inside, — Clearly in love! Thinking about one thing only...

— Shut up, fool... — I laughed in return, my cheeks slightly reddening.

We walked down the corridor in silence, unsure what to talk about next. When we opened the dining hall door, wanting to have dinner, I almost lost my balance from surprise. Before me lay a cozily lit hall, where not only my "foster family" but also Maika and her parents were seated around a large table. For a moment, I felt like I had entered some alternate world.

They all looked up at us, and Maika smiled warmly at me, her eyes lighting up with joy. She stood up and, unexpectedly for me, hugged me. My heart started beating faster, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and I pushed her away abruptly, not ready for such contact. Quiet laughter echoed around.

— Sorry, forgot you're not very tactile! — the girl laughed, poking me on the nose.

— E... uh... I... — I stammered, thrown off by the unexpected encounter, — What are you all doing here?

— Just a joint dinner! Or don't you want us to be here?

— Ah, uh... wait, no! I mean... it's not that I care, just didn't expect to see you! — I stammered, embarrassed, only causing more laughter from Al and Oliver.

— Well, time to pull yourself together! — Oliver pushed me toward the table, grinning wickedly, — Time to have dinner, right?

— Uh, yeah... — I replied awkwardly, sitting down in my usual spot, but instead of sitting to my right, Oliver took a seat at the other end of the table, next to Sweet Ann, and Maika sat down in his previous spot.

"/xxxx/ you, Oliver..." — I thought, glaring at him displeased, while he just shrugged, smiling contentedly and starting to eat.

Today's dinner spread was quite lavish: beef steaks with sides of fried potatoes and stewed vegetables, nearby were snack pies filled with meat and mushrooms, and cups of various flavored teas. I, as always, chose green tea, Sweet Ann and Big Al opted for black, while Ruby, Maika, and Oliver went for what appeared to be fruity red teas. Maika's parents, on the other hand, preferred coffee, which Avanna brought over soon. She left briefly only to return almost immediately, placing a large plate of those long, crispy mushrooms in island sauce on the table—the same ones that were served on the day when Oliver so desired that crab. My lips tightened; I wanted to dive into those mushrooms right away, but that would have been too rude. I didn't want to appear before Maika and her parents as some crazy mushroom lover, but down-to-earth Ann outed me: