A Four-Letter-Word Called LOVE (COMPLETE - ENG Translation On-Going)

Act Twenty-Seven

Chris:

"Thank you so, so much for the food and some stuff. I appreciate it a lot!"

"Nae bother, Chris! It's pretty hard to find shops around, and you canny find any nearby villages around here, you know. You and your girlfriend must be starving by now after you two got lost driving to Loch Eireasort."

I chuckled while shaking my head from what Graham, a man in his late 50's, has said. I woke up very early to drive and search for nearby villages and shops around for food and stuff. Good thing I've seen his tractor coming along and asked him if he knew any shops nearby. As I've expected, he said there's none around, and I have to drive to Stornoway if I want to buy some of the necessities I needed. He invited me to his farm, and he gave me some food and stuff that Ate Mhairi and I can eat and use.

"You're such a funny man, Graham! She's not my girlfriend!"

"Ow? But there's a different glow in your eyes every time you mentioned her lovely name. You're in love with her, eh?"

I sheepishly stoop my face down with my cheeks are now flushed in pink while chuckling.

"Aye, see? Your face and your smile disnae lie!"

I laugh guffawingly to hide the redness of my cheeks away from his hawk-eye-like gaze. He might be old, but you absolutely cannot lie to him!

"Chris! Where have you been?!"

Graham and I paused for a bit and glanced at the owner of the voice. Ate Mhairi comes out from the house and strolls near us. He returns his gaze at me while putting a cheeky yet, comforting smile on his face.

"She's a very, very lovely lassie, eh! You are such a lucky bloke, Chrissy boy!" He winked teasingly.

"Oh, come on, stop it now! She might heed us!" I sheepishly uttered while chuckling.

Graham finally bids his cheerio on me while Ate Mhairi finally managed to come near me and stands beside me. Her gaze follows the tractor that Graham drives on the road.

"Who is he?"

"Oh, him? That's Graham. He lives a couple of miles away from where we are. He owns a farm just a few blocks away from here and, he's the caretaker of this cottage."

Her facial expression changes from calm and rested into a hopeful yet, panicky restless kid.

"R-Really?! So, t-there's a way now that we could finally contact Markus?"

Oh, right.

Will I tell her what Graham had said to me about where we are right now, especially the impossible, small-to-zero chance of finding where Markus and Bella are?

"A-Ate, uh—"

"D-Did you ask him if we could make a phone call or something somewhere 'round here to let Markus know where we are? Did you ask for his help, Chris?!"

Her eyes are full of hope and excitement while asking me those questions. I want to tell her there's a huge possibility – that I did ask the man himself for help to let Markus know that we're stranded. But I couldn't. I couldn't because I don't want to make her hopes up. I don't want her to hope that Markus would find us as soon as possible. I don't want to disappoint her with my false hopes that will make her feel upset and frustrated that could make her break down again in tears.