4 - Playdate After Dinner

Thankfully, when they reached the table, there was nothing but salad. The girl felt silly to have been worried. She didn't even know why she was worried anymore. As she'd calmed down, mother brought up the question that she'd been wondering.

"So, you wanted to know how we can both speak to you, right?"

"H- …Y-yeah," she replied, dropping her fork to the ground. "S-sorry, I'm still listening, I just need to pick up my fork…"

"I have technology that's unseen for this century," mother explained, smiling with a hint of a chaotic emotion. "Of course, that's publicly," she whispered quietly, in a language that only she understood. "I realize that it's quite strange for me to be in the countryside, especially in a forest, and I apologize for the inconvenience when you came here. My work is confidential, so I had to make sure that it wouldn't be located."

"Oh, that's okay," the girl said as she peeked her head above the table. "I'd just like to know, why do you know my language? And why couldn't we stop on our way through the forest?"

"Oh! I can explain this. My mother analyzes languages from all over, and she logged the accent, the sounds, different words, sentence structures, and everything into my head. My mother's technology can send information directly to my brain. It's pretty interesting, right?" He smiled, speaking quickly and passionately.

"Ah… it is. Then, if you've heard my language before, would you happen to know how to get me back home?" The girl's smile was very small, but you could tell she was starting to relax after the rough time she had earlier.

The little boy was fascinated. He cast subtle glances at his mother, but she turned away, purposely ignoring him.

"Of course, I obviously know how to get you home. I visit frequently, after all." An eerie smile pulled up the corners of her mouth, and the little girl felt chills all the way down her spine.

"Mom, that's not fair! You didn't teach me that dialect. What did you say?" The little boy pouted and pulled at the sleeves of her lab coat.

"Sweetie, I can't tell you, because if I told you where she lives, you'd go running off. You're not old enough to leave the village on your own yet."

Her eyes, black as the void, twisted and swirled, indescribably. The little boy shivered, worried, being scolded by his mother. "Fine, if you say so...," he mumbled quietly. He looked glumly at his plate, before his energy came back, like children do. "Then again, she doesn't have to go now, right? If she came from the city area, then it's too far to walk again! Can you stay until tomorrow?" The little boy pleaded, hoping to spend more time with his new friend.

His mother's eyes were sharp and demeaning. "Sweetie, she has a family and friends at home for her to return to. They must be worried, not knowing where she is… Do you understand where I'm going with this?"

The boy pouted sulkily, "But you never let me talk to the visitors, and they always leave as soon as we're done eating! Plus, other than running errands for you, I never leave the house, never play with friends, and never talk to anyone!"

Her eyes softened at his words, but her smile was not kind. "*Sigh*… You're my greatest weakness, you know that?"

"Mom, I'm your only weakness," the boy giggled childishly. She didn't speak for a while, which made the children a bit scared, but eventually, she agreed.

By then it was evening, and the boy's bedtime was very far. So he and the girl decided to play in the house.

"What should we play?" The boy grinned toothily, a mischievous look forming on his face.

"I don't know many games," the girl replied, "but my family usually plays hide and seek, tag, and manhunt."

"Oh, really? I usually play chess, battleships, and board games!"

"Huh, that's very different! Then do you want to play one of my games and one of yours?"

"Okay!" The boy pouted a little, "…I've never won in any game, though."

"So you played a very difficult game, or a very skilled player?" The girl was very curious, as the boy was much smarter than the people she knew back home.

"The player is incredibly skilled," the boy said, shivering, "I wouldn't stand a chance, even if I gained magic powers." He contemplated for a moment, before deciding. "From your games, I think hide and seek- no, tag, sounds the most fun. Which of my games do you want to play?"

"Hmmm… maybe battleships? I've never actually seen a ship, but I bet I can beat you," a rare grin appeared on the girl's face.

"Hah! You wish!" The boy's competitive spirit was flaring, and with a quick explanation of rules, they started playing hide and seek.