You must be serious about this work, then.

"You hired people?"

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise as she looked him up and down, as if reassessing her first impression.

"Are you a rich kid or something?"

John chuckled softly at her question.

"Not exactly. I just have a little bit of money saved up,"

He said with a modest smile.

Her mother laughed, her initial surprise giving way to amusement.

"Well, that's good to hear. It's nice to see someone using their resources for a good cause,"

She said, her tone lightening. She seemed content to drop the subject for now.

At that moment, Jina reappeared in the kitchen, having changed out of her school uniform into a simple yet elegant dress. She looked radiant, the dress accentuating her youthful features. She joined them at the table, her presence injecting a new energy into the room.

As they continued to chat, the conversation flowed easily, covering various topics. John learned more about Jina's family and the village, while Jina's mother asked him about his life and his reasons for coming to their village. It wasn't long before some of the neighbours, mostly women, began to trickle into the house, drawn by the news of a visitor. They introduced themselves one by one, each more curious than the last.

The women quickly took a liking to John, their natural friendliness making him feel at home. Before he knew it, he found himself the centre of attention, surrounded by a group of chatty, inquisitive women. They teased him gently, their playful banter causing him to blush more than once. Despite the teasing, John couldn't help but enjoy the lively atmosphere. It was a stark contrast to the seriousness of his usual life, and for a moment, he allowed himself to relax and be swept up in their light-heartedness.

The women's teasing continued, their jokes becoming more affectionate as they grew more comfortable with him. It was clear they were fond of him, and John found himself laughing along with them, his earlier awkwardness slowly melting away. However, the jovial atmosphere shifted slightly when a middle-aged man entered the house. He was broad-shouldered with a weathered face that spoke of years of hard work. John immediately recognized him as Jina's father, the man who worked as a small-time contractor in the village and nearby areas.

Jina jumped up to greet him, her voice filled with the same affection she had shown her mother.

"Dad, this is my friend John,"

She introduced him eagerly, the pride in her voice unmistakable.

Her father regarded John with a discerning eye, his expression unreadable at first. The initial interaction was slightly awkward, as Jina's father seemed to size him up, trying to determine what kind of man his daughter had brought into their home. Like her mother, he quickly inquired about John's purpose in visiting their village.

John repeated the story he had told Jina's mother, explaining that he was on his way to help the disaster-stricken village. As he spoke, he noticed the way Jina's father's expression shifted, moving from curiosity to a deeper surprise, especially when John mentioned hiring people to assist with the relief efforts.

"You hired people?"

Jina's father echoed, his voice tinged with incredulity. He leaned back in his chair, clearly impressed but also puzzled by this revelation.

"You must be serious about this work, then."

John nodded, sensing the need to elaborate.

"I couldn't stand by and do nothing when I heard about what happened. It just felt like the right thing to do,"

He explained, his voice carrying a note of conviction.

Her father seemed to ponder John's words, a thoughtful look crossing his face.

"It's admirable, what you're doing,"

He finally said, his tone softening.

"But it's not something you see every day, someone your age, going out of their way to help strangers like this."

John shrugged modestly.

"I just believe that if you have the means to help, you should. It doesn't matter how big or small the contribution is."

The room fell into a brief silence as Jina's father considered John's words. Then, with a nod, he seemed to come to a decision.

"Well, any friend of Jina's is welcome here. You're doing good work, son,"

He said, his voice carrying the weight of approval. The tension in the room eased, and the atmosphere returned to the light-heartedness that had filled it earlier.

As the evening wore on, John found himself more at ease with Jina's family and their neighbours. The initial awkwardness gave way to a genuine connection, fostered by the warmth and kindness of the people around him. Even though he was far from home, surrounded by strangers, he felt a sense of belonging that was both unexpected and comforting. The villagers treated him like one of their own, and he couldn't help but be touched by their hospitality.