Back to computer shop

"Boss, let's take a break..." Amel's breathless voice broke the silence.

Adam glanced back without stopping. Behind him, Amel looked exhausted, sweat trickling down her temples. She was pushing a wooden cart loaded with the carcass of a mutant worm. Even though its organs had been removed, its five-meter-long body was still incredibly heavy.

"We're almost there. Just hold on a little longer," Adam said calmly. "Or, if you want, just hop on. I'll pull it."

Amel frowned. "That's not what I meant, Boss. I said we both need a break."

Adam didn't answer immediately. He could sense something off about the way she was breathing, the unusual fatigue in her movements. His instincts picked up on a possibility. Maybe she was on her period? That would explain why she was more easily exhausted.

Amel tried to keep walking, but her steps wavered. Adam let out a quiet sigh before stopping. Without a word, he turned around, walked over to her, and, in one swift motion, lifted her onto the cart.

"Boss?!" Amel squirmed slightly, her face flushing red. "I can still walk!"

"Just sit down. Don't argue." Adam didn't look at her, simply making sure she was seated properly before returning to the front and pulling the cart again.

Silence settled between them, broken only by the creaking of the wheels and the whisper of the wind. Amel bit her lip, her eyes stinging. The surroundings looked gloomy, the narrow path barely illuminated by the fading sunlight. But amidst the darkness, Adam's small gesture of care felt overwhelmingly significant.

"Hic..." A quiet sob escaped her lips, almost lost in the wind.

Adam glanced at her but said nothing.

"Thank you, Boss..." Her voice trembled, trying to mask her emotions.

Adam simply nodded. "No need to be so formal, Amel. We're teammates."

Amel wiped her eyes, attempting to stifle her sniffles. The beam from the flashlight tied to the front of the cart illuminated the ever-darkening road. Adam kept walking steadily, pulling the cart without hurry. Meanwhile, Amel sat quietly, occasionally stealing glances at his back.

Night was falling, but their journey continued.

***

Inside a dimly lit computer shop, Serina stared out the window anxiously. The streetlights flickered, threatening to go out at any moment. The sky had already turned dark, and the clock on the wall showed seven in the evening.

"Amel..." she murmured, her eyes never leaving the window.

As she gently patted the back of her drowsy toddler, she whispered, "Sleep well, my love..." Humming softly, she tried to soothe both her child and her own restless heart.

Suddenly, a bright light swept across the street outside. A flashlight beam cut through the darkness, making Serina tense up. She quickly closed the curtains but peeked through a small gap. Her heart pounded when she saw Adam approaching, pulling the cart with steady strides.

"Boss!" she gasped in relief. Without hesitation, she flung the door open and rushed outside, her eyes immediately scanning the cart.

The moment she spotted Amel sitting there, pale-faced, Serina almost burst into tears. "Amel?! My dear!" she cried out, her voice filled with emotion. A wide smile spread across her face, mingling with the tears welling up in her eyes.

Adam reached the shop and stopped the cart. Exhaling, he wiped a bit of sweat from his temple. "Get inside. Don't stay out too long," he said as he pushed the door open.

Serina immediately reached for Amel, checking her face with concern. "How are you, sweetheart? Are you okay?"

Amel gave a small smile despite her exhaustion. "I'm fine, Mom. Just need a little rest..." she replied weakly. Her lips were dry, her body drained of energy. She had even postponed her Evolution because she felt too weak.

Without further delay, they went inside. The moment they stepped in, the warm aroma of food filled the air. On the floor, a large mat was spread out with several plates of still-steaming dishes.

Adam raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with realization. "This woman... she actually found time to cook?" he thought, swallowing hard. His stomach immediately responded to the tempting smell.

He turned to Serina, who was now tenderly wrapping a blanket around Amel. "Serina, you cooked this?" he asked, slightly surprised.

Serina nodded lightly. "Yes, Boss. After leaving the Factory space, I came straight up here. But since you two hadn't returned, I decided to cook just in case," she explained with a small smile.

Adam was silent for a moment before offering a soft smile. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

Serina wasn't just beautiful; she was also considerate. Adam noticed the faint sheen of sweat on her temples, the gentle, genuine smile...

For a second, his mind wandered elsewhere.

Damn... He quickly shook his head. "Focus, Adam... focus."

He then headed toward the storage room at the back of the shop, removing his jacket, boots, and gloves before hanging them on the aging wooden rack. However, he kept his Viper Sniper, pistol, the case containing parasites, and his reinforced machete with him.

When he returned to the main room, Serina and Amel were already sitting on the mat, gathered around the simple yet comforting meal. Their baby slept soundly in the corner, wrapped in a thin blanket.

"Let's eat, Master," Serina said as she picked up a spoon and filled Adam's plate with warm rice. "I made canned fish, noodles, and some white vegetables."

Amel was ready to dig in but still waited for Adam to start first. Though exhaustion dulled her usual excitement, her eyes still sparkled.

Adam looked at them both, feeling a rare warmth in his chest. This reminded him of his past life in the village—simple dinners with family, no electricity, only the glow of oil lamps.

He took a deep breath and clasped his hands together. "Let's say grace."

Serina blinked in surprise, and so did Amel, but they quickly followed his lead. Silence filled the room, only their quiet breaths audible.

"God, thank You for Your blessings... for this food... for another day to survive..."

Adam's prayer was brief, not because he was particularly religious, but because old habits resurfaced in this atmosphere. Once done, he took his first bite and smiled slightly. "Serina, this is good."

Serina lowered her gaze, blushing, but clearly pleased. Meanwhile, Amel, despite her fatigue, excitedly started talking. She recounted their day, the mutant hunt, and their exploration.

Serina joined in, explaining her work in the Factory space. "I wanted to tidy up before the time ran out, but exactly at eight... I was suddenly ejected. It felt like being forcibly pulled out."

She sighed but then smiled proudly. "But in those eight hours, I managed to harvest 96 times. That's a total of twenty-four sacks."

Adam ate quietly but had a look of admiration in his eyes. "Good work, Serina."

Hearing her mother speak so passionately, Amel's interest was piqued. She turned to Adam, her large eyes still a bit weary but filled with curiosity. "Boss, I want to work in the Factory too."