“Why are you sleeping together?!”
The shrill question startled Ruby—and, of course, Ed. Ruby, who was curled up on Ed’s lap, immediately sat up straight, and Ed forced himself to sit up as quickly as possible, even though he was still half-asleep.
“What?” Ed inquired, rubbing his face.
“You two are sleeping together here. Is that allowed?!” AJ protested again, pointing and standing with his hands on his hips.
It was a question that didn't quite fit the foggy mind just after waking up,
“We… we didn’t… We just fell asleep, AJ. That’s all.” Ruby tried to explain, glancing at Ed, who seemed to need more time to wake up. He must be panicking.
“Yeah. We just fell asleep,” Ed echoed dully, confused.
“I want to do it, too. I want to sleep outside, too. Why am I confined to my room?" AJ pouted.
“Oh, that’s why you’re
"‘I want to talk to you,’ Ruby said. After all the signing was done and Liz came back out with Ed, Ruby had the chance to speak.‘What now?!’ Liz snapped, thinking Ruby was going to mock her."It's a bit long. Can we...." Ruby pointed to the café across the street.Liz frowned, starting to feel curious. Of course, Ruby wasn't going to mock her. There was no need to sit in a café just to mock her.Liz finally followed her across the street and was even more puzzled when she saw Ed choose a different table once they were inside the café. Ed sat apart from Ruby, not far away. Ed placed his order and simply sat there, waiting."I..." Ruby had prepared her words for days, but she was still hesitant. She wasn’t scared, just worried.‘What about you?’ Liz was impatient."Do you remember what happened to your mother? I mean, when you were little," Ruby asked."She died givi
"Aren’t we going there?" Ruby pointed to the turn they had just passed. She could see the house where she usually stayed, as well as the lake. But Ed didn’t turn."Did you forget? I’m not ready to go home yet." Ed took the next turn."Oh, are we going there?" Ruby pointed to the white building she often saw from her window. The road they were on only led to that building. There was nothing else around."Correct.’" Ed nodded."But what is that?" After looking gloomy the entire time, Ruby finally showed some interest in something."You’ll see later," Ed said."But it’s not visible." Ruby frowned as they passed by the building’s name plaque n
“Oh, it lights up.” Ruby blinked, adjusting as the room suddenly brightened. Ed led her into the main building.“It’s actually finished,” Ruby murmured, glancing around. The room was a lobby, fully equipped with everything—a reception desk, waiting chairs, a queue machine, and all the necessary facilities for a waiting area.“Yes, just the final touches left. The recruitment process is also complete. Once everything’s done, this building can be used and fully operational,” Ed said.Ruby turned to look at Ed, staring at him without saying a word.“What is it?” Ed frowned. He was clearly waiting for Ruby to speak.“I just feel like you’re incredible. I don’t know how you managed to do this so quickly.” Ruby was in awe.“It’s simple. Money. You should never underestimate the power of money. You have no idea how quickly permits and everything el
"Where is it?" AJ extended his hand, greeting Ed and Ruby at the door."What?" Ruby, who was about to pick up AJ, was confused."Oh no!" Ed suddenly remembered."Chocolate!" AJ shouted, stomping his foot."Ah..." Ruby had completely forgotten. She was so focused on Liz and the proposal that she couldn’t think of anything else."NO! Where's my chocolate?! I want my chocolate!" AJ threw a tantrum, rolling on the floor and spinning around."AJ..." Ruby sighed. It was clear that this was an over-the-top tantrum. AJ was upset they were late and had forgotten his chocolate."AJ." Ed kneeled by his side."You forgot! You forgot about me! Daddy, you promised!" AJ pushed Ed’s hand away as he reached out."It's true I forgot the chocolate, but I didn't forget you, AJ. We didn't forget you." Ed coaxed gently.Ruby wanted to tell Ed to let AJ vent his anger completely, but she ended up sitting down next to them.
Liz touched the transparent divider in front of her. It wasn't made of glass, but of unbreakable plastic. It was designed to prevent incidents from happening. A desperate prisoner might shatter glass. The plastic material was for safety.There were a few small holes in the divider to ensure that conversations could be heard in both directions. Liz sighed as the door behind the divider opened, revealing her father.His handcuffed hands looked thinner, and his once-bulging stomach was almost flat. The hair on his face was unshaven.“Liz? You actually came?!” Esli was very surprised. When he was called, he heard the name of his visitor, but he couldn't believe it. This was the first time Liz had visited.Esli had been sentenced almost a month ago—he would be spending around eighty years in prison due to multiple corruption charges—so he was now allowed visitors. Liz was the first to come to see him since the verdict.“I w
"Ugh! Wait."Ruby stopped walking and sat back down, trying to catch her breath. Everything she was wearing right now was her own choice, tailored to her size, but somehow it all felt wrong—tight and uncomfortable.Ruby had hoped she would feel calm and be fine because there was nothing weighing on her heart right now, and this situation was very different from her marriage as Liz. But she still felt nauseous and terribly nervous as the day arrived."This isn’t even the first time," Ruby sighed, taking a deep breath.The small amount of food she had managed to eat while getting her makeup done now felt stuck in her throat.This wasn’t Ruby’s first time getting married—though it was the first time using her real name, so she shouldn’t be this nervous. Ruby rubbed her chest to calm her racing heart. She was really worried about messing up the wedding."Tea! How about some tea?" Lori suggested patting Tita on
"Why hasn't she appeared yet?" Ed asked Otiz, who seemed to be running towards him. Ruby was late—only ten minutes, but still late. That's why Ed had let AJ go earlier; he was too impatient to see his mother."Senora Rosas doesn't appear to be feeling well, but Tita said she's better now. She'll be here soon," Otiz replied."Is she very sick or...?""Tita said it's just nerves." Otiz reassured him."Oh? So, it’s not just me." Ed murmured, rubbing his chest, relieved that he wasn’t alone.Ed knew that this wedding had been carefully planned and should go smoothly, but it didn't ease the anxiety in his heart."You do look nervous." Otiz smiled. He was amused because Ed, who usually wore a stoic expression, couldn't hide his true feelings this time. Ed's face might look stern to most of the guests waiting, but Otiz knew that it was just extreme nerves."I need to calm down." Ed muttered, taking several deep breaths.
“This is delicious!”AJ got exactly what Ed promised: a large chocolate fountain. Various fruits and marshmallows of different shapes surrounded it, already skewered and ready to be dipped into the thick, fragrant, sweet liquid.“Yes, but don’t bring it near your mother!” Lori sternly warned, knowing that a drop of chocolate could stain Ruby’s dress.“Yeah... yeah...” AJ mumbled and pouted, but he made sure not to approach his mother when he had chocolate after that.Lori was AJ’s weakness. She spoiled him but was also very strict when scolding him. She wasn’t afraid to make AJ cry if he was in the wrong.Ruby remembered this repeatedly and planned to invite Lori over often in the future so that AJ would learn not to be too spoiled.“Thank you,” Ruby whispered as Lori sat back down beside her.“I don’t.” Ed, who was beside Ruby, muttered. He coul