Chapter 70

“Good morning everyone!” 

I greeted them enthusiastically while going down the stairs to the table where they invited me to eat breakfast. 

My day switched on very early because this morning, it was already noisy with people conversing and singing along that I could hear it in the room where I stayed. It was really late when I fell asleep, so I still lacked sleep. Yet, surprisingly, it didn't affect my energy at all. Maybe it's an effect of staying with cheerful people.

This is the first time I will dine at a table surrounded by many and blasting people. The inside of this house is very delightful because even in the morning, you can already notice the smiles on their lips as well as the direct sunlight passing into the house. It appears like people here don't have any difficulties and troubles at all. This environment is very different from where I live. In the unit that we live in, it's rare for something like this to happen when the sunlight enters the house because the entire area in the apartment is covered and shrouded. Unlike here, the house is practically open so that if there is a criminal or thief outside, they can just enter inside the house without any hardship. But I guess anyone with an evil heart would be ashamed to enter this house because of their overfilling happiness.

While I was sitting in the chair they gave me, my eyes caught Richard who was already sitting in his chair and had food on his table.

Another thing I noticed here was the noise of the roosters outside which is a bit uncommon for people who live in this kind of place. I'm used to it that when a person lives in subdivisions, there is no crowing to be heard because it is sacred and quiet. This is almost like a kingdom of freshness and happiness. A dream place that you will never imagine exists.

I feel really hungry just by looking at how generously they feast enthusiastically. 

“Cattleya, hija, don't be shy and eat well. I don't know if you follow any diet because you seem to have a promising shape. But don't worry, okay? Because the foods we have here are all freshly picked and healthy.” Richard's grandmother said sweetly with a smile on her face. She was sitting on the edge of the chair and directly at me. “If you don't have anything to do after we finish our breakfast, help my grandson Chard get fresh eggs from the poultry.”

My eyes formed a circle as I sensed excitement. “That would be a new experience. I’d love to!” I said gladly as I began to eat my breakfast.

“But don't we have enough eggs in the fridge? I just checked this morning and-”

“Chard, Cattleya will join you today and do me a favor picking eggs in the chicken house. Is that clear?” His grandmother cut him off, which made everyone at the table laugh instead of Richard.

“Nona is right. You kids should go together!”

“Yeah! We think so too!” 

People say while laughing.

Richard was right when he told me that this place is a joyful place, and right now, I kind of feel like I already belong to them because of how welcoming they are. Even though we are the only two who are close in age because almost all of them are in their forties and I fifties. But, their energy and stamina are unmatched. It’s like I am sitting together with college batchmates that are casually chit-chatting and laughing together.

"Have you already thought of what you should do next?"

Richard greeted me with a question after I left his grandmother's house. I looked at what I was wearing today and couldn't stop laughing. This dress belonged to Richard's grandmother who was just loaned to me. It's not really loose to me because his grandmother is not that big. But it's funny because it's the first time I've been able to wear a full-length dress.

When I looked up at Richard, I noticed that his cheek was puffing because of the accumulated air in it from his suppressed laughter.

I burst laughing softly which was the signal for him to laugh as we averted our gaze.

"What are you laughing at? You're also kind of funny in what you're wearing. Look at you with your jumper outfit in this new generation. I mean, you look like a kid from the 80's." I said in the midst of laughing as my finger was raised towards him to point to his denim jumper and a white shirt inside. It's funny that he looks like a child because it's length is just below his knees, that's why he looks like a spoiled child in what he's wearing.

Richard laughed as he extended his hand to hand me the brown cloth that looked like an apron. But the difference is that it has two large pockets on the front and back.

"You have to wear that before we go into the coop and start picking fresh eggs." He explained to me and then turned slightly to pick up a pair of boots.

I accepted what Richard gave me and then attached it to my neck and waist just like wearing an apron.

“Good morning, Chard!”

"Good morning to you guys!"

I turned around when I heard a voice behind me. I smiled when I saw that these were the people living inside the house. It looks like they will leave because they look just like us. Maybe they have something to do like Richard and I.

"—And, a pleasant morning to your girlfriend as well."

My mouth hung open as I shook my head immediately along with my hands, waving to them. "No, no. I-I'm not.”

They just laughed while shaking their heads and then left. I scratched my nose while laughing before turning my attention back to Richard.

"Where are they going?" I asked as I accepted the boots that he gave me and then slowly stepped towards a large hemp to sit on it and put on the boots.

"They are probably going to the paddock to train and run the horses to give them exercise." He said as he started taking off his shoes and changed his boots as well.

We were both wearing conical hats to protect our faces from the sun.

When I finished putting on the boots, I almost laughed when I stood up and there was almost no skin on my feet because they were covered by my long dress and high boots. It's like Richard and I look like natives and we seem to be very familiar in the farm even though it's actually my first time doing this.

When I heard Richard's laugh he caught my attention. I saw him laughing while holding his stomach and one hand crawled towards his pocket and I saw him take out his phone from it. I was shocked when he told me this, obviously taking a photo of me.

"Hey, what are you doing? Don't take pictures of me!” I exclaimed in a higher tone and then tried to cover my face. "People shouldn't know that I am here..." I whispered as I shoved the camera.

"Come on, Kitty Cat, we should at least leave a memory of us in this place, shouldn't we?" He said calmly. I felt his hand as he gently removed my covering from my face. "Okay, now say hello to the camera and don't be shy. Come on!”

I didn't look at the camera and instead I watched Richard behind it while he was overreacting while taking a video of me. I can't stop laughing because of what he's doing because it's almost funny.

"Hi..!" I said shyly as I looked into the camera with a smile on my lips. “This is Catt.”