Enigmas - Chapter 16

Following the man’s directions, Yoan stood in front of a huge house like the man described, though, it wasn’t exactly a huge house.

It was more like a bungalow.

Yoan was in awe, as he absorbed the view of the gorgeous bungalow, since it was his first time coming across a house like this, in his nineteen years of life. He approached the bungalow, his steps slow as he glanced around, still unable to recover from his amazement. The bungalow was made from red bricks, with large windows at the front of the house, which were opened. Nearing the house, he heard a dispute between a man and a woman from the inside, blinking curiously as he peeked through the window.

“Sul, you know I have to do this, if I don’t make this delivery, it will affect the reputation of our business!”

“Tennai, honey, you sprained your back! You should rest, you are not young anymore, what if something happens on your way there and-”

“No, we can’t. I can’t delay this delivery.”

“Let’s get someone else to do it, Tennai!”

“No! Don’t you understand, Sul? The person we’ll be delivering it too is an important figure in the main town! I can’t afford to take any risks!”

Main town? That’s where me and Hilia needs to go, do they have to make a delivery there?

“Tennai, you are my husband and a father! If you become crippled or even worse, we lose you, how are we going to-”

Yoan rang the bell outside of the house, interrupting their argument. A woman in her fifties sighed, heading towards the door and peeking through the spyhole, noticing Yoan standing outside her door. She immediately recognised Yoan to be the man that saved the village from the bandit, opening the door in a hurry.

“Oh, you are that young gentleman. We can’t thank you enough for saving our town,” the woman said, gesturing him to come in. “Please, come in and take a sit.”

Yoan rubbed at his neck awkwardly, declining her offer. He clearly interrupted their argument, and he could feel the tense atmosphere between the woman and her husband, not wanting to step into the house.

“No, thank you. Uhm, I just wanted say my thanks for letting us rest in your daughter’s house.”

Yoan has never been the type of person to speak politely, even to strangers. He always left the polite talking to Hilia, he only knew that Hilia always lowered her tone when she wanted to be polite.

“It’s the least we could do.” The woman replied with a kind smile and her husband walked up behind her, his eyes lighting up when he saw Yoan at the door.

“Aren’t you that young man that saved our town?” The woman’s husband, who seemed to be in his fifties too, walked to the door, offering a handshake to Yoan. “I, as the mayor of this town, offer my greatest gratitude for what you did, along with your friend”

The mayor looked behind Yoan, realising that Hilia wasn’t there.

“Your friend isn’t here?”

“She’s…still recuperating.” Yoan answered, and the two of them nodded in understanding.

Yoan hesitated, before he decided to bring up the topic. “Sorry, I overheard your conversation and it seems like you need to make a delivery to the main town? But you are having troubles?”

The mayor’s wife brightened up significantly, taking Yoan’s hand. “Can you make the delivery instead, young man?”

Yoan nodded, “yes, we were planning to head to the main town anyway.”

“Oh, thank goodness!” she sighed in relief, turning to the mayor. “Tennai, I’m sure you won’t have any problems with our saviours delivering the package, wouldn’t you?”

“Sul! We shouldn’t trouble them any further!”

Yoan shook his head at those words, stepping forward. “Don’t worry, it’s not any trouble,” he grinned before adding on jokingly. “The only trouble we have is travelling to the main town by foot.”

“By foot?! No, that can’t do, take our carriage there. You’ll reach within two days, we’ll gladly provide you with food and water along the way too. Is it alright with you?”

“Definitely!” Yoan answered a little too quickly.

Jackpot! It’s a jackpot!

After much deliberation, the mayor finally resigned and allowed Yoan to make the delivery for him in his stead. Meanwhile, Yoan cheered internally to himself, they didn’t need to worry about aching feet and body, neither do they have to worry about food and water on the journey to the main town.