Zayun sighed after Yara had left, holding the snacks by the tips of his fingers as he gathered them into the small bag she had brought.
Blowing air through his lips, he patted his uniform to smooth any creases and stood up, the snacks still in his hand. While walking toward the assembly hall, he met Moze.
"So, big sister came to see you?" Moze asked, tilting his head, his eyes resting on the mini bag in Zayun's hand.
Zayun glanced sideways, then looked back at Moze with a thin smile.
"Yes. It's been a while since we saw each other."
"Did your dad come too?" Moze asked, his eyes wandering.
"I think he'll come later," Zayun replied, then walked off. He sneered once he had passed Moze, and when he reached the assembly hall, he handed out the snacks to his friends until none were left.
"He really thinks he's somebody?" Moze muttered, jeering as he headed toward his classroom.
Halfway through her journey, Yara felt something wet between her thighs. She veered toward a nearby stall, crossed over to a shaded corner, and politely asked for the loo.
Inside, she closed the door behind her, lifted her dress, and looked down. Blood. She brought her lips together and exhaled deeply, then looked up at the ceiling before glancing down again.
"Finally, these herbs worked," she murmured to herself.
She reached into her handbag, took out pads and began wiping, wrapping, hiding and scenting herself.
Afterwards, she folded everything neatly and put it back in her bag and walked out and flagged down a cart to save time getting to the shop.
By the time she arrived, she was about two hours late from the usual opening time.
Egen had already opened the shop and arranged the display outside. When he saw her walk in, he furrowed his brows and glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Where are you from? This place was supposed to be open a long time ago," he asked, a hint of strain in his voice.
Yara walked over to her corner, hung her shawl on the hook, placed her bag down, and tied her hair into a ponytail. Then she strolled over to the counter where Egen stood.
Swaying her lips to one side, she asked coolly, "Are you going to cry, or run to Zera and report?"
"I'm busy now," she added, taking her seat on the stool behind the counter and facing the entrance, casually waving at fellow shopkeepers walking by.
Egen smirked, rubbed the back of his neck, and looked across the shop.
"Maybe you shouldn't be getting pregnant so often and so easily. You might want to focus on better things or find a real man."
Yara kept her gaze on the door, unfazed.
"It's my womb. Why are you worried?" she replied, pulling open a drawer, selecting some bangles, and slipping them on. She dabbed scented oil onto her wrists as she spoke.
Egen kept watching. When she reached for her makeup kit, he turned and walked out. A snarl flickered across Yara's face as the door shut behind him.
Back at home, Lode the area chairman had come to visit Zera. As mourning days were still on, the two exchanged a few light jokes. Then Lode leaned in.
"People keep talking. Why haven't you taken Yara back to school? They think you're mistreating her... neglecting her." He pointed with his index finger, his tone slightly uncomfortable.
"I've tried my best to provide for her," Zera said, lifting her teacup and sipping slowly. "But it seems she has her own interests."
"Maybe send her to boarding school. She might do better there," Lode suggested, eyes drifting across the table.
"Maybe... only God knows," Zera giggled, casting a glance at him.
"Where do you get all these tricks?" she asked, picking up the kettle to pour him more tea.
"From you, of course. Who else could it be?" Lode teased, grinning.
As they chatted, Walda quietly slipped into Zera's room. She opened the drawer and searched until she found the land deed to the house and the farmland.
Her eyes paused on Egen's signature. She clenched her jaw, lowered her brows, and closed her eyes. Her breath blew softly through pressed lips.
After a moment, she folded the deed, placed it carefully back into the drawer, and left the room without a word.