New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

Chapter 1129: Have You Tried Feelings?

The convoy took as many minor roads as they could to avoid CCTV and police patrol cars, and made their way east as fast as they could.

Kujaku already had an exit strategy in mind and only needed luck to be on their side. Unfortunately, such had not been the current tides of fate.

But if they could make it to the borders of Russia, not too far above North Korea, in Suifenhe, they could cross into Russian territory, where security had yet to escalate as much as in China.

From there, she would go back down toward the sea, cross over into Japan by boat, and finally consider her escort mission to be over. She could barely wait.

With everything that had happened, nothing would beat getting home to her things, in the peace and quiet of her forest home.

Even if she knew work had piled up while she was on this mission, regardless of her numerous assistants taking care of some of it, she could only dream about the hot spring at the back of her house, and the relaxing sound of the stream coursing near it.

Without noticing, a smile had crept up on her lips, and David looked at with a light blush.

He quickly snapped out of it, shaking his head a bit, berating himself mentally.

’No. You determined yourself to weather this alone. Having allies is already a step in the direction you didn’t want to go. Attachments mean eventual pain. No more. You’ll grow soft.’

His little head jerk and sudden gloom didn’t escape Alex, who softly chuckled.

Elbowing him gently in the side to catch his attention, Alex met David’s glare with a smile.

He texted him so no one would hear him nag David.

’You know you are allowed to have feelings, right. Even if you planned to correct your future alone, and go at this solo, things have already changed. Why wouldn’t you double down on this and make more connections? Humans are stronger as a group, you know?’

David saw the text and rolled his eyes at Alexander. He replied nonetheless.

’It’s not like that.’

Alex almost chuckled at his reply. But he kept it together.

’Bullshit! We all heard you having fun with her. Hell, I’m sure the entire town heard you. Even if it was nothing more than carnal desire at the time, that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. Live a little, chucklefuck.’

David replied to that with a stomp on Alexander’s foot and a smirk at his pained growl.

"Serves you right," he whispered, looking out his window.

Alexander wanted to punch him in the ribs in revenge, but Kary held his arm and pinched his ribs.

"Stop it. You’re not kids, and this is not a road trip. Settle down."

Alex wanted to grumble back, but seeing her glare, he swallowed the words back.

That didn’t stop him from texting David again, though.

’Wait until we are out of this car. I’ll pay you back twofold, jerk.’

David replied only with an emote.

:)

It took hours before Haruto came back to her senses, suddenly seated on the passenger side, and she shook her head groggily.

"Was that necessary?" she grumbled at Kujaku.

"Yes. You were about to spin out. And don’t deny it. I’ve known you long enough. You can’t hide anything from me," Kujaku answered, her face deadpan.

Haruto could hardly disagree with her boss. The woman had almost raised her, after all.

"There were gentler solutions," she grumbled, regardless.

Kujaku side-eyed her.

"Gentler? There were rougher options too. Should we try one of those? Are you going to keep mouthing at me?"

Haruto quickly snapped her mouth shut, feeling her boss’ icy stare.

"No ma’am. Shutting up now."

Kujaku snickered at her answer.

"Ii ko," she said, smiling like a parent who had won an argument with their child.

Alex looked out the window and noticed a relay area further up the road that curved to their right.

"Can we stop there? We’ve been driving for hours already, and I still haven’t dealt with this situation," he commented, pulling at his ripped shirt.

Kujaku looked at his movement in the rearview mirror and shrugged.

"It wasn’t a good idea to stop yet. The further we are from the mountain and that fucking little monster, the safer we get. Plus, since when are ripped clothes a problem for men? Isn’t it fashionable?" she mocked.

Alex grimaced at her.

"Ha ha. Very funny. Ripped jeans are one thing. My shirt is in tatters. I may no longer be bleeding on your seat, but I would still like to get some fresh clothes on my back, if you don’t mind."

Kujaku was about to say no, but a small whimper came from further behind.

Violette pulled herself between the seats, trying to make eye contact with Kujaku.

"Um... Actually, I would like to stop too, if that’s not too much to ask," she said with a light grimace.

She seemed to be fidgeting a little on her seat, and Kujaku understood what she wanted.

"Okay, we can stop. But we need to make this quick. No window shopping or lounging. And no lunch break either. If you’re hungry, grab something you can eat in the truck."

A sigh of relief escaped Violette’s lips as she plunged back into her seat.

Kujaku relayed the order to stop to the other vehicles behind her and pulled into the relay area’s parking lot.

As every vehicle parked, the doors flew open on three of them, and people bolted for the building, clearly intent on finding a restroom.

Apparently, Violette wasn’t the only one whose bladder had been stretching its limits.

Alex wasn’t in a hurry, but he assumed they wouldn’t be stopping for another long while, so he went as well. But his main thought was to stop by a shop inside the station to grab a shirt to replace the rags he was wearing.

But Kary was quicker than him.

"I’ll go grab you a shirt while you go to the bathroom. You would stand out too much if you wandered around the store with a ripped back."

Alex smiled at her.

"Thanks. Much appreciated."

She smiled back at him and left toward the store section of the rest area. She knew what size shirt Alex wore, so finding one that wouldn’t make him look like a clown wasn’t too complicated.

But as she was about to pull up to the register with it, she spotted another one that caught her attention.

With a smirk on her lips, she changed the item she was holding with it and swiftly paid for it, before bringing it toward the men’s restroom.

Alex was waiting for her at the door, and she handed him the bag with an unassuming smile.

"There you go."

"Thanks, love," Alex said, smiling at her and giving her a kiss on the lips.

"Hope you like it," she replied, her smile beaming.

"I’m sure I will," Alex said, turning around without noticing.

But as he got into a stall in the restroom and opened up the bag, his smile dropped.

"What in the actual fuck..."