Alicia Just Wants to Live Relaxedly As a Human Being

A rumor? A ghost?

“Thank you very much! For having given my son the opportunity to work on you.”

Bowing, an old and burly uncle stood in front of me.

I was thinking, is this how to thank today?

But this is also what makes it look sincere or truly from the heart.

Still, this made me feel out of place when an old uncle bowed to a smaller child like me.

“Already. Please raise your head. Please just sit on the chair, while waiting for your daughter to prepare tea.”

“.........Alright. Then again thank you.”

“No problem. Aki also works well here. He's a hard worker.”

“Thank God, he always did. We only live together, so he always tries hard to fill the void of our household due to the absence of a mother figure for him.”

“Well, I'm so sorry for that. But she really is a reliable girl.”

“Thank you. That's why I came here to see if he's okay. I'm worried because even though he's a hard worker, he's a cowardly kid.”

“Well indeed, the first time I met him, my impression of him was such a child. But it seems like he's not having any more problems. Because it seems like the source of his anxiety is gone now. What else to fear?”

“Justify. It was indeed questionable, but how else, he had been like that a long time ago. But now when someone lives here, and my daughter is hired here, she's not afraid anymore. My daughter also became more frequent visits to her father, because the road she was walking through was not scary anymore. I thank you for that too.”

“I find it strange if anyone talks about me behind.”

From the kitchen, the figure that was being talked about finally appeared. He carried a tray containing three cups of tea and a plate of his homemade biscuits.

Then he politely presented it at the table.

She is truly professional in serving guests no matter household chores. The ideal woman for all men in the world, perhaps.

Lastly he presented it to himself and sat down beside his father.

The conversation was restarted by him.

“Well, I admit I am indeed afraid of such things. But that's a natural thing for girls, right. My friend, Karin, is also afraid of such things. So don't make fun of me. Hump.” He ended his speech by puffing his cheeks.

Really cute, I think. This was the first time he had behaved like that in front of me.

“Maybe my feelings or indeed Aki-chan's attitude changed if she was with her father?”

“Haha, he has always been like this at home. But that's what makes it cute, right?”

“Dad!!!”

Warm to witness the intimacy of a family.

But my chest is a little tight. Strange, is this what is called envy.

Having a family that is always together. Laugh together, talk to each other about trivial things. I don't know why something like that makes me a little jealous.

I smiled at the relationship between father and son.

“You guys are really familiar huh. I envy.” I whispered a voice that leaked from the heart.

“Ehh?”

“No, nothing. Just warm to see a happy family like you.”

“True too. Aki had already told me most of it. Is Alicia-san really living alone here? What about your parents?”

“Ya~ah, I do live here by myself. But it's okay, my parents are fine. He now lives abroad and also he always sends money. So it doesn't matter. No need to worry.” I finally made my own plot, adjusting to Aki's misunderstanding of me.

“Well, I was worried and also very curious. A young and rich girl lives alone in a village and instead lives in this old house that is in a forest that is famous for being haunted by its people. Many rumors scattered around here due to the appearance of Alicia in this house.”

“Rumor..?” I was confused and tilted my head.

“That's it, Alicia-san. You suddenly come and live in an old house that should be considered haunted. Then lightly take a walk and turn this house into a livable place easily and quickly, eliminating the impression of horror before. This house is really haunted, you know. And you live here? Didn't you meet something strange? Aren't you scared? Though I was still afraid, especially when you left me working alone here earlier.”

“Hantu...? What is it?” I was still confused even though it had been explained by Aki. The term ‘ghantu’ is completely new to me.

“You don't know. A ghost is an invisible existence. Even if it's just a myth. And the people who believed him were afraid of him.”

“Dad! It's not just a myth. I've really experienced it. Every time you walk through here. I often hear strange things, such as broken plates or other noises.”

“The turn is also just the wind. The proof is that the father who always goes home through here never feels disturbed at all. For the big snake you talked about earlier, it was indeed a paddy snake. It will not attack if it is not disturbed. So I knew and always avoided it. It's just an accident if you're backing him up. But I was also wrong to leave the dangerous snake alone and not to tell. Because after all the snake is very useful in eradicating pests such as rats and others. So we farmers agreed that we would just let him live free. But still, pardon me, you are involved in danger.” In the last part he bowed his body slightly while sitting. It seemed like he was very sorry to leave his only daughter in danger.

“Y-yah, if you've apologized, it's okay. Alicia-san was also there at that time, so everything became fine.”

“One more time thank you Alicia-san. Looks like you've become my daughter's hero.”

When I wanted to say something, Aki had already cut it off.

“That's true, but it's a different matter with ghosts. Snakes are living creatures. Although I was afraid of him, it was different from ghosts! So don't equate snakes with ghosts.”

“Oke-okay. You're still as timid as you used to be, yeah. So if you admit ghosts aren't living things, why fear the non-living. He can't bite like a snake." His father said the important points at once. Causing Aki's forehead to wrinkle.

"Yeah........You really don't know, yeah......"

And then a vicious mouth fight happened.

Somehow the direction of the current changed from a warm conversation to a word quarrel. Still, I kept smiling looking at their mouths. Because it's also part of family intimacy. As the saying goes, 'Fighting is part of closeness'.

Without hesitation, I took advantage of this situation to take the time to drink tea and eat biscuits.

My heart melted with the sweetness of the warm tea and the softness of these biscuits in the mouth.

.....

After a few minutes have passed.

“Sorry, looks like we got too carried away.”

“Tak what. It also shows how familiar your family is.”

“It's a little embarrassing. I'll refill the tea.” Aki then refilled my teacup which had already passed half a glass.

“Well, because this is my home and I don't mind it either. It's fine as long as it doesn't become a physical conflict.”

“Ehem. Sorry about that. By the way, is Alicia really not afraid of ghosts? Maybe because you don't know the rumors in this village yet. But as a fellow woman with my daughter, aren't you afraid after hearing those rumors? Also more importantly, aren't you afraid of living here alone?"

“No. Anyway I don't know what ‘ghantu’ is.”

“So, yes. I just thought you didn't know the rumors. By the way, can I ask you something?”

“Please...”.

“Sorry if this is rude, but as I saw and heard, isn't Alicia a rich girl. Why choose to live in the village rather than in the city. Especially living alone in a house that previously seemed haunted?"

“I, it's because..” I am confused whether I should explain it or not.

“If don't want to answer, don't need to be forced. I'm just curious. Sorry.”

“Yes, it's okay. Thank you.”

“Soalah I'm worried, maybe you feel uncomfortable being the lips of people here. Moreover, it is possible that rumors can come out of the village. Because this place was once famous for being haunted. Many people visited him. No wonder so many strange rumors spread around Alicia.”

“that's right. I'm going to lock myself up for a few days, when a lot of people talk about me.” Aki.

“Therefore if you want Alicia just stay with us, even though our narrow house is fine. Even better because it can be Aki's friend at home.”

“No. It's okay like this. It's my own choice. So I decided to stay here.”

"Don't you feel lonely, living here alone?"

"Sit~sih. But it was my decision to stay alone. There's a reason behind it too."

It would even be troublesome since my identity is still suspicious. Although Aki seemed disappointed with this decision.

“Yeah, fine then. We also will not force.”

Then we saw that the window had become darker, the sun sign had lost its light.

“Because it's almost night, it's probably better to have dinner here. Because Aki cooked it too.”

I offered it to the uncle who was Aki's father. Anyway I haven't given her a welcome yet.

“Indeed,sih. I am aware of this offer. Because even at home, Aki is the one who cooks for me. So this could reduce his work.”

We walked towards the dining room and Aki prepared her food while the two of us sat down on the chairs.

While waiting for Aki to finish cooking. I decided to fill the void.

“Oh, yes uncle. I have something for uncle. I heard from Aki, that uncle works as a farmer. So I was thinking of giving this rather than in vain.”

I handed over the package containing the grains.

“What, what is this?”

Uncle seemed surprised by my sudden gift.

“That's rice seed. I don't need it, so I just give it to uncle.”

“This, this is rice seed? Is this expensive? I can't accept such a thing. Hiring my daughter has also become a gratitude for me.”

“It's okay. I told you because I don't need it, because I don't have land anyway. I also have no money problems. So rather than being wasted by me. Better taken care of by an expert hand, right?”

“But, it is true....If, then,....If that's what it is, then fine, thank you for your kindness. I feel like my debt to you is increasing.”

“Do not hesitate.”

“Thank you. Thank you.”

.....

“What happened,?”

While when my welcome really worked, Aki came and was confused to see her father crying happily.

“It's okay. I'm just glad to see Aki's fine working here. Alicia-san, please take care of Aki for me.”

“OK. Leave it to me.”

The atmosphere finally returned and the three of us had dinner with this father and son couple becoming more talkative. It is not polite to eat while talking.

I smiled warmly at them.

Seeing them I got the inspiration to make the saying again.

'A good relationship will give you a good atmosphere around it.'