17 Rainbow Rock (1/2)

Chapter 16: Rainbow Rock

Van chatted with the family of five as he escorted them to acquire their shop and home. The couple had 2 girls at the ages of 10 and 15 with a boy at the age of 12.

”Big Brother, how are you so strong?”

The younger girl asked Van with eyes shining. The boy also looked at Van expectantly. Van chuckled a little before telling tales of his adventure. He told of the great hunt that he had joined back in Mulberry City and of the fortuitous experience from meeting Yu Lin, leaving out a few important details.

The father listened into the stories, curious about how the 13-year-old had gotten so strong. He was also trying to see if he could get any hints on the young man's background.

During the storytelling session, hosted by yours truly, the girl and boy would gasp in shock every time Van would get to the fights that he had gotten into. Van was currently feeling very satisfied with himself as he watched the reactions of the two. He noticed the older girl sitting in the corner of the cart, arms crossed, watching his every move with suspicious eyes.

Inwardly, he smiled wryly as he watched the girl turn hostile at his gaze.

”You might have gained our family's trust, but don't think you can fool me!”

The girl snapped at him and shuffled further away from him. The dad looked at Van apologetically, promising to scold the girl later. Van laughed lightly.

”No need for all of that. I've just met, her suspicions aren't unwarranted.”

He continued to try to soften up the older girl's aggressive temperament, but she continued to act hostile towards him.

After a few minutes, they finally reached the store, where the father handed over the land deed to the caretaker before he was handed the keys. The father started to unpack the boxes with Van's help while the 12-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl raced each other around the room. The 15-year-old girl started to quietly sweep the shop floor.

Van, determined to set things right, walked up to the girl and tried to start a conversation.

”So what's your name?”

”Why do you want to know? Will you use it to threaten me later on?”

The girl dropped the broom, put both arms on her chest in a defensive gesture, and took a few steps back. Van started to panic a bit.

”No! That's not why I want to know your name at all! I'm just trying to set things right. I didn't want to leave without clearing up all the misunderstandings.”

She continued to look at him suspiciously but seemed to have finally opened up to a conversation.

After a few tries, the girl finally opened up to Van and they started to have a proper conversation. She would talk of life back in the countryside and how much she missed her friends.