6 Decision (2/2)

When the next day came, the family resumed their usual activities. The five younger sisters went to school earlier while Una stayed later to help her mother.

With only the mother and daughter left in the house, though, let's not forget about Ling, Mahina opened up the conversation last night.

”Una, about that offer from the shaman yesterday, maybe you don't want to accept it because you're concerned of us who you'll leave behind, especially me. But I want you to have the best life and you can still help the family even when you're far away. If the volcano showed signs of eruption, our family will have a place with you in the city.”

She inhaled softly, as if saying a difficult decision, ”I decided to talk to Old Lady Burha and accept her offer to use her power to stop me from getting pregnant again. That should help with my usual condition.”

Mahina sighed in relief after speaking her case. She felt that this should help encourage her daughter to stop worrying about the family.

”Thanks, mother. I'll take that into consideration.”

After a while, Una left with Ling to go to her class.

While walking, she kept thinking, 'Were they really thinking of me? Why haven't they even asked what I want?'

Ling felt his sister's troubles. He was, maybe, the only one who didn't want Una to leave.

”Na-na!” ”Hey!”

The two voices was said at the same time, with the louder one cutting out the sound of the other which made the girl turn behind her.

The purple-clad youth from yesterday was waving his hand to her, smiling while looking at the window from the carriage. To show respect, Una stopped walking and waited for the man to get out of the vehicle and saunter to her position.

”Are you going to class? With the kid?” He gestured his hand to the frowning bundle, ”Want me to stay with the child until after your class? I will also be in your age's class to observe.”

Una looked at Ling. The boy seemed to be glaring at the young man. Even though Ling wants to stay with his sister, he understands that he could be a bother to her studies so he didn't cling to Una. Since the kid didn't look too averse to the suggestion, she passed Ling to Alon.

Learning from the previous experience, Alon accepted the kid from her but held him away from him, carrying the baby by his armpits. Una stared at him, shaking her head in understanding then left them to go to school.

The two stared at each other for a while until the older one spoke first, ”Ok, let's talk man-to-man. I know you may think I'm stealing your sister but it's for her own good. Don't you want your sister to be stronger and then be able to be praised by many?”

Since Ling did want what was best for his sister, he compromised and stopped glaring at the other man. The man sighed in relief, held the baby properly and started to walk to the school.

When Una met with them again, she noticed the change in the two. Ling was tired at that time so when he leaned on his sister's shoulders, he eventually fell asleep.

Una can feel that the usual intense 'mist' surrounding the boy since yesterday was now gone. She stared at Alon, expressing on her face that she was surprised. The young man just smiled.

___

A few days after, the visitors were readying to depart. Una was also packing her things, with the chaos of her family members managing to help her.

When almost the whole village gathered outside the village to send them off, our boy became flustered while in his father's arms, wanting to change his mind and stop his sister from leaving.

Alon also noticed this and looked in the child's eyes, ”Be a man.”

Those near who heard him gaped, 'Seriously?'

Getting angry at this guy, Ling was about to cry when Una touched his forehead. Alon, thinking that the girl will change her mind, stepped near her and noticed that the 'mist' surrounding the boy receded until the baby closed his eyes and fell asleep.

The people from the city, especially Alon, were shocked with this display of power. Una turned her back from her family and faced Alon, ”Let's go.”

The entourage left, with our boy, Ling, still sleeping peacefully.