Chapter 109 - JOKE

"Why are you crying?" Lapil squatted beside her when he sees her shoulder shaking. She bowed her head, sniffing and sobbing. "Are you mad or are you sad?" 

"You're annoying! Let me cry for him! He was just a baby monkey! It's normal to play around! This is his habitat! He is not even safe at his home!" She cried out hitting his arm, as a result, she fell to the ground. Hugging her knees she grieved for the life that she ended. 

"I killed a baby!" She wailed louder. Lapil was stunned at her behavior. He was not expecting her to burst out. 

"I did it, I killed it---"

"STOP CALLING HIM 'IT'! HE WAS ALIVE!" She yelled at him angrily. For a moment she lost her cool. 

"A-alright, I killed him. Don't cry anymore." He tried coaxing her that he had never done before. Everything he does today, he does it for the first time for her. 

He was surprised even more by himself. Why instead of being irritated by her crying, he was concerned and wanted to coax her whims. Though he was not aware of what he should do, to make her stop crying. 

Yanarym was truly awestruck and disconcerted seeing an actual living life form die in front of her. She had watched it on television before, she had attended her friend's parent's funeral. But it was her first time killing a breathing and lively animal, a baby at that. 

Achis had taught her the basics of haunting. They don't haunt for fun, they haunt to live. They needed to kill to survive, a death with no purpose is the worst of it. And she just wasted a life. Even though she transmigrated into a book, or whether everything that's happening to her was fictitious or her illusions. 

They were vivid and they all were substantial, at least for her. They were warm, they were alive. She was shocked when she felt the warm and fuzzy body of the baby become stiff and cold. Evident that it was already dead. The aftereffect of the event made her flustered, when she was putting the soil to bury the baby monkey, it sinks into her. 

How it died just like that, how unruly. And his killer wasn't even mourning for him. Maybe his parents are looking for him, but he is already gone. What did he even do wrong? He was just playing. They can just tell it off-- Why does Lapil have to throw a knife? 

Then, she remembered the original's fate. She died like this too. She was intoxicated and was played on the bed of a brute stranger. The morning came, she did not wake up because she was already dead. The reason for her death was simply because she would be a burden for Achis' ambitions. Now that she understands, she wanted to give the unfair death of the original justice.

They stayed at the tree for an hour when Yanarym was determined to get back on her tracks. She looked at Lapil who was still staying by her side the whole time. He was keeping his calm vibes like he had no care about the world. He was not even guilty of the death of life. Maybe it was a normal thing for people in this world. Death -life - They were all rigorous.

As she thought, she doesn't belong here. Along with the original and the baby monkey. They were not safe to stay here. 

"Are you fine now?" He asked her as they sauntered to the woods. Yanarym smiled at him. 

"Yes, I was flustered. I am not used to seeing death. I am not a fan of violence. I hate seeing someone in pain. I also don't want to be in pain." She said casually and looked at her hands which were mixed with blood and dirt. 

"Do you think I'm cruel?"

"Well, aren't you?" She refused with a gentle smile that made Lapil shut up. Yanarym took a glimpse at him, he looked discontent with her statement.

Yanarym smiled, took her dagger, and inspected the soil on the blade, "I am going to tell you a joke." 

"Joke?" 

"I was killed, and I came back to avenge my death."

She laughed and showed her dagger to him. "That's why I wanted to learn weapons. Don't you find this strange? A woman with a knife." 

"I do." He responds gazing at her smiling expression. With her disheveled and soiled with bloody visage, he still found her gorgeous. "Your joke, it's not funny."

"Oh, I have no talent, hahaha." She halted and Lapil stopped his steps too. "It's time to bid my farewell." 

"Why?" 

"I can't bring you home with me," she replied, scratching her hair. "I've been taking so much of your time. And I can manage from here, don't worry." Lapil did not rebuke but he also did not leave. 

Yanarym took something from her pocket and gave it to him. "This is the only thing I have with me. Take it." She handles over a gold bracelet that Achis gave her last night. Lapil looked at the well-carved golden bracelet. 

He doesn't lack gold in his treasury, however, he accepted it. "Since I have taken your payment, I should finish my duty taking you home." He uttered that made Yanarym pause. 

Another headache...

"There's no need." She waved her hand to refuse but the young man kept on arguing about what he wanted. "I'm good from here." 

"I insist." Lapil smiled sweetly, Yanarym pressed her lips together. She had to lose him, if not, she knew very well, he would pester her. And Achis won't be delighted if she was brought back by a random man looking like this.

"Have you kissed someone before?" She asked out of context. She had learned something from Achis and Maki. Men in this world are weak to a woman who initiates physical contact.

"No." Lapil retorted, confused by her question.. "I never kissed anyone."