It had been a month since Ari had arrived in this strange world. He had more or less adapted to the life here, which was very different from the life he had at his old world.
He no longer had to wake up every morning to go to work tackling dozens of boisterous children, and grade their what felt to be unlimited assignment. Now he worked at noon until night at a tavern to be a kitchen helper. He still washed dishes, but sometimes when the tavern was not that busy the boss took him to learn how to make simple dishes. His knowledge of cooking now not only limited to instant noodles only.
He no longer needed to take bus to go to his work, as it was within walking distance. Thankfully his good habit of walking everyday could be continued here, even if it wasn't by choice anymore.
He no longer had phone or television as means to kill time, as there were no electronics nor electricity here. The night was lively only with the moonlight shining through the clouds and fire in the hearth.
It was different, and he kind of miss his old world, but Ari had no remaining close friends or family remaining, so it was bearable.
His daily activity consists of going to the old lady's home for a chat every other day, doing chores, then went to work. He would go home at night, when he would slowly walk to his home then rest. The work he did was tough and very physical, but he had slowly got used to it.
Sometimes he would meet Julian at the old lady's home, and somehow he began to teach the boy simple math. Only simple addition and subtraction, teaching the boy how to count money, and looking at Julian's eager face made Ari missed his old job.
He remembered why he decided to teach children. It was because of their pure excitement and unadulterated joy that makes every single hard work worth it. When he faced it every day, he became numb to it. Only when it was lost, then it was missed.
If only he could teach children here…
Was what circling Ari's mind this recent week. He was currently doing some errands for the boss, to go to the market to buy some goods. He had been on his way back, when his eyes caught something hanging in a clothesline across the road.
It was not a cloth, as it was not fluttering because of the wind blowing. It seemed firmer, and seemed familiar. Then Ari's eyes lit up.
Wasn't that paper?!
He had never crossed even a single pulp of paper in his month here, and he had finally seen it now. Maybe it was already created, but was expensive so common people had never seen them? He walked over quickly before he realized that he had been here before.
It was the chapel at his first day, when a kind lady gave him soup and bread. He had never gone to this part of the town anymore when commuting to work, so he had never come across it.
He wanted to come closer to inspect the suspected paper hanging on the clothesline, when he suddenly realized what other things was hanging there.
Women's underwear.
Ari blanched. Better went here next time rather than accused as pervert.
--=--=--
"Boss, I want a day off tomorrow."
"Hmm, fine."
The cook, who was in the back kitchen with the boss and Ari, perked his ear up.
"Got a date, man?" he prodded. Ari had never asked for a day off, so the cook who he was already familiar with was naturally curious.
"No, for research." Ari said plainly. The cook wilted, muttering 'no fun' under his breath.
But unknown to Ari, the boss shared a meaningful look with the cook behind his back. This kid seemed normal when he came in, but suddenly asked for day off after he went for an errand. He must have met someone and hooked up!
We must investigate.
--=--=--
The chapel's free soup had helped Ari when he had nothing, so after he found it again he decided to return the kindness and did some charity. He had more or less stable income now, so he could afford a few zhan for charity. He went to the market first thing in the morning to buy a big bag of potatoes and carrots. He didn't know if there were manners to do charity over here yet, so he just had to wing it now.
After simple lunch of bread and jam he went with his bag of groceries to the chapel. It was quiet like yesterday, and it seemed like there were no activity inside. But there was a makeshift table familiar with Ari set beside the chapel. Only then Ari realized that it was Saturday, the same day he had arrived in this world with nothing but his body.
He looked up as the side door of the chapel was opened by a lady, who noticed him and nodded. She had come out holding a big pot, and quickly set it on the makeshift table. After letting it go, she heaved a relieved sigh and smiled at Ari.
"What can I do for you, young man?" she asked.
"Ah, I wanted to make donation." He pointed at the bag in his hand with his head. She smiled delighted, and beckoned Ari to follow her to the side door of the chapel where she previously came from.
"It's lovely. May the god bless you." She prayed.
"It's nothing." Ari followed her obediently. Turned out that they were going to the kitchen, where there were two more women cooking. One of the ladies he recognized who also served the free soup before was in front of a wood stove, but there was one young lady he had never seen crouching, who looked up holding a knife in one hand and a half-peeled potato on the other.
"I'm Karenia, the caretaker of this chapel. Here we have two lovely ladies helping me out, Annabelle on the stove and Lisanna right there peeling the potato. We all thank you for your kindness. Yes, please just put it there, thank you. As it happens, we were preparing for supper right now, would you like to join us?" The lady offered me.
Ari had actually wanted for chance to investigate further about the paper hanging in the clothesline yesterday, but if he asked bluntly, it would come out as rude. This offer was the perfect chance, but his ingrained polite nature just had to refuse once. He didn't know whether they would take the bait or not, and he was panicking a little bit. Stupid mouth, blurting automatic responses.
Thankfully, the lady, Karenia, didn't disappoint. She clicked her tongue and looked at Ari, unimpressed.
"Nonsense, you would find that refusing a lady's offer is rude!" she exclaimed.
"Then sorry to bother you…"
Phew.
"I can cook, can I help you with anything?" Ari offered. The lady in front of the stove, Annabelle turned her head sharply, raising one eyebrow at him.
"Really?" it sounded like a challenge in Ari's ears.
--=--=--
"Is this peeling? The skin was so thick!"
"Why do you hold the knife like that? It will just hurt your wrist, no power at all!"
"Stir it up continuously, don't stop!"
"Don't fan the fire so high, it will burn!"
'Bruk'
Ari had thrown himself onto the dining chair in the far side of the kitchen, with his head dropped on the table, defeated.
Turned out that there were so much more he needed to know about cooking. Actually he just realized that when the boss or the cook had taught him something, It almost never was something to do with fire, just simple dish someone who lived alone could eat, and nothing elaborate. He had underestimated the skill of cooking. He dared not to be arrogant anymore, especially in front of some old lady. There were scary. His tormentor now was putting dishes on the table, with a satisfied expression on her face. Karenia, who had ditched him from the start, just huddled together with Lisanna across him, giggling.