The car fell into a sudden, peaceful silence. Even Milo sat back, looking relieved.
Then Karl whispered, "...But it really had good speakers—"
"MILO!" Ruby shouted. "Open the window and throw him out!"
"I’m ready," Milo said calmly, already rolling down the window halfway with a cute smirk.
"WIFE NOOO!" Karl cried, grabbing his seatbelt like it was a lifeline. "You’re heartless! A beauty but with no mercy!"
Ruby only smiled coldly, finally able to enjoy the quiet—well, almost quiet—drive back.
"Wife—" Milo’s voice came from behind.
"Shut up, Karl!" Ruby snapped without even looking at him, her tone sharp as a knife.
Karl blinked. "I didn’t even say anything this time, wife..." he mumbled, looking aggrieved, his lower lip pushed out like a sulky child.
"I spoke," Milo said quietly from the back seat.
Ruby’s eyes widened slightly. "Oh—sorry, Milo," she said gently, glancing at the rearview mirror with an apologetic smile.
Karl gasped like someone had stabbed him with betrayal. "Hmph!" He turned his whole body toward the window, arms crossed like a toddler. "So he gets a sorry. I see how it is."
Ruby shot him a look out of the corner of her eye.
He immediately straightened up and stared intently outside like he was studying the clouds for meaning.
Milo chuckled, shaking his head. "Anyway, wife," he said sweetly, "I was wondering... can we stop somewhere? I want to pick up a few things for the Blessing Flame Ceremony. Some good incense and maybe a new hair pins."
Ruby smiled. "Of course, Milo. That’s a good idea."
Karl’s mouth dropped open in slow motion.
"Of course, Milo," he mimicked under his breath. "Yes, Milo. Great idea, Milo," he muttered, still facing the window, voice high-pitched and mocking. "But if I ask something, it’s ’No, Karl, not now, Karl, stop talking, Karl, be quiet, Karl!’"
Ruby sighed, eyes rolling. "Because you asked for a three-thousand-gem Soulstream TV right after I spent a fortune."
Karl turned back around dramatically. "You act like I asked for a castle! It’s just a little screen! For learning!"
"For acting," Milo added dryly.
Karl squinted at him. "You’re not helping."
Ruby smirked and shook her head. "Both of you are going to walk back home at this rate."
Immediately, they both sat up straight in perfect silence.
Ruby parked the car just beside the town market and stepped out, locking the doors with a soft click.
The moment her feet hit the pavement, Karl and Milo shot off like two children released from school.
Milo was already halfway to the incense stall, eyes twinkling with delight. "Wife! Look at this—it smells like sweet smoke and citrus!" he called, waving a bundle of rolled herbs. He was in full focus mode, carefully selecting candles, home decor charms, and an elegant silver tray for the Blessing Flame Ceremony.
Meanwhile, Karl stood frozen near the entrance of a small shop, arms folded across his chest.
"Why aren’t you looking around?" Ruby asked, walking past him with a raised brow.
"I can’t," Karl replied miserably. "My hands... they just want to touch Soulstream."
"What?" Ruby narrowed her eyes.
"My soul rejects all other merchandise, wife," Karl sighed, placing the back of his hand against his forehead like he was fainting. "My heart is broken. My shopping spirit has been crushed ever since you denied me that beautiful, shiny screen..."
Milo passed by with a new hair pins in his hand and muttered under his breath, "Someone should have stayed in the car."
Karl gasped. "Even my own brothers mock me in my time of pain!"
After the longest afternoon of listening to Karl’s dramatic sighs, complaints, and long-winded speeches about Soulstream, Ruby had officially reached her limit.
The moment they reached home, she parked the car with a sharp tug of the handbrake. Without even turning off the engine, she leaned across the seat, opened Karl’s door, and called out flatly, "Julian!"
Julian, who had just stepped out holding a small broom and watering can, blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
Ruby pointed to Karl without any explanation. "He’s yours now."
Too late. Karl had already skipped out of the car and into Julian’s arms like a returning war hero. "Jules! I suffered so much today! You have no idea! Our wife—our lovely, terrifying wife—denied me the only joy my fragile heart desired!"
Julian awkwardly caught him by the shoulders. "Wait, what? What happened?"
Ruby didn’t answer. She simply turned around and walked back to the car, muttering something that sounded like "I need silence and a cold drink."
She opened backseat, picked up her new laptop box with both hands, and gave Milo a short nod. He grabbed the rest of the accessories, bags, and that ridiculous oversized manual the shop insisted on including.
After going inside, Milo gently shut the door with his foot as his arms were full of bags. Ruby rushed ahead and placed the boxed laptop carefully on the coffee table. She looked like a kid trying to hide her excitement but failing terribly. Her fingers danced over the tape, and her eyes sparkled like someone about to open a long-awaited treasure chest.
Karl came running, his curiosity overpowering his earlier heartbreak. "Wait for me, wife!! I want to see it too!!"
Julian followed behind. "You didn’t even change your clothes," he said softly, but he walked over and sat beside her anyway.
Ruby, completely focused, finally lifted the lid. A breath of relief escaped her lips the moment her new laptop came into view.
It was sleek, slightly larger then normal, with a subtle shimmer across the surface. The logo "Soul S’ 2050 RTX" was etched in a neat silver script on the corner. The body was smooth, dark gray with a matte finish, and the keyboard keys were slightly raised, soft to touch.
She let her hand rest over it for a second like she was greeting an old friend.
And she turned on the laptop. A soft whirring sound filled the livingroom, followed by a gentle flicker of light across the screen. The logo began to bloom onto the display—a glowing silver crescent with the words Soul S’ 2050 appearing in elegant cursive. A light chime played, crisp and echoing softly.
Karl leaned closer, eyes wide. "Ooooh... it’s alive," he whispered.
—To be continued...🪄