Ruby spotted a breakfast shop and led her husbands over, all of them looking visibly excited. Adrian and Karl were especially trying hard to contain their smiles, nudging each other with barely hidden grins.
They settled onto the stools, and the shopkeeper approached with a curious glance. "What can I get for you?" he asked, his gaze lingering on Ruby. He recognized her—she was the homeless witch everyone knew about. He couldn’t help but wonder how she planned to pay, but a customer was a customer, and he couldn’t just turn them away.
Ruby met his questioning look with a calm smile, pulling out a one note from scarf. "five plates of breakfast, please," she said confidently, watching the shopkeeper’s expression shift to surprise.
The shopkeeper’s eyes widened in shock as he took the notes from Ruby, but he quickly composed himself, nodding and hurrying to serve them their breakfast. As he placed the steaming plates in front of each of them, he couldn’t help sneaking curious glances at Ruby and her husbands, still processing the unexpected sight of them actually paying.
Adrian and Karl exchanged a pleased look as they picked up their spoons, barely able to keep their excitement contained. Meanwhile, Milo and Julian seemed almost shy, as though they couldn’t quite believe they were sitting there, enjoying a warm breakfast.
The shopkeeper, busying himself behind the counter, was already gathering their change, sneaking another glance at the group.
The breakfast spread was simple yet incredibly satisfying—flavorful meatballs, fried red rice with a hint of spice, and a light pink tea that had a soothing aroma and a pleasantly sweet, mild taste. Ruby took a sip of the tea, and an unexpected smile crept onto her face; it was smooth and comforting, almost better than any coffee she’d ever had.
The warmth of the tea was just what she needed and she felt a gentle relief wash over her as she sipped. Across the table, her husbands seemed equally captivated by the meal. Karl and Adrian were quietly munching away, trying to hide their delight, while Milo savored each bite with an almost childlike joy. Julian caught her eye for a moment, his smile soft as he held his cup of tea.
It was a small, simple moment, yet it felt like a rare, perfect calm.
After paying and taking the change, Ruby led her husbands outside. She could feel everyone’s stares on her, eyes wide with surprise and curiosity. Before she could wonder why, a familiar voice broke through the crowd.
Turning around, she spotted a witch with wild black hair and dark circles around her eyes, giving her a distinct "panda" look. Her clothes were slightly rumpled, and she looked like she hadn’t slept in days.
"Who are you?" Ruby asked, half-seriously, squinting as if trying to place her.
"Traitor!" the witch spat, crossing her arms. "After leaving me to deal with everything alone, you even forgot me?!"
"Oh, Angel! It’s you!" Ruby finally recognized her. Studying her friend’s face, she couldn’t help but notice how rough she looked—like she’d been carefully beaten by somone.
Angeline gritted her teeth, her panda eyes narrowed. "You left me, Ru! Look at me now."
Ruby almost burst out laughing. She could only imagine what Angeline had gone through. ’Thank goodness I got out of there in time,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, I’d be looking like a panda too.’
Ruby smirked, folding her arms as she gave Angeline a teasing look. "You should’ve thought twice before messing with your third hubby," she muttered, unable to hide her amusement.
Angeline let out a dramatic sigh, glancing at Ruby’s husbands. "Oh, Ruby, this is just a trailer. Wait till you meet the rest of my husbands... Your husbands are practically angels in comparison."
Ruby’s eye twitched as she turned to look back at her four husbands. Karl was blinking innocently—though she knew well enough he was far from innocent. Adrian stood silent and stoic, acting decent.
But Milo—oh, Milo was the picture of curiosity. He stared at Angeline’s face with wide, fascinated eyes, tilting his head slightly as if trying to solve a mystery. His gaze was glued to her dark circles, as if he couldn’t understand how they got there.
And Julian... well, Julian just offered his gentle, warm smile, completely unbothered.
She shook her head with a small sigh.
"Let me introduce you," Ruby said, gesturing to her friend. "This is Angeline, my new friend, and she’s the one helping us find a house in her neighborhood."
Her husbands all gave a polite "hi," though each with their own unique expression—some curious, others reserved.
"And here they are—this is Milo," Angeline nodded at the wide-eyed, cute one. "Then Karl," who gave a half-smile, "Julian," the calm and polite one, "and Adrian," who just nodded with a cool look.
Angeline grumbled as she looked at Ruby, "You could’ve at least stayed with me long enough to get the address."
"Hmm, the past is bygone, Angel. We shouldn’t dwell on it," Ruby said with a big smile, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear and giving Angeline a playful wink. "Let’s just focus on the future—let’s see this house."
Angeline nodded, and they all followed her through the winding path. As they walked, Ruby spotted animals like chickens and cows wandering around.
It struck her how fuzzy and unclear some memories were, like the original owner hadn’t paid much attention to small details, especially after she started drinking. Only the earlier memories, before the haze of alcohol, felt vivid and real.
After about fifteen minutes of walking, Ruby noticed a large, twisted tree up ahead. Its thick, gnarled branches drooped downward, and the wide trunk had an eerie look.
She could only imagine how creepy it would look at night.
"We’re here," Angeline announced, as evryone stopped and looked area.
Ruby looked around, taking in the scene. The houses were all made of wood, each one cozy but with a definite old, almost antique charm. It made sense—ghosts and witches would naturally be drawn to these types of places, with their mysterious, lived-in vibes. And, well, she was a witch too now, so it suited her just fine.
There were five houses in total. Two stood in the center, one on the left, another on the right, and the last one sat a little closer to the right. Each house had its own character: a few had vines creeping up the sides, and the wood was worn but sturdy, like it had stood through countless seasons.
—To be continued...🪄