Laura's Journey

Chapter 2: Laura and Luna

After resting for some time on the Farm. Mayu and decided to go back to our home.

We did something very dangerous together earlier this morning. Trying to forget everything that happened to our little journey. I know that it will cause some major trouble for us. Keeping it a secret is for the best of everything.

That’s what we promised each other.

While we are on our way out of the farm. I noticed my mother carrying a lot of stuff. Seems like she’s from the grocery store.

"Mama! Mama!"

I called my mother and help her by taking the grocery bags she's carrying.

"Laura... Mayu-chan..."

With curiosity on what are eating later. I take a peek inside the bags. There was vegetable and in top of them. I saw raw chicken and breeding.

Chicken with breading only means one thing. It’s gotta be my favorite food of all time.

"Wow, it's chicken! Are we having fried chicken today?"

"Yep, today is my special fried chicken."

My mother replied and pat my head.

I jump in joy and hug my mother.

“I’m so worried earlier not seeing you in bed… I asked the guard if they saw you. I’m happy that you're just playing with Mayu-chan.”

Hearing those words I feel like I’m betraying my mother. Just not wring about it. I’m indeed playing with Mayu. But I definitely can’t tell her that we go across the border without any permission.

My mother will be really angry if she happened to know about it. I can imagine her raging eyes and scolds already.

Maybe it’s better to keep it a secret for now.

I turn my glance to Mayu. She is sweating for a bit and feels guilty about what happened earlier.

Earlier, I nearly fly off to heaven if she didn’t save me. She saves me but she’s also the one who invited me to go with her.

I don’t like the idea of blaming but Mayu is a kind person. She will definitely think that right now.

Mayu on the other side is just standing silently. I made steps toward her and then held her hands.

“Don’t worry about it.”

I said with low toned voice.

“Laura…”

Mayu smiled and nodded.

“What are you whispering to Mayu-chan, Laura?”

“Nothing, it’s just our secret.”

“You two sure are close friends. Mayu thank you for looking at my daughter when I was not there for her. She is a bit stupid but she is very kind.”

“The pleasure is mine… Also, Laura is not stupid, She is just a  little stupid and I made her very cute.”

What’s the difference between stupid and a bit stupid?!

I pouted my mouth and look toward my mother and Mayu. Seeing my squirrel-like face. They both chuckle a laugh.

Seeing them laugh innocently made me really happy.

"Mayu-chan are you free today? I’m making fried chicken how about joining us in our mealtime?"

Mayu put her index finger to her cheeks and with an embarrassed tone she said:

"Ummm... I... I have something to do on the farm..."

"Eh… But we already finish the harvesting yesterday and today is you're day-off right?"

I protested and pull her arms. With my action don’t have much of a choice anymore.

"Can you help us cooking at home?"

My mother requested.

"That's right let's cook together Mayu.".

Mayu look downcasted and made a sigh. She already accepts that she can’t decline with both me and my mother asking her a favor.

"Looks like I don't have a choice."

"Then it's decided."

After that, We go home with Mayu and go straight to the kitchen. We wear our aprons and started the cooking. Our house is not that big. It’s just a simple house that can be lived by two people. There is one bedroom and which was shared by my mother and I. living room is not that spacious and the kitchen seems like in normal size.

"Mayu are you feeling well?"

"Well, this is my first time cooking in another people's house. I felt I bit nervous… What if I made a mistake cooking. I feel embarrassed if that happened.”

“Don’t worry about it…  turning with tongs every 1–2 minutes and adjusting heat to maintain a steady temperature of 300°–325°, until skin is deep golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of chicken registers 165°, about 10 minutes for wings and 12 minutes for thighs, legs, and breasts. It’s very simple right?”

“You did know you’re stuff, Laura.”

We started covering the chicken with butter with my mother's special seasoning. We're doing it a bit messy bit. It's fun. Mayu seemed to be enjoying it as well.

My mother already prepared the frying pan and started fry cooking the chicken. A delicious aroma covered the entire kitchen.

After a few moments, The fried chicken that we cook is now ready to eat.

Mayu and I are sitting and waiting for the fried chicken. My mother serves the plate with hot pooping rice and a piece of fried chicken.

"Thank you for the food." 3x

We then started eating.

I started munching the leg part of the chicken and then… I suddenly feel bliss in my body. Nothing really defeats my mother's recipe of fried chicken.

“The taste of this fried chicken exceeds the word deliciously."

"Don't make me flatter in front of your friend Laura."

Said my mother and then wipes the gravy in my mouth.

"... Oh Mayu got gravy in her cheeks too. Here it goes."

My mother also wipes gravy in Mayu's cheeks.

Mayu's face started to blush in embarrassment and look downward.

"Th-thank you."

"If you still want more you can her more chicken."

My mother replies with a smile.

…

After eating and enjoying our lunch, Mayu and I go to my mother's little garden in our backyard and have a little talk about something.

"Laura you’re so lucky."

Said Mayu while looking at me who's watering the flowers.

"Of course, I'm able to eat chicken today. I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world."

"No, I mean you're a mother. You're lucky to have such a wonderful mother like Luna-san."

"Well, I'm really thankful that she became my mother. I don't have to complain about her, but every time I talked about traveling, and venturing around the world is my dream. My mother sometimes gets angry… And I don’t know why? But still no matter what happened. I will still make sure that I will travel the world.”

Followed by my words, the sound of breaking glass is heard.

My mother who supposes to hold the tray with a glass of juice lost her grip. She was shocked for a moment and then she gets angry with me.

"Laura! How many times I told you about not going outside or traveling around the world! You're not supposed to leave this town! Outside this town is a very dangerous place! Do you understand that?!"

Mother's voice rises and walked toward me.

"But that's something I want to do. Why can't you understand that? I don't want to rot in this place. I want to explore the world."

My mother’s eye looks very fearful after hearing my words. She then suddenly slap my face. Mayu was shocked at what happened.

"The outside world is dangerous, living in peace here is the best for you."

I started to cry and said:

"You just adopted me because you don't want to be alone rotting in this place. I'm unlike you... Stupid stupid stupid."

I run away leaving my mother and Mayu behind.

I continue running and running until I reach the riverside

Why Mama can't understand my dream? She's kind but every time she heard me saying the things about me taking adventure. She always got mad.

This is the first time she hit and it really hurt. Mama is really stupid.

I threw a rock into the river attempting for rock to skip.

A familiar voice is heard from my back. Turning my head. I saw Mayu who follows me after I ran away.

"I knew it you’re here Laura."

Mayu throws a rock into the river making four skips before it sinks. She saw my stubborn side earlier. I get a little embarrassed looking at her eyes.

"... You’re mother told me a story, I didn't know that you're actually adopted till now… I'm always wondering why I don't see you're father, but now my question is answered."

I rock a piece of small rock and try to imitate Mayu but I failed to skip stone even once. I fell but Mayu put her hands to my shoulder and said:

"Luna-san is a very kind mother to you. There is no way you're mother will think of you as her possession."

"But my mother adopted me because she doesn't want to be alone right?"

"It may be true that she doesn't want to be alone, but I think there is a deeper answer in why she adopted you..."

I turn my gaze toward Mayu and asked:

"Then what is that other reason?"

"It's obvious, she cares about your safety because she loves you as her own child. No mother wants her child to be in danger. I know that the world is dangerous. Like in the place we headed earlier. It may be beautiful but some dangerous things are still lurking around."

Mayu said.

"But I still want to travel! The world is so big. I want to know a lot about it.  Don’t want to confine me in this small town."

I said as protested.

"Figured, I know that you're going to say that because that is also my answer. Following one’s dream is like stepping to the line of death. Today your mother didn't understand but someday for sure. Your mother will understand you."

I feel relief in my heart and made a smile.

That's right, all I need to do is to become optimistic about my future. Because someday I'm the one who will lead my own path.

To be the person I want to be.