Chapter 719: Grey Skys And Tired Faces
At first, Olivia had thought she would simply give him a quick kiss, just a small peck to indulge him, and then pull back, nothing more.
She assumed they'd go on their way as though nothing had happened, the ride continuing quietly down the road.
But Kafka…
Kafka didn't pull back.
Instead, his lips lingered, moving softly against hers in slow, deliberate motions as if he wasn't even aware that they were still on the scooter, moving steadily along the street.
It was almost as though the road no longer mattered to him, as if all his focus and care were consumed by the kiss.
And Olivia, to her own dismay, found that she couldn't bring herself to stop either.
Every time she thought about pulling back, feeling her face burning, her chest rising and falling quicker, her lips would betray her. She'd press into him again, melting into his warmth, unable to resist.
'It's too enjoyable...too warm.' She thought helplessly, her heart hammering wildly as a rush of pleasure bloomed in her chest.
For so many years of her life, Olivia had never kissed anyone on the lips...Not even once.
The only kisses she'd ever known were the chaste, affectionate pecks on her cheeks from her parents and the occasional playful kisses from Abi.
But this...this was an entirely different world.
With each press and movement of their lips, an inexplicable warmth pooled deep in her belly, sending soft tingles down her spine.
Her thoughts blurred, her senses overwhelmed by the intoxicating sweetness of her son's lips against hers.
'So this...this is what kissing really feels like.'
And with that realization, she stopped trying to pull away altogether.
Shame and reason melted away as she tilted her head further back, making it easier for Kafka so he wouldn't strain himself. And timidly, nervously, Olivia began to kiss him back, experimenting, adjusting her lips, fumbling slightly as she tried to match his rhythm.
'I'm learning.' She thought, her brows furrowing slightly in determination even as her face burned. 'If I keep practicing...maybe one day I'll be able to kiss properly too instead of relying on Kafi to lead.'
But just as she was starting to find her own rhythm, just as she felt like she never wanted anyone or anything to interrupt this bliss, Kafka suddenly broke the kiss.
The loss of his lips startled her so much that her eyes almost flew open. She stopped herself just in time, biting back a squeak as she felt the cool air rush over her now overly-sensitive lips.
"K-Kafi…?" She murmured, her voice small, almost wounded. Her cheeks puffed slightly in a pout as her brows knitted together. "Why...Why did you stop? Why'd you pull away all of a sudden?"
Kafka glanced down at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief as a slow grin spread across his face.
"Hah...a few minutes ago you were so reluctant to even kiss me." His voice was warm, teasing as he leaned closer, his lips ghosting near her ear. "And now look at you. You're practically begging for another kiss."
"Wha—?! I-I am not!" Olivia blurted out, her face turning scarlet.
Kafka chuckled softly, his gaze dropping to her lips. "You sure? Because you look so flustered right now. And your lips…" His smile deepened, playful and tender all at once. "They're glistening with my saliva."
Her hands flew up to her mouth immediately, wiping at her lips in a panic as if that would erase the embarrassment staining her cheeks.
"I-It's not like that!" She squeaked, her voice cracking slightly. "I was only...only doing it for your sake!"
Kafka raised a brow, amused. "Oh? My sake?"
"Yes!" Olivia shot back, trying desperately to maintain her composure. "You're doing such a good job driving me to the next town over, so I thought...maybe...you'd need energy!"
"And because of how much of a pervert you are, kisses are basically your...your energy source! That's why I was doing it!" Her voice faltered toward the end, her excuse sounding utterly ridiculous even to her own ears.
Kafka let out a warm laugh but didn't call her out on it. Instead, he simply shook his head with a fond smile. "You really are hopeless sometimes, Mom." He murmured.
Then his gaze turned forward, softening as the scenery began to shift. "It's not me who decided to stop." He said gently, his voice lowering slightly. "It's just...I think it's time you open your eyes."
"Huh?" Olivia tilted her head back slightly, still keeping her eyes firmly shut. "Why?"
"Because…" Kafka's voice softened even more, carrying an almost reverent note. "It'd be sad for you to miss the sight in front of you. This is exactly why you came to this town...and why you bought your home here in the first place."
Olivia tilted her head, her voice a soft, confused murmur as she kept her eyes shut tight.
"What...what do you mean, Kafi? What's in front of me? Why do you want me to open my eyes so badly?"
Kafka only chuckled, the sound low and warm in her ear, sending goosebumps down her neck. "You'll see soon enough. If you want to know...open them and find out yourself."
She pouted slightly, clutching the scooter a little tighter. "You're not going to pull another prank on me, are you? I swear, Kafi, if this is just another one of your jokes to make me look silly."
"This isn't a prank, Mom." Kafka said softly, his voice carrying an unfamiliar tenderness that made her heart flutter. "I wouldn't joke about something like this. What's in front of you...it's something you don't want to miss."
That conviction in his tone, steady, warm, and utterly sincere, made her chest tighten. Olivia hesitated, biting her lip nervously.
'He sounds so certain...maybe I should trust him.'
So, deciding to trust him like she always did, slowly, cautiously, she let her lashes flutter open.
And the world around her took her breath away.
A gasp escaped her lips as her eyes went wide.
It was beautiful...No, more than beautiful.
All around her stretched endless, sun-drenched fields, a patchwork of lush green and golden hues that seemed to ripple like waves in the gentle breeze.
Neat rows of rice, wheat, and other crops danced under the sunlight, their dew-kissed blades shimmering like a sea of tiny diamonds.
Here and there, vibrant wildflowers added splashes of purple, yellow, and white, nodding softly as if to greet her.
And beyond the fields, in the distance, towering mountains rose majestically against the pale blue sky.
Some wore crowns of emerald-green forests, their leaves rustling softly in the morning wind, while others stood rugged and earthy, glowing with the deep warmth of sunlit soil.
At their feet, small streams glittered like silver threads weaving through groves of fruit trees.
They were riding on a narrow country road that cut gently through this idyllic landscape, the air rich with the earthy scent of soil, flowers, and morning dew.
Olivia's lips trembled as her fingers lifted to cover her mouth. "Oh...oh my gosh." She whispered, her voice breaking with awe.
Kafka glanced at her from the corner of his eye, a soft smile curving his lips as he watched her expression shift from surprise to wonder.
"Isn't it beautiful, Mom?" He murmured, his voice gentle but proud. "Utterly gorgeous, right?"
She nodded wordlessly at first, her throat tightening with emotion.
"This..." Kafka continued, his voice low and soothing as they passed a stretch of wheat swaying like golden waves. "This is probably the best time to see it all."
"We're right between the neighborhood and the main town. It's where most of the farming happens...Even though the town's modern now, farming's still at its heart."
He leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered.
"And in the morning, when the sunlight hits like this...it's magic. So? How is it, Mom? Beautiful?"
Olivia's voice came out in a breathless whisper, thick with awe.
"It's not just beautiful…" Her fingers brushed away tears that had spilled down her cheeks. "It's mesmerizing. It's so...so gorgeous, Kafi. I…"
Her voice faltered as a lump formed in her throat. "I feel like crying."
Kafka chuckled softly, his breath warm on her skin.
"You really are a crybaby, huh?" He teased, though his tone was laced with affection. "You've been crying all morning."
"It's not like that." Olivia said quickly, shaking her head as more tears gathered in her eyes. "This...this isn't just about the view."
Her voice softened, breaking slightly as memories stirred in her heart.
"For so many years...I lived in the city with Abi. All I ever saw were grey streets, tall buildings, and cold, tired faces. There was no air like this, no sky like this...no softness anywhere."
Kafka's smile faded into a look of quiet understanding, his chest tightening as he listened.
"The city felt like a cage sometimes." Olivia whispered, her voice shaking. "It was always loud, always crowded...but somehow so lonely. And for women like us, Kafi...life there was harder."
"...People treated Abi and me like we didn't belong. Like we were doing something wrong just for trying to live our lives."
She drew in a shaky breath, her fingers curling tightly in her lap.
"It was exhausting. Having to stay strong all the time. Having to fight so hard just to exist, just to keep going."
Kafka felt his throat tighten at her words, imagining the struggles she and Abigaille had faced, two women standing against a world that often seemed determined to push them down...