Preparations for the journey

One morning you wake up in your bed.
The first rays are shining through the window.

It's always weird to wake up while still dreaming.
You always think you're awake again.
It felt like it has been real.
But after waking up you know it's too weird to be true.

You sit up in your bed and look at your wardrobe, mentally getting ready to get up.
Then you look around a bit. When looking in your bed you flinch back with surprise.

She has been real. It's not just been a dream.
She is real and is lying in your bed.
What should you do now?
Your parents are still at home!

Maybe it's best if you don't wake her up.
Your parents won't leave before breakfast anyway.
You just let her sleep for now and head down, still wearing your pajamas.

Mom and dad are already awake.
They are both in the kitchen.
Mom is still cleaning around in the kitchen while dad is sitting and the set table.

Good morning.

You sit down at the table.

Morning!

Mom just puts something aside before she gets to the table, too.

Good morning, cutie!

She gives you a hug and then sits down next to you.
Then everyone starts eating.
You choose some delicious looking bun.

How are your preparations going?

For school? I'm ready to go, I guess.
So I'll probably leave during the next week.
I still wanted to talk to my friends.
I don't know if they'll go, too.
If they go, we could go together.

Yeah, you probably should talk to them soon.
So I guess you don't have time to help me today?

No, sorry mom.

You start to worry about the girl. What if she comes down now?

After finishing your bun, you immediately get up.

Hey, wait!
If you want to get a real man, you have to eat more.

Sorry, I'm busy today!

You run up to your room to look for the girl.
But the bed is empty. She's not here anymore. Where did she go?

Were you still half asleep and just imagined her after waking up from your dream?
No, you definitely were awake already. She must be real.

You run back down and leave the house.
She must have left this place already.

Didn't she tell you she's going to the city, too?
Maybe if you leave soon, you'll meet her on the way.

So you decide you should talk to your friends already.

First you visit your friend Bibo, a small chubby boy.
But he isn't there.

You already know, where he is, though.
You go up the next hill. Grapes are growing there.
And there he is sitting, secretly eating grapes as always.
He's really addicted to sweet food.

Oh, it's you! I'm only eating a few.

Don't worry, I don't want to tell anyone.

What are you doing here?

I was just looking for you.

For me?!?

You wanted to go to school in the city, too, right?

Yeah, maybe. If I get to it. When was it again?

It starts in a few weeks, but going there will also take some days, so...

I think, that's too late. I didn't prepare anything yet. Maybe next year.

There's not much to prepare. I already know the route. So you only need to take some food, money and replacement clothes for the journey with you.

Hmm...

Come on. I don't want to go alone. And I also need a room mate.

Fine, when do you want to go?

What about tomorrow?

Tomorrow already?!? No, I still have to do so many things until then.

What do you have to do? Seeping long, relaxing in nature and eating grapes?

Bibo looks down and sesitates to answer.

Yeah...

Would you accompany me if Sonya will join us at the journey?

What?!? You wanted to ask Sonya?!?

Of course. She's one of my best friends.

Bibo gets up.

If you manage to get her join us, I'm totally on board.

He immediately runs away, probably getting ready.

So it's time to visit Sonya.
She's a beautiful girl, almost looking too good for a small settlement like this.

When you get close to her home, you notice she just left.
So you go after her.

She's two huge empty buckets.

Hey, Sonya. Do you have time?

Sorry, I'm getting some sand at the beach.
If you want you can accompany me.

That's fine. I just want to talk.

What is it?

You're also going to school this year, right?

I planned to. I already packed everything I need.
But I'm not sure, if I should go for real.
My dad needs my help more. And besides that, he might be lonely without me.

Didn't he suggest us to go to the city in the first place?
I doubt he would want you to stay just because of him.

You might be right. Maybe I'll talk to him later. But I still...

It would be cool if we could go together, so there's at least some person I know.
Bibo might also join, but he isn't sure yet.

Yeah, I get that.
And even if Bibo joins, to be honest, he's not the most reliable person out there.

Yeah, you might be right.

You reach the beach and she starts filling one of the buckets with sand.

Since you're already there, you could also help me.

Of course. No problem!

She gives you the other one and you also start filling it, too.

What do you even need so much sand for?

I don't really understand it myself. I get it for dad.

When the buckets are filled, we start to walk back.
It's really heavy. She doesn't just look good, she's also very strong, especially for a girl.

Did she really want to carry both buckets at once?
You almost can't imagine that.
But when looking at her arms, when they are tense, it seems pretty obvious.

So do you already know when you want to leave?

Yeah, I was hoping we could leave tomorrow already, so we don't have to hurry.
But if it's too sudden...

No it's fine. You're right. If we go, we should rather go sooner than later.
And if everything goes well, we might have some time to get used to the city.

Oh, I'm glad you see it the same way.

Of course. But I can't guarantee anything yet.
Let's talk later this day.

Cool, so...

Normally you would have gone home from here.
But now you have to help her.

I guess you want to go home again?
You don't have to accompany all the way back home.
Just give me your bucket.

No, I'll-

She just took your bucket herself.

See you later!

You would have carried it yourself.
But no need to start a dispute now.
It would be weird if you accompany her anyway.

Thanks, see you!

You head back home.
You really hoped, you would see that girl again.
But she probably left already.

Soon you reach your home.
Your parents aren't there, so you go back to your room.
She didn't come back for some reason.

You start to feel sad. You only knew her for one night.
You basically didn't know her. You don't even know her name. But this was so exciting.
Maybe you already fell in love with her.

But maybe it's just because it's the first time you spent a night with a cute girl.
And she kind of abused you. You let her spend a night with you and she didn't give you back anything. To be fair, you didn't want anything in exchange, but still...
At least you were expecting her to stay a bit longer.
Or maybe she just hates you now because of what you did last night. You must have gone too far and she wanted to get away from you.

When you sit down on your bed, you notice a letter on your bedside table.

Where does it come from? She must have left it here.

You take it and start to read.

Sorry for leaving so early. I don't have a lot of time.
I have to be in the city in a few days.
Thanks for letting me sleep here for a night.
By the way, I liked your gentle touches tonight.
I hope this was reward enough for a young boy like you.
But in case you want to see me again, you know where to find me.

You're really looking forward to go to the city now.
But will you really see her again?
It seems unlikely, but only time will tell.

For now you just hope that your friends will come with you.