Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 137 "You guys eat the meat, I'll just drink the soup."

Ethan rocked up at the door, lugging a bunch of big bags. We just stared at each other for a sec.

After the initial shock, I weirdly felt super chill. I figured it had to be either Martin or Jason who ratted me out.

Funny thing is, when I bailed, I was fuming, like a balloon ready to pop. But after a few days, the anger fizzled out, and now I felt kinda grounded. And seeing his face now, I realized I sorta missed him.

I dropped my gaze and grabbed the bags from his hands.

"Groceries are here. You can bounce now."

I set the bags down and went to shut the door, but Ethan stuck his arms out to stop me.

I shot him a glare, but he just looked back with this soft smile.

"In this freezing weather, you really gonna kick me out?"

Ethan's voice had this pitiful, almost begging tone.

"In this heavy snow, it's not easy for him to deliver groceries. Let him come in and warm up." Martin chimed in from behind.

I turned to see Martin still clutching the radio, lounging in the wicker chair, giving Ethan a look that screamed, "You had it coming, dude."

Since Martin had spoken, I couldn't really keep Ethan out.

So I let go of the door and bent down to grab the groceries, but Ethan beat me to it.

"They're heavy, let me handle it."

If he wanted to carry them, fine by me. I headed back to the kitchen.

After saying hey to Martin, Ethan brought the groceries into the kitchen.

I stood at the sink, washing veggies, trying to ignore him.

After setting down the groceries, Ethan patted Jason, who was working on the soup, on the shoulder and grinned. "I could smell that from outside. My mouth's watering." I paused, veggies in hand, and couldn't help but snap back, "Then keep drooling; there's none for you."

Jason chuckled, but Ethan stayed quiet.

I kept washing the veggies, but suddenly felt warm breath near my ear.

"Then you guys eat the meat, and I'll just have the soup."

Ethan whispered, his chin almost on my shoulder, his hair brushing my ear, tickling me.

I stiffened, trying to stay cool, and replied, "Fine, we'll let you have the Sopa de Lima we've already eaten."

Instead of getting mad, Ethan laughed and said, "Sopa de Lima is the heart of Mexican cuisine. If you leave the heart for me, they'll have something to say about it."

When the Sopa de Lima was ready, Jason brought it to the dining room.

Lima was steaming, smelled amazing, and looked

four people, each

Come on, let's grab a drink!" Martin

out,

gave me this knowing,

thought maybe I

So, I mumbled, "Whatever."

fishing veggies out of the Sopa

in the hospital for a few days with a stomach thing. He shouldn't be

still pointed at him and scolded with a smile. "I told you before, you never listen and don't know how to take care

of admitting fault

gave him a sideways glance, a look

it." In no time, Martin brought the cider,

was well-liked in the village, and everyone

the cider, Jason fetched a few glasses and poured a drink for

snow was falling heavily. Inside, the table

I was little, every winter, if guests came, Mom also loved to make Sopa de Lima. It didn't matter if the food got cold; the key

today, at this table, I felt a

because I was mad at Ethan, and they knew it. If

was very silent, just focusing on

threw a few into the

his stories interspersed with laughter. I stared at the pot, silently listening to

Martin, I forgot to eat until Ethan and Jason each picked up

actions were so in sync that even Martin was caught

and smiled at

room was filled with

into it, Martin went to grab his stash

noticed I wasn't really joining in, Martin kept showing me the

a photo and stared at it for a long time, then pointed to it and asked, "Jason, this is you when you were

familiar,"

laughed and said, "Grandpa, the little girl in the photo

looked at me, then at

"Is it Emily?"

a bit incredulous and handed

"Emily, is this you?"

took a look,

it. I remembered that the photo was taken by a friend we used to play with, but we lost touch after moving

about those past days and our childish antics, I couldn't help but

wasn't!" I refused to

about the

seem surprised that Jason and I had known each other since

"So, you didn't want to move back then because of

Jason just smiled and

because of Martin's comment,

took a sip of the apple cider in front of him and forcibly changed

back then and now, I suddenly felt a bit flustered and quickly

looked at it again and again, and couldn't put