Jason recalled how Mayaboy would refer to all of them as townspeople when she was their tour guide in the past. She had been too lazy to remember all of their names back then, and she still referred to Jason as 'the townsman' even when he was the only one who had stayed behind in the mountains. Back then, he teased her by saying that he was thankful that she only referred to him as a townsman and not a foreigner.

Right then, Mayaboy lowered her firewood to speak to him. "Are you here on a trip? Our tourism business has been growing in the past few years, but I'm surprised to see you traveling here again. The scenery here isn't as gorgeous as it used to be in the past." She was chit-chatting with him as if she had just met an old friend, but Jason couldn't bring himself to utter a single word in front of her.

He had considered all sorts of possibilities while he was on the way to the mountains. He had expected her to change since they had been apart for so many years, but he hadn't expected her change to be so drastic. Now, her skin was rough, and her hands covered with cuts, scars, and calluses. Also, her hair was a total mess, and her clothes were ragged and torn. She's still such a young girl. How did things turn out this way for her?

"What's going on? Say something!" She beamed as she looked at Jason. The only thing that remained the same was her broad, bright smile.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you doing your work? What's taking you so long?!" Another voice could be heard shouting from inside the house.

Mayaboy's expression stiffened right then. "I'm so sorry. I have to go now. Where do you stay? Should I go look for you some other day?"

at the guesthouse,"

he saw how the firewood was weighing down on the girl's skinny and frail body, Jason felt a sharp ache in his chest.

when he heard

in," Jason uttered as he

home. That's why I'm only here at this hour." She wore a rather embarrassed expression as she spoke. Initially, she hadn't planned on visiting a

what to say to the other. As usual, it was

that the air In the city is extremely polluted. That's

her a faint smile.

lips to make an expression of both surprise and embarrassment. "I thought you were supposed to get

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