My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 947

Capítulo 947: Chapter 945 Rakan’s Awakening 3

After delivering his message, Keith did exactly what his instincts told him to do — he made a quick escape.

He found an empty spot at the makeshift table and began digging into the freshly cooked seafood instead. After all, Kisha had generously shared a bounty with the shelter: crates filled with king crabs, scallops, shrimp, tuna, and an assortment of other fresh fish and shellfish.

Grandma Alden had even prepared a pot of clam and vegetable soup to help warm everyone’s bodies. She’d made it especially for the children, knowing they hadn’t eaten properly in days. Until recently, they’d survived on nothing but cold, stale bread, food that had likely upset their fragile stomachs.

It hadn’t been long since Adam and his group received new supplies from HOPE Base, so the children were still thin and weak from hunger. A warm bowl of clam and vegetable soup would do more than fill their bellies; it would soothe their stomachs and bring them a bit of long-needed comfort.

There was also freshly baked wheat bread, a variety of vegetables, crisp salads, stir-fried dishes, and plenty of other options. Grandma Alden made sure everyone cooked something different so there’d be a dish for every taste.

Having been a housewife for decades, she had long perfected her cooking skills; her food always carried that comforting, homey flavor that spoke of care and experience.

The aroma alone was enough to make everyone’s mouth water. No matter how much they tried to act composed, their stomachs betrayed them, growling in unison like a hungry symphony that chorused in the hall.

Seeing everyone hesitate to eat, Grandma Alden quickly urged them to dig in. Keith, wanting to ease the awkwardness, casually sat at the table and started eating without a shred of restraint, hoping his example would make the others feel less embarrassed. For many of them, receiving so much generosity at once felt overwhelming, almost too much to accept.

When they were cooking all those dishes together, everyone had been fully engaged; the teamwork gave them a comforting sense of unity and purpose. But when it came time to eat, hesitation filled the air. Many of them felt unworthy to even take a bite, knowing the supplies had all come from Kisha and her people.

Kisha’s group had already done so much by saving them, cleaning up their territory, and even sharing their own provisions. What made it even harder for the others was the fact that they had been the ones to suggest treating Kisha to a meal using their meager supplies, only for Kisha to turn around and give them even more. It left everyone humbled and overwhelmed.

But when Grandma Alden noticed the children who looked hungry, timid, and just as hesitant as the adults, her heart softened even more. She had always had a tender spot for children, especially since Keith had once gone through a traumatic event that left him withdrawn.

Seeing those shy, underfed faces stirred something deep within her, making her all the more determined to comfort them and remind everyone that kindness, too, should be accepted, not just given.

Seeing the children standing still, clutching the hands of the adults they trusted, Grandma Alden’s expression softened. She slowly crouched down to meet their eyes, her demeanor gentle and approachable.

Perhaps it was her age that made her seem so kind, or maybe it was because of her awakened ability, ‘Home Maker’. Whatever the reason, no one could keep their guard up around her. Her presence seemed to melt away fear and tension, wrapping everyone in a quiet sense of warmth and safety.

“Come, have some warm soup, it’ll make you feel better,” Grandma Aldens said gently, extending a hand toward the little girl who had been crying earlier. The child had just lost her father and had only recently woken up after crying herself to sleep.

Her eyes were still puffy, her expression distant, as if she was struggling to understand that she would never see her father again.

But when she saw Grandma Alden’s kind smile, something in her softened. The old woman’s presence felt safe and comforting in the same way her mother once was. Slowly, hesitantly, the little girl took a few small steps forward until she reached her.

Meanwhile, Keith continued eating at a slow, easy pace, trying to lighten the atmosphere and ease the awkwardness everyone felt. Grandma Aldens carefully lifted the girl onto the bench beside him, ladled a portion of the warm soup into a bowl, and handed it to her along with a small spoon.

The girl accepted it quietly, wanting to eat on her own, so Grandma Aldens simply smiled and let her, her heart aching with affection for the brave little one.

When the little girl took her first sip of the soup, she didn’t even notice the tear that slipped down her cheek and fell into the bowl. A faint, heartbreaking smile appeared on her face as she looked up at Grandma Alden and said softly, “Grandma, the soup tastes delicious.”

Her voice was small and babyish as she was, after all, still in kindergarten, but the sorrow in her tone carried the weight of someone much older, someone who had seen too much of the world far too soon.

The contrast struck Grandma Alden so deeply that her heart trembled. She gently stroked the child’s hair, holding back her own tears as warmth and grief welled together in her chest.

“Good, good… good girl,” she murmured softly, repeating the words as if to comfort both the child and herself. Then she carefully picked out a tender piece of fish from another dish, patiently removing the bones before placing it on the little girl’s plate.

“Here, eat this too, so you can grow big and strong,” she said gently.

She stopped herself before finishing the thought that had come to mind— ‘so your parents won’t be heartbroken watching you from the heavens’. The words lingered unspoken on her tongue, too heavy for the moment, and instead she simply smiled, her eyes glistening as she watched the little girl eat.

After serving the little girl, Grandma Aldens gently urged the other children, who were clearly on the verge of running over, to come and eat as well.

The aroma of the food and the sight of the little girl happily eating finally broke through their hesitation. One by one, the children ran to the table, their eyes bright with anticipation.

Seeing the children gather, the adults exchanged glances, scratching the backs of their heads awkwardly before slowly making their way forward, their expressions shy and uncertain. But Grandma Aldens’s warm smile and welcoming presence seemed to melt their hesitation.

They reached out for the paper plates and utensils with trembling hands, their eyes reddening as they fought back tears.

It had been so long since any of them had eaten a proper meal. Days, perhaps weeks, had blurred together as they struggled to survive, scavenging scraps, eating flattened, moldy bread, and even resorting to canned pet food just to keep going.

Now, faced with the warmth of freshly cooked dishes and the kindness behind them, their hearts quivered with emotion. Gratitude, relief, and disbelief all tangled within them, tugging at their heartstrings as they realized they were finally safe enough to eat.

So, when Kisha and Duke finally stepped out of the meeting room together, this was the sight that greeted them: everyone gathered around the large makeshift table, laughing and chatting as they enjoyed the feast spread before them.

The table was filled with steaming dishes, and the comforting scent of home-cooked food lingered in the air.

When Grandma Aldens spotted the two emerging, her face immediately lit up. “Kisha! Duke! Come, come, eat with us!” she called out warmly. As the others from the frontlines returned to join the meal, she bustled over, cheerfully taking Kisha and Duke by the hands and guiding them to sit at the head of the table.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she picked up a large, freshly cooked lobster, placed it on a paper plate, and set it in front of Kisha. Duke couldn’t help but chuckle at the gesture as he quickly pulled out a chair for Grandma Aldens.

“Grandma, you’ve been busy cooking with everyone all this time; you should sit and eat too,” Duke said with a gentle smile. “Here, I’ll peel some shrimp for you and my wifey. You just enjoy yourself.”

Grandma Aldens laughed heartily, feeling deeply satisfied by the young man’s thoughtfulness. To her, Duke truly felt like a grandson-in-law she could be proud of. What she didn’t realize, however, was that Duke’s sweetness came with a touch of playful flattery; after all, she was Kisha’s beloved grandmother.

Kisha, catching on to his little act, only rolled her eyes with a smile. Her laughter soon joined everyone else’s, filling the room with warmth and ease.

Just then, a hand patted Duke’s shoulder, followed by a familiar chuckle behind him.

“Kid, don’t worry about my wife, I’ll take care of her. You just focus on yours,” said Grandpa Aldens with a teasing grin.

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