Chapter 1

The people of Santa Rosa are celebrating a local villager's success because he has been accepted to work in a city in London. The celebration is organized by the people of the village, which he greatly appreciates. They're having a party! Showing him how much they value him. He smiled at everyone he saw and gave hugs to some, but he stopped greeting others when he saw his friend Eleanor.

Eleanor waved at him and showed him the basket she was holding, which contained the bread she had made for him, as well as the people in the area. He waved back and excused himself from the crowd.

"I'm sure you'd do well," Eleanor said as soon as he approached. His brow furrowed in concentration.

"You know how I'm feeling right now," he admitted. Pertaining to how nervous he feels just by imagining him doing his work in London.

Eleanor pushed the basket she was holding onto his chest, which he quickly grabbed. Despite the fact that the basket was not heavy, she felt relieved to be free of it. Her gaze wandered around and she smiled at the people she saw.

"Benjamin, if you're not deserving of this opportunity, you won't get it," she said, returning her attention to his friend, Benjamin.

"I will definitely miss Santa Rosa," he said as he walked over to the table near them to place the basket he was holding.

Eleanor took a quick look at him and noticed that his friend was exhaling heavily. She gave him two shoulder taps while grinning at him.

"Of course, you have the option not to leave and go to London—-but, oh! The embarrassment and shame you'd feel when you announced this to them," Eleanor teased, looking around at the crowd, some of whom were engaged in their own conversations and others who were dancing and singing. Benjamin followed her gaze and looked at the crowd, he realized she had a point; if he did not pursue this opportunity, his family and friends' efforts would be meaningless and they would be disappointed.

Eleanor's friend saw her and Benjamin talking and rushed over to greet them. She gave Benjamin a warm hug, and Benjamin, of course, returned the hug.

"We will miss you," Harriet said between sobs. When he heard her sobbing, he broke the hug and hid behind Eleanor's back.

"Hide me from her runny nose!" he acted dramatically, hiding his body even more. Eleanor laughed at how ridiculous he is, a big man hiding in her petite body. Oh, please!

Harriet pouted and gave him a murderous look, and he then stopped acting silly and attended to her. Harriet's sobbing continues as Bejamin hugs her; Eleanor simply admires them and gently pats Harriet on the back. They grew up together, and they never imagined that one day they would all drift apart. Though Benjamin was the first to ascend, the rest of them knew that they would soon be on their own without them.

The party went on until midnight. Benjamin walks with his friends Eleanor and Harriet until they arrive at their respective houses. Harriet never stops crying, whereas Eleanor is always calm. Benjamin assured Harriet that he would always be in contact with them, which made her cry even harder.

"We don't have phones!" she exclaimed loudly.

Eleanor gave Benjamin a disapproving look. Benjamin raises both hands to admit defeat.

"You could always ask the Collins," he advised. Harriet immediately stopped crying when he mentioned the Collins. She said her goodbyes and thanked Benjamin for walking them home. She is the first to enter their home, while Eleanor stands motionless, staring at Benjamin.

Harriet had never been fond of the Collins. She despises how they look down on them; despite their wealth, they have no manners, which she despises.

Benjamin was taken aback. He realized what he had just said, but even though he knew Harriet would react negatively, he hopes Harriet will understand that he suggested it so that they could still have connections with each other, not the other way around.

"Let her be," Eleanor said, patting his shoulder. Benjamin gave a nod.

"Shall I buy you one?" he inquired, referring to the purchase of a phone. Eleanor took a moment to respond; having a phone will be extremely useful to them, but she is having second thoughts. Except for the Collins, no one has their own phone, but having one isn't a big deal.

Eleanor nodded, but before Benjamin could respond, she began speaking. "I will buy one...but I will pay for it. I want to own something that I worked hard for," she explained. Benjamin lets out a sigh and ruffles her hair.

"Of course, that's your personality." Then they both said their goodnights. Eleanor promised to accompany him tomorrow as he plans to buy his own phone, which Benjamin will need the most given that he will soon be living in a city.

So Benjamin and Eleanor go to town to get what they need. After three days, the time has come for Benjamin to leave their village. People passing through town can hear Harriet's cries. Benjamin's parents, as well as Eleanor and Harriet, accompanied him to the car he will use to travel to London.

Benjamin hushed Harriet and explained that he will only be gone until he has enough money to start his own family in Santa Rosa. Eleanor hugged him and told him to look after himself. He reminded Eleanor not to misplace the paper he had given her the previous time, which contained his phone number. Eleanor assured him.

It was difficult for Benjamin to turn his back on them. As he walked towards the car, he felt as if his childhood memories were fading; he was experiencing nostalgia at the time.

When the car began to move, he rolled down the window and waved at them, a tear falling from his eyes, and it hurt him to see his family and friends cry. He then closed his eyes and turned his gaze to the front, where his future lies.

Benjamin had been gone from the village for a month. They were all going about their daily lives. Harriet and Eleanor are busy baking bread for their bakery, the farmers are still harvesting and cropping, and nothing new has happened since then.

Not until a group of men arrived in their village, riding their own horses and dressed in opulent tuxedos. Their arrival caused the villagers to stop what they were doing and look up to them. The men were perplexed and found it creepy that they had to stay in a location unknown to others.

The men carried a distant aura with them; they all appeared cold and heartless. There are five of them, one of whom appears friendly but exudes a frightening aura. One of them is expressionless, and the others are similar to them.

"Santa Rosa" Antonio whispered to himself as he explore his gaze around the small house and stalls.

"Isn't this like the beginning of a movie?" Bartholomew asks his friends. The other guys mocked him for being ridiculous.

"What genre?" Conrad inquired.

"I'm not sure... But it's about cannibalism!"

People who were watching them began to disperse as they found it strange to see men dressed in tuxedos riding a horse. They think it's arrogant.

Mr. Richard Collins, who had heard about their arrival, decided to meet them. He got into his carriage and drove to where the group was. He put out his cigarette and greeted the guys when he arrived. The men jumped down from their horses and greeted him politely.

"Hello, sirs!" Mr. Collins greeted them with a forceful, energetic tone.

"Good day! I guess we're here to settle down for about a year?" Antonio said. Mr. Collins, despite his dislike for having strangers in his village, forced himself to accommodate them in their old house. The house is large, but the Collins' house is three times larger.

"This is our old house; make yourself at home, and don't forget to pay your bills when the time comes," Mr. Collins reminded before departing the men.

Mr. Collins, before leaving, cast a quick glance at the men, which made him suspicious of them, however, suspicious or not, he still earns money from their arrival.

Harriet goes to the market where the men were spotted after hearing such news. She followed them until they arrived at the Collins' old house. She laughs as she realizes the Collins are broke because they are now accepting borders in their old house to earn money. She was able to see them clearly after Mr. Collins left. She pretends to be looking for her dog, which does not exist, while staring at them.

"Max! Max!" Harriet yelled as she spied on the men, who she could clearly see because the door was completely open. The men turned their gaze towards Harriet, and so Harriet called for her pet that doesn't exist. She noticed something unusual about their presence when she saw them all.

"What are they up to?" Harriet whispered softly.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***