[Who’s going to stand in my way?]
When I got to Thorfinn's house, I was disappointed to find that only his mother, Helga, was there to greet me. I originally planned to drop off my invitation and be on my way, but somehow, I chatted with her for much longer than I intended.
As always, I take my spot near the cozy fireplace in the living room. With her warm kindness and gentle spirit, Helga offered me a comforting bowl of warm porridge to help warm my body.
There was no reason for me to say no. After a whole day of playing outside, the food she offered would definitely help me recharge. When I shared my birthday with her, I felt a wave of relaxation wash over me.
Sitting right next to me, Thorfinn couldn't hold back his thoughts. He said, "Wow, I'm jealous! My birthday is still a few months off."
"That means you need to show more respect to Viktor," Helga said, her eyes softening as she looked at her son warmly.
"Why is that?"
"Since he's older than you, and because I want things to be good between you two," Helga said with a patient smile. She turned to me and continued, "I already see you as my own son, so I hope you'll take good care of Thorfinn, alright?"
I wasn't feeling the way this conversation was heading. I could sense the impending drama and nonsense that was sure to come my way. Still, I decided to keep my thoughts to myself and just stayed quiet.
"Mother, what do you think about us taking turns inviting Viktor and his family to my birthday?" Thorfinn asked, his tone brimming with anticipation.
Worried that if she took too long to respond, her son might get too close to the fireplace in his eagerness, she quickly opened her mouth to speak:
"You know, I was thinking the exact same thing. Isn't it great to see how excited you are? You're even more pumped than I am!"
The more time I spent in that place, the more I tuned out most of what they were saying, only chiming in with a comment here and there. As I glanced down, I noticed the bowl in my hands was empty, with no trace of porridge remaining.
Just as I was getting ready to say my goodbyes and head home, someone unexpectedly showed up. Despite spending the entire day doing hard, gritty work, it still couldn't overshadow her natural beauty. A smile gradually spread across my face as I kept glancing at her. How could it not? Her fluffy, wavy hair, styled into bangs, reminded me of the sheep she so lovingly cared for.
It felt like she could sense the mockery swirling in my thoughts because she shot back without missing a beat, "What are you doing here, kid? I'm beginning to feel tired of seeing your face nearly every day."
"Ylva, you shouldn't say that to our guest. He is even much younger than you," Helga quickly chimed in, giving her a disapproving look. She then went ahead and told her to wash the bowl we used.
"I just got home, can I at least have a drink and wash my face first?" Ylva said, shooting me an annoyed glance.
Despite Helga's quiet demeanor, it left Ylva with no choice but to follow her instructions, so she promptly headed to the kitchen. Thorfinn and I couldn't help but chuckle at her endless rambling stream.
"Ugh, this is the worst! Seriously, why do I even have to deal with this?"
These days, when everything had to be done by hand, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Luckily, the water she collected from the river earlier in the morning was still available. With a cloth soaked in a bucket of that water, Ylva started scrubbing the dishes to make them sparkle again.
Helga's anger faded quickly. She understood that her daughter hadn't intended any harm with her words. Once Ylva wrapped up her tasks and settled down by the fireplace, Helga had thoughtfully prepared a cozy cup of warm milk for her.
Helga started sharing her thoughts about my birthday, diving into the conversation we had been having earlier. This time, Ylva simply listened, offering little in the way of comments. It was tough to gauge her level of interest, but I figured it was best not to push it. I had made up my mind that it was time to move forward.
Once I said my goodbyes, I took a deep breath of the chilly air outside, and it hit me like a wave, instantly freezing my lungs. The sunset that had once lingered at the horizon was now just a memory fading away. All that remained was the vast night sky, wrapping around me as I made my way home.
"Just a little more time spent in that place, and I'm going to lose it," I sighed in relief, noticing the extra steam escaping from my mouth. It was a clear indication that I had spent too much time in the cold.
"I can't ignore it any longer. This isn't just some random occurrence but a reality I need to confront."
For a bit, there was something on my mind that kept me from feeling the chill wrapping around me. What bothered me was still tied to my early puberty phase.
As soon as I stepped into Thorfinn's house, I could tell something was off. Usually, I don't feel much when interacting with her mother or even when I hug her, but things have changed, and I just can't seem to act normal anymore.
Helga transformed from the mother of my friend, someone I held in high regard and admired, into a woman brimming with charm and allure. Her stunning face captivated me completely, and I fell for her just like a child would. But honestly, that was the extent of it. You could even call it a simple, innocent crush.
So, it all began when I hit puberty. One by one, those mischievous thoughts crept into my mind. At first, I was simply captivated by her beauty, but soon enough, my admiration started to wander to other aspects of her body.
If I were just a regular kid, I might feel lost or even scared by all the sudden changes happening in my body. But the reality is I carry an adult soul that has already lived for over 20 years in my first life. And now, that soul has finally awakened, fully alive after being tamed for so many years.
"I can't shake the feeling that I saw this coming all along."
But who's going to stand in my way?
I could sense the endless possibilities of my second life. So what if I had some questionable thoughts about my mother or found myself attracted to my friend's mother and sister? It's all part of the wild ride, right? I'd do whatever I felt like doing, and I'd make sure no one could say a damn about it.
"Viktor, you just got back home? What have you been up to?"
A towering, hefty man stopped directly in front of me. For a brief moment, I thought I was staring down a bear. But then, something deep inside me whispered that this creature was far more dangerous than any wild beast roaming this chilly expanse.
As he lowered the lantern he was holding right up to my face, my eyes instinctively squinted against the sudden brightness. Still, I couldn't help but respond because I recognized this man all too well.
"Good evening, Uncle Thors, I just got back from your place."
Thor simply raised his eyebrows, a subtle gesture, before shifting his lantern away from my face. He appeared to double-check that he had the right person, but without offering an apology, he casually asked the question I had anticipated, "Too bad I'm a little late, so, what's wrong this time?"
"My birthday is just around the corner, and I'd love for you, Thorfinn, Aunt Helga, and Sister Ylva to join me in the celebration!"
"Hahaha, no need to be so serious! Of course we'll be there, so no worries at all. I promise you that," Thors said, his face lighting up with a big smile. It was surprising to see how much the idea of my birthday got him all fired up. I didn't expect him to be that excited about it.
Thors didn't seem to notice anything unusual, probably because I had spent a lot of time at his place before. Still, it's pretty common for parents to start feeling uneasy if their child's friends are over too frequently.
So, I realized that he was genuinely a real gentleman, someone who wasn't trapped by narrow-minded thinking like so many others. It wasn't just him. Helga was on the same page. They both seemed entirely at ease with me around and in fact, they often encouraged me to stick around whenever I could. It made me feel welcome and comfortable coming back time and again.
I get it if you think I'm shameless, but there's no way I'm letting go of this opportunity without a fight. I still haven't received any answers about Thor's past. For some reason, I just have this feeling that there's a lot of valuable knowledge I could gain from him.
"Alright, I won't hold you up any longer. You should head home soon. I bet your parents are worried," Thors said with a laid-back tone, giving my shoulder a friendly pat. With each step he took, there was a sense of weight and determination as he made his way to the place I had just left.