Ch.135Born for the First Time! (4)

#135

When your stomach is full, you get sleepy, and when you’re sleepy, you need to sleep.

Moreover, Aisha, who had been surrounded by strangers, was worn out from fatigue.

Thanks to that, after eating and whining for a while, Aisha snuggled into Dexter’s arms and showed movements that perfectly matched that formula.

“Oh my, how cute.”

As Himena watched Aisha sleeping soundly in Dexter’s arms, she spoke in a small voice, and Id-ya responded with a light smile.

“She’s only cute when she’s sleeping.”

“Why? She’s cute when she’s awake too.”

“That little miss? Not at all. I don’t dislike children, but she’s built to make you dislike her.”

As Id-ya spoke with a shudder, Jessie removed her apron and said:

“Id-ya, you’re going to have children someday too, right?”

“Not yet…”

Id-ya twisted her body shyly as she replied.

“Since our species is oviparous… having at least 10 children is standard, so I need to build a stronger foundation before I can get married.”

“10 children?”

“If you’re from Yog-Sothoth, isn’t 10 actually on the low side? Isn’t it closer to 20?”

At Dexter’s question, Id-ya nodded and said:

“Yes, that’s right. Some people even have up to 30.”

“…Wow, 30.”

Jessie, who didn’t know that Id-ya was a cephalopod alien similar to Earth’s octopus, shuddered.

“How do you even give birth to 30?”

“What? Well, 30 fertilized eggs…”

“So you have to lay 30 eggs…”

Jessie, imagining herself in that situation, shuddered once more at the unpleasant thought.

“What strange things are you all talking about? Anyway, what are we going to do with Aisha?”

Dexter, who had been quietly listening to the increasingly off-track conversation, laughed incredulously and spoke, to which Jessie replied:

“It’s too late tonight, so she should sleep in the guest room, right? I actually cleaned it today just in case.”

“I suppose so. Id-ya, did Aisha bring any pajamas in her luggage?”

“Ah, yes. She did. Should I get them out now?”

“Yeah. No matter how much she’s like a little sister to me, it would be awkward for me to change her clothes. Id-ya, could you help with that?”

“Of course, I should be the one to do it.”

Id-ya brought Aisha’s bag, took out the pajamas, and then took Aisha from Dexter.

“Really, she’s such a nice little girl when she’s this quiet.”

“Oh, stop it. Even her father gave up on her.”

Dexter gave a bitter smile as he waited for Id-ya to return from putting Aisha to bed in the guest room, and looked at Himena.

“How’s the infiltration of Orbis Corporation going? How many days is it set for?”

“Three days from now. I’m preparing intensely to make sure we don’t make the same mistakes as last time.”

“Good, we need to make sure nothing like that happens this time. What about you, Jessie? Are you helping too?”

Since Himena, an elite far beyond his level, said she was preparing thoroughly, he had no choice but to trust her.

At Dexter’s question, Jessie nodded and said:

“If she asks for help, I have to help, right? Though I don’t think I can do much.”

“That’s not true. Jessie, you’re so helpful. You might not be the central piece, but you’re an essential part.”

“Oh, that’s too much pressure.”

As Himena poked her side while speaking, Jessie smiled broadly as if she couldn’t help it.

“Oh, right. Tomorrow morning, Judy asked me to help her with some exercise, so I’ll be leaving early. I’ll probably be back home around lunchtime.”

“Judy? Well, okay… but how are you going to explain our situation to her?”

Everyone in the prison knew Judy’s personality.

She was thoughtful of others, considerate, and kind—so much so that rumors circulated that she looked more like a kindergarten teacher than a prison guard.

Moreover, because of Judy’s image, it wasn’t easy to casually bring up polyamory, or “non-exclusive multiple relationships.”

“That’s a headache, but I think I might have to take the direct approach.”

“…What, are you going to just outright say ‘Join my harem!’ or something?”

“Harem? What am I, an oil sheikh?”

“It is a harem, isn’t it?”

Dexter thought for a moment and then nodded, realizing there were already four women associated with him.

“You’re not wrong.”

“We didn’t explain things properly, and do you know how shocked she was? At least don’t think about saying it that way, okay?”

“I’ll consider it.”

“Consider what?”

“Anyway, I have to tell her, so maybe just straightforwardly…”

“You want to get slapped by Judy, don’t you?”

Himena, who had been listening to their conversation, stretched and said:

“So, are we done for today?”

“No, we need to take Id-ya with us. You’re going to Mrs. McClure’s boarding house, right?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Just then, with perfect timing, Id-ya came out of the guest room.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I was unpacking the little miss’s luggage in the guest room. But why is everyone looking at me…?”

“Oh, we were just talking about your accommodation. Since you seem to be done, shall we go?”

“Accommodation… I’ll get my luggage right away.”

After gathering the rest of her belongings, Id-ya stood in front of Jessie and Dexter and bowed politely.

“Thank you for your hospitality. Good night.”

“Oh, yeah. Take care on your way back.”

“Yes, thank you for everything, Jessie.”

Id-ya went ahead, and Himena followed with a light goodbye, saying she’d see them tomorrow. Dexter and Jessie flopped down on the sofa.

“It’s been really hectic after a long time, hasn’t it?”

“If you had explained things to the kid before you left, this wouldn’t have happened.”

At Jessie’s complaint, Dexter put his hand on her shoulder and said:

“Jessie. Would you believe a nine-year-old girl would travel several light-years to a distant planet just to see me?”

“…The probability would be close to zero, but it’s already happened, hasn’t it? And why did you leave without saying anything in the first place?”

“If I had told Aisha’s father, he would have told Eliya. But, well, Eliya took my escape better than I expected.”

“Your friends are really unusual, Dexter.”

“I think so too. That guy’s not even gay.”

At those words, Jessie frowned and said:

“Dexter, don’t tell me…”

“Don’t think like that. How could I look at my male friend that way?”

Seeing Jessie still looking at him with suspicious eyes, Dexter shook his head and then scooped her up by putting his hands under her knees.

“Oh my goodness.”

“I don’t think this will work today. I need to check how soundproof our room really is.”

“Wait, I haven’t even showered yet…”

“Excuses are sinful, didn’t you know? Just quietly accept it.”

At Dexter’s words, Jessie nodded slowly as if giving up.

“Good, that’s a good response.”

With a mischievous smile, Dexter carried Jessie into the bedroom.

* * *

Dexter came out of the bathroom and was checking his hair.

“Looking good today too.”

After giving a light kiss on the forehead of Jessie, who had fallen into a deep sleep after their passionate “work” in the early morning, Dexter stepped out of the room and was startled.

“Oppa, where are you going?”

Aisha, with messy hair and rubbing her eyes, was standing right in front of the door.

“What? Go back to sleep.”

“I asked where you’re goiiing.”

“I’m going to exercise with a colleague from work.”

“I want to go too.”

“What? I’m going to exercise. Why would you come along?”

“I want to go tooooo.”

“It won’t be fun at all. Why do you want to come?”

Dexter’s words triggered Aisha, who started to scream.

“I said I want to gooooo!”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”

Faced with Aisha’s morning tantrum, Dexter felt momentarily dizzy and then restrained her with both hands.

“Wait, wait. If I don’t take you, you’re going to keep screaming loudly, right?”

“That’s right.”

Dexter rubbed his face with both hands, then pointed to the bathroom and said:

“…Hurry up and wash your face.”

“Yay!”

While Aisha happily went into the bathroom, Dexter slumped down on the living room sofa.

“How am I going to survive this week?”

While Dexter was pressing his temples in frustration, Aisha, who had brought Earth-style clothing including a bright orange tracksuit, came running to Dexter.

“Oof.”

Dexter let out a deflating sound as Aisha suddenly jumped on him.

“How do I look? Do I look like an Earthling?”

“…Extremely.”

“Hehe.”

Seeing Aisha’s childlike smile, Dexter couldn’t say anything and just patted her head.

“Today, when you meet the lady, don’t cause trouble and be good. Understand?”

“…Another woman?”

“What do you mean ‘another’? You say the strangest things.”

“No, why do you only meet women? Everyone around you is a woman!”

“This kid says everything that comes to mind.”

“It’s true!”

Come to think of it, everyone they met yesterday was indeed female.

‘Jessie, Himena, Id-ya, and Judy who we’re meeting today.’

Even Aisha was a girl.

‘This might be the first year in my life where there are more women than men around me.’

Dexter was stroking his chin, lost in thought, when he noticed Aisha staring at him intently. He relaxed his posture, lifted Aisha up, and said:

“I don’t know. Let’s go for now.”

“Oppa, what about breakfast?”

“Breakfast? Well, let’s eat something at McDonald’s.”

“McDonald’s? What’s McDonald’s?”

“It exists. When I was young, I saw a movie called ‘Big Daddy.’ It was a really funny movie. And the thing I wanted to eat most from it was…”

As he was telling stories about McDonald’s breakfast, they stepped outside to find the sun already rising, gradually warming the cool morning.

While talking to Aisha, Dexter sent a message to Judy on his mobile phone.

>Today won’t be just the two of us. I need to bring someone special along. Is that okay?

-Someone else?? Hmm, alright. It’s fine, don’t worry.

Though Judy seemed a bit surprised, there was no choice.

Dexter got into the pickup truck with Aisha and looked at her sitting in the passenger seat.

“Listen carefully. Don’t forget.”

“Okay.”

“Your name is Aisha Hughes, and you’re my cousin. Got it?”

“Cousin? I’m your cousin?”

“Well, obviously I don’t have any siblings. Judy also knows I don’t have a sister.”

“So you and I are relatives?”

“Yeah. I’ll answer most questions, so just nod if Judy asks you anything.”

“Got it.”

And so the two headed to Summerlin where Judy lived, stopping at a McDonald’s drive-thru on the way for breakfast.

“This fizzy black liquid is delicious.”

“That’s cola. Don’t drink too much or your teeth will rot.”

By the time Aisha was happily enjoying her first-ever sausage egg McMuffin with cola, their pickup truck had arrived at the gym where Judy was waiting.

As Dexter was wiping sauce stains from Aisha’s mouth after getting out of the car, Judy, dressed in thin workout clothes, approached Dexter’s pickup truck.

“The person you brought is a child?”

“Ah, Judy.”

Dexter greeted her with a light smile and pointed to Aisha, saying:

“This is Aisha. She’s my cousin, and she’ll be staying with me for about a week.”

“…Hello.”

As Aisha waved her hand in greeting, Judy stomped her feet excitedly.

“She’s so cute… I know I shouldn’t do this, but… can I hug her just once?”

“What? Oh, sure…”

Unlike Aisha who didn’t understand what was happening, Judy immediately hugged her and stroked her head.

“Aww, you’re sooo cute, really.”

Aisha, wearing a disguise kit, had brown eyes and brown hair, just like Judy.

Moreover, both had round faces and big eyes, so to strangers, they might have looked like sisters.

Watching them, Dexter felt a strange sensation.

‘Is this another…?’