Everything's okay.

She briefly considered what she or rather, they would do after telling Juan everything and then leaving this place. She took into account that her family is on the line and that if she were to reject the comfort of living here, at least what she experienced so far, she would push her family back into their poor state and what is even worse, they would aimlessly wander around in this merciless, troubled world which was now plagued by an unknown virus as well. She straightened her back and put on a smile as if trying to hold back something, but she did so to appear more determined.

She looked Juan in the eye and said that she was okay and there was nothing to worry about. Juan was seemingly pleased by her answer and his mental state was a bit less troubled, but just to make sure he asked her again. ‘Is really everything okay? Did nothing happen?’ he asked and Maria boldly answered ‘Yes, everything is okay. I am fine!’ and showed him a huge smile.

As Maria and Juan heard Oz’s voice searching for them, Maria went ahead and left the bathroom. Juan watched as his wife left the bathroom with her large buttocks swaying back and forth. He thought about how maybe, he had really only been under the wrong impression and understood the situation back at the mall and in the morning wrongly. He then followed her.

“Ah, Maria.” Said Oz and gestured her where she should take place as her meal was there. After sitting down, Oz continued. “And Juan.” He again showed him where to sit down.

The children were impatiently looking at their parents. Juan noticed and took the opportunity right away:

“Thank you, master Oz.” he said and held out his hands so his family could join their usual prayer before meals.

After a few seconds of silence, the youngest one broke free and finally began to eat his burger with an amazing appetite. Maria wanted to say something, but as she saw her eat away so bravely, she refrained from doing so and instead looked at her own meal.

Oz got all of the adults large burgers with special beef. After the first bite both Juan and Maria seemed to be taken aback by the juicy, tender taste of it.

Oz noticed and after wiping a bit of sauce off his mouth, he proudly claimed:

“They’re good, right? The restaurant gets the beef from a friend of mine who focuses on raising cows. It’s the best beef around. They use the best bits for these burgers.”

Juan understood some of it and nodded in approval, his worried face was slowly turning back to his more cheerful, usual self. Everyone focused on eating while Oz stole a few glimpses of Maria as she was eagerly eating away. Her thick lips wrapped themselves around the patty and then gobbled down on it before closing up again and beginning to chew. Her mouth moved around and made her thin jawline a bit more prominent. She also took rather big bites as Oz noticed at last and he began to wonder how much she could take of him.