My five ghostly husbands
Chapter 132 Pillu offer

Chapter 132: Chapter 132 Pillu offer

"Are you going somewhere, wife?" Julian asked as he stepped out of the kitchen, wiping his hands with a towel and Ruby looked him and nodded.

Behind him, Karl followed closely, though it was clear he was trying to stay hidden behind Julian.

Karl kept his head down, avoiding Ruby’s gaze. The last thing he wanted was for her to ask him to recite the alphabet again. He was nervous – mostly because he couldn’t remember half of it.

Ruby raised a brow, already sensing his attempt to disappear. "Karl," she called out sweetly, making him freeze in place.

Julian glanced over his shoulder, amused. "I think she noticed you."

Karl groaned softly.

Ruby was enjoying this far too much. She knew perfectly well that Karl didn’t remember any of the alphabets – he had been slouching and resting while everyone else was reciting.

Karl blinked innocently, clutching Julian’s arm as if it were a lifeline. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice soft and full of fake confusion. "I don’t know anyone other than my brothers..."

Milo stared at him, completely speechless.

Julian let out a sigh, shaking his head. "I really don’t know what to do with you," he muttered, glancing down at Karl, who was still pretending like Ruby didn’t exist.

Ruby rolled her eyes at Karl’s usual antics but didn’t bother responding. Since she had errands to run, she decided to give them something to keep them busy in her absence.

After breakfast, she returned to the table, holding three sheets of paper in her hand. She placed them in front of Julian, Milo, and Karl, watching as they glanced at the papers curiously.

"I’m going out because I have work to do," Ruby began, brushing her hair back as she spoke. "But I don’t want to come home to find you all lazing around. So, here’s a little task for you."

She pointed at the papers.

"Since you already know the alphabet, I want you to do something simple. Write down at least ten words – anything you see around the house or outside. Doesn’t matter what it is. Can you do that?"

Julian nodded immediately, while Milo gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

They all nodded, though Karl looked less enthusiastic than the others.

"Ten words?" Karl mumbled. "Why not one? One feels... simpler."

Ruby arched a brow at him. "Ten words, Karl. Or you’ll write twenty next time."

Karl’s eyes narrowed as he grumbled something under his breath, but he didn’t argue further.

Ruby’s lips curled into a small smile as she leaned forward. "Whoever does the best will get a gift," she added, casually watching their expressions shift.

Julian’s eyes lit up with interest, Milo immediately sat straighter, and even Karl suddenly more alert.

"A gift, huh?" Karl looked excited. "I guess I can put in a little effort then."

Ruby shook her head but didn’t comment further.

With that, Ruby went to her room, grabbed her purse, and came back out.

As she stepped outside, Ruby waved briefly over her shoulder.

"Take care, wife!" Milo and Julian called out in unison, grinning as they waved enthusiastically.

Karl lazily lifted his hand.

"Goodbye, stranger," Karl said with a perfectly straight face.

Ruby paused in the doorway, narrowing her eyes at him. "Stranger?" Shaking her head with a sigh, Ruby closed the door behind her and headed down the path.

Ruby made her way toward the market, her thoughts focused on reaching Uncle Otis’ wagon. She needed him to drop her off at the government office.

As she weaved through the busy crowd, voices blending together in a constant hum, a familiar voice called out from behind her.

"Miss Ruby...!"

She paused, turning her head to see Pillu jogging toward her, his face flushed and his hair slightly disheveled.

He came to a stop just a few steps away, leaning forward with his hands on his knees as he caught his breath.

"Where are you going, Miss Ruby?" he asked, straightening up and brushing his hair back as his curious eyes fixed on her.

Ruby tilted her head slightly, a small smile forming on her lips. "I’m heading to see Uncle Otis. I’m going to ask him to give me a ride to the government office."

Pillu nodded, still breathing heavily.

"If you don’t mind..." Pillu took a deep breath, brushing his hair back nervously. "You can go to the government office in my uncle Ecto’s bike. He’ll let me borrow it if I ask." His voice was soft, but there was a hopeful glimmer in his eyes.

Ruby blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard by the offer.

"Ah, no—no need, Pillu," she said quickly, shaking her head with a small laugh. "I’m fine walking or going with Uncle Otis. But thank you for the offer."

Pillu’s brow furrowed as he waved his hand dismissively. "No, Miss Ruby, I can really ask him. It’s no trouble. He’s not using it today." His eagerness to help practically radiated off him.

Ruby smiled warmly, touched by his sincerity. "I appreciate it, but it’s really alright."

Pillu opened his mouth to protest, but the gentle look in Ruby’s eyes made him pause.

"I mean it, Pillu. Thank you for your kindness." Ruby’s voice softened as she patted his arm lightly, and Pillu looked shy and nodded his head.

"Take care," Ruby said as she walked away.

Pillu felt like he was floating as he walked away, his heart still racing from the moment Miss Ruby patted his arm.

His face held a faint blush, and he couldn’t stop replaying the small interaction in his head.

Just as he was about to head home, a voice rang out from behind him.

"Hey, Pillu! If you don’t mind... could you borrow that Ecto bike for us too?"

Pillu’s fake friend stood near a stall with his wife, grinning widely. The glint of greed in his eyes was impossible to miss.

The soft, shy expression on Pillu’s face vanished in an instant. His posture straightened, and his gaze turned sharp.

With a flick of his long green hair, he crossed his arms and scoffed.

"Hmph! My uncle’s busy. He needs the Ecto bike for important work. Why should I ask him to lend it to you?" Pillu’s tone dripped with superiority as he stared down his friend.

Without waiting for a reply, he spun on his heel and walked away, his steps light but filled with undeniable arrogance.

Behind him, his friend stood frozen, blinking in disbelief.

His wife nudged him. "Did he just...?"

Her husband scratched his head, eyes still locked on Pillu’s retreating figure.

???

🪄

Uncle Otis dropped Ruby off at the big market. She took a deep breath as she stepped inside, carefully tucking her PIC card into her purse.

As she walked into the government office, familiar faces greeted her with nods and smiles. It wasn’t long before someone hurried off to call Old Witch Zee.

"Miss Ruby!"

Ruby turned to see Old Witch Zee making her way toward her, her ever-present warm smile tugging at her wrinkled face.

"Hey, Miss Ruby! What brings you here today?" Zee asked, her eyes twinkling as she approached.

Ruby returned the smile, dipping her head slightly in greeting. "Ah, no need to trouble yourself, Old Witch Zee. I just came to register my business and thought I’d stop by to check if everything’s running smoothly."

Zee chuckled softly, her gaze softening as she waved her hand dismissively.

"Miss Ruby, you’re far too kind. Everything here is running just fine – no need to worry yourself over that."

She gently patted Ruby’s arm, as if ushering her forward. "Come now, let’s head to my office. We’ll get this sorted out right away."

Ruby shook her head politely. "There’s no need, really. I’d rather handle the process myself."

Zee’s expression shifted, the warm smile still present but her eyes narrowing with gentle insistence.

"Nonsense! There’s no reason for you to go through all the paperwork and procedures. We owe you, Miss Ruby. Let us handle this for you."

Ruby smiled, sensing Zee’s firm tone. "I appreciate it, but I don’t want to trouble anyone."

Zee’s chuckle deepened, her hands settling firmly on her hips. "Trouble? Please, this is the least we can do. I won’t hear another word about it."

Ruby laughed softly. "Alright, if you insist. But only if it’s truly no trouble."

"Not at all," Old Witch Zee said, waving her hand dismissively as if Ruby’s concerns were nothing more than passing clouds.

"Come to my office, sit down, and have some snacks." Zee added, gently looping her arm through Ruby’s and pulling her along with surprising strength for someone her age.

Ruby chuckled softly but allowed herself to be led.

Soon enough, Ruby found herself seated in a comfortable chair across from Zee’s desk.

A few minutes later, a peon quietly entered, balancing a tray of snacks and tea. He placed them carefully in front of Ruby, bowing slightly before disappearing as quickly as he came.

Zee folded her hands in front of her, watching Ruby with that twinkle in her eye.

"Don’t worry, dear. I’ll handle all the paperwork for you," she said, pouring tea into two cups. "You won’t have to go through much trouble at all."

—To be continued...🪄