Time Ghost

Chapter 2

 “Ouch.”

One word spoken after such discharge. Yet, the old man still fell astounded against the unexpected event and stuttered a bit afterwards. He felt no worrisome injury on the back and rubbed his own cheek for a moment.

He did a small tap onto the wrinkle below his chin. The old man plays with it for awhile as if it is the first time for him to do so. Middle-aged men with tedious fieldwork will possess sturdy cheeks and strengthened jaw-line after decades of life on the farm. Numerous scars on either cheeks decorated his tanned skin, marks of experienced workers and dedication to the job.

Of course, the old man also owns automated vehicles to support his self-employed duty. A combined harvester stationed nearby for reaping the results of three-months’ care on the land. Across the south, a crop duster was parked in take-off position to be easily deployed whenever necessary for him to do so. Drones were nestled inside their port and awaited orders from their master. They fly in pre-programmed sequence to detect any form of pests and eradicate them all on the spot at the same time.

Yet, the old man is a green thumb in heart. He never considered a day’s work without his own dirty hand in charge. Often so, the old man left almost every toys idle and choose to use manual labor in its place. He usually hand-picked seeds to fill the holes on the soil manually for cultivation with steel hoe and watering can on both palms.

Then, the old man stunned,”What’s with the wrinkle? Is it the potion’s after-effect?” He said. Two eyes met for a check-up on either palms, as well, and both were tumbled down in surprise.

“So, I guess...”

The old man tries to stand up in vain. His back has been slightly damaged by the knockback produced. In such ill-fated circumstances, however, there is an energy left to hold out and  getting back to his feet.

After three failed chances to spring up, fallen guy has returned back in shape. The old man advanced to the next issue in his thoughts afterwards. He moves away wooden debris that blocked his way. But, the old man thinks of none about bandages and medicines at this point in time. He paces towards the remains of bathroom door and pulled them out in a rush.

Blank stare on the mirror. Brown beard on the face, beak-shaped nose, old-boned muscles under the sleeves, the old man scrutinizes himself in curious look. He lifts up the shirt to find six-packs hidden safely in the trunks.

Indeed, the old man gazed at the muscles in minutes. Smirks adorned his lips in each press of the robust pack beneath as the old man inspected those perks up close,“Ah... I’m an old man, now, huh?! Really neat v-shape, though.” He complimented.

“Honey, what’s wrong? Do you broke your hairdryer again? For God’s sake, Chuck, I’m not payin’ a visit to James anymore.”

Listening to the loud noise upstairs, the old woman stepping up the ladder to approach her man. She will scold the old man and bawled him out with foul words. At least, it is on his mind, therefore Chuck’s sharp-witted decision to quickly wrapped himself up under the ruins of their bed.

~kriek~

The bedroom door opened once more. Chuck’s heart was racing fast against the down-ticking timepiece across the edge of the bedroom window,”What’s with this mess? Chuck, where are you?” the old woman shouted. Wrinkled feet tracks towards the bathroom to locate Her husband’s whereabouts. She pulled out the doorknob that was still intact, thus wrecked them up even more as a result.

“Chuck?!”

She decides to leave the bathroom and directs her attention ahead of the queen-sized bed ruins. The old man’s heart was throbbing harder in each strides of the woman. Flares of negative thoughts has made him anxious this time around.

~flap~

Lilia pulled the blanket all at once,”Chuck?! What’s going on?” She frowned, then hustled in panic. The old man pretends to stay unconscious for the time being. Chuck knows that if the woman goes freaked out, He will be safe and sound in disguise, at least until the old man could discover his own identity and who’s that old woman really is to take care onwards.