Chapter 104 - Different Karl
Karl stepped out of the convenience store where he worked. In his hand, a plastic bag filled with some food and snacks hung lightly. Despite the exhaustion from an entire day of work, his steps felt lighter today.
When he arrived at his small apartment, Karl carefully opened the door. Inside, Layla was sitting on the worn-out sofa with a book resting on her lap. She lifted her face, a faint smile appearing on her lips as she saw Karl walk in.
"You’re home." Her voice was soft, slightly hoarse.
Karl lifted the plastic bag with a small smile. "I brought something for you. Some bread, milk, and... your favorite chocolate."
Layla’s eyes sparkled for a moment. She stood up and walked towards Karl, carefully taking the bag from him.
"Thank you, Karl... I really don’t know how to repay you for all of this."
Karl placed his hand gently on Layla’s head, ruffling her hair softly. "You don’t need to repay anything, Layla. It’s my responsibility to make sure you’re okay."
Layla bit her lip, staring blankly at the food in the plastic bag. After a few moments, she finally spoke in a soft voice.
"Karl... is this really okay? I mean... us being here, you helping me... Are you sure you won’t regret this?"
Karl looked at her deeply, then let out a long sigh. He sat down on the sofa and gestured for Layla to sit beside him. Once she sat down, Karl began to speak.
"Don’t worry, Layla. I’ve thought about this carefully. I won’t regret it, and I won’t let you be alone ever again."