章 20: WHAT WILL YOU DO?
"You will choke if you eat any faster than this," Arthur commented. He was cutting a slice of cheese to eat with the bread.
"But I don't have time." Veronica placed the poached egg in between the pieces of bread and took a huge bite. While chewing, she took a glass of water and chugged it hard. She always had a hard time waking up in the morning. Thus, she learned how to eat her meals fast to cover up for her waking up late.
Today, she woke up at half-past ten when she was supposed to wake up at five. It couldn't be helped that she woke up late since she worked her butt off yesterday. Moreover, she had a little adventure at night. On top of that, her heart was in turmoil. She was tired both physically and mentally.
Forget about waking up early, she didn't manage to give her attendance in time. If they looked for her and found out that she was missing, what could happen after that was beyond her imagination.
Arthur stared at her and calmly stated, "You will be late even if you eat faster or slower."
Veronica gulped down the food quickly and said, "You should think about how to get me inside the temple without anyone noticing rather than how I eat."
Arthur shrugged. "How is this my problem? You are the one who stayed at my place uninvited." His eyes flickered with amusement.
"Ex…excuse me?" Veronica nearly choked. Her face tinted with a red hue.
Arthur slowly explained, "I did invite you for a cup of tea but I didn't invite you to a sleepover. I even let you sleep in my bedroom. Where is your gratitude?"
Veronica looked pitiful as she questioned him, "Are you really doing this to me?"
Arthur asked her back, "Are we friends?"
"We are!" Veronica raised her voice while answering as if her life was depending on this answer. She thought that he would kick her out if they weren't friends.
"How?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. He was enjoying chatting with her. It was like he was talking to a child in a grown woman's body.
Veronica defended, "You saved me twice!"
Arthur shrugged. "So what? Ah, I am your savior and you didn't do anything in return. Is this what you have been taught by your priests?"
Veronica's face turned beet red due to embarrassment she felt, or so he thought. "How dare you put blame on them? They are the people who brought peace by spreading the love of Goddess Juneva."
He was wrong. She was angry, not embarrassed.
Arthur nodded. "Yeah, right. I can see that. You are showing your love by using me again and again."
"Wha-! When did I use you?" Veronica protested. This time, her face was flushed due to embarrassment. "If I may add, it's you who used me that night. Y-you were touching me all over. I can still feel the sensation…"
"Oh?" Arthur smirked. "Did the sensation feel good? Do you want more?"
"D-don't be stupid." She glared at him. She quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, there must be a way to go back to the temple. I have to go there without anyone noticing."
Arthur didn't probe her any further. Therefore, he went along with her, "And, when will the coast be cleared?"
"What?" She couldn't understand what he meant.
Arthur realized that he wasn't talking to his comrade. So, he explained, "You don't think they won't be around the temple, right? You live there, you know it well."
"Ah," Veronica pondered deeply. "There is no way the coast will be cleared then. Everyone has different duties everywhere."
Arthur smiled. "You are a quick learner. Then, what about the secret place you use every night to go in and out?"
Veronica anxiously added, "But, the kitchen will be filled with people till dinner. Since today is the funeral of Sister Ruth, they will fast in the morning. Tonight, they will stay awake till two in the morning to pray for her soul. That means..."
Arthur finished her sentence, "That means you cannot go back to your temple before two in the morning. If you go now, you will be caught. I'm sure they are looking for you now."
Veronica groaned. "Oh, don't talk about it anymore. My stomach is cramping just thinking about that."
Arthur inquired, "So, when do you want to leave? You decide yourself. You can go now and join the funeral prayer. This way, they catch you and you tell them everything. In the end, you might never get out of that temple ever again.
"Or, you can wait till night and then go back to the temple. The next day when they ask your whereabouts, just come up with a lie. Since you stayed there for so long, you must know some hiding place."
"As long as I give up my hiding place to have another chance to come out," Veronica stated with determination.
"Do you want to come outside that badly?" Arthur couldn't understand why she would leave her comfort zone and visit this place. She would be safe inside the temple. For a naïve and pure girl like her, it would be the best choice.
Veronica's eyes shone with interest. "Why wouldn't I? I was dreaming to see the world I've read about since childhood."
Arthur threw a remark at her, "You didn't seem like you went out often."
"I couldn't go out before because I read that before you turn eighteen, you shouldn't go out alone," Veronica spoke so righteously that Arthur burst into laughter. It made her confused as she couldn't find what was making him laugh so much. She couldn't help but ask, "What's so funny?"
"You follow the silliest rules. I mean you maintained not to go out before you turned eighteen and you went out and slept outside, breaking the rest of the rules." Arthur stopped laughing and asked, "If you are going back at midnight, what do you want to do in the time being?"
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