Salad. She decided. She was not motivated enough to serve him something better. She did not wish to work hard for him.
After all, I already had a heavy breakfast and I don't even know what he had since the morning. Salad would work.
Soon, the rapid chopping sound filled the kitchen, making Sameul watch her from the back, admiring her skillful hands working with the knife.
However, her eyes never rested on one single place. They were restless—her gaze focusing onto different scenes; sometimes the utensils that gave a faint reflection of Sameul at the back, sometimes the tap water dripping after every 10 seconds, sometimes the rising heat outdoors.
Growing up, people had always pointed out her unsettled, watchful eyes, often feeling ignored or uncomfortable with her. Teachers said that she was inattentive, that she could never focus on them while they were teaching.
Orion, on the other hand, encouraged her and even suggested her to improve it to the next level. She knew she could never compete her observant brother's skills but wanted to be her best for him.
...
Her gaze was fixed on the garden outside that gleamed a soft yellow under the morning sun. The chopping sound grew slower until it completely stopped.
The heat. It will dry up the moist soil.
...
My plan...
I need to do it fast.
She gave a smile and spoke sweetly, "Would you like some berries? I have some in my garden!"
"Why not?"
"Perfect!" She chirped and stepped outside the backdoor, kept the door open just a few inches so that she would know if he stayed seated or not.
She walked towards the raspberries bush near the fence, the juicy scarlet colour alluring as ever. Crouching down beside it, her hands started picking the berries slowly while her eyes moved rapidly, fixed towards the soil while sparing some seconds to check on Sameul alternately.
She looked at the imprinted bootprint on the soil when he first entered through the garden. Taking her sweet time for her memory, she stood up with the berries in her hand and then walked back towards the house.
She entered the kitchen and saw Sameul busy checking his pictures.
While washing the berries, she called out to him, "By the way, what do you think of my knife skills? I saw you watching me, you know."
However, poor her, she didn't see his face this time.
Another question with double intentions... Of course it would be foolish for me to expect her to stop her suspicion. His face darkened, as if he was already starting to get fed up with their conversation. Let's see how things unfold...
His eyes widened as if a little surprised when she looked at him for his response. "You were watching?" She didn't speak, waiting for a real answer. He let out a small awkward laugh. "You are good at it."
"Good? Not great?" She teased light-heartedly.
"You see, I am the one great at it." His confident voice returned. "I've got skills and I will be willing to teach," he winked, "you~"
She laughed at his words.
This egoistic guy. Just made my plan easier by shortening the conversation I thought we would have had.
"Well, if you are sooo talented," she held the knife by the blade as her arm positioned back, upwards while her body turned towards him, "do teach me too!"
The knife spun towards him.
In that matter of seconds, his body reacted quick.
His body shifted back, leaning down on the chair and making the furniture screech, his hands catching the knife instinctively.
Mhm. He did catch it...
His defensive and narrowed eyes now widened as he looked at his hand and then at the knife and then at her.
Testing me yet agai-
"IS THAT HOW YOU TREAT YOUR—" He stopped realizing not a single scratch was on his skin. "Why am I holding the hilt- How- Unless you..." Now he stared at her dead in the eye with an emotion she couldn't read.
He rushed towards her and stopped right in front of her, his eyes filled with furious concern. But he couldn't speak it out, his feelings.
We got to dress your wound. Fast. So show me that hand.
"Show me." His voice was stern, making her stomach curl.
"...
It is nothing...
C-Calm down."
She went one step back and realised the kitchen counter was right back. Unable to think what to do next, she just shook her head a little while looking away.
...
He opened his mouth then stopped for a second to rephase his words.
"Believe me, you won't like a scar." He finally said, his voice stern yet soft, as if he was talking to a kid that had just crossed the limits well enough to make a parent concerned and furious at the same time.
She shook her head again, this time with a small chuckle.
"Scar? There's no need to exxegerate. This just a scratch."
"Then why won't you SHOW?" His voice made her gulp. She just froze when she looked into those eyes.
You don't understand...
They thought together.
She collected herself and made a small hesitant smile.
"I will show... But you sit down first." She didn't understand why she didn't have the courage to meet his eyes this time. She just avoided his gaze.
He stepped back. Stood away a metre at the least. Gave her enough space she required but never sat down.
She pressed her lips.
That's what happens when you don't think of the consequences, idiot. Just look at this scene...look at him...
She took a deep breath and showed her right hand.
...
"What we're you even thinking?" He muttered.
Well, this wound would have been on either me or you... She stayed silent with guilt.
He held the bridge of his nose with his thumb and a finger then slowly moved up to his temples, both fingers circling in a slow massage.
"W-well just... Just wash your hands under the sink and tell me where the first aid is. Quick."
She froze. "Uh- I- Uhm-"
"Quick!" He yelled.
"Wait! I need to process what's going on-"
"Process? You did this! You should've known!" In an instant, she felt his fingers around her wrist as he dragged her hand towards the basin and turned on the tap.
He turned around, leaving her, now on his way to get the bandages.
"No! Don't go! Stay!" She shrieked, the water rushing over her wound.
"I will ask your mother for the bandages. Don't worry about me." He said, his eyes almost on the doorknob.
"Please" She spoke softly.
He halted. "Why? You don't want your mother to know your madness?"
She closed her eyes and nodded, realizing how messed up her plan was.
Ugh what do I do now...
Sameul stood there, a little annoyed. "Then what do I do?" He groaned.
"Sit down."
"Wha-"
She closed the tap. "Yes. Sit down. That's your part of helping. Also, you are a guest."
"I don't count myself your guest after all you did." He spoke sarcastically.
She wrapped her hands with the end of her shirt. "You can eat the salad till then."
"Wha- No- No! Why will I? Stop treating me like a guest."
She rushed towards the door to the corridor, ignoring his protest.
She gave a charming smile. "This is how you help me, unless you don't follow my request and leave the kitchen." She shut the door fast, leaving him inside the kitchen.
"Don't upset me, Sam~" She called sweetly, then laughed at herself as she rushed upstairs.
She slammed open Orion's door, making him jump.
"Not the door again!" He groaned from his bed. "Oh also, what's going on? Some shouting woke me up-"
"It was me." She showed her hand and quickly wrapped her hand with a towel hanged on the chair. She didn't care about cleanliness.
She snatched a pen and tore a part of a page from his study, then started drawing the footprint from her memory with her left hand. It was quite alright, although not as good as her right hand's drawings. She pushed the drawing into her pocket.
She dropped the pen and rushed downstairs, never closing his door. She stopped midway on the stairs and went up again, and looked at Orion's sleepy look.
"Get ready. A client is coming."
She didn't wait for his reaction and ran to the kitchen. She got ready to slam open the door but
She stopped.
There was Aunt Honey, no longer in the bookstore, but standing next to Sameul and looking at her with a horrified face.
Sameul... He told her. She resisted a frown.
She shrugged.
Ah, well, at least he didn't leave the room.
Aunt Honey rushed to her side, taking away the wrap to see the wound.
"It can become a scar later, Wren." She said, as Wren pulled away her hand.
"No no. You'll see for yourself. Don't mind what he says." She said calmly, wishing to cool down the caring woman.
She then looked at Sameul. "Sam, the detective is open. Go." Her eyes signalled towards the backdoor.
Hmph, smart girl...
He couldn't help but give a smile with eyebrows raised, admiring her thought process.
Her lips gapped, her face expressionless, unable to think what reaction to give. By then, he had already walked away.
...
He understands what I did... He understands me...