HOUSEMATES

26: Amity talk

Last night, Nathan came home late but unexpectedly not drunk. Maybe he worked overtime, Betty thought. Since the rift between them had widened, the duo didn't talk. Nathan directly went to sleep not minding the food on the table that had gained cold already.

Right then, in the morning. Betty overslept as usual. Nathan followed his usual routine: cleaning, boxing practice, shower. However he did something unusual: preparing breakfast. At least he knew how to make fine omelet, prepare sausages, and tea. The strong aroma woke up Betty, who, in her pajamas followed the scent only to find a creature worth a meal preparing the breakfast. Who knew that a man could be sexier while cooking?

"you just woke up" Nathan snapped Betty out of her maze. Betty tried hard to hide her already scarlet flushed cheeks but Nathan was ignorant enough to never figure out the obvious gesture.

"may you join the table, I will be done in a second" Nathan Invited Betty on the table that had a pair of serving. The guy expected to share the breakfast with Betty.

Out of decency check, Betty brushed her teeth and face but no more. She planned to return to bed after devouring food: weekend benefits. The morning breeze was no joke, so Betty decided put on her pink jumper.

With much gusto, Betty attacked a big serving of omelet Nathan had offered like a hungry 1000-year-old-awaken mummy. She wasn't affected by how Nathan was looking at her, amused by her carelessness and gourmand side. Why didn't he acknowledge the girl unique beauty before?

At the crank of forks, Nathan snapped out of his momentarily irrationality: it's rude to sightsee people eating.

" I bet you had something to discuss. The Nathan I know can't organize breakfast party for just amity" Betty came out honest after eating.

"uhm, you know me better," Nathan smirked. Oh gosh, that hideous dimple on his left cheek!

"A lot had happened during this week. We didn't talk about anything about what happened, besides is it wrong to chitchat with my housemate?" Nathan declared feigning hurt.

"chitchat my foot!" Betty laughed.

"Okay then, let me do dishes first" Betty offered as she went to do the dishes. The drill that would snap her out of thinking about taking the next sleeping round. Who knows when the amity meeting with Nathan would end?

"so where do we start?" Betty asked, sitting on the cozy sofa.

"the other attacker was murdered first night at the police station, stabbed by cellmate. The case is closed right now," Nathan informed Betty whose mouth hung open because the information.

"then, why did a police officer called Liam came looking for me in the hospital when the case was already closed? " Betty was confused.

"It's for a different case. Sorry, but you might need to answer this: what do you know about the 2005 Daycare arson?" Nathan watched Betty squarely.

"What are you talking about, Nathan?" Betty stuttered.

" are you under false identity Betty? Who exactly are you? It just turned out in a span of week, I found out I know nothing about you" Nathan stood up, pacing around the living room. Betty kept silent.

Betty bowed her face, hiding a thick cloud in her eyes. Forcing her psyche to stay intact. Emotion contained, reactions dismissed. The trouble was doomed to befall as she spoke up.

"you are really such a fool, Nathan. How comes I remember everything that happened 14 years ago like yesterday yet you don't seem to be affected anyhow. Yes, of-course you know nothing about me and don't dare pretend like you are interested to know me now after 3 years, excuse me" Betty spoke really fast, racing against tears that had managed to escape her then reddened orbs.

Without giving Nathan opportunity to speak again, the girl stormed off to her room. Basing on the mood she left with, Nathan figured once that she indeed needed privacy more than what his inner self urged him to give. He moved to his room perplexed than ever.

He low key wanted to approach her. Listen to her. Accept the tantrums he know nothing to do with. Yes, he wanted to know Betty's connection with the Daycare arson as much as he feared his doubts to be proven true.

In the ambient silence, Nathan heard shower running. Betty was taking shower. At least her anger had subsided, Nathan thought. He didn't know why he felt guilty and apologetic for developing curiosity, doubt, and questioning about Betty; he simply did it because she reminded him the girl he knew. The guiltiness escalated realizing that he had been seeing Betty for over 2 years then but never made a move to clarify his million questions until late.

While still embarking on his thoughts, mind swept 14 years ago and back. He heard a clank of door closing, signaling that Betty was leaving. The moment he realized that the rift between them, actually worsened and being housemates wasn't helping.