Chapter 19: The Truth
So much had happened, and I needed to keep my resolve strong. I had already started something I couldn't back out of now.
I remembered that Kath had mentioned something to me about the Arcana and that she wanted to discuss it. With no good reason left to go to work, I decided to head straight to Kath's house since we had already planned to talk about what she knew about the Arcana.
After a long ride, I arrived at Kath's place and rang the doorbell. Moments later, I heard footsteps approaching the door—it was her, of course. However, I found myself slightly taken aback and stepping back when I saw what she was wearing. She was in a tank top and short shorts, her fair skin impossible to ignore. I caught myself staring for a moment but quickly looked away, forcing myself to focus.
"Daniel? You're early. Don't you have work today? And you didn't even let me know you were coming," she said, slightly surprised. She was right—I hadn't informed her about my plan to visit. The only thing she knew was that we were supposed to meet later in the evening after my work.
I told her I needed to discuss something with her, and that it was a long story. Hearing that, she invited me inside, gesturing for me to step into her home.
There was a brief moment of awkward silence as I struggled to look at Kath properly. She seemed so different today, perhaps because she had just taken a shower, and her casual outfit made her look effortlessly comfortable. I couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Of course, Kath noticed my unusual behavior and immediately started teasing me. She pointed out my awkward glances and even teased me further by sitting beside me and putting her arm around my shoulder. That only made me blush more, and I found myself at a loss for words.
"Kath, please," I finally managed to say. "I can't focus on what I want to talk about."
She burst out laughing, clearly amused by my reaction. Seeing her so cheerful, I couldn't help but smile too, despite my embarrassment. It was one of those moments where her joy was contagious, and I momentarily forgot why I was so flustered in the first place.