Chapter 40
“So you asked for the job yourself,” said Aluna.
“I don’t know if the job turns out to be accompanying in a negative sense,” Kalea whispered as she played with her slender fingers. Every now and then she glanced at Aluna with trepidation. She knew her best friend would be disappointed.
“Didn’t I already tell you about the rumors of Zeline’s always playing with a lot of guys? You keep thinking positively about her and now you’re the one in trouble!” Aluna replied, slightly raising her voice making Kalea surprised. Kalea looked down deeply, her guilt piling up even more.
“Sorry ... but I have no other choice,” Kalea whispered, her eyes starting to tear up and soon tears dripping on the back of her hand.
Aluna realized that she was too hard on Kalea. “N-no, Lea ... I’m sorry for yelling at you. I just ... regret that this has happened without you telling me first. I feel I’m not considered by you,” Aluna replied, her face so sad.
“No, it’s not like that! I don’t know what else to do, I only have one thought. I got money in one night because my mom spent the money that I had saved in just an instant. Only that man crossed my mind,” Kalea said while wiping her tears. “I’m really tired of living like I used to.”
Aluna stood up from her seat and moved to Kalea’s side. She was hugging the brunette haired girl tightly. “You’re great, Lea. Been living a tough life since childhood. Everything’s fine, okay?” Aluna said, trying to comfort and calm Kalea. She stroked her friend’s back gently.
“I wanted to tell you too, but I haven’t found the right time yet. I’m afraid you think I’m bad,” Kalea said in a hoarse voice.
.....
“Honestly, yes. My thoughts have been negative because you suddenly became close to Zeline. That woman must have used you and plunged you into a job like that. Especially in the beginning she lied!” Aluna groaned, annoyed.
“I don’t know at all, I’m too stupid, Luna. It’s okay,” Kalea said with a bitter smile, Luna just snorted in annoyance because Kalea was still defending the blonde girl.
“Then what’s your sugar daddy like? Is he good? Married? Have you become a mistress?” Aluna asked repeatedly making Kalea overwhelmed and confused about which answer to answer.
“H-he’s fine ... luckily he’s not married,” Kalea replied.
“Seriously? Thank goodness he hasn’t. But why does he want to find a sugar baby? Why doesn’t he just get married?” Aluna asked confused.
Kalea was silent for a moment, she was confused when asked like that. Because Kalea was curious as to why Arthur wasn’t married yet. Kale shook her head slowly. “I don’t know either, Luna.”
Aluna notices Kalea’s appearance, which doesn’t look different at all on campus. Not like when she saw Kalea getting out of the taxi with an extraordinary appearance that she had never seen before.
“Lea, can I meet your sugar daddy?”
Kalea was a little surprised. “Eh?”
“I’m curious and wanna see firsthand if you are really treated well by him,” Aluna continued with a sweet smile.
***
Kalea is still thinking about what Aluna said, whether she should bring Arthur to her best friend. She had not given a definite answer to Aluna because she had to ask the man with the gray eyes first. However, for some reason she didn’t want Arthur to meet Aluna. Kalea was afraid that the perverted man would act strangely to her best friend.
Kalea doesn’t want Aluna to know that her sugar daddy is a lecherous man.
“Again you daydream while cooking,” Arthur said as he turned off the gas stove because the cooking pot on it was already boiling.
Suddenly Kalea’s daydream was broken, she turned to the soup she was making. “Sorry,” Kalea said, smiling shyly.
Arthur took a deep breath. “If you keep daydreaming while cooking, I won’t allow you to go into the kitchen again,” the man replied, making Kalea’s eyes widen.
“N-no! I’m fine!”
“Are you okay? If I wasn’t here, the kitchen might have exploded or something you couldn’t handle alone,” Arthur said very firmly because he was really worried about Kalea.
Kalea lowered her head, the corners of her lips curled down. “Sorry ....”
“What are you thinking? Let me know that.”
“Eh?” Kalea looked up, looking at Arthur who was leaning on the kitchen set table with his arms folded across his chest. The man raised an eyebrow. “N-nothing, I didn’t think of anything,” Kalea said, turning her head away.
“Lea.”
“What?” Kalea resumed her cooking, ignoring Arthur’s threat earlier. She promised herself not to daydream while cooking, so as not to worry the man.
“You took so long, I’m already hungry,” Arthur said as he hugged Kalea from behind. He was very happy to be close to the girl because Kalea smelled like a child when she was only in the apartment.
“In a minute,” Kalea said simply.
“I think I’d better eat you,” Arthur teased. However, Kalea just kept quiet without responding in annoyance or telling Arthur to let go of the hug. This made Arthur a little surprised, Kalea didn’t usually act like this.
“Lea?” called Arthur again.
“Yes?”
“... Are you okay?”
“Oh ... you better sit down, the cooking is done,” Kalea replied with a faint smile. Arthur blinked, he noticed Kalea who started to put the dishes on the dining table. After that, he also joined.
Arthur didn’t want to force Kalea to tell him, he tried not to push her too hard and started enjoying the dinner. Usually, Arthur always ate out or ordered food when he was living alone or with a woman. However, after being with Kalea, Arthur began eating home-cooked meals more often, thanks to the girl.
Arthur finished his meal first, then opened the beer lid. He glanced at Kalea when she was stealing glances at him. “What’s wrong? Is there something you wanna talk to me about?” Arthur asked as he took a sip of the beer.
Kalea was still silent, then took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Arthur,” the girl called.
“Hmm?”
“There’s ... who wants to see you.”
Arthur raised an eyebrow. “Who? Women?” the man asked, Kalea just nodded slowly. “Pretty? Sexy?”
Kalea rolled her eyes lazily, Arthur always saw a woman’s physique. What a perverted human. “I’m too lazy to say it, better not to. Forget it,” Kalea said while tidying the dirty plates.
“No, no. I’m joking. Keep going,” Arthur said, holding Kalea to her feet.
Kalea took a deep breath, she started to tell what happened yesterday when she was with Aluna. Arthur listened carefully, this also let the man know that Kalea had an understanding and caring friend.
“Okay, I get the gist of it. I don’t mind meeting your best friend,” Arthur said after Kalea finished telling the story.
“Really?”
Arthur nodded firmly. “As long as it makes you comfortable, I’m fine.”
“That’s the problem. I’m uncomfortable,” Kalea replied. Arthur becomes exasperated by the girl’s unstable behavior.
“Then what do you want? What are you afraid of if I meet Aluna?” Arthur asked. Kalea looked at him a little sharply, Kalea thought it was a rhetorical question. Arthur should have known what the problem was if she had brought Arthur and Aluna together. “Oh, are you afraid if I tease your friend? Hmm ... it can’t be helped, even if I don’t tease, my charm will continue to spread throughout the world,” he said confidently.
Kalea felt like throwing up.
Kalea sighed heavily, she was forced to bring Aluna to her sugar daddy. “When are you free? And preferably, where do you guys meet?” Kalea asked.
“Hmm, hotels?”
“You want me to hit you?” Kalea already clenched her fists, ready to punch the man.
“Then just here. Between Saturday and Sunday, as usual I sleep here,” Arthur finally said seriously.
“Okay.” Kalea started to get up from her seat to tidy up the dining table.
“By the way, Lea.”
“Hmm?” Kalea said, still busy carrying the dirty dishes to the kitchen, she also cleaned the kitchen until it was as shiny as before.
“What are you doing during this vacation?” Arthur asked.
“Study?”
“I’m so sick of hearing that sacred word,” Arthur replied, making Kalea a little annoyed and offended. However, what can she do? That was all that crossed Kalea’s mind.
“Then I’ll find a part-time job,” Kalea chimed in.
“What did you say? I didn’t hear wrong, did I? You can’t,” Arthur flatly refused.
Kalea squeaked. “Who asked him for permission,” the girl mumbled softly as she washed the dishes. To be sure, Arthur wouldn’t hear it.
“You want a vacation to Paris? Or Switzerland?” Arthur asked. The man was looking for a suitable vacation spot for his sugar baby.
“Huh? What?” Kalea stopped her washing activities and turned to Arthur who was still engrossed in the dining table chair.
“If you want, I’ll book a ticket for you there.”
“No need.”
“You keep refusing. I really don’t like rejection.”
“... are you coming too?”
Arthur stopped looking at the webpage, he was a little taken aback when Kalea asked like that. A crooked smile appeared on Arthur’s face. “You want me to come with you? That’s fine. Wow, I can’t wait to go on vacation with you,” he said enthusiastically.
“We can talk about that later. Arthur, I hope when you meet my best friend you don’t do anything weird,” Kalea said sharply.
“What do you mean do something weird?”
“Anyway, you will meet Aluna with terms and conditions applied,” the girl continued again. Kalea had finished cleaning the kitchen and rushed to call her best friend.
“Dammit, I don’t like what I’m doing suddenly being restricted,” Arthur snorted. “But it’s okay, I won’t be responsible if your best friend likes me.”
“Don’t worry, she doesn’t like old men,” Kalea replied casually while typing Aluna’s contact. Arthur just stroked his chest so as not to reply to those words, which would cause a long debate.
“Hello, Aluna?” Kalea said after the call was connected.
[Oh, Leah! What’s up?]
.....
“Um ... about yesterday. Do you still wanna meet my, um ... su-sugar daddy?” Kalea inquired, amused that she had mentioned sugar daddy in front of Arthur.
[Of course! Does he want?]
“Yeah ... you can come to the location I sent later. How about this Sunday?”
[Oh, okay. I have nothing to do that day.]
“Okay, see you later.”
[Okay, bye!]
Call disconnected.
Kalea really set up a meeting for Arthur and her best friend.