h4Chapter 241: Don’t Go Out/h4

    (Myra’s POV)

    "Uh~ gosh ...... it is quite sunny today," I peeked at the sky above, from under my garden hat, a sweat bead trickled down my eyebrow. Unlike the early hours of the morning, the weather has turned a bit hot and humid now. Nevertheless, I can’t neglect my toil andbor to keep this garden prim and proper. I have been doing that since I arrived in Esteria.

    The cleaning and weed removing had to be done today as my schedule is packed with lectures and group project meetings from Monday onwards. I even have to attend additional sses from different departments, due to my schrship program. I don’t know why but it is necessary.

    Anyways, I noticed few stems of the yellow rose nts have grown out of proportion fromst month. So, I sterilized my garden snip scissors carefully and started working on it. As I removed the dead leaves, my mind drifted off to the incident that happened in the morning. Actually, I don’t know whether it could be counted as an incident or is it just my paranoia acting up.

    But the girl Cassie showed me, the newbie named Elisa, she made me unsettled with her staring and smiling. ’Like, seriously, I don’t even know her. I haven’t ever spoken to her ... I haven’t even met her before. So why was she looking at me like that ... why? ..... Just why? I can’t wrap my head around it.

    Is she someone I bumped into? But I would have remembered it. Is she some spy? Is she one of those wereanimals, huhh? Is she one of those who were involved in my kidnapping that day?’ Countless such thoughts made me restless, my mind reeling at her facial expression.

    As I made a neat cut, a voice that I greatly recognize startled me, "Ohhh~ you are quite engross~ .... ed when you do your ...... Do you like taking care of them so much?"

    I jolted back from inner monologue. Turning my head while raising it, I nced at the person, who was standing just outside the fence area, Fabian. He was in his casual wear, his hand carrying a canvas bags from which I could see coriander leaves, milk bottle, baguette and few other fresh veggies. He must have gone to the supermarket.

    "Good morning, Fabian .... Ahhh~ .... What did you ask? I didn’t catch it" I asked him as I was genuinely confused. I didn’t hear his words properly as my mind was stuck somewhere else.

    "Haha~ .... I was just asking, do you like taking care of them so much?" he chuckled lightly and said this, while pointing at my garden filled with different variety of nts. He knew how I adored doing it, I was always purchasing various saplings. It was like a safe haven for me.

    "You already know the answer," I replied him with a smile. "Went grocery shopping? Are you expecting someone?"

    "Nahh~ ...... bought it for myself. My house help is on leave. So, I thought, I would try learning some cooking," he answered with his usual, sincere smile.

    "That’s lovely. I would love to try your cooking someday," I spoke casually.

    "Why don’t you join me? .... I mean, why don’t you ...e to my ce" he struggled to form words as he continued "...... no, what I mean is, you can be the judge and test my cooking," he fumbled with his words, his face turning crimson with embarrassment.

    I guffawed at his current state. Looking at him like that, no one could say that he is such a renowned professor with numerous achievements in his field. Right now ...... he looks like a bashful toddler. Seeing meughing at him he quickly added, "I am just not very confident and needed some feedback."

    I stoppedughing at him. Clearing my throat, I replied to him, "Sorry, I overdid it. And~ ... as you can see .... I am little preupied right now. It will take me sometime. So sadly, enough but I will have to pass your offer this time," I politely declined his offer.

    Generally, it would take me half a day to clear and tidy up all the outside area, will all the cut and pruning and then sweeping and mopping.

    "Should I help you with your work? Then we can head to my ce. What’s say," and then without waiting for my reply, he kept his bag on a nearby bench and came inside through the main gate.

    "Ayeee ... don’t. The soil will stain your clothes," I tried to stop him but he just asked me, "Don’t worry. Just tell me what do I have to do?" He stood beside me and looked at me with expectant eyes.

    His insistence made me speechless as finally I gave in, "Can you pull the weeds out from that area?"

    He nodded and quite obediently went down to business of pulling out the weeds. He drew out a weed and showed it to me, asking, "Am I doing it correctly?" saying this, he gave me a carefree and proud smile.

    "You are doing great. Where is your assessment notebook? I need to draw a star and write ’an excellent’ on it," I teased him.

    "Sure, teacher, but I need you to draw me a smiley face too," he replied, turned around and then busied himself. His facial expressions were so serious like he was doing some research project.

    I shook my head and went about my own business.

    Surprisingly enough, he was fast with his hands and did all the work within half an hour. What would have taken me half a day, took both of us at most three hours toplete all the work.

    "Myra .... Are you done? I brought you water~ ... ohhh~" mom came out of the house with a bottle and stopped midway when she saw Fabian sweeping our garden.

    "Ohhh .... Mrs. Miracle, good morning. Uhhh~ .... I guess, it’s noon already," he mumbled with a broom in his hand. "I was just giving her a hand."

    "No need to exin. You have worked hard. Here, you must be thirsty after all the work," she gave him the bottle.

    He dusted his soiled hands and epted the bottle with both his hands, "Thank you Mrs. Miracle."

    "I have already ordered lunch. Prof. Fabian, please join us," mom offered.

    "Ma’am, I~" I could tell he was about to turn her down but my mom, she wouldn’t take no for an answer. "Please, I insist. You have helped Myra a lot. We would love to have you."

    I chimed in as well, "Yeah, join us. As for your cooking skills, I will have to test it some other time."

    As I and mom ganged up on him, he had no choice to ept. Soon, Yelena joined us as well, "Ohhooo ...... well~ well, look, who has graced us with their royal presence. Mr. Proud Peacock."

    My mom was there, so he didn’t do it but I could tell he wanted to roll his eyes at Yelena. She has been pestering him since yesterday. I chuckled at their antics. And we went inside.

    Soon, our lunch was delivered and we all sat down and ate peacefully. After the lunch was over, I and Yelena went outside to see Fabian off.

    As he reached the main gate, he turned around and looked at me and then at Yelena, his face turning serious.

    "What happened? Why so serious?" Yelena questioned him directly.

    "I~ ... I wanted to say~ ....." he hesitated with his words.

    "Is something wrong?" I frowned seeing him like that.

    "Uh~no, it is just that ... I will be busy with some business so I wouldn’t be avable for a few days," he started, sounding regretful.

    "Uffff~ ... gosh. You started like it was something massive. What are we, kids? Mr. Peacock, we will be fine without your service. Do well in your business," Yelena arched her brow and gave Fabian a wry smile.

    I smacked Yelena’s shoulder and then added, "Don’t worry. We will be fine. Do well in your business. When will you be free?"

    "I don’t know yet. It may take about a week or ten days. Or it may extend even more. I will let you know. I just wanted to say, you two, don’t go out of the main campus, okay?" Fabian muttered.

    "Huhh? Why?" Yelena was quick to ask. "We are adults. We can do anything."

    "It is dangerous out there," he retorted.

    "Why are you behaving like my dad, huh? Fabian, so uncool," Yelena wasn’t impressed. I too find his words off.

    "Is there something you are hiding?" I asked him straightforwardly.

    There was a long pause. I and Yelena looked at him, waiting for his answer but he remained silent on the matter and just said, "Just listen to me. There have been a lot of wild animals lurking around the area. It isn’t safe for any of you out there."

    "Woah ... woah ... woah. Ohk, fine, if you are so adamant," Yelena said. "Neither of us will roam around."

    To Be Continued . . . . . . . .