By the River
Noel stared at Adam suspiciously.
Noel: "Are you…?" 🧐
Adam: "No, no, no… I may look a bit like him, but I'm not." 😐
Noel: "I didn't even finish my question!"
Adam: "Your face already asked it."
Noel: "...I don't like how observant you are." 😑
Adam tilted his head, studying her.
Adam: "What's wrong? You seem… lost."
Noel: "Yep… a little bit." 😤
(A little bit? I'M LITERALLY IN THE PAST! I don't know where I am, I don't know how to get back, and the historical figures keep appearing in front of me like I'm collecting them!)
Adam: "Do you want to stay at my house for a while?" 😐
Noel: "Huh…?"
She blinked at him.
Adam: "It kinda feels like fate brought you here. I'm here, and you are too." 😐
Noel stared at him.
Noel: "Are you sure…?"
Adam: "Huh… yes? Why do you ask?" 😐
Noel slowly stood up and crossed her arms.
Noel (whispering): "Don't be this good… it's suspicious, you know."
Adam: "What?"
Noel: "NOTHING!"
Adam sighed.
Adam: "If you don't want to come, that's fine. I was only offering."
Noel: "Of course I'm coming!" 😤
Adam: "…"
Noel: "I'm… hungry."
Adam stared at her for several seconds.
Adam: "…Huh. Okay, weirdo." 😐
Noel: "I HEARD THAT!"
Adam: "Good. My hearing works."
Noel: "You know what? I already regret meeting you."
Adam: "You haven't even seen my house yet."
Noel: "Exactly. I'm preparing myself."
With that, Noel followed him.
A few minutes later…
In Adam's House
Adam opened the front door and stepped aside.
Adam: "It may look small, but make yourself comfortable." 😐
Noel walked inside.
Then she stopped.
She looked to the left.
Then to the right.
Then she stared at the rooms, the furniture, and the spacious interior.
Her eyebrows slowly rose.
Noel (thinking): (SMALL?)
(THIS PLACE COULD HOUSE AN ENTIRE JOINT FAMILY!)
She peeked into another room.
Then another.
Noel (thinking): (Does this man have a different definition of small? Is this a house or a miniature palace?)
Suddenly, she remembered Aaron's earlier comment about her house being like a shelter for a horse.
Noel (thinking): (Is this the reason the king said my house was like a shelter for a horse?!) 😤
(If THIS is small, then what exactly does he consider a normal house? A castle?!)
Noel turned back toward Adam with a polite smile.
Noel: "Thanks…" 😊
Adam: "Yeah."
He closed the door and walked farther inside.
Adam: "I forgot to ask…"
He glanced at her.
Adam: "What's your name?" 😐
Noel froze.
(OH, RIGHT. BASIC HUMAN INTRODUCTIONS. HOW DID I FORGET THAT?)
Noel: "…Uh, Noel." 😊
Adam: "Noel?"
Noel: "Yep!"
Adam nodded.
Adam: "All right… and…" 😐
Noel waited.
Adam looked at her expectantly.
Noel: "Is there anything else I should know?" 🧐
Adam: "Your… secondary gender." 😐
Silence.
Noel's smile disappeared.
Her soul briefly left her body, took one look at the situation, and considered never coming back.
Noel (thinking): (OH, NO.)
(NOT THIS QUESTION AGAIN!) 😭
She forced a smile.
Noel: "My… what now?"
Adam stared at her.
Adam: "Your secondary gender."
Noel: "Ah."
She nodded as though she'd understood everything.
Noel: "That."
Adam: "Yes. That."
Noel: "Right."
Another pause.
Noel: "So… about dinner…"
Adam: "Your secondary gender, Noel."
Noel: (WHY IS EVERYONE IN THIS KINGDOM OBSESSED WITH MY BIOLOGY?!) 😭
To be continued ...