Hearing his voice, Clara seemed to snap out of her daze. She licked her somewhat dry lips. "...Oh. I was afraid I'd interrupt your work, so I just took a taxi over."
Seth moved to help her up, but the moment she tried to stand, Clara gasped. "Ouch, that hurts..."
She had been squatting for too long, and her knee joints felt as if they had rusted over.
Hearing her cry out in pain, Seth looked anxious. He first opened his office door, then turned back, swept her up into his arms, and carried her inside.
He gently placed her on the sofa and reached out to rub her knees, saying self-reproachfully, "This is all my fault. I made you wait too long."
He kept his head down, massaging her knees earnestly. Clara stared at the top of his head for a long moment before she finally couldn't resist asking, "Where... were you?"
His hands faltered for a moment before he resumed massaging.
