Chapter 67 - Chapter 66

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((( ZHIO )))

Her gaze lingered outside for a little before cheerfully turning to me.

"I can't believe that citrus tree is in bloom. It has been fruitless as long as I remembered."

Fruitless.

"I don't understand why some trees miraculously bear fruit when they are to be cut down," she added.

"Interesting, isn't it?"

I ignored her story and asked something else.

"Where are they?"

"I don't think you should be moving around now," she advised.

"But they are at the veranda if you wanted to see them."

She smiled like she always do before leaving the room. And although my muscles ached, I trudged to the toilet to see how awful I looked like. The bruises were purplish and my eyelids were swelling.  

I smiled and sighed.

That was the whooping I deserved.

I wore my robes and went out. The household was usually busy so nobody in sight was littering idly around.  

The wide staircase offered a view of the spacious living room downstairs. At the center of the plain wall hung the only portrait my family has. Dad, mom, and me. It wasn't real of course since mother died when she gave birth to me. It was merely a commissioned painting that recreated our pictures as a family if everything went well.  

I passed it slowly as I went to the lanai. Wenziel turned his head first as I approached but said nothing. I sat at the stool close to them.

"I'm sorry for last night." My voice was surprisingly gentle.

Eriez leaned in to tap my shoulder.

"I'm glad the Zhio we knew is here."

"We already fixed your mess last night,"

Wenziel interrupted as he sipped his tea. After some silence he asked again.

"What do you plan to do today?"

I crossed my arm at his reminder. All the shame I felt has summoned back my stubbornness,

"Of course I'd be going to the office."

"Are you joking? Look at yourself!" Eriez exclaimed.

"Then what do you want me to do? Lock myself in the room?"

"We need to talk," Wenziel said in his menacing tone.

He sipped his tea once more and looked at me as if I'm in a great trouble.  

Well, I really am.  

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