Chapter 10- Beginning of a new friendship

     

Eric had returned back after he took his mom home safely. It was almost eleven pm but he doesn't feel like sleeping. So he decided to go to the pool, he loves staying there whenever He's chanced to.

On getting to the pool, he saw Katrina sitting on the floor besides the pool.

She comes here too??

She looked lost in thought, she's looking more pretty tonight. He walked towards her but she didn't notice till he sat down and dipped his legs into the pool.

  Katrina turned to look at Eric and made to stand up but he held her back. Eric held her unconsciously and when he saw Katrina staring at his hands, he let go of her abruptly.

"You can stay " he said.

"Ummm... Okay" Katrina replied and sat back.

"So what were you thinking of?? " Eric asked. "You didn't notice my presence."

"Nothing, I was just looking at the beauty of the moon " she replied.

"You watch the moon at night? " He asked.

"Not always, but I watch it when I can't sleep up in my room" she replied.

"Oh, I see. I love watching the moon too. How frequently do you come here? " Eric asked. He wanted to know. 

"I come here everytime. The garden and here is my favorite part in the house "Katrina replied smiling.

"Ooh, okay " he said.

"So tell me, what charm did you give to my mom that made her like you so fast? " Eric asked.

"I didn't give her any charm " Katrina said laughing. 

Even her laugh is cute.

"She was always picky when it comes to women in my life but she liked you instantly. You need to hear her in the car, she was like Katrina this, Katrina that " Eric said laughing too. He remembered how his mom had spoken about Katrina till she got home.

"I like her too, she's so friendly, funny and lovely " Katrina replied.

"What did you guys talk about? " Eric asked. He felt his mom must have said so many things, including stuff about him.

"Nothing much " she replied.

"Talked about me? " He asked out of curiosity.

"Sure " Katrina replied laughing.

"Tell me, what did she say? " He asked.

"I won't tell" Katrina replied.

"It's an order not a request " Eric said in a boss like tone. It only made Katrina laugh more.

"I'm sorry Sir, but I have to refuse the order. You can't use your authority here " She said and he laughed.

She's really fun to be with, she makes him laugh.

"Your cut is healing pretty fast" he said.

"Yeah" she replied.

"Thanks for that day and I'm sorry for pushing you off " she said.

"You deserved to be punished but I just let it be " Eric said.

"You were also at fault too.. You said harsh words " she argued.

"Well... " He said and stopped talking. They were silent for a while.

"Tell me about yourself " Eric spoke up again.

"Huh?? " she replied looking surprised.

"What??.. I don't know anything about you except that your name is Katrina Argos, your town is sweetgrass and you are working for me. Why don't you tell me more?" He said.

"Ooh, I was just surprised you asked " Katrina replied.

"Well, you know my name and town already. I'm twenty years old. I'm an orphan, my dad died before I was born and my mom died when I was Ten " she started.

"Wow, no other relatives?? " He asked.

"I have an older sister, she took care of me for a while after mom's death then she left me, saying I was a burden to her. Right now, I don't know her whereabouts " she replied.

  Katrina just told a lie and she felt bad. She had lied about her sister but she can't tell him the truth now.

"I'm so sorry about that " he said with a sad expression.

"Thank you " she replied.

"My childhood was fun though. I enjoyed it with my mom and sister, mom taught me how to cook at the age of nine, she taught me how to bake and almost everything I know now. I love her so much and I miss her, I miss hearing the stories she do tell me when I'm sitting beside her in the kitchen, or the bed time stories she read. I miss the way she cuddles me and make me happy whenever I feel sad, I miss her little treats every now and then. My sister then was so good to me, she was a good big sister to me but everything fell apart when mom died " she said. This was true.

"After my sister left me, I started surviving on my own. I did all kinds of jobs just to survive except using my body though. A kind woman took me in and trained me in school, I supported her too. I was able to go to school " Katrina said.

That was a big lie. Katrina's sister had taken good care of her after their mom's death till now. But she also can't tell Eric this, he can't know the reason why she was here.

 She felt bad for lying though.

 She told him about her experience at school and he laughed at the funny parts and sympathized at the sad part.

Katrina kept on talking and talking till she got tired. It was really late already. The cool breeze was heaven, and they still didn't feel sleepy at all.

Then suddenly, a strong wind started to blow. The weather became chilly and cold.

"I think it's about to rain " Eric said.

"Yeah" Katrina replied.

"We better go in. I don't want to get caught in the rain, I hate the rain. It makes me sick" he said.

"Wow.. Let's hurry up then " she replied.

  They both stood up and wore their slippers. They took only a step when the cloud opened and it started raining.

"Oh my" Katrina exclaimed.

"Let's run" Eric said.

They started running.

"Be careful " he said.

It took them five minutes to get to the main house. Katrina opened the door and they went in immediately. Their clothes was drenched already.

"Hurry up and change " Katrina said.

"You do the same too" he replied.

"Okay " she replied. They climbed the stairs leading to their room.

While in her room, Katrina hurriedly changed. She put on dry clothes and a cardigan. Checking the time,she saw it was Two 0,clock in the morning.

Wow, she really need to get some sleep now. 

She climbed into her bed and slept off.

Next morning 

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  Katrina woke up by eight. She woke up late, Eric would be leaving by Nine.

She have to fix something simple. She hurried down to the kitchen to prepare a simple meal.

It was almost Nine and Eric was yet to come out to have breakfast. Katrina was through with preparing breakfast already.

The time was half past nine and Eric was yet to come out.

What's happening??

  Katrina decided to check him up in his room. She walked to his room and knocked on the door.

No response!!!

She bent the door knob and it opened, thank God it was open.

Then she saw him on his bed, he was still laying down. She walked closer to him and noticed he was shivering. Katrina placed her palm on his forehead and discovered he was very hot.

"My God " she screamed.