[SamLoMo]

Despite just having a mouthful of tea, only the taste of panic lingered within my mouth. I sort of expected that question since I somehow managed to avoid it this afternoon but I never expected her to break the question out that quickly and directly. Giggling at my reaction, she closed the distance between us and then gazed into my eyes once more.

" So? " I could feel her hot breath tickling my skin.

It didn't feel like I could lie to her. It was the first time being directly confronted like that. Furthermore, those eyes of hers looked like they could see through me regardless or not I try to lie my way out of this. I could just play it dumb and claim that I saw nothing but it was obviously a lie because she was right beside me when she had popped the question earlier. Both of us would have had the same exact view. No, I was taller than her so my view should be even better. There was no way that I couldn't have seen it, especially the last part where Daryl had joined in. There was simply no way around it.

" Umm.. please don't tell anyone? " that was all I could utter as I hung my head in defeat.

" Hehe, like I thought. You're pretty cute, aren't you? " she simply tilted her head and smiled at me.

" .. " there was no possible response for me to offer.

" Don't worry, I won't tell on you. " still chuckling at how dumbfounded I was, she then walked towards the bed. " Here, have a seat. "

She then patted beside her. Why was she acting so friendly? Wouldn't the normal reaction be freaking out instead? Unable to pose any form of resistance against her, I did as I was told and took a seat on the bed right beside her. She then leaned her body against my shoulder as she then whispered into my ear again.

" So, did you enjoy the show or not? " she asked once more.

" Yes. " for the first time in my life, I admitted to it.

" Hahaha. Don't worry, I won't tell on you. I'm just curious, you see. Why do you look so down? She isn't your mother, there's nothing wrong with being attracted to her. " she then told me.

" I'm indebted to their family so it's not really ok for me to do something like that. I know I should have stepped in to help but when I saw it, my eyes were simply just glued to the scene. " I then honestly replied her.

I was playing right into her palm but there were no other options. It seems that she was intending to squeeze out all the answers she wanted from me either way. If the answer proved to be dissatisfactory or that she thinks that I'm lying, she would just repeat the same question over and over again until I succumb just like what she did with the previous question. Furthermore, her saying that she won't tell on me gave me a false sense of security. It was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey. And unfortunately for me, I fell for it. In retrospect, I don't really regret it though. The words that had first hesitantly left my mouth after admitting it soon became smooth and all restraints were slowly being removed one after another.

" Nonsense. Gratitude is gratitude, lust is lust. They are two completely different things. There's no need for you to beat yourself up like that. " her soothing words were like a sutra for me.

I would have expected a harsh lecture or at the very least a stern warning or somewhere along those lines but instead of berating me, Auntie Maxwell was actually encouraging me. The bait for the donkey got even stronger with those words as both of us then had a heart-to-heart talk.