The Plague Doctor [RATED R] ✓

(7) White Tie

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I COULD HEAR THE water coming out from the sink's faucet. It continues to touch my skin as my eyes were fixed on the view outside the window that's in front of me. The entire manor was dark, but the kitchen felt homey because of the windows. The view was also much better compared to the rest of the areas found of this barren land.

     "Bishop!" A voice suddenly calls out, making me flinch.

     I turn around and spot Lino and Adie. Lino was fixing a broken cabinet while Adie was mopping the floor. I then look at my hand and realize that I was holding onto a plate. Apparently, I was washing the dishes and dozed off. 

     "Turn the faucet off if you're not using it. You might be used to living the fancy life, but we have limited supplies of water here so stop wasting them," Lino scolds, making me roll my eyes in annoyance, but I still turned it off anyway.

     "I do not live a fancy life by the way," I then complain, making Lino snort.

     "Alright little prince," Lino sarcastically answers.

     "Stop it. Just because I eat proper doesn't mean I've lived a very privileged life. I know how to save water if needed," I defend, but it seems like Lino wasn't buying it.

     "For your information Mr. Lancaster, being able to know how to use all the utensils in the table is a privilege because those who can't eat have used their bare hands more than a spoon," Lino says, annoying me even more.

     "Meals are just important to me, okay? I had to eat properly all the time."

     "So you did come from a rich family then?" Lino persistently asks, but something inside me suddenly felt sick, so I decide to ignore the question and just finish washing the plates so Lino could just drop the topic.

     When everyone finally did their chores in peace, Lino - who's on a ladder so he could reach the broken cabinet, accidentally drops a nail that he was supposed to hammer on the wood. I watch as the nail rolls further before looking back at him. Our eyes then meet, but I ignore him and continue washing the plates like I didn't see a goddamn thing.

     "You little fucker," I could hear Lino say, making me grin in satisfaction.

     Lino was about to go down from the ladder, but little Adie - an angel that she is - lets go of her mop and rushes to the nail to grab it for Lino. She then hands it to him, making Lino reach out to pat her on the head. If it weren't for that scar on his face I'd think he was smiling.

     "I never really got the chance to ask, but how old are you anyway, Mr. Marcelino?"

     Lino, who was once again concentrating on his work, doesn't even look at me as he answers, "I'm forty-five."

     When I heard Lino's answer, I almost dropped the plate that I was washing because of shock. Surprisingly enough, I thought he'd be younger. Props to him for still looking young despite having that scar.

     "You got a kid? Or maybe a family?" I ask, honestly expecting Lino to find the question offensive. I still asked him about it though just for the sake of it.

     "Why'd you ask?"

     I finish the last plate that's on my hand before answering, "No particular reason. I just find your way of handling Adeline to be...gentle. It's like you know how to act around young girls."

     "You make it sound like I'm some kind of pedophile," Lino suddenly says, almost making me laugh out loud.

      After finishing the dishes, I dry my hands with a towel and approach Adie. "Do you think he's a pedophile? If you do, you have to tell me, okay? I don't like sexual abusers so I'll take care of everything if you just tell me," I tell Adeline, instantly making Lino throw a screw at me that unfortunately did not hit me right in the head, which would have easily killed me.