A rose to grind

-41-

Throughout the car ride, the atmosphere was eerily quiet, only consisting of the breaths of three people that flowed at regular rate. Soon enough, the vehicle came to a stop in front of a house erected in the middle of nowhere, quite literally surrounded by expanses of trees. As we bypassed a short trip through the garden, witnessing the twists and coils of a maze-like landscape, I began to doubt Etienne.

'Semi-rich' businessman? He snagged himself a gold mine. Perhaps, these opulent sights of luxury were no different from specks of dust in his eyes, since he had once been a wealthy heir himself, but to me, constructing a house in the middle of nowhere on a plot the government probably hadn't been aware of, was no simple rich man to me.

Out of resentment that Etienne dared to tell me such a bold-faced lie, I glared at him from the corners of my eyes, hoping he could feel the influence of my stare, and develop some conscience for having fooled me. But, that bastard didn't seem remorseful in the slightest. His face didn't even betray a hint of emotion, as he continued to gaze to the front. Sitting side-by-side in the back of a car brought back some unwanted nostalgia.

No matter the agony we branded into each other, memories were not like strings that could be easily cut and discarded. We were once children, then adults, then strangers, only to run into each other under circumstantial devices, and forced to become familiar with each other once more.

How silly it was, that even when I abandoned him countless times with cruel words, this boy would stubbornly hold onto my hand and refuse to part with me. Or was I the bigger fool, who always sworn to leave him, yet had to lean onto him for support again.

I didn't like the way I had to live. To debase myself to a place of a fickle-minded common whore, desperate to cling and grab onto any lifeline if it ensured my sole survival. Back then, my one focus was to live on, but these years of living proved to be painful and tedious, and it slowly ebbed away at my core, leaving nothing but a hollow husk of a man who once desired the world to be inlaid at his feet.

When Etienne said I hadn't changed in the least, I wondered, if that was supposed to embody the physical body, or the dying will that existed within this body.

The car came to a silent stop in front of the building. As I looked out, I observed that the structure was akin to a mansion, but it certainly wasn't one with the size of it. It was just a normal-looking house, situated in god knew where— just like Etienne mentioned, a perfect place for a hideout. That bastard who sat in the driver's seat.. he probably used this as a means of communication, and no one really knew what Etienne and him had done inside of this house. The thought that I might have to set foot in the haven of these fools left an irritating feeling.

Beggars couldn't be choosers, so I had no choice but to to swallow down my repulsion.

Etienne first unlocked the car door, and I followed suit, and the two of us naturally fell into a line. I had to crane my neck upward to fully take in the entirety of the house. It wasn't as impressive as the ones I was used to, but it was still much better than living in a run-down, second-handed apartment. Even as a refugee, the traits of an inner person spoiled with riches couldn't be erased, as I wanted to procure the most comfortable accommodation for myself.

"Do you like it?" Etienne's warm breath fanned against my ear. He was standing too close for my comfort, and I could feel his chest make contact with the back of my shoulder. "You should like it. We don't have much opportunities here, and that's where you and I will be living out our lives."

Forever? I curled my nails into my skin and clenched my fist.

"Even if I don't have much places to turn to, certainly I don't plan on living here for long, and especially stuck next to you. There's always a fee expected to be paid when you're living off someone's so-called kindness. Well, you already know what I'm talking about. After all, a sugar daddy expects to cash in on his sugar from time to time." I pointed a stare towards Etienne's direction.