AFTER NEVER (Charlotte's Story)

Chapter 9/81: Unexpected Encounters

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Abel Daniels invited me for a cup of coffee after my shift on my first day in the seventh branch, and I −well I was a bit surprised with myself at that− agreed.

I didn't get why I would feel comfortable with him from the first day we'd met, but then again, it did occur to me that what was happening was something very normal in every human's life.

Adaption.

I was trying to adapt to my new surroundings because I was really feeling lonely, and now that he's sorta become my acquaintance, it won't hurt to try and see if I can get used, and −probably− enjoy my new work.

And now we were heading in his blue BMW, which, let me tell you, was humble but luxurious.

Abel Daniels drove silently at the first few minutes, and I suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable with his silence. Hey dude, do you invite people for some coffee to suffocate them with your loquaciousness?

I let out a soft sigh, and decided to try and start the chat myself.

"So you've been in the seventh branch for long?" I questioned, smoothly, "You seemed to have quite a fandom."

He continued moving the steering wheel softly.

"Not quite much," His voice was cool, "I started working there about six months ago."

I nodded silently, "I figured you didn't look so old."

He chuckled very shortly, but kept his coolness, "Do you do an observational analysis of every person you meet for the first time?" He murmured with his full lips, seductively, "You're interesting, Thorne."

I blinked for a second, and frowned slightly, "It's Charlotte, Char─Lotte!" I pronounced my name in the form of two words, pretending to be mad.

He didn't smile, but his eyes glowed mischievously as he continued to gaze at the road before him.

"I dislike calling people by first names." He muttered, neutrally, dispassionately.

Hi, is this Rickard Ellington?

I arced an eyebrow at that, "Hah? What's that about?"

He kept on driving silently, wordlessly, and his aura was a bit mysterious.

"It makes me feel like I'm too close to that person."

I fixed him with my curious gaze, "A-And? What's wrong about that?"

He parked the car in the parking of the café at that, and unbuckled his seatbelt. "I prefer keeping my distance from others, and my secrets to myself, simply."

I unbuckled my seatbelt, and descended off of the car behind him.

"Wh-What's that supposed to mean?" I heaved as I sped up my pace so that I was beside him, and now we walked beside each other into the cafe.

We headed to a table beside the window, and sat facing each other.

I didn't neglect that he didn't answer my inquiry.

"Hmm?" I hummed.

He didn't look into me, but at his fingers which tapped thoughtfully over the table.

"The closer humans are, the higher the tendency they have to hurt each other." He finally concluded, composedly, "I want to be neither vulnerable to pain, nor responsible for inflicting it, simply."