𝐘𝐮𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐡! - 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡

74. Not to blame

'I can't believe that one of us is doing this.' Nash can see the highlighted numbers. 

'I can imagine the delivery, installing, and some have to be done by professionals, but dry cleaning and housekeeping? I don't like what I'm seeing.' Her eyes go to Dumon. 'Who steals my credit card from you?'

Dumon frowns and shakes his head. 'This means that he searched my bedroom. Where I keep your credit card hidden.' 

'There's only one who comes to my mind.' Nash can see that Dumon puts the credit card back in his pocket. 'Unless you're not using it, give it back.' 

He nods. 'When I'm back home, I'll stop by,' he promises and with a wink. 'I'll make sure that Vector is paying every cent back.'  

'We'll both talk with him.' Nash knows her well enough. 

'I hope he does listen and that it's over. If I see it again, I will talk to him myself, and here in my office.' She taps with her finger on her desk. 

Nash understands. 'Having to come here is never a good sign.' 

'Could his past life be of influence of him spending that much money?' She looks from one to another. 

'It shouldn't, but why?' Dumon does know of Vector's past life. 

Neith folds her fingers together and leans with her elbows on the desk. 'Being a prince in a past life might make him think that everybody will do what he wants as long he pays them. Possibly thinking that everyone has a price.'

Nash agrees. 'Maybe, we live in a society where you can find any service to get things done without having to lift a finger.'

'That's how people get lazy, and that has consequences.' She gestures to the document. 'Let him know what he did. Point out how much he has to pay me back.' 

Dumon takes it and folds it up. 'I will. I'll see you later.' 

*** 

Having to wait for Celeste, she gets something herself. One look at her phone is enough to know that she still has time, and she goes inside the shop. Smiling coming out, she can see Hart by the next shop. 'Hello, Hart.'

The boy can see her. 'What do you smile about?' 

'Chocolate and caramel are always good. How are you?' However, she can tell that he looks disappointed. 

Hart turns his head. 'You dumped my brother, and now you smile?' 

Surprised by hearing those words, she stops him. 'Hold on. What do you think happened? What did Kite tell you?' 

'That you dumped him. You didn't want to make time free...' 

'Never, that was him.' Quickly, she picks him up. 'A moment alone, Hart.' Around the corner, she puts him down. 'Here.' To give him a caramel. 'I never share chocolate, but this I don't mind.' She sighs deeply. 'Hart, I did everything I could to make it work. It's your brother who never made time for me. I called him multiple times, texted him, but all I got back is his standard answer I'll call you back, or not now. My life is steady and stable.' She can see the look in his eyes change. 

He shakes his head. 'He said that you dumped him.' 

'Your brother never asked me to be his girlfriend, to go on a date, nothing. Even you know what a relationship means, right?' She shows him two more caramel candies. 

Hart sees it and bites his lip. 

'Go ahead,' she encourages him. 'I made a few mistakes, but so did Kite. It's never entirely my fault or only Kite's. We were both to blame.' Neith smiles when he takes the candy. 'Stop placing your brother high on a pedestal. It only raises your standards on life because of him, but being disappointed by him will only hurt more. Either your father and brother make mistakes. You aren't free from mistakes, just like them. It makes you human.'

Hart's eyes turn soft. 'I know I care a lot about Kite.' 

'There's nothing wrong with that,' Neith continues with a glance at her phone. 'Look, it's over between your brother and me, but it doesn't mean we can't be friends. We can run into each other sometimes, are you going to ignore me?' 

He shakes his head this time. 'The city can be small sometimes.' 

'Hart?' Dr. Faker heard them talk. 'Neith, nice to see you.'  

Neith comes up. 'Do you believe I'm to blame?' 

'No, Neith, I have a family. I know how a relationship works.' Dr. Faker places his hands on Hart's shoulders. 'Keep that candy in your pocket, lunch first.' He looks at his son. 

She looks at the time. 'I have to go. Lunch with Celeste. Enjoy your meal.' 

'You too, Neith.' Hart walks away with his father. 'Is it weird if we stay friends with her?' 

'Why? The city is small, and there's no need to avoid her. It's Kite's loss, not ours.' 

Something that Neith can hear, and she smiles. 

***

Dumon waits for Vector to come home. He talked to Mizar about the expenses, including that he will give the credit card back to Neith. 

Mizar gives him a glass. 'Do you think he will listen?' 

'He needs to. You've seen it, Mizar. He spends too much money, and I had no idea until Neith showed it.' Dumon can hear that the door opens. 

'Yeah, I'm home, but sure, give me twenty minutes.' Vector comes inside and sees that Dumon and Mizar are home. 'Scratch that, I might not make it at all.' Especially the way they're waiting for him. 'Send help my way.' He hangs up.

'Vector...' 

'Are you insane to use Neith's credit card on dry cleaning and housekeeping?' starts Mizar without waiting for Dumon. 'That's not what it's for.'

Vector throws his bag in his bedroom. 'What's wrong with that?' He gets himself something to drink. 'I don't know how that machine works.' 

'The word you are looking for is laundry machine,' sighs Dumon. 'Learn how to use it, Vector, and find a job. You will pay Neith everything back. Nine-hundred-fifty in total.' He points at the document on the table.

'Nine-hundred-fifty!' Vector's eyes got big, and he grabs the paper off the table. 

'She highlighted it for you.' Dumon knows it's not his expense or Mizar. 

Mizar crosses his arms amused. 

'How am I gonna get that much money?' 

Dumon shakes his head. 'That's your problem. I can teach you how to use the laundry machine and how to cook. It's up to you to find a job. She wants her money back, and you can do it in terms.'  

'Good, I don't know where to get so much money.' Vector can see other numbers. 'I thought school supplies would be on it too...'

'That was from my money. Unlike you, I did found a part-time job.' Mizar takes the document from him. 

Vector turns his head from Mizar to Dumon. 'I didn't know you found something.' 

'Cleaning isn't everything, but at least I earn my money.' Mizar wants to be able to pay Neith something back. 

When someone knocks on the door, Dumon goes to open it. 'Yuma?' 

'I thought Vector needs saving.' Yuma smiles awkwardly. 

'He's not going anywhere. You see him at school tomorrow.' Dumon closes the door. 

Vector looks helpless to his friend, who's now out of reach for him. 'I promised him to go to the mall with him.' 

'Why? Do you need anything?' Mizar uncrosses his arms and lifts his glass. 

Vector swallows. 'That is a trick question, right?' 

'Yes, Vector, it is,' reacts Dumon. 'You seem to be the only one who has trouble adjusting.' 

*** 

A quiet life for them. XD

It won't be long, or this story ends. ;)