Do You Prefer Tea Or Coffee?

Hey, Arthur!" A feminine voice called out to me as I was making my way toward the main gate. Pausing, I turned around, and she was jogging in my direction.

Panting heavily, she bent down, cupping her hands on her knees before straightening up and gasping for air. Wrinkles formed around the corners of her eyes as she smiled at me.

"Hi. What happened?" I inquired, a hint of concern in my voice.

"Are you going home?" she asked, catching her breath.

I narrowed my gaze and pointed it at her. "Obviously," I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

"Can you drop me home?" she requested, her tone more akin to an order.

"Well..."

"I know, my home is on the other side. But you can do me a favor, right?" She interrupted me, asserting her request.

"Okay, come," I gestured with a wave of my hand, turning around. She followed me to the car parked in the driveway, and I opened the door for her, allowing her to take a seat.

As I walked around the car, I flipped open the door and shut it behind me once seated. "I hope I'm not bothering you," she said, wearing a puppy face and looking at me.

"No," I muttered while turning the key and starting the car. The engine gurgled, and she giggled, exuding a carefree vibe. It was the kind of laughter that suggested she wouldn't have minded if I had said yes.

"Do you live alone?" she inquired as I took a u-turn on the road leading to her house.

"Yes."

"Why? You don't have any family, or did they just kick you out?" Her probing question made me avert my head, throwing her a sharp gaze. 'Why does this girl talk so much?'

'Someone needs to tell her that she shouldn't rattle on all the time.'

"I have a family, but they don't live with me. I recently moved in here," I replied plainly, foreseeing more questions to come if I didn't give her a straightforward answer.

"Yeah, you've told me that earlier," she said, clapping her hands in realization.

Fortunately, her house was near the college, so we arrived within a matter of minutes. I couldn't fathom how challenging it might be if I had to endure an extended drive with her, incessantly chattering like a toy whose key had been wound up more than necessary.

I parked the car outside a double-story house nestled between two imposing buildings. The front of the house exuded Victorian vibes, painted in pristine white, with brown wooden windows that complemented the overall aesthetic.

I looked in her direction, waiting for her to exit. To my surprise, she remained seated. My intuition hinted that she wasn't inclined to leave me alone just yet and step into her house.

"We've reached," I reminded her, raising my eyebrows.

"Yeah, I know," she replied nonchalantly, implying that, of course, she was well aware. She wasn't a child who wouldn't recognize her own house when standing outside it.

A brief silence followed. Straightening my head, I directed my gaze at the road while my hands rested on the steering wheel. I began tapping my fingers, gradually noticing her tilting her head in my direction.

"Why don't you come in?" she suggested, breaking the silence.

"I mean, it would be nice of me if I returned you right in front of my house."

"Some other day, I have some business after dropping you. Sorry!" I declined her offer, even though she seemed determined to bring me inside, whether I wanted to or not.

"Oh, come on, I won't take much of your time. Just 5 minutes," she insisted.

"Okay!" I acquiesced, choosing agreement over wasting time arguing with her while still seated in my car. I stepped out of the car and followed her into her house. She unlocked the white wooden door as the bell rang, secured from inside. The house was bathed in semi-darkness, with tiny rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains covering the windows completely. She pointed toward the sofa and asked me to sit there as she motioned in the direction of the kitchen.

While waiting for her to return from the kitchen, I assumed she lived alone. If there had been anyone else, they likely would have joined us, or there would be some sign indicating their presence, such as pictures.

"So, you live here alone?" I inquired as she emerged from the kitchen holding a tray with a jug of water and two glasses.

"Yeah," she replied, placing the tray on the table and pouring water into the glasses. Holding out a glass in my direction, she offered a warm smile.

"Thanks," I expressed, taking it from her.

"My parents died in a car accident two years ago. I was the only sibling, so, this house was passed down to me," she explained about her family background while settling down next to me.

"Oh, sorry to hear about them," I expressed, empathetically.

"It's okay."

She brought the glass to her lips, gulping down the water. Observing her, I wondered how someone could carry so much grief and yet not show it even a little bit.

"Do you prefer tea or coffee?" she inquired about my choice, setting the glass back on the table.

"I would like to leave now," I added, standing up and placing the glass back on the table.

As I took a step forward, I felt a force pulling me down as she grabbed my hand and pushed me back.

"I won't let you go like this," she declared, getting back on her feet.

"I can't let you leave with just 'thanks,'" she insisted, her eyes pleading for understanding. Despite my attempt to resist, her sincerity and the pain hidden behind her carefree demeanor compelled me to stay. I sighed, relenting to the unspoken plea, realizing that sometimes, company is the greatest comfort one can offer.

Reluctantly, I settled back into the sofa, acknowledging the unspoken connection between us that transcended the boundaries of a casual encounter.