Chapter 212 - Why Though?

After thinking for a bit, Eron bid his farewell but he was stopped.

"Wait, didn't I say that you're an audience right now?"

"Huh?"

Eron's jaw slightly dropped while Catherine's eyes widened.

Eron: 'Technically, you said it to the Catherine girl but I didn't know you were serious about it.'

Catherine: 'This guy has such an important thing to do and you're taking his time just to listen to me? So thick-skinned!'

"Catherine, start if you're ready. Since Eron's is in a hurry, one song is enough."

Catherine felt the urgency and immediately went on it, restraining her nervousness. After picking up the song which Teren recommended on day one, she sang it.

At first, she was stiff but after a moment, she entered the mood. That's what it means to have passion. It's like she's in her own world, yet, remembering all she learned and trained. Her nervousness disappeared and didn't limit her.

After the song, she placed the mic down and that's when her nervousness came back as she looked at her 'audience'

Both Teren and Eron expressed shock.

"Wow..." Eron muttered in a low voice, not wanting Catherine to hear it, "... she didn't hit a single note."

"You surprised me, Catherine, you've improved a lot." Teren then commented, making Eron almost jump off his seat.

"She's already improved...?!" he muttered.

Fortunately, Catherine only heard Teren's comment and lifted her chin.

"Hehe, of course, I didn't spare any time training when I'm at home."

Afterward, Eron left confused, leaving the two behind to continue on their session.

"That was nerve-breaking...!"

Catherine dropped to her seat and deeply breathed.

"Doesn't look like that to me though."

"What do you know..." Catherine muttered then looked at Teren. She found something strange but she didn't speak it out since she couldn't really word it even if she wants to.

Afterward, she continued to sing while Teren criticize her. After an hour and a half, they came out of the karaoke bar.

"That was productive. You really improved a lot." Teren praised once more which Catherine said.

"Weird..."

"What's weird?"

"Are you smiling right now?"

Catherine asked which made Teren look at himself. Of course, he couldn't see it without a mirror but he felt his cheeks and lips. He found out that he's actually smiling.

"You're right, it's weird."

"... r-right."

Catherine just nodded to Teren's peculiar statement.

"Does this mean that I'm enjoying myself?"

Teren then asked, making Catherine stop in her tracks. He turned around and questionably looked at her. He didn't know the consequences of his words, after all, he didn't think much about it.

Catherine seemed to actually pause but soon, she looked away before shaking her head. She then walked again as if nothing happened.

"You're acting weird too."

"Hah? No, I'm not."

"That's not weird?" Teren asked. He doesn't mean to tease but he just does.

"Don't think much about it. Anyway, I'm still curious about one thing."

'Why did she suddenly change the topic?'

Teren thought which betrays Catherine's expectation that he didn't catch that.

"Why are you even helping with this?"

"Hm... did we already discuss this?"

Catherine thought back and shook her head.

"Maybe I forgot? I don't know but what's important is that I don't know now."

"It's for compensation."

"Compensation for... what?"

Teren creased his forehead as if Catherine's the weird one.

"Don't tell me you forgot about the camping?"

"A-ah... that... I don't really want to remember it." Catherine shook as she looked at her palms, "You were terrifying..."

'Were?' Teren raised an eyebrow but didn't ask it out loud.

"A compensation for that. Yeah! That traumatized us! You better make up for it!" Catherine pointed at him 'angrily'

Teren nodded.

"But I don't get it. We're already dancing on the palm of your hands... I know it sounds wrong coming from the victim herself but isn't it unnecessary?"

Catherine was honestly curious.

"About that... well, how should I say this."

"What?"

"I was hoping that... you guys can trust me?"

Teren knew what he said was dumb. Not only he and Catherine too.

"That's dumb."

She said outright.

"I know."

"But why though?"

"I don't know. I feel like I should do it. I'm not only guilty but also hoping that I could make another person genuinely trust me..." Teren then sighed, "... I don't know, I guess it's complicated?"

"I see, we are in our puberty after all."

Catherine nodded as if she understood.

The two talked more before going on their separate ways. But before they do so, Catherine asked.

"Also, where are you going? I don't remember that's the direction your house is in."

"Ah... I'm going to meet someone."

"Wow, you two just broke up and you're already meeting up with someone..."

Catherine looked at Teren with half-closed eyes. She didn't mean it but Teren was hit pretty hard.

"Oh, yeah... we broke up."

"Eh? H-hey, that was just a joke. Hahaha, want to talk about it?"

Catherine awkwardly laughed while patting Teren on his shoulder.

"Maybe next time."

Teren sighed again.

"Okay..."

"See you later."

Once they actually separated, Catherine talked to herself-

"Teren changed a lot. Maybe it's because of Iesa? Who knows..."

Meanwhile, Teren went to the main road and grabbed a cab. After some time, he was dropped off in front of a big house. One could call it a mansion.

He was about to ring the doorbell when he heard a commotion inside. Teren no longer cared about the tall steel gate and jumped over it after making sure that no one was looking.

He ran to the big house and opened its front double door. Although he went there in a hurry, he opened the door calmly and saw the situation.

"T-teren? Help me! She got out!"

Being lifted from the ground from his collar, Josh spoke out.

"What's happening here!? Who are these people Josh!?"

A young adult then entered the scene right after Teren.

"Br-brother!"

Josh was more concerned about the arrival of his elder brother than his own situation.

"Teren..."

Trisha glanced at Teren with a serious face.

"I can't believe you roped someone innocent into this."

"You came out of the basement." Teren lowered his eyelids as if he's disappointed.

"As if you think I wouldn't. You didn't even try to lock me in. Do you think you can predict when I'll sleep and wake up? Of course, the moment you're not there, I would escape."