Chapter 240 - Irreversible

"You talk big earlier and now you don't know what he's up to."

Trisha rebuked in a low voice but Teren just ignored this even though he clearly heard it. He just continued on to eat since he had gone hungry as well. And as the restaurant's most expensive meal, it was no joke good.

"This is good."

He commented while Trisha silently watched from her seat. After a while, she took a tissue from the table and wiped Teren's lips with it.

"I want to hear what you two talked about."

"I could've told mine if you told yours while I'm eating. You just stayed still as you watched."

This time, it was Teren who complained while taking the tissue from Trisha's hand.

"Ah, well, you're not saying anything... so I just watched."

Teren stared at Trisha for a while before speaking.

"I want to pat your head right now and praise you're being a good girl."

Hearing this, Trisha was bewildered. She took a step back in her head and found that Teren was right. Just because he didn't say a word, she went standby.

"Well, why won't you do it then?"

But Trisha didn't exactly have any qualms about it. After her talk with Chihua, she was able to speak the reality of her situation. She was also able to be aware and accept it.

Just as Trisha dared, Teren reached out his hand and petted her while saying with a smile.

"Good girl."

As soon as he did so, Trisha grabbed his wrist. With cheeks tinge with red, she muttered with a frown.

"Fuck, that's embarrassing. I didn't think you're actually going to do it."

"Tell me about Renz first."

Teren then immediately changed the subject, letting Trisha release his arm.

"Renz...? Ah, yeah, Chihua. Stop confusing me."

"You're confusing yourself."

"Alright, so this is what he did. But promise me that you'll let him go on behalf of me."

Teren nodded towards her words with a condition.

"As long as he did something forgivable, sure."

That was already the best she can get so Trisha explained what she and Chihua talked about. After she finished her explanation, the two were already back at the grocery mart.

"I see... I didn't actually see your family as a threat though."

Teren got the cart as he replied while Trisha looked around to see if there's anything she likes.

"Yeah, that's why I'm going back to stop them. Going against you will be suicidal."

"Oh, that's convenient."

"Yup, unfortunate... wait, convenient?"

Trisha didn't believe what she heard first before she looked at Teren with a betrayed face.

"Don't get me wrong, I will not be going back to my own house so you wouldn't meet anyone there anyway."

"Is this about that Eron guy?"

"Yeah"

"Oh, I thought you're going to abandon me after all that talk."

"Abandon? You really think of yourself as a pet, huh. Also, you're going back to your family, I don't think I'm abandoning you."

Teren explained but Trisha didn't continue the conversation as she look around more as if they were not talking in the first place. This made Teren move on to the topic.

He first explained what the situation is first where the eldest of the Drago House got poisoned by their rival. They sought Teren for his ability to steal Great Spirits and wished for a Great Spirit of Healing in exchange for protecting him against the other houses.

The fact that no one was able to bother Teren ever since made it obvious that they were doing their job well. However, it may as well be that the other houses have reached a consensus not to bother him until the Spirit War. He will not know.

After explaining the context, the two had already finished their groceries and went to a digital store where Teren would buy a new phone. Their conversation was cut off.

"This will be not a problem. It's quite a damage but the storage miraculously survived. Please, take your time to choose your new phone from the store while waiting for the data transfer."

The store owner said.

"The files within that storage need some privacy. I hope you will not look into it more than necessary."

Teren said which the store owner glanced at Trisha first then Teren again before 'understanding' what those private files are. He's already an experienced digital repairman, he's no stranger to these situations.

Unfortunately for him though, he offended one of them.

"Ohoho~ old shit, I hope you're not thinking what I think you're thinking or I'll beat the shit out of you."

Trisha gave an intimidating smile while she threateningly sat on the table on which the store owner was working.

"Huh? What?"

Of course, the store owner was greatly surprised.

Teren immediately came forward and pulled Trisha from her spot.

"I thought I just praised you as a good girl?"

He whispered which Trisha stared back at him and pointed.

"But this old man's dirty gaze says it all. He thinks we're fucking while we're taping ourselves."

The store owner made a confused expression while he thought to himself, 'Am I that obvious?'

However, even so, what Trisha did was so rude. Before the store owner could complain though, Teren apologized.

"Sorry, Sir, I think she's just being too conscious. She's just embarrassed."

"H-huh? What are you talking about?"

"..."

Teren's gaze was enough to silence her.

Afterward, they got a scolding from the store owner. After all, if he didn't get angry, it's like he's saying that Trisha's correct.

The two were then let go to continue looking for a new phone.

"What was that for? Wasn't I right?"

Trisha raised her shoulders.

"Trisha, you're getting too overly conscious of what happened. That will never happen again unless necessary."

"Overly conscious...?"

Trisha's eyes wandered around, questioning herself if that was the case. Learning that it was true, she got irritated as she rebuked.

"As if you didn't enjoy it, you were rock hard when I sat on you."

"... that's a normal reaction for men."

"Oh... what are you blushing about? What is this?"

Trisha's mood flipped seeing an opportunity to tease Teren.

"Never happen again unless necessary... you just added that last part so that next time, you'll say it will be necessary."

Trisha sounded a complaint but actually, she was just having fun teasing Teren.

"Oh, that's because I intend on using it to discipline you. Don't forget, out of all the fields that we've planned for you, sexual and humiliation are the ones you haven't overcome yet."

"Tsk! Discipline?"

Trisha have something more to say, yet, saying that word made her stop and think.

Teren just looked at her and thought.

'Is she imagining it?'

While Trisha froze up, Teren looked around and just went for the latest phone which was also the most expensive. Seeing what he was going to buy, the store owner beamed up.

After that purchase, the data was then transferred and the old storage was destroyed by Teren.

"I'm fortunate this time."

Teren sighed in relief as the two of them got out of the store. That was when Trisha finally spoke up. Her face was slightly tinted with red as her breathing low key rapid.

"So... at what point will you consider that disciplining me is appropriate? You know, so that I have to avoid it in the future. Being aware of it is the first step of avoiding it, right?"

'Only if you didn't have that eager expression, I would have believed your words.'

"Hm, I guess when you stepped over the line or you've really irritated me."

"Too vague... I need a more specific answer."

Trisha pressed onto the question.

"I don't know. We'll see."

Teren didn't want to give examples, fearing that Trisha might intentionally do it. Thinking about it, he then said it to her for clarification.

"I'm telling you so that you'll avoid it, right?"

"Yeah, what? Do you believe that I will intentionally do it?... are you stupid? You must be the most stupid person I must've ever met if you're thinking that."

Teren squinted his eyes as he looked at Trisha who was suspiciously glancing at him from time to time.

"Who are you calling stupid?"

Teren asked while he pinched Trisha's ear.

"Ah~..."

It was so sudden that it made Trisha let out a questionable sound. Teren immediately let go while Trisha crouched down as she held her ear. Her face suggests that her soul left her body.

"Um... I... I was... I need to go to the restroom, I'll go ahead."

Trisha said without turning around before she ran away while carrying half of the groceries.

Teren looked at her fading figure and couldn't believe that was the girl who have greatly matured over a small course of time.

"Did I... do something irreversible?"

He asked himself. There was a price for everything and hastening Trisha's growth may have backfired.

It was fine back then when Teren looked at Trisha as nothing more than just a potential threat or a potential tool.. However, over time, he was able to interact with her and found his guilt deepening.