February 2, 2021: Desenrascanco

"Fiancee?"

"Yes, but not exactly," Arthasia said, though she immediately tilted her head to the side as she recognized the young lady. "Aren't you from the psychology class? The one with Ms Fulman?"

"That's right," Syn responded, yet she was still curious about the relationship of the two. Thus, she queried once more. "So, the fiancee thing?"

"Oh, are you Tristan's friend? If you are, why did you not know?"

For a moment, Syn thought that Arthasia appeared ignorant, considering that she didn't surmise of anything malicious regarding her and Tristan's connection. Hence, she treated her question as something that was asked out of pure wonderment.

"I'm only an acquaintance."

Upon hearing Syn's reply, Arthasia joined her hands together and said joyfully, "Oh! I was not aware of that. Alright, I'll tell you. Our engagement party is scheduled to happen a couple of weeks from now."

After harkening Arthasia's words, Syn hurriedly turned her head to gaze at Tristan. However, he had his eyes on the woman beside her. Thus, she simply sighed to ease the anxiety that invaded her conscience, making sure to put a smile on her face latterly.

"I see. Well, congratulations to the two of you." She uttered mirthfully, yet her voice sounded otherwise. "I'm going to take my leave so the two of you could talk in peace."

As she was done speaking, the young lady began to saunter away from the couple, albeit housing a nagging thought in her mind. She felt as if her heart was being crushed by a certain sensation that suffocated her at the same time.

"Hey, wait!" Arthasia loudly called out to for the young lady. Withal, Syn did not cease in her stroll, continuing in a straight path to get out of the couple's way as soon as possible.

Although feigning nonchalance, the most prominent feeling that overwhelmed the others was disgust, not towards Tristan nor Arthasia, but to herself. The self-repulsion stroked her skin with its prickly appendage, letting horripilation cover Syn's whole body. It made her stomach churn as she perceived her senses gradually became queasy.

Thereafter turning three corners, she finally stopped on her tracks. Syn heaved a deep sigh that was enough to slow down her vigorously beating heart.

'Why am I bothered? Is it because we're deceiving an innocent woman? Or the idea that someone is cheating on their significant other with me?' She contemplated on her concerns, clenching her fists out of the disquieting speculations that riddled her mind.

'I've never minded about these things before. Almost all of the men that I've entertained were married. Why? Why am I so bothered?' She persisted in pondering as she lowered her head.

She struggled on putting a name on the emotion that was controlling her, so much so that she thought she was going insane. Yet, all of a sudden, an answer arose in her cognizance, prompting her to raise her head hastily.

'Am I attached? No, no, that can't be. I don't want to monopolize Tristan. I mean, I do want him to stay, but- what? Stay? Are you out of your mind? He's not yours. You're just a mere prostitute - A lowly escort. You can't cross that boundary. Stupid, you have no time to dwell on such things.'

Disorganized though they might be, her thoughts definitely reflected the turmoil of emotions that were crowding her essence.

'Come to think of it. Now I know his true purpose of relocating my residence to one of his unused condo units. Haa, rich people have f*cked up relationships, how laughable.'

Consequent to preventing a sneer from appearing on her face, Syn closed her eyes as she tried to regain her composure. She inhaled until her lungs were filled, exhaling the air along with her worries through her mouth.

'There's no use in fretting. I will talk to him about what's going to happen with our contract tomorrow. For the time being, I should let myself heal from the stress.'

Consequent to saying those words to herself, Syn resumed her walk back to her new place. It was in a condominium building situated in the middle of the business sector of the city -- A 10-minute stroll from her university. The placement of her home was utterly convenient for her since every place that she would often go to were within walking distance.

During her journey, the young lady pampered herself by yielding to the clamorous mise-en-scene of the metropolitan. She didn't look askance at the blaring horns that came from the traffic nor the differently toned conversations of the people that she passed by. Syn was solely stuck in her daydreaming, mindlessly allowing her feet to take her to her destination.

Following a short while, she arrived at the entrance of the building, where her residence was located, still oblivious of that very fact. She kept on ambling without much awareness. Accordingly, as expected, she bumped into something. Thankfully, it only made her take a step backwards and not fall to her rear, shutting her eyes next out of reflex.

A soft cry escaped her mouth as she put her left hand on her nose, patting it to ease the dull pain that she got from the impact. Subsequently, Syn quickly glanced at what was in front of her to check. Howbeit broad-minded she was, she was startled once she found out that it was not a 'what' but a who. Further increasing her perplexion when she recognized the person's identity.

"Fancy, meeting you here, Miss Rosenfeldt." The man spoke first, seeing that Syn was in a trance.

Saving her from embarrassment, Syn snapped out of her musing simultaneous to hearing his voice. In an instant, she bowed her head ahead of giving her greeting.

"Good evening, Sir Konrad. It's an uncanny coincidence to meet you here."

"Yes, I was hoping to spend my time peacefully at home. I had a long day at work. Anyway, what seems to have brought you here?" Konrad asked, the interest could be hinted in his tone.

Just as she harkened his response, confusion became evident on Syn's countenance.

"Wait, home? Here?"

"Yes, is there a problem with that?"

"W-well, none but, why here?" Her final words were nearly inaudible as she mumbled them under her breath.

Granted that she whispered, Konrad was able to catch what she said, forming a conclusion along the way.

"Do you live here, Miss Rosenfeldt?"

"I do. Why did you ask?"

"Why don't you come over and have dinner with me?" Konrad gave her a query, though the glints on his eyes conveyed that he was hell-bent on not letting her go.