New Maria

"Welcome. I have been waiting for you, but I should have expected you to arrive at your regular time," Maria said calmly.

"Umm… what's up?" Rudy greeted her awkwardly.

"Don't you have anything else to say?" she asked with a judging glare in her eyes.

'I don't like this version of Maria. Why must all the girls be scary when they are angry?' Rudy wondered.

"I want to say I am innocent, but I don't think that would be convincing enough," Rudy sighed.

"Why?"

"Because you won't believe me," Rudy shrugged.

"Is that how much you trust me?"

"That's not it. I am saying this based on me. If I was in your situation, I would be having a hard time trusting someone who… well, technically betrayed me."

"Rusher told me everything."

'Rusher? She always called him Rusher 'brother'. But now she is not calling him brother or father, she is calling him by his name!'

"I know what you are feeling, but I am on your side."