Lies I

"Do you feel better now?" Riccardo's voice stayed near her ears as he said that.

"I think so," Elma said as she just lay there still. Her chest was heaving up and down with every fast rhythm of her heartbeat. At some point, she giggled a little but had to refrain from looking more like a fool because what was so funny about any of her experiences until now?

"We can never be friends, remember? You've automatically become my enemy. If you are pressing this much to find out something about me, I refuse to believe it is for any good."

"I don't believe you, Elma Gray." Ishaq sat in his feelings a little bit. "Why would you say a thing like that?"

"Because it's the truth. You weren't drunk when you resounded that clear warning to me — that we could never become close. Your chasing on to know what could be bothering me is somewhat hypocritical of you and I do not need hypocrites on my table."