Odyssey of the Red Spider Lily

16

When I returned to the hotel that day, Zachary told me that the trip was about to come to an end.

The return bus fare had used up all of our remaining money.

When we reached Zachary's home, it was already midnight.

Zachary poured me a glass of milk and ushered me to go to bed.

I tugged on his sleeve.

"Zach."

He turned around and looked at me.

"Zach, you deliberately looked for me, didn't you?

You were the one who followed me on the bridge that day."

He looked at me quietly in the dark.

"When I was in the hotel, you thought that I was fast asleep, but in fact, I am a light sleeper."

"You collected my fingerprints and even recorded my daily habits through your drawing book."

「……」

"You're using me, aren't you?"

I tugged on his sleeve tightly.

He gave me the usual smile.

But I could not make out what he said as my eyelids became heavier.

I fell unconscious in his arms.

……

The next day, I was nudged awake.