Triggers to Curiosity; Tickets to Embarrassment

Big plans. More patience.

While they were driving back home, Nancy decided to bring it up.

"Samuel." She called him as politely as possible. It was in her favor.

"Yes?" He replied as swiftly as a robot.

"I aced my accounting test today…"

"That is amazing. You did well." He almost sounded like an old man as he complimented her on her success.

"No, it's not amazing… And you know why." She wanted to make it as indirect as possible.

"I fail to understand you. You have aced a test despite not being able to study for it. That just shows your competence. How is it not amazing?" Focused on driving, he replied to her swiftly.

"Let me ask you then." She took a deep breath. "Why did you become my bodyguard?" she added with confidence flowing in her eyes. She knew he wouldn't be able to answer her.

"Hm? Because I was asked to?" He said with confusion. Didn't she hear their conversation when they were appointing him as her bodyguard?

"Couldn't you deny?" She backfired.

"Yes, but I did not want to." But he had all possible answers.

"Why?" She wanted to push him to the edge. She believed she would succeed in doing so.

"Because I needed a job."

"You could get a job in college just like you got it now."

The debater by birth or the mysterious prodigy?

Samuel pulled the brakes. It was a red signal. He deeply let out a sigh.

"If I were to ask Hertwig to get me a job in the college, he would not have agreed to it as it would not have been about you. I only compelled him for the job as it was solely for you. He still had a hard time getting me the job.

I do not know how he explained it to everyone. But if it not for you, I would not have gotten the job as of now." He tried to explain as he accelerated again due to the green light. "If you dislike me that much, I would wear a face mask next time." He added. "Or you shall tell me ways to disguise myself from your sight."

"No! That's-" She stopped midway.

Samuel raised an eyebrow, not knowing what she wanted from him.

"If you want me to disappear, then I can also guard you without letting you know. You would certainly not feel my presence." Samuel advised.

"… No. You don't understand." Nancy sulked.

"Then make me understand."

Nancy paused for a moment, thinking of what to say.

"What did they tell you?" Nancy asked. "When you agreed to guard me, what did they say? What did they do to me? Why do I feel this way? Why am I suddenly smart?" She added.

Samuel didn't reply to her. She waited, but he still didn't reply.

"Don't lie to me. I know, you know. Tell me. I deserve to know what they did to me." Nancy tried to get it out of Samuel.

"I am not aware-"

"No!" She cut his words. "I know you are…"

"I am afraid I cannot tell you. I am well aware of everything. I was told several things. However, the things you need to know are limited. Just know that I am here to protect you from Sebastian. That is all." Samuel answered confidently.

"Can't you betray their trust and tell me? I think earning my trust should be more important right now." Nancy asked.

She knew he wasn't the liar type. He probably just couldn't tell her because of the promises he might've made.

That's why he agreed, being aware of everything.

She tried her best not to smirk, but it appeared naturally when she planned to brainwash him somehow. He seemed like someone who would fall for her sweet talk.

"I am afraid I have given my word to hide it by any means." But Samuel seemed sturdy and firm in a way, too.

His eyes were dark in color, yet they showed her different colors every time she looked into them. Almost as if he had experienced everything life had to offer.

Observing him always piqued Nancy's curiosity. He was the strangest man she had come across all her life. She never thought there would be anyone crazier than her.

He was so difficult. A lot more than she had thought.

Nancy kept staring at his face as he drove. He was handsome. He was charming. He was just like that dream fictional character everyone was in love with.

But something about him was off. There was sadness behind that handsome face. Now that Nancy thought about it, she noticed she had only seen him smile once.

The neutral expression, no doubt, made him more handsome. But as she talked to him to know about herself, she felt like she needed to know about him as well.

She was curious. About his expressions, the way he talked, and just everything.

But wait! She should be angry that he was being so secretive right now!

She shook her head as if she could punch him anytime now. Just one word.

She shaped her lips to say something, but even the debaters needed to accept defeat sometimes.

She just looked away. But, he drove her attention back to him by taking his skin-tight, pitch-black gloves off. Maybe he was losing grip on the steering wheel.

As he took his gloves off, revealing his pale hands, he revealed other secrets as well.

Right. She wondered why he had to wear gloves in summer. She considered it a fashion choice because it looked hot. But that wasn't it, was it?

Nancy's eyes widened at the sight of his hands.

Filled with countless scars, old and fresh ones, his hands almost made her hands ache in agony.

His right hand was covered in a pure white bandage that followed to his wrist, maybe even upfront. She couldn't tell as his coat was in the way.

But was this man getting more and more mysterious as time passed? Yes.

There were too many things she wanted to know about herself and Samuel.

But she could worry about that later because for now, he had noticed her staring like a creep at him.

She quickly looked away, being flustered.