Doubt

"Have you eaten lunch, Amelia?" she inquired after we had been giggling for a few minutes.

"It was already two o'clock in the afternoon," I replied while checking my wristwatch to see what time it was. I'm feeling better now. My heartbeat isn't as strong as it used to be. Perhaps it was as a result of Nikita's presence that I was able to relax. "And what about you?"

"I just had a late lunch. I returned from my cousin's house, but he was not there."

I just shrugged my shoulder in response to what she said. She has always mentioned that she had a cousin, but I have never met him and have no intention of becoming friends with him.

"Are you busy, Amelia, or do you have something to do?"

"Why?"

"I was going to invite you to hang out by the sea until sunset. I'll go back to my cousin's house later; I'm too lazy to go home."

She is renting a house for reasons unbeknownst to me; her sole motivation is to live a peaceful life. I occasionally envy her since she has so much freedom. All I know is that she no longer has parents. And because of the events in my life earlier, I agree without any hesitation.

"Okay. Let's go."

Before heading to the beach, we bought something to eat. And since I didn't have any money with me, she paid for my food first.

"I'll pay you tomorrow."

"You don't have to; it's only a tiny sum."

"Even so, Nikita."

"All right, do whatever you want."

Nikita and I sat on the seashore's shady side. We sought refuge in the shadow of the large rocks. There was a brief stillness as both of our gazes were drawn to the calm waters of the sea, which glistened in the bright sunlight. It's too early for people who walk their dogs or families there every day either before sunset. The wind blew hot, but it didn't affect us. She started eating, and so did I. What happened earlier came back to my mind. I turned and looked at her beside me, her pair of beautiful eyes still on the sea.

"Aren't you a little surprised, Nikita?"

She glanced at me with puzzled eyes, as if she didn't understand what I was saying.

"I'm referring to the wolf we discussed earlier." My voice fell; she might think I'm still pressuring her to accept something that isn't real. I'm just curious."

"I am, but what should we do? If what you witnessed is true, they, too, have a life to live."

For a few seconds, I was stunned. I'm not sure why she's so eager to persuade. I thought she didn't believe they were real and just existed in books. Maybe she's simply going along with what I'm saying since I'm her friend.

"Have you seen one before to be able to settle down like this, knowing I was almost passed out inside the forest with his presence?"

Nikita's sweet giggle echoed throughout the area as she spoke. At that time, I wanted to ask her a lot of questions about those creatures, as if she was used to seeing such things based on her reaction. But I was worried that Nikita might find those inquiries insulting. I don't want those things to sever and harm our friendship.

"They were also humans, Amelia; you shouldn't be afraid of them." She added that which made me speechless again.

Her reaction now is different from earlier, I could say that without glancing at her, but the tone of her voice makes it clear.

"Human? Nikita, are you serious? When they have fangs, they are not humans!" I can't help myself but give a comment like this as if it were Nikita's fault that I had seen one of them. "And they have fur, which proves they're animals."

I overheard Nikita inhaling deeply before breaking out laughing at my reply. I scowled as if I couldn't believe what Nikita had said!

"Do you know anyone of their race, Nikita?" As I questioned her, my eyes were filled with suspicion and mistrust. For many reasons, considerable doubt was now growing in my chest. "You must know someone, don't you?"

I stepped closer to her and turned to face her.

"No," she said firmly as she turned away. Oh? Her reaction seems a little strange. Perhaps I am not the only one who has seen those creatures; perhaps she has as well? "Don't accuse me, Amelia, especially if you have no proof! Tell me what you were doing alone in the forest earlier. It wasn't you, Amelia, who went there for no reason," she put her arms across her chest and faced me. Her eyes widened to tease me. Wait, I am the one who is talking, not her! "I know you. You don't go somewhere, especially if you are not allowed to enter."

I've remained quiet since I'm unsure whether I should tell her about my personal problems, such as a conflict with my mother. I was an introvert, and also Nikita. I'd rather keep my problems to myself than share them with my friends. I don't want to be judged, and that's who I am, which could explain why Nikita and I get along so well. We have more in common even though we don't talk too much.

"I am just..." I couldn't continue my sentence because I was thinking about what alibi I'd come up with to make Nikita accept my lies. "Please, Nikita, give me a moment."

Nikita looked at me deeply, maybe she was reading the contents of my mind that I wanted to hide from her.

"Sure, Amelia," she answered as she looked away.

I don't understand why she seems to be hiding something from me. I felt it even though she didn't say it. I want to ask her but she might be offended. It was better for me to keep quiet and think about how to start telling her about the conflicts that happened between me and my mother. I know she won't stop until I tell her the truth about why I went to the forest at midday.

"My mom and I had a fight."