Chapter 29: FRIEND?
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After bidding good night to Thea, Ruth took the way to her home. She met the familiar faces along the way. As per her mannerisms, she smiled, waved and occasionally shared a word or two with those people. Her external state was calm and normal but only she knew what kind of turmoil she was facing inwardly.
Her conversation with Thea replayed in her mind time and again. Her brain agreed to Thea's idea but her heart was hesitant. Ruth was a selfless and humble person. She couldn't take her friend's place for her gains when her friend also needed that job.
But then Thea herself wanted to quit the job and spend some time without worries and the burden of work on her back. As much as Ruth knew about her, she was aware of how much hard work Thea had done so far and she had genuine respect in her heart for the young woman. Thea was right. She deserved some time alone to relax before marrying Rees.
Ruth hadn't met Rees yet. But Thea had promised her to introduce him to her soon. Ruth also didn't know much about Rees's family background as his family was not native and came to the town in search of employment a few decades ago.
His father had taken employment in an arsenal that provided weapons and ammunition to not only the O'Dell family but also to various noble families, who were engaged in King's service and overseas trade. And after getting old enough Rees joined the O'Dell family as a guard with the help of his father's connections.
While thinking about Thea's idea and weighing all the possibilities, Ruth reached the apartment building where she lived. It was the tenth hour in the night and many families went to sleep after a tiring day.
While some men and women stood talking in the open premises of the establishment after having dinner. Some of them gave Ruth a questioning look as it was not a usual sight to see her return home this late in the night.
Ruth always took every step cautiously making sure to not grab much attention. But tonight she didn't realise how the time fled while talking with Thea. Thea asked Ruth if she should accompany her but Ruth declined her politely.
Not looking at the people around she hurried into the building. As she reached the second floor, her eyes fell on none other than her newfound friend, Florence.
As soon as Florence's brown hazel eyes fell on Ruth and she recognised her face in the dim light of the lamp, a small smile formed on her face.
"Hello Ruth!" Florence was the first to greet.
Ruth smiled in return and neared Florence to stood in front of her. "Hello! What are you doing outside in the corridor?"
Involuntarily Ruth's eyes scanned Florence's room as the door was half-open. Before Florence could notice it, Ruth shifted her gaze back on Florence's dolled up face.
"Nothing much. I was bored sitting alone in the room. So I thought I should walk a little after eating a little too much." Florence smiled sheepishly. For some reason, Ruth thought that Florence's voice held some sadness but she ignored that feeling.
"Oh. Ok." That reminded Ruth that she was hungry. She didn't realise it before as her mind was occupied with other thoughts.
Florence noticed that something was bothering Ruth's mind. She thought that Ruth was still disturbed because of the morning's incident.
"Where are you coming from this late?" Florence asked to which Ruth looked up startled at her sudden question.
Florence thought that she shouldn't have asked that but she was curious to know as she also knew like other people that Ruth didn't roam around late in the night.
"Sorry if you don't like my question. I just asked out of concern. It's ok if you don't want to tell me." Florence added immediately.
"Oh no no. It's not like that. I was actually thinking about something else. I went to meet my friend." Ruth answered.
Florence arched her plucked dark eyebrows. "Friend?"
It took a moment for Ruth to realise Florence's confusion and heat rose to her neck. "You are getting it wrong. This friend of mine is not a man, it's a woman named Thea." Ruth cleared her doubt hurriedly.
Florence was amused to see Ruth's reaction and how her face turned pink due to embarrassment. She is a naive girl, she thought.
"I never said your friend is a man." She teased Ruth making her face redder.
"Um... yeah. You didn't said it. I just..I"
Florence burst out laughing as she couldn't control it anymore. "Oh come on Ruth. Relax! I was just teasing you. You don't need to take it that seriously and give me any kind of explanation." She touched Ruth's shoulder with a wide smile plastered on her face.
Ruth peeked through her lashes and said in a low voice. "I didn't want you to misunderstand me."
Florence sobered up at her words. "Who said being friends with a man is a bad thing? Even if a man is friends with you, who I or anyone at that matter is to judge you? It's your choice and you don't need to care about people misunderstanding you. Do what you like and not what others wants you to do." She said with a serious face.
Though Ruth had very few interactions with Florence, she understood that the woman was wiser than her when it came to life. How much and what she might have been through to develop such a strong and sorted way of thinking? Ruth wondered.
"You are right! I will keep your words in mind." Ruth said with a smile as she didn't know how to react.
To lighten the mood Florence tried changing the topic. "Let's go for a short walk. It's a pleasant night."
There was something about Ruth that Florence liked and wanted to enjoy her company more often.
Ruth would have accepted her request at another time but not now. "I am sorry but I think I would like to call it a night. I have an important work to do in the morning."
Florence nodded her head in understanding."Ok. Good night!" She wished.
"Bye.. Good night!" Ruth greeted back and headed in the direction of her room.
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After bidding good night to Thea, Ruth took the way to her home. She met the familiar faces along the way. As per her mannerisms, she smiled, waved and occasionally shared a word or two with those people. Her external state was calm and normal but only she knew what kind of turmoil she was facing inwardly.
Her conversation with Thea replayed in her mind time and again. Her brain agreed to Thea's idea but her heart was hesitant. Ruth was a selfless and humble person. She couldn't take her friend's place for her gains when her friend also needed that job.
But then Thea herself wanted to quit the job and spend some time without worries and the burden of work on her back. As much as Ruth knew about her, she was aware of how much hard work Thea had done so far and she had genuine respect in her heart for the young woman. Thea was right. She deserved some time alone to relax before marrying Rees.
Ruth hadn't met Rees yet. But Thea had promised her to introduce him to her soon. Ruth also didn't know much about Rees's family background as his family was not native and came to the town in search of employment a few decades ago.
His father had taken employment in an arsenal that provided weapons and ammunition to not only the O'Dell family but also to various noble families, who were engaged in King's service and overseas trade. And after getting old enough Rees joined the O'Dell family as a guard with the help of his father's connections.
While thinking about Thea's idea and weighing all the possibilities, Ruth reached the apartment building where she lived. It was the tenth hour in the night and many families went to sleep after a tiring day.
While some men and women stood talking in the open premises of the establishment after having dinner. Some of them gave Ruth a questioning look as it was not a usual sight to see her return home this late in the night.
Ruth always took every step cautiously making sure to not grab much attention. But tonight she didn't realise how the time fled while talking with Thea. Thea asked Ruth if she should accompany her but Ruth declined her politely.
Not looking at the people around she hurried into the building. As she reached the second floor, her eyes fell on none other than her newfound friend, Florence.
As soon as Florence's brown hazel eyes fell on Ruth and she recognised her face in the dim light of the lamp, a small smile formed on her face.
"Hello Ruth!" Florence was the first to greet.
Ruth smiled in return and neared Florence to stood in front of her. "Hello! What are you doing outside in the corridor?"
Involuntarily Ruth's eyes scanned Florence's room as the door was half-open. Before Florence could notice it, Ruth shifted her gaze back on Florence's dolled up face.
"Nothing much. I was bored sitting alone in the room. So I thought I should walk a little after eating a little too much." Florence smiled sheepishly. For some reason, Ruth thought that Florence's voice held some sadness but she ignored that feeling.
"Oh. Ok." That reminded Ruth that she was hungry. She didn't realise it before as her mind was occupied with other thoughts.
Florence noticed that something was bothering Ruth's mind. She thought that Ruth was still disturbed because of the morning's incident.
"Where are you coming from this late?" Florence asked to which Ruth looked up startled at her sudden question.
Florence thought that she shouldn't have asked that but she was curious to know as she also knew like other people that Ruth didn't roam around late in the night.
"Sorry if you don't like my question. I just asked out of concern. It's ok if you don't want to tell me." Florence added immediately.
"Oh no no. It's not like that. I was actually thinking about something else. I went to meet my friend." Ruth answered.
Florence arched her plucked dark eyebrows. "Friend?"
It took a moment for Ruth to realise Florence's confusion and heat rose to her neck. "You are getting it wrong. This friend of mine is not a man, it's a woman named Thea." Ruth cleared her doubt hurriedly.
Florence was amused to see Ruth's reaction and how her face turned pink due to embarrassment. She is a naive girl, she thought.
"I never said your friend is a man." She teased Ruth making her face redder.
"Um... yeah. You didn't said it. I just..I"
Florence burst out laughing as she couldn't control it anymore. "Oh come on Ruth. Relax! I was just teasing you. You don't need to take it that seriously and give me any kind of explanation." She touched Ruth's shoulder with a wide smile plastered on her face.
Ruth peeked through her lashes and said in a low voice. "I didn't want you to misunderstand me."
Florence sobered up at her words. "Who said being friends with a man is a bad thing? Even if a man is friends with you, who I or anyone at that matter is to judge you? It's your choice and you don't need to care about people misunderstanding you. Do what you like and not what others wants you to do." She said with a serious face.
Though Ruth had very few interactions with Florence, she understood that the woman was wiser than her when it came to life. How much and what she might have been through to develop such a strong and sorted way of thinking? Ruth wondered.
"You are right! I will keep your words in mind." Ruth said with a smile as she didn't know how to react.
To lighten the mood Florence tried changing the topic. "Let's go for a short walk. It's a pleasant night."
There was something about Ruth that Florence liked and wanted to enjoy her company more often.
Ruth would have accepted her request at another time but not now. "I am sorry but I think I would like to call it a night. I have an important work to do in the morning."
Florence nodded her head in understanding."Ok. Good night!" She wished.
"Bye.. Good night!" Ruth greeted back and headed in the direction of her room.
After bidding good night to Thea, Ruth took the way to her home. She met the familiar faces along the way. As per her mannerisms, she smiled, waved and occasionally shared a word or two with those people. Her external state was calm and normal but only she knew what kind of turmoil she was facing inwardly. Her conversation with Thea replayed in her mind time and again. Her brain agreed to Thea's idea but her heart was hesitant. Ruth was a selfless and humble person. She couldn't take her friend's place for her gains when her friend also needed that job. But then Thea herself wanted to quit the job and spend some time without worries and the burden of work on her back. As much as Ruth knew about her, she was aware of how much hard work Thea had done so far and she had genuine respect in her heart for the young woman. Thea was right. She deserved some time alone to relax before marrying Rees. Ruth hadn't met Rees yet. But Thea had promised her to introduce him to her soon. Ruth also didn't know much about Rees's family background as his family was not native and came to the town in search of employment a few decades ago. His father had taken employment in an arsenal that provided weapons and ammunition to not only the O'Dell family but also to various noble families, who were engaged in King's service and overseas trade. And after getting old enough Rees joined the O'Dell family as a guard with the help of his father's connections. While thinking about Thea's idea and weighing all the possibilities, Ruth reached the apartment building where she lived. It was the tenth hour in the night and many families went to sleep after a tiring day. While some men and women stood talking in the open premises of the establishment after having dinner. Some of them gave Ruth a questioning look as it was not a usual sight to see her return home this late in the night. Ruth always took every step cautiously making sure to not grab much attention. But tonight she didn't realise how the time fled while talking with Thea. Thea asked Ruth if she should accompany her but Ruth declined her politely. Not looking at the people around she hurried into the building. As she reached the second floor, her eyes fell on none other than her newfound friend, Florence. As soon as Florence's brown hazel eyes fell on Ruth and she recognised her face in the dim light of the lamp, a small smile formed on her face. "Hello Ruth!" Florence was the first to greet. Ruth smiled in return and neared Florence to stood in front of her. "Hello! What are you doing outside in the corridor?" Involuntarily Ruth's eyes scanned Florence's room as the door was half-open. Before Florence could notice it, Ruth shifted her gaze back on Florence's dolled up face. "Nothing much. I was bored sitting alone in the room. So I thought I should walk a little after eating a little too much." Florence smiled sheepishly. For some reason, Ruth thought that Florence's voice held some sadness but she ignored that feeling. "Oh. Ok." That reminded Ruth that she was hungry. She didn't realise it before as her mind was occupied with other thoughts. Florence noticed that something was bothering Ruth's mind. She thought that Ruth was still disturbed because of the morning's incident. "Where are you coming from this late?" Florence asked to which Ruth looked up startled at her sudden question. Florence thought that she shouldn't have asked that but she was curious to know as she also knew like other people that Ruth didn't roam around late in the night. "Sorry if you don't like my question. I just asked out of concern. It's ok if you don't want to tell me." Florence added immediately. "Oh no no. It's not like that. I was actually thinking about something else. I went to meet my friend." Ruth answered. Florence arched her plucked dark eyebrows. "Friend?" It took a moment for Ruth to realise Florence's confusion and heat rose to her neck. "You are getting it wrong. This friend of mine is not a man, it's a woman named Thea." Ruth cleared her doubt hurriedly. Florence was amused to see Ruth's reaction and how her face turned pink due to embarrassment. She is a naive girl, she thought. "I never said your friend is a man." She teased Ruth making her face redder. "Um... yeah. You didn't said it. I just..I" Florence burst out laughing as she couldn't control it anymore. "Oh come on Ruth. Relax! I was just teasing you. You don't need to take it that seriously and give me any kind of explanation." She touched Ruth's shoulder with a wide smile plastered on her face. Ruth peeked through her lashes and said in a low voice. "I didn't want you to misunderstand me." Florence sobered up at her words. "Who said being friends with a man is a bad thing? Even if a man is friends with you, who I or anyone at that matter is to judge you? It's your choice and you don't need to care about people misunderstanding you. Do what you like and not what others wants you to do." She said with a serious face. Though Ruth had very few interactions with Florence, she understood that the woman was wiser than her when it came to life. How much and what she might have been through to develop such a strong and sorted way of thinking? Ruth wondered. "You are right! I will keep your words in mind." Ruth said with a smile as she didn't know how to react. To lighten the mood Florence tried changing the topic. "Let's go for a short walk. It's a pleasant night." There was something about Ruth that Florence liked and wanted to enjoy her company more often. Ruth would have accepted her request at another time but not now. "I am sorry but I think I would like to call it a night. I have an important work to do in the morning." Florence nodded her head in understanding."Ok. Good night!" She wished. "Bye.. Good night!" Ruth greeted back and headed in the direction of her room.
