Next One Is a Babe

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Turning around, John stood beside Sophia. “It’s unsafe for a girl to be out there alone.”

Pursing her lips, Sophia pondered for a moment before saying, “I have my own considerations, John. I need to go and handle some things.”

John gazed at her with solemnity etched on his face, his expression inexplicably conveying disappointment and abandonment. Thus, Sophia then explained, “I want to go back and visit my grandfather’s grave. The anniversary of his death has passed, yet I haven’t gone back to visit his grave. I’m the only person he has left, so I must make a trip back there.”

At this, John breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll go with you.”

Pursing her lips, Sophia seemingly tittered. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine going back alone. We might need to put on a show for those who are alive, but I think you don’t need to do so for someone who’s deceased. There’s no such need.”

John frowned. “I’m not offering so that I’ll look good.”

Sophia hastily nodded. “I know, I know. You don’t need to say anything else, for I know what you meant. However, I want to go back alone. You’ve never been to our little village, so if you go, all the villagers would come over to take a gander at you. It’ll be difficult for me to introduce you, so will you please save me the trouble, John? I don’t want to kick up a fuss.”

This is much better than her attitude before this. As it was rare for her to talk to him so nicely with room for discussion, John couldn’t really insist on having his way.

Sophia looked at him. “I’m just informing you about this. I actually don’t have to say anything to you, but I’m hoping that you won’t mind taking care of the plants here while I’m away. Since I spent an exorbitant amount on them, I’ll be distressed if they wither.” After she’d said this, she chuckled. “In fact, I can just have Zack come over. But then, I thought that you’ll be the one to come over in the end even if I speak to Zack, so I decided to speak to you instead.”

She’s being very much amicable toward me now, but it feels as though she’s simply too calm. John sighed. “I don’t mind you making the trip, but I’m truly worried if you go alone. How about I have someone accompany you? Do you still have a place to stay in your hometown? You’ll need to clean up the place when you go back, no? You’ll have some help if someone goes with you.”

Sophia shook her head. “It’s fine. The village isn’t big, so everyone knows each other. I can just stay the night at someone else’s house. People are quite friendly in small mountain villages, so they won’t mind doing me this insignificant favor.”