Irina walked out of the library in anger. She heard the yelling clearly. Feeling sad, she decided to go to the river before went home. She went pass the bridge, she took the right turn and went along the first line of the trees. When she arrived at the bank of the river, a black hairy friend had waited. Its eyes were bright green, and it stared back at Irina. Irina gave the cat a smile and put off her shoes, she carried the cat while sitting on the bank and put her feet into the water.
In the middle of summer, dipping into the water was a relief. That was exactly what Irina feel. She caressed the cat gently, made it close its eyes. They remained in that position for a while, until the first sound of bell from the clock tower heard from a far, indicating mid-day had begun.
Irina woke the cat up, saying that she had to go and would be here again next time. Realizing that she was talking to a cat, she shook her head then smile again to the black cat and saying her goodbye.
The sun was burning outside the woods. Irina hurried home. she took another route home as she decided that she hates library for now. Plus, she didn't want to be yelled at again. The warm summer breeze blew tenderly, she felt it in her face. Walking on the dry ground in the skirt of the woods, shadows of trees had protected her from the sun. It took her a little longer to reach home, she wished her father would not be upset for her late back home.
Opening the door, she saw her father sitting in their living room, he was reading. Irina stepped inside and close the door behind her. "you're late." She heard her father said. "Is everything okay?" He was worry and upon seeing that she didn't carry any book in her bag, he frown "You're not borrow any book from the library." It was not a question.
"No." She gave him a kiss on his cheek as she seated herself on the arm of the armchair, her arm rested on his father's shoulder and she leaned her head upon her rested arm. "I don't think I want to go to the library again." She said. "There was a thief in the library."
"Thief?" Roman raised his brows and earned a nod from his daughter. "They steal your book?" He guessed.
Irina shook her head. "My dream job." She said sadly.
Roman abruptly turned his face towards his daughter. He didn't understand at first, then laughter filled the room, Irina slightly irritated at his laugh. She stood aside giving him the look.
He pressed his laugh when he saw his daughter look on her face. "I'm sorry." He said, though he still can't contain his smile inside.
A light foot step entered the living room. "Did Irina do something funny again?" A man's voice surprised Irina. She turned around to see who it was.
"Nieal!" Irina widened her eyes in surprise. "What are you doing here? When did you come back? The war didn't hurt you, did it?"
Nial just chuckled at Irina series of question. He heard Roman said. "I forget to tell you, Danieal is here." Irina gave her father a look again for not telling her.
Roman on the other hand, ignored her daughter look. He wrapped his arm around Irina's shoulder and said to them "Let's eat. I'm starving."
"So, what did Irina does this time?" Asked Nieal as he towed them to the kitchen.
"None of your business." Irina said harshly. She seated next to her father. There were only four seats at the square dining table.
Taking a seat across to Irina, Nieal said confidently "you'll tell me eventually."
Roman shook his head internally at these two's nonstop banter. "So Danieal, you have your butler delivering food here again." Said Roman changing the topic.
Irina looked down at the dining table upon hearing what her father just said. She widened her eyes when she saw the amount of food at the table. "It's just three of us, why did you have to bring so much food?" She said. "We can't eat all of these foods."
"Exactly, it was me all alone in the house. I can't eat all of them alone, so here we are." He explained with wide grin in his face. That was not true though, since he arrived home this morning, he ordered his butler to prepare a lot of food and had them delivered here by mid-day for lunch. While he was away, he missed Irina badly, that's why he arranged the lunch and visited her.
"That's very thoughtful of you." Said Roman to Nieal, he started to eat without them.
Nieal gave Roman a smile, he started to eat and urged Irina to eat too. He then said to Irina "We can always share the food with the poor, you know." He saw her blue eyes glowing behind her glasses.
"That's a good idea. I like that." Said Irina looking at Nieal while she gave him her brilliant smile.
"I knew you would." Said Nieal inwardly. He returned the smile and hold his gaze. He watched Irina eating her food. He was always amazed by her beauty, and he continued admiring her without her knowledge. He was still starring at her when he heard Roman cleared his throat. He turned his head to look at Roman with awkwardly wide grin in his face and he saw Roman raised his brows at him. He had caught red handed drooling on Irina by her father. Feeling guilty, he then offered Roman more food as a good gesture and a silent promise not to do it again, at lease not in front of him.
Irina saw her father shook his head at Nieal, oblivious by what had just transpired between the two men, she suddenly said "By the way, the house that you said earlier is not a house."
Nieal was still in his peaceful gesture towards her father when he heard her sudden statement. "What?" He startled at first but quickly composed himself and added calmly "What is it then?"
They saw Irina spread and wave her free hand in the air while saying "This is a house, yours is a mansion."
"Really?" He said. "Well, I like living in the house better then. Can I live here, please?" He pleaded with his playful eyes.
"Hmm.. Sadly, this is not my house, it's my fathers so you have to ask him instead." She said innocently including her father in their banter.
"I thought I only need your permission and he will voluntary agree." He replied back.
"I will not!" Said Roman firmly. "Irina said there is a thief in the library and she doesn't want to go there anymore. Maybe you can go on her behalf, Nieal" He changed the topic again.
"Okay." Nieal agreed without asking.
They continued eating and talked about what Nieal doing during war. When they finished their meal, it was late in the afternoon. Nieal had to go since he still had a meeting with the neighbor landlords. He said his sorry that he can't go with Irina delivering the food and promised her that he will visit her in the morning.