'Crutch. Crutch.' The sound of bushes being stepped on was audible. A wandering light was being pointed to the grassland near the porch, and suddenly, the fading light reached Helle's arms.
'Huh?' Straying her perplexed gaze from the moon, she searched for the source of light. While the light from the torch got vivid and shaky, from the nearby bushes, Orion strode towards her. His eyes were tired, and even in such a cold, sweat dripped from the side of his forehead.
"There you are," he said. Turning off the torchlight, he sat next to her on the porch, catching his breath. He was taller compared to her, especially the way his feet reached the ground while Helle's dangled. It took some time before the air of silence enveloped them once again.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, breaking the silence. It was like a single stone thrown into a vast lake; his words rippled, forging tranquil waves.
"Eh?" She turned towards him, not expecting him to say those words. But she was glad. Those words were worth all those tears.
"That's alright. I shouldn't have hit her either."
Blaming someone else for one's wrongdoing was an easy task. But to take responsibility for one's actions and, more so, to apologize with sincerity was not easy. For someone as high ranking as Orion to acknowledge his wrong deeds made Helle feel humble and even happier.
"Indeed. But it was my fault for not stopping Leah and being aggressive towards you." This time Orion too glanced at the merciful moon, who shined brightly despite getting the light from the sun.
"If that's so, then promise to do as I say, and then I will accept your apology." Her words were barely audible but brazen.
"Ts, sure," those words brought a smile to Orion's pained face. Apart from work, he disliked being aggressive. While he knew why Leah did what she did, he also knew that he had wronged Helle.
For some unknown reason, her eyes were jammed with tears once again, but this time she had a blissful smile while gazing at the moon.
Orion had his eyes on the woman beside him. The subtle light fell on the other side of her face, giving a glistened effect to her eyes. The kindness in her smile showed her simplest wish. A feeling and expression he hadn't ever seen.
"From next time onwards, if we ever have fights like this. Then, please be kinder with your words, and I will try to understand you as well."
"Sure," he said and got up. It was late at night, and the next day still awaited them. Helle got up as well and locked the door. Together, they walked out of the little forest. The torch had run out of battery, and so the path was dark.
"Helle," Orion broke the silence once again. "What did you mean by promising you to do as you want?" I mean, What do you want me to do?" he clarified.
"Well... I haven't thought much about it, but there is a list of things I have wanted to do if I ever dated. Perhaps you could help me fulfill that list." Those words tugged the invisible string in Orion's heart. To fulfill the fantasies of having a lover. How lewd!
"It doesn't include anything inappropriate, does it?" He remarked, making Helle flustered from head to toe.
"No, it doesn't!" she denied while looking away.
"Well, it doesn't matter if it did. We could try it all." Orion teased without realizing that his cheeks were subtly flustered.
"It doesn't! At most it has a back hug and a date where couples hold hands," it was an audible whisper.
~
[At the old restaurant]
"How come they are so treacherous?" Lorraine shouted in anger. Taking hold of her beer mug, she chucked down the entire liquid while attorney Liam kept her accompanied in her house. It was a frustrating evening after all; the case continued to lengthen.
The way those useless poop relatives joined hands with the Sylvain's made the case further complicated. Although there wasn't much proof from their side, it was clear that even the judge was on Sylvain's side.
"We just need to get hold of evidence that can't be..." Liam didn't continue his words since Lorraine gave him a sharp glare before opening another bottle of beer.
She knew what he meant. They needed Helle. Since she was the victim, her words would be the turning point, but for the time being, they had to keep low. The engagement was moving smoothly, and any disturbance would be a major setback.
"Why don't we try to open the case for my husband's murder? I think it could turn the tables," she baffled. Her hair battered up and let loose while her eyes drowned in anger and tiredness.
"Huh? Didn't he die in an accident?" Liam questioned, raising his eyebrows, and immediately Lorraine pointed, "If it wasn't murder, then I question why his friend Kennel couldn't move past the post he obtained from my husband. Well, you might think that I am just speaking my mind because I am drunk." She took a breather while Liam nodded.
"In actuality, I thought through it my whole life. Why did all his friends come to his funeral but not Kennel? Since when did he become Sylvain's little police spoon? I question." Lorraine chugged down the beer and then laid her arms around her head, falling into slumber, while Liam quickly took out his pen and notebook and wrote it down.
"Tsk, how could I miss it?" He clicked his tongue in annoyance while reading through his notes.
The patterns had started to come forward in his note. While Sylvain's were held as the mastermind for many of the things, with the demise of their heir, it was clear that someone else had lent them the power. But who?
Perhaps the policemen would know?
"Now let's see who will be at the court tomorrow," he hummed.