Chapter 13: Getting Closer To Him
Alfred moved his face closer to her and they were about to kiss when they smelt something burning.
“Oh my God! The food is burning!” Theresa exclaimed, then she stood up and rushed to the kitchen. Alfred also followed her.
Alfted tried to put down pot from the gas, but it burned his right hand. He still carried the pot down from the gas without minding the burn on his hand. Then Theresa turned off the gas immediately.
A gasp escaped Theresa’s lips when she saw the burn on Alfred’s hand.
“Follow me, let me treat the wound on your hand.” Theresa said and took Alfred out of the kitchen.
“Sit here while I go get the first aid kit.” Theresa said, and turned around to leavr, but Alfred held her hand.
“I am fine. It’s just a minor accident and nothing more.” Alfred said with an assuring smile on his face.
“I still have to treat it even though it’s just a minor injury.” Theresa replied, then she walked to her room.
“She’s also stubborn.” Alfred chuckled, lightly.
Theresa rushed down the stairs with a first aid box in her right hand.
“Let me see the bruised hand.” Theresa said. Alfred stretched the hand which got burnt, to her.
Theresa took out a cotton wool and she poured some quantity of methylated spirit on the wool.
She applied it gently on Alfred’s hand then she wrapped a bandage around the hand.
Alfred smiled as he watched how Theresa treated his hand. It sparked a memory in his head.
[16 years ago]
A little boy could be seen climbing an apple tree. He stretched his hand, trying to take an apple, but his hand couldn’t reach it.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .
“Alfred!” An elderly woman yelled and the boy fell off the tree in fright.
Luckily for him, the tree wasn’t very tall and the ground was grassy, so he only bruised his hand. The boy immediately stood up from the grass and faced the elderly woman.
“How many times have I warned you not to climb this tree again, huh?” The woman asked as she stood in front of the boy.
“You are just nine years old for goodness sake. Do you wanna get yourself killed?” The woman asked again.
The woman sighed when she saw the boy’s bruised hand.
“I’m sorry granny.” The boy apologized.
“It’s alright, let’s go back home.” The woman said. She and the little boy walked for some minutes till they got to an orphanage.
The woman took the boy inside the orphanage house and she sat him down in a room.
“Theresa!” The woman called.
“Yes granny?” A little girl answered as she ran inside the room.
“Come and tend to his wound.” The woman said, pointing at the boy who was seated on a chair.
“Alright granny.” The girl replied, then walked to a corner in the room and she brought out a first aid box.
“I wanna go and check on the kids. I’ll be right back.” The woman said, then she walked out of the room.
“Let me guess. You climbed the apple tree granny warned you not the climb again, right?” The girl asked as she sat down beside the boy.
The boy scoffed at the girl’s question. He faced the other side to avoid the girl’s gaze.
“But you know that it’s dangerous to climb trees.” The girl said, taking out a methylated spirit and a cotton wool.
“What’s wrong with everyone telling me that it’s dangerous to climb trees?” The boy asked.
“It’s because we care about you Freddy.” The girl replied as she cleaned the boy’s wound with the cotton wool and methylated liquid.
“But you know how much I love eating apple.” The boy said with a frown.
“Yeah, I know. But you should also know how dangerous it is to climb trees.” The girl replied, then she wrapped a small amount of bandage on the wound.
“I care a lot about you Freddy and I hate seeing you getting hurt. It pains me a lot.” The girl said in a sad tone.
The boy’s face softened, then he looked at the girl.
“I’m sorry Theresa. I will never climb the apple tree again.” The boy said.
“Promise?”
“Yeah, I promise.” The boy replied and the girl smiled.
“You look more beautiful whenever you smile.” The boy said.
“Really?” The girl asked in a surprised tone.
“Yeah.” the boy nodded.
“Then I will keep smiling till forever.” The girl said and she smiled the more.
[End of Flashback]
“Done.” Theresa said after she finished wrapping the bandage around Alfred’s hand.
“Thanks.” Alfred thanked her.
“It’s nothing.” Theresa smiled, “Let me go to the kitchen and serve the food.” She added, then she stood up and she walked to the kitchen.
She served the pasta and chicken into two plates, then she put the plates of food on a tray. She wrapped two forks in different serviettes and placed it beside each plate.
She carried the tray of food then she walked to the living room. She carried a plate and placed it in the table in front of Alfred.
She also placed the second plate of food on another table, then she took the empty tray back to the kitchen.
Theresa opened the fridge inside the kitchen. She took two bottles of water and arranged them on the tray.
Theresa gently carried the tray and walked back to the living room. She placed the tray in the table, taking one of the bottle waters and she placed it in front of Alfred.
“Thanks.” Alfred smiled.
Alfred said a quick prayer before they started eating.
Theresa noticed that how difficult it was for Alfred to eat with his burnt hand. So, she decided to feed him.
“Let me feed you.” Theresa said. She collected the fork from Alfred’s hand, then she started feeding him.
Alfred didn’t say a word untill Theresa was done feeding him. Alfred took the bottle water and he drank a little from it.
Theresa gently wiped Alfred’s mouth with the serviette.
“Let me help you with that.” Alfred said as he collected the used plates from Theresa.
“No, it’s fine. I will do it myself.” Theresa replied but Alfred disagreed.
He packed the plates to the kitchen and he stood a few metres away from Theresa as she washed the plates.
Theresa rinsed the plate and she returned them back to their positions. She turned around and she suddenlyslipped off the ground, but Alfred was fast enought to save her from falling.
Alfred’s hands were wrapped around her slim waist and Theresa’s hands were also wrapped around Alfred’s neck.
They were both staring at each other until Alfred cleared his throat.
“Thanks for saving me.” Theresa said, as she stood upright.
“You’re welcome.” Alfred replied and he aadjusted his blue garment.
“Are you done?” Alfred asked.
“Yep.” Theresa replied, nodding her head.
The both of them walked out of the kitchen out of the kitchen in silence.
The air felt awkward as they both sat down in the living room, without saying a word to each other.
“I..” They both said at the same time.
“You go first.” Alfred said.
“I just wanna ask when I will begin my duties as a nun?” Theresa asked
“Anytime you’re ready.” Alfred replied.
“I’m sure you know the duties of a nun, right?” Alfred asked and Theresa nodded.
“Yeah. Helping the needy, taking care of the house of God, and so on.” Theresa replied.
“Alright, anytime you wanna begin, just let me know.” Alfred said.
“Can I begin tomorrow by cleaning the church premises?” Theresa asked.
“Yeah, you’re permitted to.” Alfred answered.
“Alright.” Theresa
“I think it’s high time I left.” Alfred said as he checked his wristwatch.
“Oh!” Theresa exclaimed in a low tone, “I thought you were gonna stay a bit longer.” She added.
“Yeah, I also wanted to stay much more longer than this but, I just remembered that I have something to do by this time so I’m sorry.” Alfred said, apologetically.
“No, no need to apologize. it’s totally fine.” Theresa smiled.
Alfred stood up from the couch and he took his car key from the table.
The both of them walked out of the living room. Alfred unlocked his car and he got inside.
Theresa went to open the gate, then Alfred drove towards the gate. He stepped on the brake, a few metres away from the gate.
“Don’t forget to always pray and read your bible.” Alfred said through the window.
“Alright Reverend, I’ll do that.” Theresa replied.
“Enjoy the rest of your day.” Alfred said, then he drove out of the compound.
“Maybe Reverend Alfred is really innocent of my suspicion. But I must get closer to him to be sure of his innocence.” Theresa muttered, then she locked the gate and walked back into the house.
Meanwhile, someone had been secretly watching Theresa’s house from a corner. The person was putting on a black hood which concealed the person’s identity.
Judging by the person’s body size and features, one would know that the person was a man.
The man saw when Alfred’s car drove out of Theresa’s house. He took some pictures of Alfred’s car and Theresa’s house, then he walked away.