Agatha’s POV
It was embarrassing.
Not only Lawrence caught us in that weird position, but we also need his help to get out of that small space.
“He would not think of anything weird, would he?”
I zipped the tent and lay down inside.
I belong to the ten people whom Lawrence caught at the beginning of the game. As a result, I was assigned to build the tent. Oddly, the tent I built was set far from everyone.
It was tiring, and I hoped sleep would knock me out of my senses. But the thing that happened between Sebastian and me would not leave my mind.
Sebastian apologized so many times. I hit his head thrice and cursed at him endlessly.
‘Sebastian didn’t mean it,’ I told myself, believing my best friend.
“He was right. He only pulled me because we were hiding. And he’s a man so…”
It’s natural for a young man like him to get an er*ction. That showed he’s a healthy guy. But…
“I hope we can just forget about it. It will be awkward for us.”
And most importantly, I don’t want to lose a friend like him. I shook my head and slapped my cheeks.
“Yeah. Think of it as an inevitable accident. Just an accident.”
I sat up and unzipped the tent so I could go out. I don’t know whose tent this is, but this is the best tent among the others. It’s big and it was in the quietest part of the campsite.
“Should I find Sebastian and ask him to burn a marshmallow on a stick?”
“Where are you going?”
Lawrence went inside the tent, and I was pushed backward back inside.
“W-Wait, you… what are you…”
After going inside and trapping me in, Lawrence zipped the tent. He looked back at me, and my eyes couldn’t shut.
“You did a good job making this tent. I will have a good sleep tonight,” he praised.
‘So, this is his tent! No wonder why it was so big and comfortable!’
“Did you deliberately assign me to build this tent for you?” I asked as I crossed my arms.
He smiled arrogantly and responded, “It was the fruit of my hard work. I sought for you and I even helped you get out of that small hiding place. Why did you and your best friend choose to hide there? Are you both an idiot?”
In some way, I found myself wordless at his statement.
“Now, stop talking about another guy. Just lay down and sleep,” he added.
“Why should I?” I asked. “I will sleep in my own tent.”
“You have a tent?”
“I… think so. Everyone has it.”
“Ohhh, sorry,” he apologized so fakely and said, “I forgot to bring an extra tent for you.”
He did not forget it. I WAS CERTAIN HE LEFT ONE ON PURPOSE.
The shock came to me like a strong wave, tossing and turning with great force. It howled and grew so tall as a mountain that I could not utter words to reply.
"Don't worry," he, who saw the shock registered in her face, even dared to laugh.
He took off his jacket and then lay down in a relaxed manner. How can he ask me to sleep under the same tent when we’re not even related?
Well, by contract, we are legally engaged. But I can’t let him control me as he pleases.
“Why are you so persistent?” I asked.
Lawrence didn’t reply. He used his arms like his pillow and closed his eyes as if he didn’t hear a thing.
“The only reason why I was letting you drag me into this was because you were threatening me. But look, even if you told everything, what will you get?”
“…”
“Why me?”
“…”
“We won’t love each other anyway. And I would never marry someone without…”
I stopped running my mouth as I realized that I was subconsciously talking about love.
A woman who was abandoned by her fiancé. A slave who was forced to seduce a man. A maid who fell in love with her target.
Who am I to talk about love?
“Do you want to know why Mikhail broke up with you?”
Suddenly, he said something I didn’t expect to hear from him. On second thought, he investigated me a lot, so it is not surprising that he knew I dated one of his students.
“Because I am not in his league anymore,” I answered.
Lawrence opened his brown eyes. He looked at me before carefully opening his lips, “Because he felt guilty.”
“What?”
“Mikhail’s father betrayed your father.”
The revelation baffled my system. He kept on saying things I didn’t expect, and the second one was more surprising than the first.
“To get your father’s shares, Mikhail’s father framed him for tax evasion. The prosecutor was in cahoot with him. Knowing this, Mikhail knew you would feel hurt and betrayed, that’s why he let you go on purpose. It was to protect you from his family.”
I… didn’t know anything.
I hated Mikhail, cursed him, and vowed to never forgive him. Now, what am I going to feel about this?
It felt like falling into a deep hole, the emotions were like water drowning me and pushing me to the bottom. I was disappointed in myself for knowing nothing, yet I pretended I did.
“You see,” Lawrence uttered as he sat up and met my gaze. “There are things that seem pointless if you look at it from your own point of view. It doesn’t mean you see this and hear this, then you know everything. That’s the main reason why there are many two types of POVs in the story. First-person POV, and Third-Person POV.”
He gave me a satisfied smile as he leaned closer.
“I act for a cause. Everyone does. Including you.” He pointed his finger at me, and continued, “We are all in First Person’s perspective. For you, Mikhail was a bastard, and I am an annoying fiancé. But don’t act too smart, unless you’re allowed to tell the whole story.”
It was irritating that his explanation made me feel dumb, and unable to refute. He used examples that were hard to decode, but in the end, his point was laid bare.
“So, let’s say this is a Third-Person Point of View. Can you tell me the reason why you’re doing this?” I replied, hoping he would fall for the same trick he did using his flowery speech.
He lowered his eyes for a moment, and when he diverted it back to me, he spoke.
“Lawrence took a deep breath,” he said, breathing just like what he narrated. “He looked into his fiancée’s eyes and wondered: How can I stop this woman from choosing the wrong path?”
‘Just how much does he know?’
I clenched my fists, and Lawrence glanced at my hands. Then he continued.
“Agatha clenched her fists. She was probably thinking about why this man knew a lot. Lawrence looked back at her, intending to say what he knew.”
Our eyes met again. My heart was pounding as I watched his lips move.
“You fell in love with Mr. Lanceil. Right?”
“…”
“After asking the question, Agatha didn’t reply. Why? Because Lawrence caught her red-handed.”
He raised his hand and grabbed my chin.
“That’s how a Third Person’s POV works, honey. It is scary to know everything. So, I will end it right here.”