– Thank you for the offer, but I know your name! Your name is even in my message, in my phone, I think that's enough! – said the girl and tried to go round me, but on a sudden impulse I grabbed her wrist impolitely.
– 'That's fine, but it's not enough. We need to sit down and talk," I said insistently.
– You know, I've had enough of waiting like a fool for you for an hour! – Viper suddenly blurted out. I suddenly realised that I was clutching her wrist with my fingers, and I hastily unclenched them. – What kind of conversation can we have? If you think I'm excited about this stupid programme, you're sorely mistaken!
I felt a prick of conscience. But when I noticed that our argument had attracted the attention of the students in the library, I became irritated and wanted to teach this stubborn mortal a lesson.
– We're drawing too much attention to ourselves. Let's talk calmly. I know you're angry at me for being late, but, believe me, I had my reasons for being late, and if I had known you before, I would have warned you. But I only knew your name. And I see you've already jumped to conclusions about me! – I did my best to shift the blame to her, but for some reason the knowledge that the stubborn girl was angry with me made me morally uncomfortable.
"What am I doing? What am I sinking to in order to calm her anger!" – I involuntarily thought, analysing my unworthy act.
Viper looked seriously into my face, as if checking whether I was lying, but I was so in control of myself that she did not find even a hint of a shadow on my face.
– Well, all right. And what was the big reason that made you late? – Finally, after a brief look at my face, she asked.
– I've had a few absences this month… Actually, I almost didn't attend lectures, and one of the teachers questioned me about how dare I not attend his classes. You know how pedantic old Marchek is," I lied without blinking. And because I lied so convincingly, Viper stopped frowning, and her face suddenly flushed.
I knew exactly what had caused that lovely blush: she was now blaming herself for her impatience and her unwillingness to listen to my explanations, embarrassing herself before me and her own conscience.
I felt sorry for her, but I couldn't confess my lie, because then Viper would be furious and send me away.