BLOODY LOVE'S
Episode 86's

"No, Jose. I'm not asking you to ban me. How, the hell, are you? Where is it possible that while people are out on the street, having fun, I just sleep in my room?"

"You think people will dare to get out of the house?" reply Jose fast.

"of course! Even Lidya will come out. Oh, he still comes around and complains about Dave. I really can't stand it."

Jose looked at his best friend sympathetically. She knew Mary as a girl who was always cheerful and only saw everything in beauty. Maria does not like negative emotions and conversations that make the atmosphere bad. Talking to Lidya must have been really exhausting. But if that's all that makes his friend a little tired, Jose is grateful. At least not because of strange things. At least, not because of Sir William.

"Again, what can be seen at the festival, anyway? Fireworks as usual, right?" Jose Menukas, still trying to persuade Maria to break her promise with William. He was not happy to hear the idea. "It's not worth your health."

"Don't seduce me, Jose, don't flirt." Now Mary threw the grass in the young man's face. "I promised him. If the festival was held, I promised to take her for a walk."

"Maria," Jose sighed. "He is popular. There must have been a lot of women who invited him to go everywhere. You refuse no problem."

"Aaaaaah, why are you saying that, anyway??" Maria laughed with anxiety. "Come, Jose. You are my friend. You should have supported me, dong."

"Don't worry," Jose replied quickly, putting Maria's fist on her shoulder. He thought for a long time, then proposed, "If you want to play at the festival, I'll be with you."

"You?" reply Maria with narrowed eyes.

"As before. You and me. After all, if I had invited you, your parents would have allowed it. Yeah, right?" Jose laughs. "I'm not sure you'll be allowed to leave with anyone else. Especially Sir William. He was indeed popular and so on, but still a stranger to Marquis and Marchioness Garnet, right?"

Maria pursed her lips unhappily, but inwardly admitted that Jose was right. His parents would not let him go at night. Unless accompanied by Jose.

"I don't want to" whispered Maria stubbornly. "You just take that slum or your librarian's girlfriend."

"He's not a slum, his name's Nolan."

Mary looked over, then smiled very sweetly. "I don't care" she said coldly.

Jose turned his face, looking at the lake. He would not respond as long as Mary was still upset like this. He didn't know why, but Mary was obviously irritated. Well, of course, thought Jose, how could he not be upset? I suddenly appeared and told him not to come near Sir William.

"I just want to spend time with you" Jose said slowly. He recalled how Sir William looked at the Krip store. The way the man talked about Maria made him uncomfortable. "Maybe I'm just jealous to see you with Sir William."

Maria nodded in wonder. "What?"

"What?" jose reply was no less surprised, shocked because Maria suddenly leaned over him. The girl's face was so close, she could even smell the shampoo from Maria's hair.

"You? Jealousy said?"

Jose has realized his mistake. "I don't mean that kind of jealousy" he said hurriedly, his finger pushing Maria's forehead away.

"Jealous ... which ... platonic?" Jose answered cautiously, which made Maria laugh.

"Then what about my son—I mean, Nolan," Maria immediately corrected. "Or with the librarian? Are you feeling platonic too?"

Jose raised his eyebrows, not understanding why Maria kept mentioning the two men. "Don't talk like that, people can misunderstand you by listening. Nolan and I are just friends. I like to hear his honest opinion. Only a few people would act like that to me."

"The librarian too?"

"I met him a few times on special occasions" Jose said. He smiled a little. It does not explain whether his business is a sign that what he is working on is a dark thing typical of Argent. Mary knew herself well and did not ask.

"What a pity," Maria snorted. The smile on her lips looked so sweet. "I thought you finally had a boyfriend."

"If I had a girlfriend, you'd be the first person I'd tell you" Jose said. "By the way about girlfriend, how's your potential fiancee? He wouldn't like it if you went out with Sir William."

Maria chuckles. "I've been resisting him for a long time, Jose. I've already told you. You won't be able to use anyone for any reason that I refuse Sir William. I promised him anyway."

Jose looked funny, so Maria wanted to tease him, but he did not do it once he saw his friend staring seriously.

"Explain first" Mary said. He bent his legs in front of his chest, and began to wonder why Jose insisted on banning him from going with Sir William. "There seems to be a certain reason why you're so insistent. I used to travel a lot with other guys who wanted to get engaged to me, but you're normal. Why is it so upset now?"

Jose stared back inwardly at Maria's clear and honest blue eyes. He imagined the black ghost he saw many times, then the corpse of Gladys, then the scent of blood that always accompanied Sir William. Jose imagined Higgins. Higgins whose body he never saw.

"I can't say. Everything is still unclear." Jose won't make accusations without proof. Mary could not believe it. "But the man came to me this morning, and he purposely lured me by saying your name. He said you'd date him, I just wanted to break his cocky nose."

Maria smiled amusedly. Her cheeks are a little heated. "What kind of fishing?"

Jose grunted annoyedly. He did not want to remember how the strange man spoke. "Know that sucks? He pretended not to know who you were, he asked me who the sweet lady who came with me at his party. But then he said your name in a nasty friendly tone, then he said he had an appointment with you, and the way he smiled was so fake and—"

Maria chuckles. "You've been angry since Sir William called me sweet and he said he'd date me?"

"No, that's not what I meant!" Jose dodged his annoyance, feeling Maria deliberately deflected the topic to tease him. "He's dangerous, that's my point!"

"Danger? Because he's smiling to challenge you?" Mary laughed again.

Jose sighed, feeling free to explain when Maria was making fun of him. In his heart he was angry at himself. He knew Sir William was dangerous. His instincts say that. There is no evidence that the man did anything evil, but he did not like it. And he also hated the way the man approached Mary or pronounced Mary's name.

***