The Ugly Duckling Of The Tiger Tribe-Chapter 66: It’s because I don’t know you, Solin

Solin looked at me with no words for a while. The silence was getting uncomfortable and I just wanted to walk away while she kept thinking whatever she was thinking but for some reason, I couldn’t just turn around.

Maybe it was because that gaze she had in her eyes as she stared at me. Eyes that seemed to be a fan of whatever I was doing.

She didn’t even know what I was up to but she was already so interested and invested.

"Really, I need to get going now. I have things to do." I said, attempting to turn around but she suddenly grabbed my arm. "You..."

"Let’s be friends." She suddenly said, which took my breath away for a second. What did she say?

Solin smiled at me while I stared at her, puzzled.

Is it because of the meat?

Is it because she finds me more interesting than scheming and foolish Veyra?

Or... Is it because I’ve suddenly become her sister in law and she wants to size me up a little more closely?

Solin is a wonderful character. She has charisma in that stoic and blunt attitude of hers.

She’s also very attractive, so she has no problem getting a spouse, though she’s still single.

But the fact that she’s a wonderful character who wants to come close to me, who wants to be my friend makes me very suspicious.

Does she have an ulterior motive?

And the way she’s looking at me. The interest she has in me is quite deep.

It I accept her, I can finally have a friend, but I’m paranoid and insecure. Unlike spouses who can’t betray you once they mark you, having friends was a different thing.

If she has ulterior motives and is approaching me just to use me then I need to know what it is.

I don’t want to blindly accept her request to be friends, fall for her closeness and then start bonding with her, only to discover that she was never after me from the start.

’There’s something I have that she wants.’ if I just keep that in the back of my head then I won’t end up getting hurt once it’s revealed later.

Yes. I won’t get used like ’that time’.

"You don’t want to?" She asked, suddenly blinking as if she had read my intentions to turn her down.

"It’s because I don’t know you, Solin."

"But you accepted my brother as your spouse without knowing him for long." She said and I rolled my eyes away.

"Well, that’s a little different, you know. And I like Fenric. Since he liked me back, I guess it was only natural I accepted him." I said and she narrowed her eyes.

"Then, does that mean you don’t like me?" She asked and I flinched.

Why was she making an issue out of this?

"That’s not it. I think you’re beautiful, attractive and a wonderful female but..." I pursed my lips and decided to just speak my mind. "I don’t know how you are as a friend. I don’t know if you’re loyal or the backstabbing type. I’m sure you might’ve already heard of my reputation in this tribe. I’m very popular, but not for anything good. No one likes me and I... I’ve been hurt by everyone. So, if you want to be my friend despite knowing that, I find it even more suspicious and want to step back. But if you can give me a reason why you want to be friends, and I believe you, I’ll accept it. Solin, I don’t like to be betrayed."

My words landed heavily and the air grew tense.

The birds on the trees tweeted away and the wind blew. Between us, I don’t know if our relationship will go in the familiar direction or as that of enemies.

"I heard about it." Solin finally spoke up. "But I don’t care what they say. I’ve decided that most of the tribe folks in this tribe are stupid."

I blinked twice, surprised. That was unexpected.

"And they lack common sense," she waved her hand a bit and then looked at me. "You, on the other hand, you’re incredible and even know things I don’t know. I think you’re the kind of person I want to be friends with."

"Doesn’t that mean you’re just looking for someone capable to use?" I asked and she paused.

She began to think, her hand pressed on her chin.

"Hm, I didn’t think of it that way." She mumbled. "It does seem that I want to use you since you’re so incredible. But is it wrong to want to be friends with someone incredible? Should I approach this in another way?"

Why is she suddenly having a monologue with such a serious expression?

She looked like she was having a crisis with her thoughts and as I stared at her, she suddenly seemed... Cute.

I laughed and she raised her head, wondering why I was laughing.

"Solin, are you doing this because of the meat?" I asked and noticed her ears twitch and then her face heated up.

Ah, so it was the meat.

"It tasted so good." She said, dropping her palms on her cheeks and suddenly squirming.

She looked like an highschool girl that was just confessed to by her crush.

Did she like it that much?

Well, I guess it’s a given since the difference between eating raw meat and meat seasoned with salt are worlds apart.

"I really want to be your friend, Arinya." She said, turning serious again.

She stood straight, looking me straight in the eye with sincerity in her eyes.

"You’re nice, sharing your knowledge. And also... Since you’re brother Fenric’s female now, doesn’t that mean you’re my sister now? I want us to get along."

She stretched her hand.

I looked at her, my insides slightly panicking.

Now that she became serious with her words, it felt like I was being given a responsibility that was heavier than my boobs.

I looked at her hand.

If I took her hand now, doesn’t that mean I accept?

But...

"I..." I immediately turned, taking to my heals as I yelled. "I’ll think about it so stop following me."

I ran with a heated face.

To be honest, I feel embarrassed being wanted by my fellow female, even if what she wanted was just to be friends. No funny thoughts.

She was a wonderful character... And yet she thinks so highly of me.

It should feel like a honor. Yes, a honor but... I just can’t calm down.