[https://i.postimg.cc/cCxYHKmN/The-Girl-who-could-taste-time.gif]

'Is she going to stay rent-free?'; asked Robert while Nona was taking a shower and couldn't hear them.

'She is safe here.' said Eske, prepping potatoes and carrots for dinner. 'I don't feel comfortable to know her alone, knowing what can happen to her.'

Robert turned his head away and stared at a point on the ceiling as though trying to recall something else. 'I wonder if we are the ones safe with her.'

'She is harmless. She has no one, Robert!'; said Eske.

Robert saw in him that look which was almost pleading not to say anything further about it. But then there were other things besides safety from danger, or rather, even more important than such an issue. Robert didn't know if they could trust her. She had been through so much already this two last days. Since that morning she arrived, Nona had experienced nine time events.

Screams from another room, domestic abuse of a couple that Eske is almost certain that the wife didn't make it.

Strange TV shows of people closed inside a house, in vivid colour.

An old man was reading a newspaper with the headline Mandela Goes Free Today.

Two women were doing their nails and talking about a massive layoff, and both were victims.

A child looking at a tiny screen, sitten on the floor and, for some reason, started to cry.

Those are examples of innocent and harmless ones. Then there were the violent events that usually would be directed against Nona. Most of them were just jump scares until last night.

Nona never complained. She never said if they hurt her or even if she was scared. Nona would say nothing, and Eske noticed she would try to be as small as she could. He could only guess how much pain she must have felt. He wanted to tell her that she was safe with him. That he would protect her even though he wasn't sure how.

There wasn't much he could do besides watching over her. He tried to hide all grotesque forms of violence from her, but it was hard to distract her from the goriest acts humans could afford. Even when Nona fell asleep, she still seemed uneasy and frightened. Her eyes glistened like those of someone who's lost all hope. And now he knew why. The world around her had a foul taste.

'So you stay all day here with her?', asked Robert. 'What about university?'; he added quickly.

'What about it?'; Eske answered without turning round.

Nona came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel and stand between both men: 'What are you guys talking about?'

Eske looked at her, unable to meet her gaze. The sight of her wet skin made him want to hug her tight and hold her waist even closer, telling her everything would be alright. 'Robert was just making conversation.'; Eske said unhurriedly.

'Oh yes,'; said Robert, smiling sarcastically, and waved his hands in front of himself. 'It doesn't matter. I am not the one without a degree.'; he replied, as though this should make sense to anyone.

'What does he mean?'; she asked, looking to Eske.

He smiled wryly. 'That means I won't go back to school. Point.'; he said stoically and shook his head. The words sounded bitter coming from him, but he really meant it.

'Why?'; she asked, and Nona gave him a wary glance. His answer did not please her either.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

'Because, well, I need to stay here.'

'Why?'

'Because you need me.'

'Why?'; she repeated.

Eske sighed deeply: 'Because I.., I can't afford that something happen to you.'

'You're joking!'; Nona exclaimed.

Robert laughed: 'Someone with common sense, finally.'; he paused. 'Thought I was the only one.'

'You can't just stop your life because of me. I'm used to whatever happens to me. You're not. And as Robert said, you need a degree. I don't. But I need to work. I don't live anywhere rent-free!'; she said, showing she had heard both talking, which placed Robert in a very awkward place to be.

'Nona, you don't understand...'; Eske tried to reason without wanting to bring into the conversation the nefarious effect she had several times after a time event. And the idea that the latest could touch her was undeniable to him that he couldn't just leave her alone.

'I know how to take care of myself. And you should do the same.'; Nona said, looking at him intently, waiting for a response. Eske nodded silently.

'So you want to go back to cleaning?'; asked Eske.

'I don't have a degree, Eske. I can't afford fancy jobs. So yes, I clean toilets because someone has to clean the shit everyone makes!'; Nona said, sounding angry, but she was too tired and exhausted by the previous night's event. She needed sleep before thinking about anything else.

'And what about college?'; Robert interrupted, trying to change the subject. 'The plans to unmask the secrets of the universe. Are those gone?'

'No! No way!'; she protested. 'But what plans?'; Nona asked, changing her tone.

'Pretty boy here can hear numbers.'; Robert said sarcastically.

'How? Synesthetic associations?'; she asked Robert.

'No, not really. What I hear actually makes sense. Or at least most of it. Like, I've got a number 6. It sounds like six. This is an awful example that doesn't really apply. But let's work with it, yes, it does sound like six.'; explained Eske, smiling. 'Like the word itself, it is associated with the sound of the letter S. Or, six times the clock ticking. But it could be four steps and two knocks. Or one laugh, two tears and a name. Those are the confusing mixing sounds.'; Eske described as though explaining to a child.

'That sounds pretty much as synesthetic to me.'; she said, looking up at him.

'Yes, I know. But the numbers in this time are different from my time. My time, the numbers were more like whispering, and suddenly could scream. Here, in general, the numbers are talking, like we are now. Just chatting. But Robert's numbers sound like a cello. So that is why I know he is not from this time, nor mine, nor yours.'

'You don't hear numbers, but actually time?'; Nona asked, looking at Eske.

'I don't think it is only time. I'm pretty sure I hear a map of everything. Including a map of time, but I can't draw it yet, because I lack the knowledge to draw the question. The equation that would lead to the solution I already know. And it is like it is on the tip of my tongue, but something is missing.'; he said while scratching his tattooed forearm.

'Are you sure?'; Nona asked, surprised.

'Yes. There isn't any doubt about it. I've spent years learning and understanding the patterns of these noises until now.' Eske said.

'I don't know if I'm understanding.'; Nona muttered. 'If you're saying you can hear time as a map, does that mean...' she began.

'Time is like a river, flowing along its course.'; he finished.

'And pretty boy is listening to the flow.'; Robert said, interrupting again.

'Yes. That's pretty much it.'

'What he is missing is to build us a gyroscope, so we don't get lost in the sea.'; said Robert, starting to set the table for three.

'Travel time without getting lost. But how would it look it? A compass? A drawing map? I mean, how do you map something infinite?'; she asked.

'We'll find out soon enough.'; Robert laughed. 'If Eske decides to study, instead of..., of..., well, you know.'; he pointed at Nona from head to toe.

'Is not an instrument, is an equation that must fit all these maps, coordination, code combination in one single equation.'; Esked explained.

'You should go to school.'; Nona said. 'To learn maths properly.'; she added, nodding towards Roberts. 'What can I do to help?'

Eske looked at her seriously and said: 'Don't worry about me. You have your own problems, you know.'; he smiled sadly. 'Now let's eat dinner.'

'Oh, Nona, you might want to dress something more..., how can I put it, comfortable.'; Robert looked down at her. 'Pretty boy is already drooling himself.'

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[https://i.postimg.cc/6q9LFb4w/The-Girl-who-could-taste-time-2.gif]