Ch 10: Teach Him a Lesson

Alice examined Grace intently and said, "What's the matter, Grace? Your hair is all tangled, as if someone pulled it."

Grace smiled. "I didn't brush it properly today."

"But you did brush it right in front of me," Alice said, her tone full of certainty.

"Not like I usually do," Grace replied.

"Your face is also red. Where did you go?"

"I was just out in the sun."

"Were you up on the roof?" Alice asked.

"Did you call me?" Grace asked back.

"Did it seem like it?"

"No," Grace shook her head in denial. "Why are you worrying about such things? Come, let me massage your head with some oil." Grace offered as she moved closer, her anklet jingling with each step. Alice glanced down at her feet.

"The anklet looks nice. You should wear it more often," Alice remarked.

"Alright, I'll never take it off now," Grace smiled.

Alice turned to look out the window again. Grace stood behind her, watching her. The room fell into silence, which Grace eventually broke.

"What are you looking at?"

Alice started and turned to her. "Look there."

Grace moved closer to the window, peering over Alice's shoulders.

Across the street, Ethan was standing. He was repeatedly glancing towards the house, unaware that Alice's room was upstairs, and she was watching him through the tinted glass of the window.

"Who is that?" Grace asked.

"It's him," Alice replied.

"Him who?" Grace asked, looking at her.

"My admirer," Alice smiled.

"Ethan?" Grace blurted out.

Alice looked at her in surprise, staring into her eyes. "Did I tell you his name?"

"You must have mentioned it, so that's how I knew," Grace quickly said.

"I don't think I told you his name," Alice said.

"Then maybe I'm a fortune-teller," Grace chuckled softly, trying to brush it off.

Alice thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Well, this is Ethan. He's bold enough to come to my doorstep."

"Someone who didn't care about anything to express his feelings wouldn't find it hard to reach your door," Grace remarked.

Alice looked at Ethan once more, closed the window, and walked over to her bed, her voice turning venomous as she said, "I don't like him. A man who doesn't have anything of his own, I'll teach him such a lesson that he won't even be able to stand in front of my door."

Grace smiled meaningfully at Alice's words.

The next morning, as Alice got out of her car and was heading towards the college gate, Ethan suddenly appeared in front of her. Alice stopped abruptly and then quickly composed herself with a smile.

"You almost scared me."

"It wasn't my intention to scare you. I've been waiting for you for a long time," Ethan said, his face serious. Alice glanced at her watch.

"I wanted to meet you too, but now isn't a good time. My class is about to start."

"Just a few minutes?" Ethan pleaded.

"It's not possible. My first class is about to begin," Alice said, looking at him.

"Skip the first class today. I need to talk to you," Ethan insisted.

"I'm telling you to stop this madness right now. Let's meet at two o'clock, at the same restaurant," Alice said with a casual smile. She was irritated by Ethan's persistence, but she didn't want to show it just yet. She had something else in mind.

"I'm desperate to talk to you," Ethan said.

"I said two o'clock, at the same place," Alice said softly, flashing him a smile before walking towards the college gate. Ethan stood there, watching her go.

He checked his watch, feeling frustrated, and then walked towards his bike. It was going to be a long wait, and the hours felt endless. Ethan was so consumed with his love for Alice that he could hardly think of anything else. He was restless, his thoughts constantly revolving around her.

Ethan went to his factory but couldn't focus on his work. He kept glancing at his watch, just waiting for two o'clock. His mind was lost in thoughts of Alice.

At a quarter to two, Ethan was already at the restaurant, his eyes repeatedly darting to the entrance. The wait was torturous. He had come up with an excuse to leave work early, arriving even before two, and now he was counting down the minutes, shifting restlessly in his seat. At exactly twenty minutes past two, Alice entered the restaurant, and Ethan felt a wave of relief wash over him. He stood up immediately as she approached.

"I hope I'm not too late?" Alice asked.

"No," Ethan quickly shook his head.

"I said two, and it's past that. Yet you say I'm not late?" Alice said, scrutinizing his face.

"A little delay is okay," Ethan said. "I'm just happy you came."

"I said I would, so I did," Alice replied, and they both sat down facing each other.

"What would you like to eat?" Ethan asked.

"Nothing."

"I'll order your favorite juice," Ethan said and signaled the waiter. As soon as the waiter arrived, he ordered two glasses of the juice that Alice had ordered the other day.

"You drank a different juice that day," Alice said with a smile.

"My favorite is whatever you like," Ethan replied.

Ethan fell silent, staring at her, waiting for her to speak. Alice, meanwhile, was gazing at a beautiful painting on the right-hand wall. When the silence between them became too heavy, Ethan said, "Why don't you say something?"

Alice started at him. "What should I say?"

"I told you something the other day," Ethan said.

"Yes... I remember," Alice replied.

Just then, the waiter arrived and placed the glasses of juice before them, then quietly left.

"So then...?" Ethan asked as soon as the waiter was gone.

After a few moments of silence, Alice picked up her glass, took a couple of sips, and said, "I haven't made a decision yet."

"Haven't made a decision yet?" Ethan looked at her in disbelief.

"Yes, that's what I said," Alice replied calmly, taking another sip of her juice. She clearly enjoyed the taste.

"I was sure that today you'd tell me your decision," Ethan said, growing restless.

"What's the rush?"

"You have no idea what I'm going through. Every moment, every second, I'm thinking about you. I've gone mad with thoughts of you," Ethan said, his gaze fixed on her face.

"I don't rush into decisions," Alice said, calmly sipping her juice. Ethan watched her, feeling more anxious. After taking another sip, Alice placed the glass down and said, "Give me three days. I'll let you know my decision then."

"What decision?"

"The decision I'll make."

"Even after seeing my feelings, my madness, you still need to decide?" Ethan asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

"Look, that's your madness. Those are your feelings. Shouldn't my heart have a say in this too?" Alice replied.

"Please… don't make a decision that will take my life," Ethan pleaded, leaning closer to her, his body slightly hunched over.

"Whatever happens will be for the best," Alice said as she finished her juice. She had an urge to smash the empty glass over Ethan's head or to break it and use the shards to cut his throat. But instead, she swallowed all her anger with the last sip of her juice. Alice's anger was fierce, but she knew well how and when to express it.

"You're my obsession," Ethan said, looking deeply into her eyes.

Alice stood up from her seat. "Burn in this fire of obsession for two more days. After that, we'll meet here again... with some good news." With that, Alice flashed him a final smile, turned, and walked away.

Ethan felt that Alice had given him a positive hint about her decision. Surely, she had said something hopeful before leaving, and in two days, she would make it clear.

He was relieved, the despair on his face fading away. Otherwise, hidden under his jacket, pressed against his ribs, was a pistol he had brought with him, intending to use it to put a bullet in her skull if she had rejected him.