Chapter Fourteen - A Strange Jealousy

Why is fate so hell-bent on tormenting me?! Can't I have a little peace…? No, of course, that's way too much to ask!

Today is June 5, 1488—my birthday… 15 years old… Time still refuses to stop, much to my dismay, and trouble is starting to rear its ugly head! When I say trouble, I'm mostly thinking about Aleko Dragonov… The ultimate pain in the ass!

Ever since Ritana and Dimitar Romanova's wedding, Aleko has been trying even harder to piss me off! And the worst part? He's amazing at it, that bastard!

If Mama or Tatko could hear me, I think I'd be in for a serious scolding…

Anyway, the number three source of my irritation has only gotten worse since the wedding… It seems like making me explode that day truly delighted him… I still miss the times when I could walk peacefully through the village without Aleko appearing out of nowhere! No matter where I went, I could be sure Aleko wasn't far, just waiting for the perfect moment to show up and annoy me!

And no! I am NOT exaggerating!

I can't even visit Liliya at her house anymore, because Monsieur just has to tag along with us! And don't even get me started on the number of times he's crashed our outings to the lake with Natalia or even when we were alone…

Does he have a built-in radar to track me, or what?! How does he do it?! He can't possibly know where I am all the time… right? Please, someone just put me out of my misery!

But the worst part of all this? The more I see him, the more I find him attractive… And that drives me insane! I don't want to have feelings for this idiot! I want to find my Edward and be his Bella! But no! Instead, I'm stuck with this… thing that annoys me more and more every time!

You know what? I don't care about him anymore… I'm going to see Liliya, and from now on, I will completely ignore that congenital idiot! If I make it clear that he doesn't get to me, he'll eventually get bored and give up!

With this new (or rather, old) resolution in mind, I headed towards the Dragonov house… But when I finally arrived, I was immediately shocked by what I saw.

Aleko was kissing a girl…

I had seen her before in the village—she was Dimitar Romanova's younger sister. So unremarkable that I don't even remember her name… What does Aleko see in that girl? She doesn't stand out at all, not pretty, not smart, and not skilled with her hands…

And no, I'm not being bitter or unfair… Not even a little…

I have to admit, though, that for some strange reason, watching this nightmarish scene made me feel… off. In my defense, it's like Romanova is practically swallowing Aleko's face—it reminds me of a horror movie. That's all! Nothing more!

…Then why don't even I believe that?

Why does fate keep torturing me like this?! Seeing them so close together makes me want to cry, to scream, to run over and pull them apart, to walk away… But like the idiot I am, I just stood there, staring as that… girl devoured Aleko's mouth.

Rage, sadness, and disgust tightened violently around my throat… I was beyond sick of witnessing this nauseating scene…

Thankfully, the tramp and Aleko eventually had to stop for air. When Dragonov noticed me, a strange glint flashed in his eyes—so fast I couldn't tell what it meant. And honestly? I couldn't care less right now…

"Did you enjoy the view, Petrova?"

She didn't… She didn't just say that… Tell me this filthy bitch did not just say that… I'm going to kill her, this damn whore!

"I have to admit, watching you swallow Dragonov's face is more nauseating than any meal I've ever had… Romanova!"

Just as I thought—she didn't even realize I insulted her… She's a rare kind of stupid. Goes to show, that it takes all sorts to make up a world… though honestly, some specimens would be better off missing…

Not that I'm specifically talking about Romanova… That's not my style…

…Okay, fine, it totally is my style.

"Jealous, Petrova?" Aleko asks next, a smirk on his lips.

Well, he's not an idiot! Laĭna! (Shit!). Couldn't he be a little more like Romanova? That would've made my life so much easier…

"You wish! But no, you'd have to be truly stupid to be interested in you! Sure, you might be good-looking, but you're an idiot… What can I say? Looks aren't everything!"

The entire time I'm speaking, Aleko slowly steps closer… Of course, I only notice when I've finished talking…

"Oh… so you do think I'm good-looking, Petrova?"

Out of everything I just said, that's the only thing he picked up on?! I take it back! He is just as dumb as the tramp!

"You know what? Forget it, I have nothing more to say to you!"

And in moments like these? I run. So what? Who wouldn't do the same?!

Except… the moment I try to walk past him, Aleko grabs my arm and pulls me toward him, as if I weigh no more than a ragdoll.

"Oh no, Petrova! You've been running from me way too much already!"

That's not true! I don't run from you—I just put some necessary distance between your body and mine…

And then, suddenly… he leans in… and…

…He kisses me.

Wait—what the hell is he doing?!

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