Falling Into His Trap

Meliza's POV

"You don't need to work right away, Iza," Nina said with concern after I was discharged.

"Miss Nina, I got clearance from my doctor. I am now fit to work. Thank God I didn't injure myself badly." I responded.

"Yeah, thanks to Ethan. You didn't injure badly from your fall, but that snake could kill you. It was King Cobra, and I wondered why there was a Cobra in the plantation." She responded, and my entire body felt so cold.

"There was never a sighting of King Cobra around this farm." She added.

"Anyway, I am so glad you are fine. Meliza, you make me so worried." My manager continued.

"Thank you so much for not informing my mother. I will be in big trouble if she finds out." I responded.

"I know; she could have sued us. Your mother could be so difficult." She replied, and I agreed with her.

"Meliza, I knew you didn't like Ethan, but he is not a bad person, my dear. He saved you, and I didn't expect him to be the one who saved you. His father would be proud of him if he learned about his heroic deed." Nina added that I wanted to ask her about Ethan's family, but I didn't want to give my manager the wrong impression.

"Give the young man a chance, Iza." She continued, and I creased my forehead as I looked at her.

"He was sorry and begged me to help him. I had never seen Ethan so desperate to know someone, and this was the first time he had acted that way." Nina declared as if she had known him for a long time.

At lunchtime, I went straight to the dining hall even if I didn't want to join them. I could hear the noise coming from the dining room, and I suddenly felt nervous. I am unsure who Karen's accomplices are, and I am worried about my safety, but I didn't tell Nina about it since I had already caused enough trouble.

I was shocked when they all fell silent after I got inside. I quickly sat on my regular seat beside Ruby, and I was waiting for their snarky remarks, but they didn't happen. I slowly raised my head, and my heart raced as I found Ethan looking at me with a smile on his handsome face.

"Welcome back, Iza. I am happy to see you," he said without taking his eyes away from me, and I could tell all sets of eyes were on me.

"Thank you, Ethan," I replied, quickly averting his gaze and fixed my gaze on the food. I could feel the loud pounding of my heart against my chest, and I almost choked when he offered me the mixed fresh vegetable platter.

"I heard you love vegetables." He said it would be rude if I did not look at him.

"Thanks," I mumbled as I took the platter tray from his hand and took a portion for myself.

"What are you looking at?" Ethan asked the other part-timers.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nicole and Crystal whispering to each other, but I hadn't heard them insult me the way they used to, and I wondered what they were scheming at the moment.

I left the dining hall with a smile on my face. It was the first time I hadn't heard anyone saying bad things about me, especially Nicole and her friends. I hate to admit this became possible because of Ethan.

I stayed in the office for the rest of the afternoon since Nina asked me to make a PowerPoint for her monthly report. And I knew it was only an excuse so I would not go to the plantation.

"Can you tell me what is happening between you and Ethan?" Ruby asked, grinning the moment we were alone in my room after our work for the day was done.

"I don't know what you were talking about, Rubs; there is nothing going on between Ethan and me. I told him in the hospital that we would be civil towards each other since we can't be friends." I responded, evading her doubtful look.

"Well, I think he is the type of person who won't give up easily." My best friend replied as I stood up.

I walked towards my window and looked over the horizon. The sky was a canvas of fire and silk, painted with hues that defied description. Streaks of vibrant orange melted into soft pinks while deep purples crept in from the horizon as the sun hung low. Its golden orb dipped into the earth as if reluctant to leave, casting long shadows and bathing everything in a warm, golden glow.

"The more we can't be friends and stop your fantasy because he is not my type," I replied after a moment of silence, still looking at the horizon dreamingly, hoping things were different.

"Are you sure about that?" She asked as she stood beside me, looking up at the sky. I slowly turned my head and looked at her.

"I am sure about how I feel, Ruby; besides, I didn't come back here at the farm to have a love life," I responded.

"Ethan seemed nice; maybe there was a reason why he acted like a jerk toward you after he first met you, but everything changed after he saved you. I could tell something is about to happen soon." She said excitedly, and I shrugged my shoulders since I didn't know what to say anymore.

"He likes you, Iza," she added, and I widened my eyes at her.

"Stop it. I will ensure he does not get close to me and avoid him at all costs." I responded, and she fell silent.

After a while, Ruby said, "I will be back later and fetch you before dinner. "

"I don't feel like eating dinner," I softly mumbled.

"Nina would be worried if you didn't show up at the dining room. You don't like to join us when Nicole and her friends make fun of you, but Ethan warned them never to bother you again." She declared, and my eyes turned so big.

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"Before you arrived during lunch, Ethan made a long speech, and he put them in their places, and I could tell every girl on the farm was now crushing on him. He was hot and handsome, and after he rescued you, they all got crazy about him." She said with a wide smile on her face.

"If you could only see the look on Nicole's face, you would be laughing by now," Ruby added. And she told me everything that happened, and it made me speechless.

"The bitch finally met her match and found someone who would tame her. Nicole got it bad; she confessed to Ethan, and he rejected her right away in front of everyone. She thought Ethan was crazy about her." My friend said.

I couldn't believe Nicole would do something like that because she thinks too highly of herself. I hated her for treating me like trash for so many years, but I didn't like that Ethan was doing all that for me.

"If you have nothing good to say, you better shut your mouth, or I will be your enemy. From now on, I don't want to hear anything bad about anyone, and you better stop circulating gossip. It is not good to ruin someone's reputation just to have fun." I heard Ethan's voice as we entered the dining hall, and everyone was quiet as they focused their attention on their food.

"Hi, Iza!" Ethan said that as he noticed me standing near the door and pulled out the dining chair for me.

"Thanks," I responded before I sat down.

He helped me get the platter of food, and I wished to tell him to stop what he was doing, but I couldn't say it in front of everyone, and I had to talk with him even if the last thing I wanted was to be alone with him.

He sat across from me, and I felt conscious the entire duration of our meal. Ethan's intense gaze penetrated my core, and I could feel the butterflies in my stomach every time he smiled at me.

I got the same special treatment from Ethan, and I wondered why Nina was smiling the whole dinner as if she was enjoying the show while I felt uncomfortable. Ruby was right; Nicole and Crystal were quiet the whole time.

I left the dining hall in a hurry and walked straight into my room after I had eaten dinner. I locked the door and collapsed into my bed.

"Get a grip, Iza," I mumbled to myself. I sat up when I heard a soft knock on my door.

"Hi, Vince," I said.

"Hi, Meliza! I hope I didn't disturb you," he responded.

"It is okay. I was only reading," I lied. I couldn't tell him I was thinking about Ethan.

"Can we talk?" He asked, and I hesitated.

"Vince, I am sorry, but I don't think this is the right time to talk," I responded.

"Okay, I understand. I apologize for being insensitive; you are still recovering from your injury, and here I am asking you for a date. Maybe within this week after work? Don't worry, I will tell Nina I will take you out on a date." He said, and I fell silent.

"Don't worry; it would be a friendly date, Iza, " he added with concern.

"Maybe this Saturday," he continued.

"I am sorry, Vince. I don't think I can go out on a date with you." I finally said it, and my heart ached as his expression faltered. He was good and kind, everything someone would dream of, and yet, I couldn't give him what he deserved, especially now that I knew how much Ruby liked him.

"It's okay; I understand. Thank you, Iza, for talking to me," he responded, trying to mask his sadness with a smile.

Even after Vince walked away, his kindness lingered in my mind, making me question if I had made the right decision. But deep down, I knew the truth; it wouldn't have been fair to him. The guilt clung to me like a shadow, but no matter how good he was, I couldn't give him what wasn't in my heart.

"Iza, wait!" I heard Ethan's voice behind me after I finished my rounds, and I walked faster, pretending I didn't hear him. He was fast and was able to catch up with me instantly. I had been avoiding him since I got discharged from the hospital.

"What do you want?" I asked with irritation before I turned around without realizing he was standing so close to me that his muscular frame pressed against mine, and he needed to put his arms around my waist to steady me.

Time stood still as we faced each other, and I hated my body for betraying me. I love the feeling of being near him. I quickly moved away from him after I realized it was wrong to be near him and smell his intoxicating scent.

"I just want to ask you out this Saturday," he said.

"I am sorry, but I already said yes to Vince. He asked me out." I lied.

He forced a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He was trying to hide his dismay as his jaw tightened subtly, and I could see the effort it took to smooth over his disappointment.

"I see, but he is not your boyfriend yet, right?" He asked. His eyes glistened with hope, and it took a lot of self-control not to look. He looked so boyish, and I couldn't believe his arrogance was gone, and I wondered what he was up to.

"My personal life has nothing to do with you," I replied. I turned my heels and walked away from him, but he continued to walk behind me without saying anything.

"Stop following me," I complained as I increased my pace.

"I am not following you, Meliza. I am on my way to the dining hall, too," he replied, keeping up with my pacing and walking beside me. I wished Ethan would stop being nice to me, or else I would fall into his trap.