Tragically Yours

| 10 |

For about 4 minutes, Ethan sat on the driver's seat without muttering a single word. This might be the longest duration of Ethan not speaking a word. As much as I want the quiet drive to the diner, there's something I have to know from him. I casually turn my head to face him, eyeing his closed-off expression. "Why are you being quiet?" He didn't say or do anything that signals me he'd acknowledged my question. Ethan has never ignored me like this, except when his mind is occupied about something. "Oh, come on, Ethan, tell me what's going on in your mind. Don't hoard all the thoughts for yourself." A hearty chuckle made its way out of my throat, but even all that, Ethan hadn't budged. Once the chuckle died down, a long sigh replaces its place. This will be a long ride—

"Is Mel seeing someone?" I'm sorry, did I hear that question from him, or is it just a figment of my imagination? After a while of not answering, to see if he'll ask me the question again. Alas, he did ask me the question, but it's with different terms. "Is Mel dating someone?"

Normally, the words "seeing" and "dating" can mean the same thing. But for Ethan's dictionary, "seeing someone" means the relationship between the two isn't serious—like no strings attached mind of relationship—meanwhile, the term "dating someone" means the relationship is serious. The fact that Ethan changed his term in the second question tells me he accidentally speaks his mind out when he asked the first question.

"I genuinely don't know if Mel is dating someone. She usually does a lot of gossip about other people, but she rarely talks about the happenings in her life." Besides, even if she's dating someone, she wouldn't have this unconditional crush towards Ethan. But Ethan doesn't have to know that now, he had to learn that by himself. When Ethan went back to being silent again, I heave out a low groan. I was hoping he'll keep up the conversation in the car, but I supposed it's my turn to continue the conversation. "Why did you ask?" This isn't considered as overstepping, right? I'm just curious on why he'd asked that question. Plus, I wouldn't force the answer out of him, this ain't a real interrogation. I'm not going to beat the shit out of him until he gave me a genuine question.

"I'm just curious..." With that three-word answer, I'm beginning to consider beating him up just to spill the actual beans. I waited another second to give him another chance to add his answer, but he fell silent once again. I begin to open my mouth to ask another question. Apparently, I wasn't fast enough to ask a question, since he'd beat me to it. "So about that book I've let you read... Did you like it enough to make an actual play out of it?"

Oh yeah, the book he'd given me to read. The book I had brought with me to give it back to him. The book in question doesn't seem to be in my hands nor remembering I've already given it back to him. "Fuck, I forgot to bring the book..." Man, this day doesn't seem to be very cooperative today.

Because of that outburst, Ethan finally gave me a quick glance before facing back to the road. "Dude, what are you talking about?"

"The book... I was supposed to give it back to you, but it seems I've forgotten it in the car." Perhaps if we drove back to the office, I'll quickly grab the book in my car and give it to him before forgetting it again. After that, I need to enhance memory as quickly as possible to avoid this same accident in the future.

"You've already given the book back to me, stop worrying." He said in a deadpan tone. Now that made me have both my eyes at him, trying to read his expression. His expression is so impassive that it's hard to distinguish if he's joking or being serious. He must have felt me staring at him, since he'd turn his head at me for a second before facing back to the road. "What? I'm being serious, Vy. You did just give back the book to me."

"But when did I bring the book back to you?" Did I accidentally step onto a wormhole where I've already given Ethan back his book?

A long sigh came out of his mouth—and probably from his ears because I can sense the frustration—he'd hit the brakes, not to startle me but to stop at the red traffic light that's in front of the car. While waiting for the red light to turn, he faces me with a serious expression. "I don't know if you're trying to do some kind of psychology trick on me in hopes to give you my actual answer to your previous question, but this is getting annoying now."