Better Off With Whom?

Chapter-1: HESITANCE

It was a Friday night. Evelyn was sitting by the window of the living room in her apartment looking outside. And suddenly some unwanted thoughts had flushed in her memory. The thoughts she wanted to stay away from. The thoughts that would depress her. The thoughts that would open up her half dressed wounds and take her back to the past she would not like to live again. She felt so tired and exasperated that even when everything was going swiftly, those thoughts would not leave her side. That bastard's thoughts. She is often consumed in such thoughts that now she has learnt how to ignore them. But sometimes, they return with such great power that they cannot be ignored.

It's almost a whole year since the day her ex partner broke up with her, making her dodge a bullet and how she still thanks God for that, only she is aware of it. But this approach to that situation had not been established in her mindset at that time. That guy made her shed tears, sob her eyes out till they were swollen and her cheeks and nose had rushed blood in them making her face red and puffed up.

This was all because he was so unsatisfied with the love and care he received from one girl, that he had to use another to fulfill his desires of being loved. He had to cheat! He had to lie! He made sure that she loved him way more than he did to use her and take advantage of her emotions. And she, blinded by affection and love, let him do that.

While Evelyn was so consumed in these thoughts, the doorbell rang. It interrupted her personal space and was disturbed by a soft brush on her leg. It was Sushi attempting to grab her attention to make her human understand that someone has come to their house. Finally, she regained her consciousness and ran to the door and peeped through the peephole, it was Gabriel, Evelyn's best friend since childhood.

She opened up the door and Sushi ran away from there and sat beside the couch staying hidden as she wasn't so fond of Gabriel while Evelyn asked him to come in, he entered scolding her for not opening the door sooner because he was almost freezing to death outside. He said that he also got pizza for dinner.

Evelyn heated the pizza which had gotten cold and got soft drinks to drink alongside. They sat on the floor with the couch right behind them and watched Evelyn's favourite show that had dropped its new episode on television.

Gabriel was not fond of romantic dramas but for Evelyn's sake he had gotten used to the cheesiness. While Evelyn watched the episode, he glanced at her from time to time admiring her. He feels somewhat helpless that he likes his best friend. He likes her since they were in school aged about 13 years. He has liked her for 7 years now. And as much as he wants to tell her, he feels that it is best to keep it a secret from her. He is afraid of getting his deep yet hopeless and stupid feelings in the way of their perfect friendship.

While Gabriel had zoned into his thoughts, the episode had ended and suddenly Evelyn screamed looking outside the window in awe. Sushi jumped frightened by her mother's action. Gabriel was unaware of what made her shout this loudly.

Evelyn reached the window and pointed outside for Gabriel to look at the snowfall. Gabriel looked outside and glanced at Evelyn jumping in happiness and excitement. Her smile made his heart full. He felt so satisfied seeing her dance out of joy. And then, Evelyn insisted that they go outside the building and enjoy the snow fall. Gabriel hates the cold. He contemplated a bit but then agreed for her happiness. They went out and played in the snow.

After returning, they cleaned up and like every Friday, started to watch a movie. It had become a ritual of "Friday Nights, Movie Nights" as they were usually free from University on the weekend. They were halfway through the movie and the power cut off suddenly which ruined their mood. Evelyn went and got a charged lamp from her room and put it near them. They were surrounded by silence when Evelyn sighed. Her sigh represented her annoyance and agitation towards something frustrating going on in her mind.

Gabriel asked her, "What is wrong? Are you alright?",  Evelyn nodded but then opened up and told him that before his arrival tonight, she had been feeling quite low as the thought of her ex boyfriend was consuming her mind. She admitted she felt a bit hesitant to think about him but not because if she thought about him, she would want him again, but his thought would rather make her feel unjustified and insignificant.

Gabriel listened to her calmly while his thoughts raged as he wanted to beat up that guy because of whom Evelyn felt the way she did. He didn't let Evelyn utter a word more to this conversation and said..
"Hey! You are absolutely worth every second. Anyone who gets to spend time with you should consider themselves to be lucky. You are talented, beautiful, the most generous and kind hearted person I have ever met in my life. He was a Bastard, he was the one who was at loss, NOT YOU. You are amazing and exceptional, while in my eyes, he's always been a loser who can't stand by his words. I don't even know how you liked that douchebag anyways. And if I ever hear you say and think so low of yourself I might have to give a good beating! You understand that?".

Evelyn felt considered and a sudden emotion rushed in her. She felt lucky to have Gabriel by her side and said,
"You do know how to make a girl feel happy. Don't you? I am sure any girl who will be with you would be the luckiest on this planet."

Gabriel gave her a smile and said in a teasing manner, "Okay then, how about you try me?"

Evelyn got flustered hearing his words  "Y-Yeah, sure!" She definitely stuttered while uttering those words but played it cool and laughed it off.

Suddenly the lights turned on and the movie had resumed with a high frequency of voice. All three of them, Evelyn, Sushi and Gabriel got scared and Sushi ran towards Evelyn for safety. Gabriel and Evelyn laughed and they continued watching the movie.

It was almost 12 in the midnight when the movie ended, Evelyn turned off the television, petted Sushi and asked Gabriel if he wanted to go home or stay the night at her apartment so she knew if she should make his bed or not. But, he did not respond. Evelyn glanced at him and found him asleep like a little baby sleeping, leaning against the couch. Looking at his cute and innocent face, his fair and poreless skin and perfect facial features, Evelyn found herself a bit captivated by him. She stared at him for a minute. Suddenly he slightly opened his eyes. Since he was half asleep, he didn't pay attention to the minor detail as it didn't even take Evelyn two seconds to shift her gaze and change her body's direction away from him.

Finally overcoming her awkwardness, she gently patted on his shoulder and woke him up and asked him to go sleep in her bedroom. He asked her in a sleepy voice about where she would sleep.

"Don't worry about me, I'll sleep in the other room or maybe here on the couch. You go and sleep.", she said.

He was still partially in his sleep and nodded in response. He made his way to her bedroom and fell on the bed and dozed off to sleep as if he was drunk and fainted due to unconsciousness.