beyond the veil

chapter 4

Neon sat across from Ethan at the quaint cafe, her nerves on edge as she braced herself for what she anticipated would be a long and trying evening. Lily had insisted that she go on a date with Ethan, her boyfriend's friend, promising that he was a "great guy." But as Neon observed him, she couldn't help but feel a sinking dread settle in the pit of her stomach.

Ethan lounged back in his chair, a self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he regaled Neon with tales of his latest conquests and adventures. He spoke with an air of superiority, his words dripping with arrogance as he boasted about his accomplishments and charms.

"...And then I told her, 'Sweetheart, if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best'," Ethan boasted, a smug grin playing on his lips as he recounted his latest conquest.

Neon forced a polite smile, nodding along as she struggled to maintain her composure. Every word out of Ethan's mouth grated on her nerves, his arrogance like a sharp knife slicing through the air.

"I see," Neon replied, her tone polite but distant. "That must have been quite the experience."

Ethan chuckled, his gaze flickering over Neon with a hint of appraisal. "So, Neon, tell me about yourself. What do you do when you're not saving lives at the hospital?"

Neon hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the sudden interest in her life. "Oh, well, I enjoy reading and spending time with friends," she replied, keeping her answer vague.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes scanning the room with a casual indifference. "Sounds boring," he remarked offhandedly. "You should try living a little, Neon. Life's too short to waste on mundane activities."

Neon bristled at his dismissive tone, her patience wearing thin with each passing moment. "I happen to find meaning in the work I do," she retorted, her voice tinged with frustration. "Not everyone measures their worth by the number of notches on their bedpost."

Ethan's smirk faltered, replaced by a flash of annoyance. "Touché, Neon," he replied, his tone dripping with condescension. "But let's not pretend you're not intrigued by me. I can see it in your eyes."I am Irresistible, right?"

Neon forced a polite smile, her discomfort growing with each passing moment. "Um, you certainly seem confident," she replied, her voice laced with thinly veiled skepticism.

Ethan chuckled, seemingly unfazed by Neon's lackluster response. "Confidence is my middle name, sweetheart," he quipped, reaching across the table to brush his fingers against her hand.

Neon recoiled instinctively, pulling her hand away with a subtle shake of her head. "I-I'm not really comfortable with that," she stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Ethan's smirk faltered for a brief moment before returning in full force. "Come on, don't be such a prude," he chided, his tone dripping with condescension. "You're too uptight, Neon. Loosen up a little."

Neon bristled at his dismissive tone, her patience wearing thin. "I'm not uptight," she retorted, her voice tinged with frustration. "I just prefer to have meaningful conversations instead of... whatever this is."

Ethan's laughter echoed through the restaurant, drawing the attention of nearby diners. "Meaningful conversations? How quaint," he sneered, his gaze narrowing on Neon with a hint of disdain. "You're such a bore, Neon. No wonder you're still single."

The sting of his words cut deep, but Neon refused to let him see her falter. "I'd rather be single than waste my time with someone like you," she shot back, her tone icy with resolve.

The rest of the evening passed in tense silence, each moment dragging on like an eternity for Neon. By the time the date finally came to an end, she couldn't suppress the overwhelming sense of relief that washed over her.

As she bid Ethan a curt farewell and made her way back to her apartment, Neon couldn't help but feel a sense of clarity wash over her. She may not have found the answers she sought, but she knew one thing for certain—she deserved someone who saw her for who she truly was, not just a conquest to be won. And Ethan was definitely not that someone.