THE ETERNAL FIRE

CHAPTER 11

Alina had just returned home. She had gone to deliver Ben's empty watch. Because they wouldn't see each other tonight.
Today was the day for the meeting with the man she met at the masquerade ball.
The doorbell rang.
Alina was already standing by the door.
Maxim Jonas appeared with a bouquet of roses.
"Anita told me that your favorite flowers are roses... She just didn't know what color to tell me, so I bought them in all colors." - his prosthesis on his teeth gleamed.
"You shouldn't have bothered... Thank you very much." - she invited him in and took the bouquet. She smiled bitterly when she saw a red rose in it. She gently took it out and handed it to him.
"I'll take all of them, except this one. They are beautiful. Thank you again."
He was a little confused.
"Why did you take out the red one, don't you like that color?"
"Come, let's sit down." - they sat down.
Alina took out all the roses from the bouquet and arranged them one by one on the table.
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
Maxim blushed and shook his head immediately.
"But you must have a crush." - Alina smiled sweetly.
"I do, I really like a girl."
"Look at him, blushing!" - she started laughing. "Are you ashamed of me? Aren't we brother and sister?"
He wiped off the smile.
"Give her the red rose. To the girl you like."
"I don't understand." - he frowned.
"Like this..." - Alina began, taking the yellow rose.
"A symbol of friendship."
She took the pink one next.
"Elegance..."
Then the white one.
"Spirituality..."
Orange.
"Enthusiasm..."
She left it. She reached the last rose. The red one... She took it.
"The red one is a symbol of..." - as if the words got stuck in her throat.
"Of..."
Mrs. Bianca entered the room.
"Come on, kids, dinner is ready."
"We'll continue later." – Alina felt a relief.

…
"Alina..." - Maxim called out. "Alina!"
Alina was startled and looked up.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought."
"I told you to pass me the salt."
Alina's entire family was seated at the table.
"Here you go." - she took the salt and handed it to him.
"Have you heard about the masked girl..."
Alina dropped the saltshaker. Salt spilled all over the table.
"I'm sorry..."
"Alina, is everything okay with you?" - her cousin Anita asked.
She nodded.
"I... I thought if you want to go... To see tonight... - Maxim glanced doubtfully at Alina.
"Actually... Tonight... I have plans... Can it wait for another time?" - she started babbling.
"Masked?" - Anita asked.
"Yes! It's exciting!" - Maxim exclaimed.
"How do you know she'll show up?" - Alina tried to sound surprised.
"I... I need to use the restroom." - Maxim got up.
Some time passed.
Alina became suspicious.
"Bless you." - she left the table quietly.
Slowly, she went to her room.
She opened the door.
She saw what she had suspected... Maxim rummaging through her things.
Alina took her violin, put the mask on her face, and stood right behind him. She sharply drew the bow across the instrument.
Maxim jumped in fear.
"Do you need help?"
She stood straight and spoke sharply.
"You..." - he knelt down.
"You're using my weakness towards you against me?"
"No, no, Alina... I really didn't want to..."
She cut him off. Approached his face.
"You didn't want what?" - she interrupted him with her gaze.
He looked scared, almost as if he was about to cry.
"I beg you, take it off, Alina! I curse you, Alina!" - he turned into a little child.
"If it were someone else in your place now... Are you aware of what would happen to him?" - she looked terrifying.
"I regret it so much, Alina... Forgive me! Forgive me, please!"
Alina stood up and took off the mask.
"I forgive you."
She reached out for him to stand up. At first, he hesitated, then he took her hand.
She filled a glass with water... Then sat on the bed next to him.
"You know... I was like you before..." - Alina began calmly.
He seemed to not believe her.
"I'm telling you the truth... Prosthesis, glasses for sight... I still wear them." - she pointed to the case on the bookshelf.
"And..." - she hesitated. "I was a victim of peer violence..."
"What?" - he widened his eyes.
"I think that's enough for now... At least for now."
She got up and headed for the door.
"Why are you wearing that mask, Alina?"
Alina turned around.
"Don't ask if you're not sure you want to know."
"I'm sure. I want to know."
She sat down next to him again.
"I don't want him to have prejudices about me again."
"What are you talking about? What prejudices?"
"He's changed... I saw it... He's become a new person... Just like I have."
Silence.
"No! Don't tell me that..."
Alina nodded.
"You're in love with your abuser!" - he exclaimed and got up from the bed.
"Maxim..."
He took the red rose.
"Passion. It signifies a deadly, ridiculous passion you feel towards your enemy. The man who killed you!" - he nervously slammed the rose against the wall.
Alina angrily got up and left the house.
…