SIEGE

Chapter 3. Let her go

Authors note: Please keep in mind that these songs are songs proposed for each chapter, and you could play them while reading. I love background music when I read. So I thought why not?
————————————————————
I roll on the bed, placing my hand on different spots, trying to feel my phone but I don't seem to find it. I sit up and look over at my nightstand and find my phone barely charging. It already feels like this will be a terrible Saturday.
I mean I have nothing interesting planned today, just to see Ethan who is not my favorite ex by the way. Every time I look at him, all I can see is the pain and emotional trauma he caused me during the time we were together. It's just lunch.
I'm clearly doing this only because my counselor advised me to.
It's just going to be lunch, maybe a walk around the park, but nothing out of the ordinary. It's not a date or something, we are just meeting up, to try this friendship thing I guess.
I love Saturdays because I can sleep in, and stay in my pajamas for hours.
I plug my phones charger again, and head to my bookshelf to get something to read. This has become a habit. I wake up and read for about an hour or so before I start my daily activities. Reading is like coffee to me. Just a few chapters and everything is good again.
I run my hands through the books on my shelf, I just finished Beloved by Toni Morrison last night. I stop at white teeth by Zadie Smith, seems interesting. Ethan had always told me to read this book during the few moments when we were not arguing.
Bzzzzzz. My phones screen lights up, and it's Ethan. Talk of the devil. "Hi Ethan, you don't need to remind me. I'll come this time around don't you worry," Ethan had tried to reach out at least 4 times the previous week but I kept giving excuses.
When he asked me last night, I had run out of excuses and just decided to accept his invitation. It wouldn't hurt to see him again after a year. I can't believe it's been a whole year since the breakup. It still feels like it happened yesterday. "I'm actually calling to cancel, I'm at the hospital, was informed my mum got involved in an accident".
This just proves it all. I knew today is going to be a terrible day. I didn't need a bad omen to know this one."Malory are you still there?" if this was Bradley, he would bring up a joke to lighten up the mood. He always knows how to manage these awkward moments very well. So now I'm thinking about Bradley, great!
"Right here. How are you holding up?," I know he really loves his mum and this would be really hard for him. "If it won't bother you, I could pass by and check on her," Mrs. Gamba is like a mother to me.I sure do miss her given that she treats me like her daughter, and ten times better than the way my birth mother treats me.
"Okay.I'll pick you up. I'm soon leaving to have a bath and then I'm get some necessities anyways,"
******************
"Shhhhh she just fell asleep. Let's go outside and talk so we don't wake her up," as we walk out of the room, i can't help but steal a glance at Ethan. I've been here for two hours already and I hardly noticed the difference from the last time I saw him.
He has a white dress shirt on with khakis and it just fits perfectly displaying his muscles. He has a slight, angular build and kind eyes that make his angular features seem rounder.
"I'm really sorry this happened to her. She'll be okay, she's strong and amazing," i've never really known what to say or do in this type of situation. Yes, it was terrible when my dad died, but then, I was the one being consoled and not the other way round.
Man I miss him!
As I sit down on the chair when we find a good spot to sit and converse, Ethan takes my hand in his.
"Is there ever going to be another chance for us again? When I saw my mum on that bed, the only thing I could think about is how life is short, and I want to spend the rest of mine with you," he says.
I'm not hearing this right am I? Sure sounds like a proposal. Where did the oxygen go? Deep breathes Mal. Breathe in... breathe out.
"Hmh," I clear my throat, just to make sure my squeaky voice doesn't fail me when I need it most. "I don't think that's a good idea, one we are good as friends, but terrible as a couple. Instead of building each other like it's done in most relationships, all we do is break each other," and honestly you are just too toxic and uptight for me. Exactly what I don't need for the rest of my life. But if I do accept this, I will be happy for a very long time, and I will be able to take Natalie from her dad and she can come live with me. Us.
"You always said you don't want to be normal. Normal is boring. Normal isn't you. We just need time to get past this phase," he insists with a smug smile on his face. I can't help but roll my eyes.
Oh did I forget to say he is very manipulative. This is just typical of Ethan. He looks for a pitiful situation and play pity party just so he can get what he wants. I should have seen this, I should have known he'll do something like this.
"I'm in a relationship, and my boyfriend is waiting for me as we speak. All I wanted was to see Mrs. Gamba to be sure she's okay." His smile immediately fades. That's more like it. That was easier than I thought. Usually when he does something like this, we'll go on and on until he has his way.
"At least let me drop you off at his place," he demands. I raise my eyebrow, wondering what he's playing at. "Just to thank you for coming to see my mum. If I'm being honest, i didn't think you'd come,"
As we walk towards his SUV, I notice he is agitated. I guess he really did love me. I just wish I could love him as much. I give Ethan the address and get into the passengers side.
The ride to my "boyfriends apartment" as I'd call it is silent. But the silence it not peaceful, it's rather very awkward.
Ethan manages to convince me to let him walk me to the apartment, saying he just wants to make sure I'm safe before he leaves.
Once we reach the apartment door, I ring the bell, and the door opens after the second ring.
Bradley stands by the door, in just his inner wear and hoodie trousers. When he notices Ethan standing by me, he gives me a questioning look. I move over to Ethan and give him a kiss on his left cheek.
"Hey baby, this is Ethan, Ethan,meet my boyfriend Bradley," I say and they shake hands with Ethan sending piercing looks towards Bradley. I think he is trying to intimidate Bradley, which is rather funny because Bradley isn't the least affected.
"Ethan was just leaving. He offered to drop me off. Talk to you later Ethan."
I close the door immediately and take off my shoes, heading to the kitchen to get some water to drink. I have been here so many times that I know where almost everything is located. It already feels like home to me.
"Boyfriend huh," I hear Bradley from the living room. I knew he'll not let this go. He'll just keep bringing it up so he can make fun of me.
"I love your game, but can we play mine now?" He questions.
I notice he's watching a movie, so I decide to join him on the couch. "And what's your game?" I ask hoping it's not one of these weird truth or dare games, i'm not even in the mood for any of that.
"We'll tell each other ten things we love about each other. In order to be fair, i'll start. When I say one, you say another".
This is the last thing I was expecting. I'm not going to play this game. I'm just going to pretend I have something to do, and I leave. As I stand up, he grabs me by the wrist and pulls me to the chair.
He's now on top of me, his face is just a few inches away from mine. "You used me to get away from your ex, you can't get away with that missy," he leans down till I can feel his lips just beside my ear, "tell me baby, what do you love about me?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tell me what you think about this chapter. I hope you love it. VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE.