The Flower You Didn't See | Mystery

Chapter 13

Ruby should have known how possessive Lee was about his things. At least she should have considered that he would not be happy if someone asks him to use his favorite object as soon as he gets it all new. This just proved Sara's statement about how less Ruby knew about her boyfriend.

"Redo the assignment Ms. Rose. This is not the essay I'd expect from a student at your level. This isn't school. You may have been a top student in the past. But all students in this class have been at the top at their respective schools. You need to up your skills or I promise you, I will not letto you in my class next semester," Sloan said, holding a pen in one hand, her essay in the other, as he peered at her above his glasses. Ruby felt her legs would give away any second as all eyes in the room were upon her.

"Sorry sir," she mumbled and collected her paper before she walked out of the lecture hall.

"I should have never taken up this stream," Ruby complained to Lee later. She sat next to Lee, pouting. Opposite her, Sara sat watching her, with one leg over the other. Laksh sat on Ruby's other side listening carefully.

"Why did you exactly?" asked Laksh trying to pay attention. "Because it earns well and..." she trailed off.

"And because your dad wanted you to take it?" asked Sara.

Ruby's face fell. She checked her phone when it had chimed and then put it away. Turning to Lee who had been quiet throughout her sad recitation and was looking away at a distance.

After that weekend, Ruby had been trying hard to get Lee's attention. She wanted him to go back to his romantic self and treat her like a special girl like he used to. She wanted him to walk on campus with her and show her off like a priced possession. For this, she had tried buying him things which he would take but it would not make a difference in his demeanor. She tried to plan special dates which he had refused to go to. Nothing she did was improving his mood. He would sit with her but his silence constantly reminded her that one innocent sentence she had accidentally blurted out. According to Sara, Ruby still had a lot to learn about Lee.

Ruby watched him for a few seconds and said, "Lee, you have been awfully quiet. What's wrong?" Ruby's stupid question made Lee scoff.

"Nothing," he shook his head and pursed his lips. Lee has been acting distant to Ruby ever since that weekend, and it was fairly obvious why.

"Are you still upset that I asked you about the guitar?" Ruby asked another stupid question. Lee turned to her and said, "I'm not upset you asked me about my guitar. I love when people ask me about my guitar. But any guitar owner wouldn't let an amateur touch his precious possession. But you would not know. You neither have a talent in music nor the capability to take any decision on your own."

Ruby sat dumbstruck as his pointed finger, that had risen while he spoke angrily, and his eyes that glared at her, seemed to pierce through her. She should have known how to approach him, since she proclaims to be his girlfriend and all. But being an obvious amateur in relationships as well, she didn't. Sara was right, Ruby was still a baby that needed guidance.

"You sure exploded," Sara commented on Lee's behavior.

Immediately, Lee got to his feet, grabbed his bag, and stormed off. After a delay of a few seconds, where Ruby sat thinking what to do, she grabbed her own bag and ran after him. Sara clicked her tongue and said, "Always looking for approval."

"You know, she is rather different from what I initially thought," commented Laksh.

By evening though, it seemed Lee and Ruby had some how made up. Sara could vaguely guess how. Honestly, she had no idea what more could have happened. She found Lee playing his guitar for Ruby as they sat on the park benches on campus, under the trees. Lee was obviously happy with all the attention and admiration while Ruby was watching him dreamily as she placed a strand of her hair behind her ear. Sara almost gagged. Laksh was sitting with them, though busy on her phone.