I couldn’t refuse. I went with him.
Eventually, his friends all knew me. They’d
jokingly call me his girlfriend.
“No, I’m just Ashley’s friend.”
“Don’t get the wrong idea.”
Ethan’s friends would chuckle and tease him.
“Dude, you’re slipping, your girl doesn’t even
acknowledge you.”
I was so embarrassed I wanted to run, but he
wrapped his arm around my waist, his warm
breath on my neck, and pulled me close.
“Guess I’ll just have to try harder.”
Try harder at what?
He had me completely confused, but I still
remembered Ashley’s words – don’t get too
close to him.
く
The real turning point was during my junior
year, when I joined the State Ballet and went
on tour.
I didn’t know he’d be there.
During the performance, there was an aerial
ballet sequence.
Something went wrong.
My harness snapped mid–air.
I fell.
But I didn’t feel the expected pain. I looked up
and saw Ethan’s pale face.
They rushed us to the hospital. The doctor
said he’d broken his right arm cushioning my
fall.
If he hadn’t, it might have been permanently
damaged.
I cried and cried. He used his good hand to
cup my face. “You ungrateful little thing. You
owe me your life.”
“Call me ‘Ethan‘ and see how it feels.”
After that day, my defenses crumbled.
Ashley said Ethan only cared about people he
was invested in.
So, I was someone he cared about.
We started dating.
From kissing to sleeping together, it felt
natural.
I waited for him to go public, to propose. Then I’d ask Grandpa to call off the arranged
marriage from my childhood.
Mom had arranged it, but Grandpa said he’d
respect my decision.
But what I got was a public execution.
My private life shared like gossip. A public
humiliation. A peace offering to his precious
half–sister.
He made up reasons to hurt me.
I needed to cut my losses.
I took out my phone and called my grandpa in
the next city over.
“Grandpa, you don’t need to cancel that
arranged marriage Mom set up. I’ll go through
with it.”
“I trust Mom’s judgment.”
I went home and tried to compose myself.
I met Ashley that afternoon, but I ran into
Ethan.
He looked relieved to see me.
I excused myself to go to the restroom, but
he blocked my way, angrily demanding, “Why
did you leave this afternoon? We agreed I’d
take you home.”
“I called you so many times, and you didn’t
answer. Have I spoiled you too much?”
His tone was dangerous. I knew him too well.
I turned to run, but he covered my mouth and
dragged me into the men’s restroom.
He lost his usual composure and took what
he wanted.
He only stopped when he tasted blood.
<
He crouched down, covering his face and
crying. He suddenly panicked. After being
manipulated and played, I thought I’d been
handling things well.
But his presence shattered my tolerance for
pain.
He picked on me because I was vulnerable.
I deserved this bad luck.
He crouched down to comfort me,
apologizing profusely, admitting his faults.
I buried my face in my arms, warning him
again, “I don’t like being intimate in public. I
can’t be as open as you. When will you.
consider my feelings?”
I knew he wouldn’t.
He enjoyed humiliating me.
I used to think he just liked being intimate
with me, so he always wanted to be close,
even in public.
Ethan sighed, pulling me up, finally giving in.
“Come on, let’s go. If we stay here too long,
Ashley will get suspicious.”
We left the restroom, and I saw his friends
helping a limping girl walk towards us.
“Ethan, just now, your girlf…”
He quickly changed his words when he saw
- me.
“Olivia twisted her ankle. I remembered you
were here, so I came to find you.”
Ethan nodded, not even looking at me, and
picked the girl up.
“Let’s get her to the hospital and check if
she’s hurt.”
“Nora, come with us. You can take care of
your sister if she needs to be hospitalized.”
I just stared at him, trying to see into his soul.
He avoided my gaze and said to his friend,
“Jason, take her.”
“Just…pull her along.”
Eventually Ashlev came storming out vellina
<
“Ethan! Why are you dragging my best friend
into your drama with your half–sister?”
“Get out of here! Nora and I have plans.
We’re going to karaoke and check out some
cute guys.”
I didn’t relax until they were out of sight.
I leaned against Ashley’s shoulder, pushing
away the last of my feelings for Ethan.
If it wasn’t meant to be, there was no point
holding on.
I–lowered my gaze.
The next day, I had another performance.
I’d just changed into my costume when the
stage manager called me out.
Someone was looking for me.
It was Ethan and Olivia.
They stood side by side. Ethan held Olivia’s
arm, tenderness in his eyes. He looked at me
with a hint of disapproval.
“Olivia thought you might have misunderstood
L
yesterday. She knew you had a performance
today and wanted me to explain.
“I didn’t tell you before, but Olivia and I know
each other. She saved my life once.”
I nodded.
“There’s no misunderstanding. You’re free to
not tell me things. You don’t need to explain
yourself to me. She and I have nothing to do
with each other.”
