-CHAPTER 17-

Cold fingers touched Ella's phone screen. Maybe because of the morning water, unsatisfying shower, or the hard furniture from her sudden urge of rage.

"Suddenly, we don't care about being late- Do we have a degree to receive this year?" While holding her keys, Kath will always be feral of being late. Partly traumatized from the stupid high school experience. Ella has pooled herself from yesterday's flashbacks. The cold hands reached her brown pockets.

Maybe because she was terrified of that thought. Marriage.

Was the thought popped her out from her college soul? Ella thought it did. And she knows she's not too young for it. She reached the stone of an educational era where you have the liberty to plan what comes next when you finally have a decent job out of your degree. Marriage is totally an option. Kids, family, and sleeping with the same person all over again very much require careful consideration and a stronghold of who knows what kind of passion it would be.

And at some point, Ella pondered, the college will always choke random pursuits in one's head when it gets nearer to that degree.

But flashbacks were difficult to avoid. The ring on her hand. The grace of the unknown woman's poise. Theodore's face.

She must be wrong. I must be. It must be.

I can't be an adulteress.

That word crumpled her like a piece of paper, destined to be in the trash as she sat down on the car minutes ago. Ella remembered her dramatic monologues after they left at the café. Even Kath has left no words as her reaction. It was indeed troubling to see a wedding ring in that kind of instance.

"Oh c'mon get over it. It's maybe a fashion ring. Who knows." Kath snickered while driving her friends to school.

"We literally stormed out because of it Ella. We don't even know who that is." Lynn added.

"We don't even know the damn woman that Theo talked to, it was a stupid act of impulse." Their remarks all boiled on the wasted food and coffee knowing that it is an expensive café.

There is so much to think about and so much going on for Ella. It influenced her performance from her academics for today, especially in org work.

The lunch was dry, the water was bland, and the soil was boring, Ella was well damned and pre-occupied. Didn't even bother to pleasure herself at the end of the day.

Staring at her celling after a long and agonizing day, she tried not to manifest any thoughts of her being an adulteress. This is the price of not asking the real age before saying yes to set up. Ella tried to track her breathing as well and hoped that it would pace her down.

He pondered about Theo for a moment, wandering his agendas at the moment. Does he need my presence? How fucked he would be right now if my intuitions were correct?

She heard a beep. Theodore texted. Ella fucking jumped to grab the phone and view the message from notifications.

"About the other day. You guys didn't even finish your drinks. What up?" The man asked from the other line. It took her a while to think of a lie.

She tapped a few keys. "There were errands about Lynn's, sorry for that. Did you really text me about this? Because I got things to do. " She simply hit send and landed the screen on her chest watching the peeking moonlight from the window.

Fuck me, I hate this conversation.

Theodore, from the other side, lying on his bed with only boxers on. The man was incredibly busy handling Emily after their encounter in the café. Even the thought of it boiled in him.

"The sudden exit was quite bothering. Anyways, busy next week. Let's try fucking somewhere." Theo, and his spontaneous sex drive, asked.

She caught her own saliva and coughed. "Shouldn't you mind about how late it is to text like this? I have annotations to review." Despite the uncertainty, Ella resorted on dismissing it.

"You sure?"

"Sorry. I do not need sex. For now."

"Hmm. Someone's grumpy. I must leave you to your business. Let's fuck some time." Ella received the message and somehow relieved her. After what happened the other, everything about him made her second guess.

"Good night. Honeybee." The last beep said. It was unexpected and unsolicited.

Well, she knows herself too well. Ella could survive nights without reaching her orgasm. At least she hasn't put any doubt on that. It'll be fine. Sex without Theodore, it'll be fine.

***

She hates using library ladders. It always reminded her how short she was. Her fingers finally gripped o the desired yellow textbook, Ella needed another reference for her Advanced Auditing & Professional Ethics seatwork. Kath wasn't around unfortunately for other matters; it was Lynn who helped her search for other textbooks that were particularly published from Chicago.

Dewey Decimal system is a pain in the ass in regarding hard-core referencing. How come I couldn't find that book last week? She agitated amidst the solace of their library.

With the sound of membrane laptop keyboards, stokes of pencils, and book pages, Ella could use this peace for unhinged thoughts of her sex partner. Ella wasn't sure of where her conviction will take her, it pushes her to be worried. That thought made her eyes roll.

Her shoes landed on the marble tile floor, looking up to Flynn who had been staring for a moment while leaning on the shelf.

"I seem to startle you." With that damn smile on the corner of his lips, Flynn intuited.

And the bitterness is drawn on her face. "This looks like not a coincidence. Is it not?" They just had their morning moments again at the cobblestone pathway this morning. Flynn did really have to risk minutes of walking to their building.

"Just me picking up books for a friend." Flynn with a straighter spine reasoned.

"An Auditing Book?" Ella wasn't convinced. "Try harder, you're a terrible liar."

Seems untamed. "Oh c'mon, give me a break. Seriously, a friend asked for my favor." Flynn swallowed the whole being of his pride and grab an irrelevant book to follow her on the Librarian's Counter.

"I know you had an exclusive chamber for some medical book-stuff somewhere in this big-ass campus. Don't fuck with me, I know a lie when I see one." Ella chortled the last few words that she spitted, still not looking at him.

Oh God, please stop following me.

"I know. You done complaining? That was cute." Flynn had to lower his voice while walking behind her. His eyes were fixed on her semi-done hair which he finds attractive.

"Of course, I am cute." Ella tailed his humor subconsciously. "And for God's sake stop following me."

"Still following you." Flynn just smiled and insist on tailing her until they fell on the line. When it hit Ella's limit, her back finally turned around to face the well-groomed gentlemen.

Slightly freckled face, flushed with cream and lip stain, and some light mascara. It was a close-up look for him as the student line shrink. "There you are, looking at me." And that somehow reached an ample peak of delightedness, Flynn was all for that.

That arresting beam in his stare and the corner of his lips narrowed her brows, stuck between bothered or enthralled. "What do you want, Flynn, really?"

What do you want? It echoed on Ella.

"I want the book, that is all." And Flynn did not hesitate to humor her for some more. It seemed like it bore her and pushed her into a corner that she didn't wish.

"I don't want to bicker with you as much as possible. You seem kind, to begin with. And I'd like to mention that you are, indeed, annoying, Flynn." A stream of the calm sea was the tone. Flynn pouted his lips and gave it a few nods, keeping his cool despite pissing a woman off.

"My impression was unlikely to be entertained today, hmmm?" Flynn, while hugging his supposed-to-be-borrowed book, admitted. "Alright, I just had to see your face, that's all."

There was a slight response on Ella's fingers, she rubbed them against each other. A quite bold move for Flynn and a petrified Ella. She survived and kept her cool, rubbing everything off. "And I suppose, are you done."

Flynn's piercing gaze was something else, not to mention the smile the innocent smile that he always wore as if it was a peculiar talent from that gods. He tilted his head for a bit without breaking contact with her.

"I think I'm done here." And the mystical potency between them disappeared as he buried his other hand in his pocket and waved the book on the other. "Gotta return this rubbish. See you around." He exited the line immediately. Flynn paused as he forgot to mention something.

"Actually, I'm claiming it. Of course, I'll see you around." Ending it with a grin, Flynn walked away.

Ella was too stunned to speak, and that remained on her reverie. As soon as she got her ass on a seat near Lynn, who's waiting for her, she calmed and regain her senses.

She is as well aware of how Flynn could be so keen on flirting despite her supposed situation of being "taken". His persistence was still mind-blowing for the record.

"What the fuck did I just saw?" Lynn uttered a question, painstakingly. "What's the thing with that med student, really?" She casually added as she hit her lips with Apple Pencil, Lynn was really bored while waiting that she is nearly slouching on her seat.

"It's nothing." Ella blandly defended.

"You are a bad liar." And Lynn could tell it by the look on her face.

"And have I got to mention that he followed you? He was also at the café when we abruptly stormed out- geez," Lynn added with a more intrigued tune and look.

While seriously looking for the desired page on the textbook using her marker, Ella rolled her eyes with disgust. "It'll be ridiculous if I said it was a coincidence." She pulled a pun after her pause. "But actually, it is."

"Seriously is he flirting?" Her friend, unfortunately, did not buy her little scheme. She asked comfortably, leaning in her seat and arms crossed.

"Of course not!"

And Lynn just gave her a stare. Criticizing Ella with the use of her eyes.

"Okay fine- sort of..."

That made her friend lean closer in no time. "Oh girl, what have you done? You have a boyfriend. Are you seriously gonna be playful-"

"No. I mean, I am invested with Theo. There's that," she spoke with decisiveness, didn't even break stern and honest eye contact.

"Ahuh, and what's up with you and your man?"

"We just fought, none of your biz actually."

Lynn snickered and browsed and her tablet to organize her schedule. She decided to give Ella the benefit of the doubt as she hated being lied to. There's just something about them that I couldn't grasp.

Ella tried not to sweat- or at least she wiped her forehead casually as she opened her laptop to do seatwork. She's really not into having a conversation about Theodore, specifically today.

Today was supposed to be about sticky notes, books, and fucking good accounting stuff that she was struggling to keep the passion ignite.

Or was she struggling to distract herself? Her throbbing brain couldn't handle it. Just. Not. Today. Even Flynn's presence didn't really help. It troubled her even more.

She couldn't grasp his persistence and what-in-gods-work is she putting herself into. 'Ella stuck between two guys' is a melodrama that she didn't wish to happen, but she is witnessing it firsthand.

Flynn never failed to spark interest. It keeps her thinking in some intricate ways that keep her minutes occupied. Just like Ella swimming in her reverie while randomly scrolling her on the touchpad as she thought of Flynn's innocent smile. Did I just find it sexy?

Actually, I'm claiming it. Of course, I'll see you around

Who would wish to be stalked? And it seems like she was hyped for what's next. Ella typed the entries on each cell on the spreadsheet and started working for a good few minutes.

Loving the typing sound from the nearby tables and audible pen writing noises, it was immediately interfered with by the sudden beeped from her bag.

She can't believe seeing his name on the notifications as she was trying to focus on her day instead of being anxious about herself being an adulteress.

"I'd like to make an Irish Cream Cold Brew. You here this afternoon?" She can hear Theodore's English accent and that low inviting voice.

The text didn't hurt her expectations for their first interaction of the day. Ella decided to might as well confront him about what happened the other. God, I just want answers.

"Sure, I'll come." Her simple reply required so much air before hitting the paper plane button.

Instead of resuming her seatwork, she is thinking about guys. The thought alone was strange and new as it was convoluted at her end.

Theodore pretending to be his saved her in a lot of circumstances already plus the sex and the bucks, and indeed, it wasn't easy to latch on such a frivolous-serious agreement, not to mention Flynn who's leeching around on her.

The air gets sharp as she tried to breathe and escape her flawed judgment that should be prioritizing studies.

Crossing her legs under the table, she fixed her posture with her attempt of fixing her musing mind. Answers. She needs answers.

***

The colors of oak wood furniture warmed as the sun-warmed as the golden hour sun ray rushes in the cafe. The light emitted was enjoyable enough to take pictures or spoil the spirit with the solace that the café provides.

Indistinct chats were a bit loud as customers filled the seats to get their after-work coffee. Same as well for Ella who just ditched her friends after school to head directly here.

Red hair. Her eyes scanned the swarm of the crowd on the counter as well as the small hints of windows from the kitchen. A tall, lean, and crimson-dyed hair wasn't there to be seen.

"And you are finally alone." From behind, Theodore spoke to his amusement while holding trays. He looked slightly different from his everyday hairstyle as Ella saw the freshly cut ends of his scalp that perfectly sculpted his face shape despite wearing a plain cloth band to catch his swear, Ella assumed.

"And before you speak, let have your drink for this afternoon. What's your poison?" he asked charmingly and prolonged his tap on Ella's mouth before she could even talk.

"J-just a classic Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew, if you will." Ella sounded really puzzled.

"Oh dear, that sounded really boring. School, was indeed, grievous," he spatted as he slowly stepped backward to make her a drink.

"My taste wasn't boring!"

"Agreed, just look at me," Theodore boasted, and that left a bitter reaction painted in Ella's face.

"Oh my. Someone's grumpy. Wait up for the drink,' he exited with huge steps. Ella just patiently waited as her gaze fixed on his hair bouncing as he moves. Just like a cherry.

The coffee, then, arrived and was still made by Theodore himself. Basically, to have the best excuse to ditch his duties for a good few minutes.

For the past few minutes, Ella had been so observant of where she looked, especially on Theodore, still searching for something weird.

"You look flustered," he took the seat in front of her.

"And you are staring."

His eyes shrink and complained, "seriously, what's wrong with you?" That sparked his worries.

Ella casually scanned his fingers, despite remembering subjective matters, he still got zero rings. Or even a necklace with a ring. "I mean, I'm just stressed. Trust me," she wasn't satisfied with how she emphasized it. "And my stress is not even your business, so maybe stop being nosy, Theodore."

Her stress had never been expressed like this before, it was too obvious.

"I have to disagree. Alleviating your stress is my job," he leaned closer and looked at her suggestively. "And you know what I do with stress. For instance, we can fuck." His accent even emphasized the last word.

It was not a surprise for Ella to hear such. "Funny," she said as she sipped her coffee quietly.

Theodore did not fail to notice the change in her tone. "Okay. What is our problem? Hmm?"

"It's nothing. Trust me. And you invited me here so, I'm being nice while I can."

"Ahuh? I asked for you to come over because I want to get laid today." His eyes went serious as they focus on hers.

That was, indeed, to Ella's surprise. "Say what?"

"I know, it's quite a shocker." He paused and put his elbows on the table to rub his chin. "Let's just say that I am stressed. I want a breather. And I am asking you nicely if you ain't busy." Theodore adored her bewildered facial expressions.

Ella chuckled nonchalantly, "Of course, that's what we do. Both stressed. And good to fuck." She nodded in her words to build the anticipation in her stomach.

"So, tonight?" she added a question.

"If you want, we can have a quickie right now. You look tempting." Theo leaned in even closer to whisper that. Their distance was keeping her reminded of her conspiracies about Theodore being married.

But damn, my senses are doomed. Ella was stirred up and moved her legs to rub Theodore.

"I forgive you for rubbing my thighs with your shoes. Now, are you interested in quick blow jobs?" Theodore remained calm amidst the situation under the table.

Ella gave her a slow nod, not caring about the consequences at all.

"Good. Now, follow me."

© Leo Polaris