Chapter 33: Forced To Stay

She felt frustrated and was about to shut down but she had to go back home or else there would be a curfew. She quickly rushed out and tried to wave a cab but could not find any. She felt so frustrated; she knew that time had already gone, but yet she wanted to confront Alex. 

“How was she so dumb to think that Alex would cheat on her? And she even came here to cause a fight?” She felt like a fool thinking about everything she had just done just because she also wanted to catch Alex in an act deep down within her. It wasn't like she felt heartbroken or like her world was crumbling. She just wanted Alex to be in a situation whereby he would beg her. That would give her the upper hand and would not make Alex doubt her so much. 

But here it was. Alex was not actually cheating on her and instead was very faithful to her. She felt frustrated as she continuously waited for a cab, yet nothing. Just then, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She flinched in fright, turned around slowly, and it was Mirabella. 

“Isabella, I came out to throw the trash just as I noticed that you had not gone home. You cannot get a cab,” she questioned. Yes, she knew that she was going to stay in the same house with Alex. “How would she cope knowing that Alex hated her more than anything?”

She looked at Mirabella, feeling a bit emotional. “I don't want any situation whereby Alex would doubt me again or whether it will cause a fight because you took action without confirming with him. Do not worry, I'll find a way to get home, even if it’s for me to walk. It's not that far. It's just a few hours’ journey from here to my hostel and I will definitely find my way,” she said to Mirabella, trying her best to assure her.

Mirabella laughed. “I am not a dummy or a fool, okay? I also lived in that hostel. I know how far it is. Not just a few hours walking, you cannot walk there. Besides, it is a difficult thing to do. Do not try it. Come inside; it is dangerous. I am not pushing you away, and I am not going to let you go just because you feel a little bit of doubt within your mind. I want you to come inside, and you will do just that. You will not go against my commands. For goodness' sake, you are stubborn.” 

“You too,” Isabella said to Mirabella, who laughed as she held her hand, and they walked inside. She locked the door and quickly served Isabella dinner. Isabella felt happy and fulfilled; even though she had eaten, the food was so enticing that she had no choice but to dig in with a smile. 

Mirabella turned on a TV show as they laughed together. But Alex was still inside the room, feeling so angry and also hungry, more than he was even angry. Yes, he had already acted like he did not want his sister around, but that did not stop him from missing her food. 

He slowly opened the door only to see that Isabella was still around. He looked at his sister angrily and slammed the door so all their attention would be on him. 

Isabella quickly stood up, as if she was poked with a needle behind her, as she looked at Alex, feeling a bit scared. “You brought her back and did not let her leave!” Alex yelled at Mirabella, who stood up and slowly walked toward him. 

“You need to calm yourself down. How would I let her leave? It was late and there was no cab. I had no choice but to let her come in. And can you stop yelling and being so angry? She's your girlfriend for God's sake. If anything happened to her, you are to blame. Because you want to marry this girl and yet you just let her go like that. Fine, if you want her to leave, I have a perfect idea. Why don't you take your car and take her to the hostel? Because it's very dangerous, and if possible, you might get to the hostel only to see that it is already past curfew and they won't let her in. In short, no one will even answer the both of you. So pick one; either you let her stay here or you take her home. Besides, she's not disturbing you. Your room is different from the guest room, so don't get bothered.” 

Mirabella attacked Alex, who was unable to speak as his stomach groaned loudly. Isabella looked at Mirabella, who laughed. “Oh, you came out because you are hungry. I thought you didn't want me around, yet you are so hungry for my food,” she teased as she giggled, stood up, and walked toward the kitchen. 

Alex looked at Isabella for a while but did not say a word to her or even look at her with any emotion or attention like he always did. He went to sit down and changed the channel immediately to football as Isabella sat there awkwardly, unable to say a word, unable to even gulp her saliva in peace as Alex tapped the television remote on the screen. 

“Suffer annoyingly. You should have left. You should have insisted on leaving when you knew that Mirabella was going to force you. You could have run off or said you had already found a shortcut. Why would you still stick around? Now I know you are really evil. You want to get involved with me. You just want to put me in trouble. You want me to accept you back despite the fact that you offended me,” Alex said to her as she was unable to say a word. 

She knew that anything that would make her reply would cause even more conflict between her and Alex, and she did not want that. “I won’t get into any heated arguments with you. I will just spend the night peacefully and go back, and you won't hear from me until you are ready. But I promise you, there is nothing going on between me and Professor James. You are just misunderstanding everything. You can confirm it yourself. I am going backwards educationally and I needed help, and of course, I need to pass all my courses. I was pleading for a successful conscience to rewrite, which he had not yet given to me, but he promised he would think about it, and that was why I was following him around. Meanwhile, for the community service, of course, I woke up late and had to face the issue. I had to face him in his office, a fight for a fight. 

At the same time, Lily was still poking into my business, acting like I was doing anything. She was just being suspicious for a stupid reason. For goodness' sake, her hostel is right across from my room.” 

Isabella tried to prove a point, but Alex did not care. “I don't care; you don't need to lie anymore. I need action. I need proof,” he said. Just then, she had a memory of Mirabella's words. She had to bring proof, but how?