Chapter 43

Betty

I should have said yes.

At that moment, it was the easiest word in the world, just three little letters: Yes. With it, Ethan would be mine forever. Not only would we finally be able to call ourselves a couple, but maybe it could lead to something even more serious; like marriage.

Yes to a second chance.  Yes to start over, yes to rekindle what we used to be.

Yet somehow, the words caught in my throat, and I realized it wasn’t as easy as I’d imagined.

Heaven knows I wanted to fix the cracks in our love. I want to heal him from the childhood trauma and reassure him that I, Betty, would always be there for him, through thick and thin. After all, I’d been hurt before and  I knew too well how it feels to go through pain alone.

Ethan wasn’t perfect, he was human, and it was just one mistake; beating Michael to a pulp. And honestly, I didn’t care that much about Michael, that chapter between us had closed, he was a student and nothing else, so why shouldn’t Ethan get a second chance?

Yet the word’yes’ froze on my tongue.

“I’m sorry…”I began, tears blurring my vision. “I…can’t give you an answer yet.”

I could already see the disappointment written all over his face. He just nodded and stepped back not even bothering to ask why I’d said what I said and somehow that brought relief to me.

“It’s okay Betty, I understand. But I won’t give up on us…”

“Ethan….”

“I’ll give you as much time as you need,” he had said, his tone laced with deep emotions. Raw ones. “I care about you and all I want is us. For us to be together, I promise to go to therapy, I’ll do anything I can to win your heart.”

I wanted to tell him it wasn’t just about winning my heart or giving me time. I didn’t need days or weeks to decide if I wanted him in my life or not. What I needed was reassurance, that he would truly change into the man that I could feel safe around, not because he missed the version of himself that existed when I was around.

I didn’t want to be his   ‘Nostalgia’, the one he missed when he wanted to stick his penis into something. I wanted to be his choice.

Ever since he left that morning, he never came back, and I buried myself in work once again. Back to my reality.

Teaching at the college had always been my escape from the harsh realities of my love life. The classroom was the only place where I felt superior, where I felt in control, where I could avoid mistakes from happening. But still, it wasn’t all rosy here either.

Michael, my guilty pleasure, was always here to challenge me. But today something in his attitude was different.

He sat in the front row not paying the slightest attention to my lectures. His slender fingers ran through his blonde hair. They looked disheveled and uncombed today.

Normally I’d expect his questions to be laced with flirty undertones, or his annoying smirks and dirty, intense gaze whenever our eyes met. But Today his notebook remained closed, his pen nowhere to be found and he stared into blank space as if he was anywhere but here.

I was tempted to ask, to find out why he seemed dull today. But I didn’t. It wasn’t my business, and definitely not my problem, after all he has been nothing but a pain in the ass, and  I had to force my heart not to care too much about him. Besides, I also had my own problems to deal with.

Soon, the class came to an end and students shuffled out of the class. I gathered my books and bag I could already picture  myself at home, in my living room lying on the couch in a velvet robe  sipping  a glass of red grape-flavored wine while  watching ‘Gossip Girl’ but then  a familiar  masculine voice   called my name;

“Professor Betty,”

I turned to find  Michael standing right behind me like a statue, his expression serious. It was as though sadness was simmering out of his very skin. He was so close that the sharp scent of his cologne wafted into my nostrils so strongly.

“Can I speak to you?” He asked.

I let out a dramatic sigh, and part of me refused to entertain him and his drama. After all, the last time I got involved in his business I almost lost my job but I straightened up, telling myself it wouldn't hurt to hear him out. Not that  I cared, of course.

“What’s going on?”I asked, finally taking a proper look at his face now. The last time I’d seen him he was on the floor beaten to a pulp by Ethan, his face swollen, battered, and bruised beyond recognition.  But now the scars had healed perfectly as if he’d undergone plastic surgery.

And those eyes, damn, they were even bluer than I remembered, and his striking jawline, I could almost feel the adrenaline I’d tried so hard to conceal resurfacing again, I forced myself to look away because just staring at his face was enough to make my heart race for the umpteenth time.

“I’m guessing you haven’t heard the news.” He said.

“Nope!” I replied. “I’m not exactly a news person.”

He clenched his jaw. “Okay. Let me tell you, my father, Mr Bolton, as you know, is threatening to disown me.”

I was taken aback, it wasn’t any of my business but I still asked out of curiosity.

“Why?”

“The headlines say I assaulted his newly wedded bride. They also said that I..” he paused, swallowing hard, like the words were poison to his lips. “ that I forced myself on her and took advantage of her drunkness.”

I blinked twice, I was speechless, I didn’t have words to say. I didn’t know who to believe.

“Did you?”I asked. Surprised  I had even said these words.

“Hell. No! I would never do that!” He retorted.

I crossed my arms on my chest. Inside my head, I was wondering if he was guilty of this charge or not, after all wasn’t this the same Michael who hits on women above his reach? Older women? And me. Wouldn’t this be exactly the kind of scandal he’d get involved in?

He leaned closer so that our skin almost touched. “You believe me, right?”

“What good would that do?”

“Yeah! I understand.”

His face fell instantly, and he looked genuinely sad that this was happening. If he had done it he’d wear it like a trophy, he would chase, brag, and smirk. But now he genuinely looked saddened.

“But I tried to pull the CCTV footage, to prove to my father that she forced herself on me instead,  guess what? The files were deleted, guess who logged in last?”

I tilted my head backwards. “Who?”

“It was my father, tell me that doesn’t seem like a setup.”

Before I could respond Adam walked in interrupting our conversation.

“Sorry to interrupt!” Adam said and immediately  I stiffened, under his arms were stacks of papers and he wore a kind smile on his face. The one I once fell for.

“I’m so sorry for not teaching alongside you today Professor Betty!” he said ignoring Michael who leaned against the desk with that sad look on his face.

I nod. I didn’t need to necessarily respond to him.

“I wanted to ask  if you would be writing the exam questions ?”

“Sure!” I said quickly, I couldn’t wait to end this discussion with him.

“Alright, thanks!” He gave me a curt nod because shifting his gaze to Michael. “Hey buddy! I heard about the scandal, for what it’s worth, I don’t believe a thing the media says.”

“Mind your damn business, Adam!” Michael snapped at Adam.

I could see the anger slowly appearing on Adam’s face as their eyes locked the tension sharp enough to slice rock.

“I’ll leave you both to settle your disputes!” I announced, grabbed my bag, and stormed out of the classroom.

I really hoped they would let me be but Michael showed up again, this time I was just outside the campus when he caught my wrist firmly pulling me to a stop.

“Betty….”

I turned my heart racing as he moved closer, our eyes glued to one another.

“Professor Betty, to you.”

“Do you really think I’d touch my father’s wife?” he asked, breathing loudly. I could tell he had run after me. “I’ve got eyes online for you.”

“Michael… let’s not.. do this…” I couldn’t even speak right, I hated that he could make me feel so nervous this fast.

Then I heard a;

“Betty!”

I looked across and saw Ethan, pulling up in his Porsche windows down. A startled look on his face.

Behind me was  Michael, my temptation, and ahead of me, Ethan, my future, who waited for me to come to him.

And Adam, my past, lingered in the distance watching with eagle eyes.

I had to make a choice: should  I stay and listen to Michael,  help him solve his mess, or walk away and go home with  Ethan?