“Liam? Why are your eyes red?” I repeat the question.
“Probably an allergic reaction.” He shrugs.
“You should see a doctor.”
“I will.” He says dismissively. “Where is the wolf anyway?”
“I will speak to Professor Malino to arrange your meeting with the wolf. It's in her lab.”
“Malino?” His eyes widen.
I nod in response.
“Nope, I’m good. Can’t I sneak in?”
“No, the lab is highly secured.” I remind him.
“I know people who work at the lab. I will find a way to sneak in.”
“Why won’t you let me ask her?”
“We have history, and we really, really don’t get along.”
“With Professor Malino? What did you do?” I eye him suspiciously.
“Why do you suspect that I’m the one who did something wrong?”
“Because she is sweet, calm, and motherly. So, for the two of you not to get along, you must have really crossed her.”
“Sweet? Calm? Motherly?” He titters.
“Yes, she is.”
He chuckles. “Don’t ask her. I’ll find a way to get in before I go to sleep.”
"May I come in then? Or is your wife in your room?”
"Don’t be silly. I thought you didn’t want to come in, since you prefer Leo’s apartment to mine." He raises an eyebrow.
"I went there to give him some documents, I swear."
"Of cause you did. Documents that you couldn’t email. Willow, I begged you not to accept the job offer." He motions for me to get in and he follows behind me.
"But you know I need the money," I say as I sit on the couch.
"I promised to provide for you." He sits next to me.
"How could I trust your words? I mean, you got married. If I wasn't in the forest that night. Were you going to tell me?"
“Willow...”
“That’s what I thought.” I purse my lips.
“Can we please not argue? I told you I’m going to fix this, but I need you to trust me.”
“By the time you decide to fix it, I hope it won’t be too late.”
"Please don't think about breaking up with me. May I take you out tonight? We haven’t been out on a date in a while.”
I smile involuntarily, and I get excited at the idea of going out on a date. This means we can rekindle our relationship, and take pictures that I can post later. Lucy would go to sleep crying.
"Fine, we can go." I say nonchalantly.
“Thank you.” He holds me in a hug.
I leave his dorm room to get ready at my place, and I take my clothes out of the closet and lay them in bed. This is one of those days when I wish Marcel, my brother, was still alive. I would’ve video called him, and he would’ve helped me pick an outfit.
I wear a black summer dress and white sneakers, then I let my hair fall on my shoulders.
I look at myself in the mirror, and my shoulders sag at the sight of my plain face. Then, I apply light makeup that looks almost natural, and I take a picture to send to Liam.
I send the picture with the caption ‘babe, I’m ready.’ He calls almost immediately and I feel my nervousness getting the better of me, as if I’m going on a first date.
“Babe. What do you think?” I exhale.
“Willow...” He clears his throat.
“Liam?” I feel my stomach churn as my mind tries to ignore my gut feeling.
“Look...” He says hesitantly. “Uhm...Can we cancel? Something came up and I have to attend to the emergency.”
“That’s fine. We can do it another time.”
“Thank you. You are the best. I owe you everything. I love you.”
“I love you too.” I blink when I feel the tears stinging my eyes. Then, I throw my entire weight on the couch and I wipe the tears that tickle my cheeks. What could be so important? He was probably turned off by how I look.
Maybe my dress is not that hot, or my concealer is not blended properly, or my eyeshadow makes me look weird. I stare at the picture that I sent to him, trying to find out what could be the reason he changed his mind.
After tiring myself with negative self talk, I login on Instagram, and mindlessly scroll. Then I come across Lucy’s picture with the caption ‘I went to see my man, and I found him all dressed up and on his way to me, to surprise me with a dinner date.’
I zoom in on the picture, and I notice that her eyes are red as well, and when people ask about her eyes in the comment section, she dismisses it as allergies.
I continue to scroll when I see another picture on Lucy’s Instagram page, a picture of hands intertwined, and an unmistakable Liam’s hand in hers.
The people in the comment section send heart emojis and they comment on how lucky she is and they want to know who this lucky guy is.
I glance at the scars on my arms and my legs, and I scold myself for going to the forest. The scars might be what made him change his mind.
I look at Lucy’s pictures that are Instagram perfect, her perfect hair and makeup that makes her look like a goddess on Earth.
It's obvious why his parents chose her for him, and now that I think about it, he never ever hinted at wanting me to meet his parents.
I get up to go to bed to cry myself to sleep, then I hear a knock on the door. I quickly wipe my tears, hoping that it’s not Professor Malino with news about the wolf. When I open, I come face to face with Leo.
“Doctor Brown?” I look up at him, and I take a few steps back. Here comes the scolding, on a night when I don’t have the strength to fight back.
“Really? Why are you calling me Doctor Brown?” He looks at me with a glint in his eyes, and I can’t help but remember the wolf’s eyes.
“Well...” I look up at him, but I don’t point out that I missed two days of work as his TA. Isn’t he here to scold me and to ask why I haven’t been going to work?
“You look beautiful, by the way.” He glances up and down my body with a smirk. I feel my cheeks burning, and I break eye contact.
“Thank you,” I whisper. "But I have scars."
“I know, and they look new, but scars tell stories.” He says, while looking at them. “And I’m curious to know how you got them.”
“Why?” I eye him suspiciously.
“I’m just curious.” He shrugs. “But I also need an excuse to listen to your soothing voice when you tell me about each scar, and your adventures. Then I would touch every scar and remind you of how brave you have been.”
“Leo, which poet are quoting?” I shift uncomfortably.
He laughs. “Are you going to let me in? It's very cold out here.” He fakes teeth chattering, and I laugh because it feels like two hundred degrees.
“Do you think it’s a good idea? Our interactions in private never end well.”
“I promise to be on my best behaviour if you will behave yourself as well.” He smirks, his dimple making me go crazy.