Chapter 12: The Cup of Tea

I met Alex and Marcus standing at the entrance side by side as if they had rehearsed it. Alex’s hands were tucked in his pockets, his shoulders tensed up while Marcus looked uncomfortable like he knew he didn’t belong here.

“No,” I hissed, already turning away.

I walked back inside and headed straight for my room, my footsteps giving sharp sounds against the floor.

“Joan!” Lena called after me.

I closed my door loudly, and leaned against it with my eyes closed.

“He didn’t even send a text since I walked out on them that day and he dared to come today.”

“I blame myself for letting him know where I stay,” I muttered to myself.

“Joan,” Lena said softly as she knocked.

“Open the door.”

“I don’t want to,” I replied, my voice firm.

“I know you are angry,” she sighed.

“And you have every right to be. But consider the fact that he didn’t come alone,” she added.

I didn’t say anything.

“People don’t bring witnesses when they are lying,” she continued.

“Maybe he just wants backup,” I scoffed.

“Maybe he’s actually sorry,” she said softly.

I closed my eyes again, still leaning against the door.

“Just listen to them,” Lena added.

“You don’t have to forgive him. You don’t even have to talk. Just… listen to him.”

I stayed silent for a while, then I opened the door.

“I’m only listening,” I said. “That’s all.”

Lena nodded as if she had just won a small battle and led me to the living room.

Alex stood up immediately when he saw me.

His movement looked like a reflex. It was as if his body reacted before his mind could stop it.

“Joan,” he said, already walking towards me.

“Don’t come close,” I held my hand up to stop him.

Then he stopped.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low, sincere, and void of its usual confidence.

“I should never have let you walk away like that,” he added.

I folded my hands, staring at him.

“The party wasn’t meant to hurt you,” he continued quickly, as if he was afraid I would leave him in the living room again if he paused.

“It wasn’t a joke and it wasn’t a trick,” he added.

Marcus shifted awkwardly behind him.

“I missed you,” Alex said, staring into my eyes.

“I didn’t know how else to ask you to spend time with me without crossing the lines you had already drawn,” he added.

My heart faltered, but I didn’t let it show on my face.

“So you lied,” I said coldly.

“Yes,” he admitted immediately.

“And that’s on me. Trust me, I never wanted to let you feel stupid,” he said, his voice filled with remorse.

He took a few steps closer.

“I just wanted an excuse,… an excuse to see you and spend time with you again,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The room became silent and I hated the fact that a part of me understood what he said. But understanding his reasons didn’t erase how small I felt that day.

“And when you overheard us…” he said, his voice breaking slightly.

“I didn’t panic because I was hiding something worse, I panicked because I was scared to lose you again,” he added.

I looked away while Lena watched me from the corner of the room, signaling to me to say something.

“I’m not asking you to forget,” Alex continued.

“I’m just asking you to let me explain… properly.”

I swallowed. My anger was still there, but my soft heart was telling me to forgive him and I didn’t know which one would win.

I breathed out slowly and finally looked at him.

“Do you think you will get sympathy for lying just because your feelings are involved?”

“I felt stupid and embarrassed… and you still watched me stand there, confused and hurt without saying anything.”

“I was scared, Joan,” he said, his voice low.

Then Marcus cleared his throat.

“I know I don’t have the right to talk,” he said carefully, rubbing the back of his neck.

“But the party idea was mine. He couldn’t stop going on and on about you and I had to tell him it would give him time to spend with you without pressure,” he explained.

I looked at him, my expression unreadable.

“I’m sorry… I really am,” he said.

Without a word, I turned back to Alex.

“I’m not forgiving you today,” I said.

“I don’t even know if I will.”

“I understand… and I will wait,” he said, looking pitiful.

“But… I also don’t want to make a decision while I’m still angry,” I added.

“That’s fair,” he nodded slowly.

“So I will think about it… about whether I will forgive you or not,” I said.

I moved a few steps back, creating space between us.

“That’s all I can say right now.”

Alex let out a soft breath.

“Thank you,” he said. “For even considering it.”

Lena cleared her throat lightly and stared at me.

“Well…” she said, folding her arms.

“That was intense.”

“We should probably go,” Marcus whispered to Alex.

Alex hesitated at first, then nodded.

“I will wait… I don’t care how long it takes,” he said, looking at me one last time before walking out the door.

ALEX HART’S POV

Marcus and I left quietly, the door closing behind us with a creak. I walked to my car as if I wasn’t the one controlling my movements, my mind replaying what Joan had said.

What she said wasn’t forgiveness, it wasn’t rejection either and I hoped she wouldn’t pick the latter.

“Thank you, man,” I said, turning to face Marcus.

“Come on… I need her forgiveness too because I was a partaker,” he replied with a smirk.

I turned on the ignition and drove into the street. Then I dropped Marcus at his place before heading to mine.

When I got home, I met my mother in the living room. Cassandra wasn’t around and I was grateful for that.

“I guess she has shame,” I scoffed quietly.

“Good day, Mom,” I greeted as I stepped in.

“Son… you look exhausted,” she said, staring at me.

“I am,” I replied, loosening the collar of my shirt.

“Sit, let me get you something to drink,” she said and walked towards the kitchen.

I hesitated.

“Why is my mother nice this evening?” I thought to myself as I watched her leave.

Normally, I would have refused, but I didn’t have the strength to argue.

“I hope it continues this way,” I said and dropped onto the couch.

A few minutes later, she came back with a cup of tea and gave it to me with a small smile.

“This will clear your head and help you relax,” she said.

I stared at the cup for a second and took it slowly.

Halfway through, my eyes began to blur, like someone had dimmed the lights in my head.

I blinked once, then twice before my fingers loosened slowly around the cup.

“Mom…” I started, my voice slow.

She collected the cup from me and watched me closely.

“That’s better.”

I heard her say.

Then everything went blank.