Chapter 74

Bella.

Earlier today, my mood was far from pleasant. However, on discovering that my work had been accepted for the next stage of the exhibition, my mood brightened and I couldn't help but celebrate.

I was so elated by the results that I unintentionally drew attention to myself. I let out a joyous scream at the top of my lungs and dashed straight to Mary's office as soon as I received the email.

I had made a firm promise to myself not to let anything dampen my mood. Finally, things seemed to be going my way, and I didn't want anyone or anything to bring me down or make me feel upset and irritated again.

Earlier, I had called Daniel to share the good news and celebrate with him. However, I sensed that something was bothering him, even though he tried to put up a front. When I asked him about it, he insisted that everything was fine. Deciding not to push further, I let it go since he didn't want to confide in me.

Nevertheless, when he invited me out for tomorrow, I accepted without hesitation. It wasn't just because I missed spending time with him, but also because I wanted to see for myself what was happening and hoped that talking to him would eventually make him open up about his troubles.

Still, I refused to let that overshadow my joy. I genuinely felt happier than I had in a long time, and all I wanted to do today was indulge in a long bath and rest. Now that I had passed the review, I knew I would be dedicating my focus to my paintings from now on, leaving little time for relaxation in the coming weeks.

As I climbed the stairs, making my way back to my apartment, I couldn't muster much enthusiasm about being home. The tension between Nina and me had reached an unbearable level, making the entire living situation toxic over the past few weeks.

I had been doing my best to avoid saying anything to trigger Nina or escalate the situation. I went as far as avoiding mentioning Daniel's name at home, even though Nelly couldn't comprehend why I had to keep it to myself just because she couldn't stand hearing about him.

I felt an intense curiosity about what exactly was going on between Nina and Daniel. It had to be something significant for Nina to react in this manner. No matter how many times I brought it up with Daniel, he refused to discuss it, as if he didn't consider it an important matter.

During our last conversation, he explicitly stated that the issue had nothing to do with him. He claimed he was merely protecting Nina because he wasn't sure if he was allowed to divulge the details.

I inquired if it was something embarrassing because Nina acted as if Daniel had done something terrible to her, while he seemed to suggest that she was involved in an embarrassing situation. However, he refused to discuss it, believing it would be better for Nina to explain things herself.

I felt genuinely confused by their contrasting behaviors. I desperately wanted to unravel the truth once and for all, so I could be certain that my decision to maintain my friendship with Daniel was the right one and that Nina was simply overreacting without a justifiable reason.

Suddenly, Nina's familiar voice echoed from behind me, warning about the dangers of not watching where I was going. I turned, somewhat taken aback, wondering if I had imagined her words or if she had actually spoken to me.

"Did you just say something to me, or was I mistaken?" I asked, seeking clarification as her sudden interaction perplexed me.

I wasn't sure if I was ready to engage with her, and I couldn't shake the feeling that she had ulterior motives, especially given the persistent frown on her face.

"I wasn't speaking to you. I was merely cautioning you to be mindful of your steps, so you don't end up falling and losing your teeth. The appropriate response would have been to thank me and move along, rather than attempting to start an argument," she retorted, leaving me staring at her with a puzzled expression.

I could sense that there was nothing kind in her words, and it was evident to me that she was deliberately seeking a confrontation. This irritated me greatly because we had been avoiding each other for quite some time, and her actions indicated that she was trying to provoke me, aiming to portray me as the irrational one.

"Listen closely, Nina. If you have nothing better to do than pick fights, find someone else to engage with because I'm not the right person for you to provoke right now. You won't ruin my mood or make me upset, so mind your own business and be on your way," I warned, abandoning any pretense of remaining calm.

I realized that my friendship with her could never be the same. Knowing the kind of person she truly was, I couldn't envision myself subjecting myself to her negative energy. Even if we managed to resolve our current conflict, I could never trust her or confide in her again.

"I can't believe how foolish you are, Bella. So, because I kindly reminded you to watch your steps on the staircase, you're venting your frustrations on me? You were happily walking, laughing, and smiling like a madwoman, and now I'm the villain for reminding you that you were on a stairway?" she exclaimed, leaving me with a heavy sigh.

This is precisely why I had no desire to engage in a conversation with her. I knew she had ill intentions, and now she will portray herself as innocent while painting me as the crazy person trying to start a fight.

"You know what, Nina? I don't have time for this. If you expect me to thank you for watching out for me, well, thank you ever so much for ensuring that I don't fall and lose my teeth. I genuinely appreciate your concern. I hope your journey up the stairs is also safe, and let's strive to mind our own business while coexisting in this space," I said, hoping she would finally leave me alone and walk away.

"After all this time, I would have thought you might want to have a conversation with me to clear up the misunderstandings caused by your erratic behavior. But seeing as you continue to speak rudely, it appears you have no intention of resolving things with your friend just because of a man," she unexpectedly fired back at me, leaving me in disbelief.

All I wanted was to retreat to my room, take a bath, and get a good night's rest. I had a lot of work to tackle starting tomorrow. However, it seemed that Nina took no pleasure in seeing me happy. She was doing everything in her power to provoke my anger and get a reaction from me. I won't deny that she was getting under my skin at that moment.

At this point, I felt genuinely frustrated, but I had to remind myself that she wasn't worth it. I couldn't allow myself to be upset because of someone like her.

Based on what she just said, I could confidently swear that whatever issue she had with Daniel was undoubtedly her own fault. That's why she lacked the courage to speak up about it, knowing deep down that she was to blame. She was trying to emotionally manipulate me, making me feel like a terrible person just to get me on her side, even when I had no knowledge of what was happening.

"You can keep saying whatever you want, and I know exactly what you're trying to do right now. But let me tell you, sweetie, that petty tactic won't work on me. I genuinely hope you find inner peace soon because I can sense the torment you're going through. Release that bitterness that's consuming you. Goodnight," I responded.

Without wasting any more time, I turned my back and walked away from her. Even though I could still hear her talking, I paid no attention. Resting and taking care of myself were far more important than concerning myself with someone who simply wasn't worth it.