A nightmare within a dream - Marwa Kodmany (pride and prejudice read .TXT) 📗

You could have told me that instead of kissing me in the car.

Suddenly! I came up with a conclusion that what did confuse me for the last couple of days was breaking my rules. The basics and the very tiny principles I ever write or think about was put a side. I remember! I once wrote something about a girl, who printed a hypothetical circle around her; I was referring to myself actually. This circle has a four digits code and nobody has this code even her closest friends. She never let anyone cross this line she drew unless the code was compromised. I was kind of woman who couldn’t let a man get near her until I give him my proximity password. In my night mare I was so close to Ethan that I couldn’t resist him killing me. When I first met him, He brought me just close enough to breathe his perfume. This guy is a total stranger but somehow everything seems different near him. I knew Jay 2 days ago and he just crossed my border! I know that in every body language this can be considered as the first step to make a bond with someone, a simple mean to create a relation just by one single kiss. That called a request of more proximity. He did ask for this! But I’m off at least for now.

I reached  out to the apartment door but I couldn’t find the keys that Mila gave me yesterday. I must have dropped them somewhere! Oh God why now! I rang the bell but no one home. The moment I gave up on finding my keys. A nice young guy came down the stairs. I assume he is a neighbor. A blond, good-looking, medium-high, young man.

“Hey” he said.

“Hey”

“no keys ha!”

“ hah I must have dropped them somewhere”

“Oh! Sorry! I’m Denial”

“Nice to meet you! I’m Marline”

“ A new roommate of Mila?”

“Actually I’m her sister” I put on a fake smile.

“ I knew it! You have the same good features. The eyes thing”

“Ya I see” I said putting on the same fakeness. Be social!

“I used to be with Mila back in college. We worked on the same project for months”

“Nice! What are planning to do?”

“Actually,,, errr” he was interrupted by Mila’s laughing while she was coming up. Oh my God! Here is Ethan. Nothing seems to be peaceful today! I noticed that the guy went reddish as soon as he saw her coming.

“Hey Denial!” she said

“Hey Mila! Nice to meet you again Miss. Marlin.” he said as soon as he went down the stairs. He tried so hard to look at her. He practically avoided looking at her when two seconds ago, he was trying to describe how close they were working on the same project in college. He passed by Ethan who checked him up! I waited for Mila to open the damn door ignoring Ethan’s presence as much as I can. I went towards my room without a blink, no need for Ethan’s moments.

“Marline!!” she said as Ethan closed the door, he was the last to come. I didn’t have to hear the door closing. His perfume has already contaminated the whole apartment. Why can’t he change this odor? Why must I recall myself with him every time I sniff this evilly attractive smell? I read once about the sense of smell and who it is strongly related to memory. It can brisk your memories in a fraction. Yes you did liven up my memory Mr. Devil!!

Mila followed me.

“What the hell is this?” she asked angrily.

“What about it?”

“At least you can say hi”

“ I guess it’s obvious that I really don’t wanna socialize and I’m a bit tired!”

“Well you were socializing with the neighbor!!” she said. She remained angry.

“Who is he? It wasn’t right what happened out there”

“ Don’t switch the subject please” she closed the door.

“Nice move! Speak up young woman!” I’m provoking her to speak.

“Look! I really don’t wanna talk about this. Please let’s focus on you, being mean to my fiancée and that’s just not you.”

“Who is he Mila?” I go on a high level and asked her about Denial in order to piss her off just a little bit more. I want Ethan to know how far he contaminated the house.

“Oh! He is my Ex! Are you satisfied now?” she smiled a little bit.

“I knew it! I knew it” I danced around; the dance of victory.

“ Oh! Congratulation! You made a breakthrough! God bless you!” she started mocking. That runs in our blood. When we are pissed or stressed out, we just start fooling around in order to chill. It is a cooling method.

“Nice” I said smiling. But now I stopped moving. She is gonna explode.

“look! We will talk about it later. I promise, but now I need to make it right please. I intended to bring him here. I want everything solved between you too.” She said holding my right hand. That is one of our family methods. Sympathetic gesture for getting what you want.

“ Nothing to solve!”

“He told me about that day” she said. Oh my God what did he tell her!? How dare him telling her something like this.

“What day?!” I asked but am terrified.

“It is the same exact day when he came here to surprise me with the flowers. He told me that you both had a real argument and he feels that you hate him” she said. Oh Friday freaking morning show. Now I remember.

“What did he say to you?”

“That you are a hustle bitch” she smiled.

“What?!?!?!? The,,,”

“Come on! He is nice! Give him a last chance! For your sister’s sake! Please!! I love you I love you” she came closer and kissed me playing with my hair. This girl knows how to make anyone likes her in a second. I’m really cooled down. What an effect she has on me? I do miss her.

“Ok! One last chance! And I’m out for good” I said and I opened the door. I found him standing on the corner checking the flowers he gave Mila earlier, showing off the appealing tall figure he has. He was wearing a white formal shirt. It was Too simple but too awesome.

“Hey, the Underwood’s has arrived” he said.

“Hey! How are you Ethan?” I said. Yes it’s getting easier. Stay where you are.

“I’m fine thanks. What about you?” he asked.

“Fine” I said putting on a fake smile. Mila was hiding a suppressed smile. She can’t feel what I’m going through.

“Oh take a sit please!” he said putting his traditional smirk.

“Oh yes I will! You too please” I said. He wanna start it. Let’s bring it on! Mila sat next to him.

“So? How is Jay? I couldn’t reach him. His cell is off” he asked with a very sneaky intention.

“Nice source to retrieve news” Mila started biting her lips in order to stop us from putting up a fight. No I’m going to prove how cool I’m. I can do it. “He is fine! We had a blast having lunch” another fake smile on my face.

“Lunch!? Interesting!!” he said looking at Mila and they both start laughing.

“What am I missing here?” I asked

“Ethan told me when we arrived here that Jay doesn’t turn off his cell unless it is super important, he is a doctor you know” she said trying to talk seriously but she can’t help it because of Ethan. Mila always knew that I have restricted areas in my life that no one can come close especially in public. Now it is much worse, it is all said by him. The big jock, he is trying to impress his humor with, has to come to an end.

“Hheheheh Funny” I beamed. The silent killed it. Ethan started to look at his watch on purpose. I know guys like him who always tries to send hidden messages to people around them. For example: I’m not enjoying myself with you. While Jay who was in a hurry and I’m sure he was, avoided looking at his watch the whole time we were together.

“So? I’m gonna make you two some coffee! Try to watch over yourself grown-ups!!” she was laughing herself out to the kitchen. We were gazing at each others; we both knew that this room could not contain us. Somehow I wanted him to open some normal conversation so I can adjust with him. For no reason, I felt that he was going to ask me about the place where I had lunch with Jay. He was aiming to find out what Jay’s intentions. He quite knows him.

“The Magic Burger” I said interrupting his deeply thought or maybe the “W” that he was about to start his question with.

“Well Well Well. “The psychic sister” How did you find out that I was gonna ask you this?” said Ethan who was surprised that his pupils is getting wider.

“A man like you could ask such curious question because of the betrayal of his dearest friend not telling him about going out with a new woman on lunch. A question like this could solve the problem. It can tell you what he had put in mind towards this specific girl. If the choice of this restaurant was considered despite of the lunch issue” I sighed. I’m so over talking. He was looking at me intensely, waiting for me to end up my speech. I was expecting that he would say one of his mocking words, gives one of his new neck names. He just stood up, looking at me while he was heading to the kitchen, telling Mila that he has to go in an emergency and that he will call her later. He left me there hanging. I knew that he would shut the door like this. That was his answer.  I really can’t handle it. Why do I have to go crazy like this around him? I should have kept these talks to myself. I should have stopped analyzing him like this. He is not a book character I’m interested in.

“what happened for God sake?” Mila asked laughing.

“I don’t know he just left as you noticed” I said without looking at her.  I was drowning in my thoughts that I could the only lunatic among them. I have never been like this my whole life! It’s just a twist in my life that will change me forever.

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Text: Marwa Kodmany
Publication Date: 08-17-2012

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