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XVIII-HE HAD ANOTHER GIRL
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2024-10-29 19:42:56XVIII
'What did Beth want?' asked Kate.
'Well nothing, she knows we're living together, doesn't she?'
She shook her head, avoiding responsibility.
'Yeah, well, I mentioned it to her, but she didn't say anything about you.'
'Well, she told me she was worried about me. She wanted me to meet her and Jack and Radcliffe, her father.'
'And you told her no?'
'I gave her the runaround. It's just that this dinner as if they were my family, I see it as a bit fake.'
She got serious.
'I think Beth wants what's best for you.'
'But I just don't get it. After Jack left me for someone else, she wants me to suffer while eating with them? Are
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Anna's Decision XIX-A REAL CHALLENGE
XIX The flashing lights illuminated us and the drummer began to set the rhythm. I couldn't help but order myself a beer, although I always carried the card with the clinic's number on it, just in case. The first song was a Coldplay cover, "Yellow". That made the couples gathered there put their arms around each other's necks and lit lighters to set the beat in the dark. I tuned my voice and sang, oblivious to who was in the audience. Between songs, I could make out Beth, who was signaling me from a chair. Jack and Erika had gone, which relieved me. Every concert, every class, was like Groundhog Day. Stage fright justified by the anxiety of facing the people I wanted to cut out of my life.
Anna's Decision XX-PREPARING FOR SOMETHING SPICY
XX We stopped three streets away at a very spacious but empty pub. There were no performan- ces, just a mauve light and two couples chatting to the sound of a soulful tune. We hadn't said anything beyond discussing the best way to get to the place with wry grimaces. 'Table for two?' asked a twenty-something waiter with a bow tie and slicked-back hair. I nodded. Harlan looked down. 'Up there, in the background.' We walked, no longer holding each other's arms. 'Something to drink?' 'Half a pint,' I decided, trying to control my urge to drink. 'Another for me.' The waiter bowed and left. 'Why did it take you so long to say it?'
Anna's Decision XXI-BASIC INSTINCT
He slid the key into the lock. A two-story house, as spacious as the rest of those in the area. 'Would you like a drink?' he asked. I took his hand. 'What I'm in the mood for is something else.' When he looked at me, I could see the sternness disappear from his face. You could read the desire in his eyes. He was aroused. 'Let's go to my room, it's upstairs.' We climbed the stairs, him with his arm around my waist. Once inside, I stood watching what he was doing. Without even giving me time to react, he brought his lips to mine and placed his hands on the curve of my ass. I unzipped his cardigan and threw it on the floor, while he pulled the straps of my dress until I was in my underwear. As I slipped my hand into his fly, I felt the bulge of his penis. He rubbed my hand over the top of my floral lace panties, until I began to lubricate. When he removed my bra with his mouth, he was already in his underwear
Anna's Decision XXII-THE AFTERMATH
XXII My blushing and my fear that he would consider me a vulgar woman were placated when he sat down next to me on the edge of the bed, already dressed in his pajamas. I was crestfallen, I hadn't even pulled my pants over my panties. 'What's the matter, didn't you like it?' 'Of course I did. It's not that, it's...' He slipped an arm around me and put his head on my shoulder. 'So, do you regret already?' 'I'm not looking for just a one-night stand, Harlan. You'll think I'm sleeping around because I did it with you so fast.' 'That's nonsense. I'd love for us to keep seeing each other.' 'Well then, you need to talk to that girlfr
Anna's Decision XXIII-A MATTER OF PRIORITIES
XXIII I woke up, still cradled in Harlan's arms. I didn't know what time it was, but I didn't care either, as a pleasurable tingling went up from my back to my neck. "Baby," I whispered. I was still sleeping. I continued to lie on my side, relaxed by the sound of crickets chirping behind the window. So quiet I was that I didn't hear the sound of the key turning. Only the knob made me alert. I wanted to get up, but my body froze. There he stood, long as a day without bread, Harlan's father. I could barely see him, standing in the middle of the room with his arms crossed. My eyes had clouded over. 'Will you explain to me what this is?' My lips
Anna's Decision XXIV-LIFE
XXIV It was two o'clock on Sunday afternoon when I got home. Kate greeted me with cuddles and a mischievous smile. 'What? The little dog was a wolf?' 'I'm not in the mood right now, Kate,' I said turning away from her. 'Come on, mate, have you two had a row? I didn't know it was so short-lived between you two.' 'Stop it, will you?' Her countenance changed when she saw me serious. 'We've been caught by his father.' 'Well, you're all grown up now, aren't you?' 'You don't understand. He doesn't approve of us being together.' 'Is he still going on about how he wants a rich girl for his son?' 'I don't know. We
Anna's Decision XXV-BACK TO SCHOOL
XXV My only way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day was to study the first semester subjects I had left half-finished. Kate volunteered to help me and we spent many hours catching up. Language, literature, history. Victorian era, Modernism, Postmodernism...Kate's notes were neat and everything was well summarized. She was the one who lent them to Beth and Erika. I went to bed exhausted, not thinking that the next morning I would have to see them and face them. The aula magna had a staircase in the center, which I climbed, trying to cover my face, to the surprised looks of my classmates. It was ridiculous that I was acting like a child. Kate was a- head of me, even though
Anna's Decision XXVI-MONICA AGAIN
XXVI My instinct was sharp. I shouldn't have accepted the conditions, but it was time to face the music. After all, I would spend all day studying. In class, they could stare at me for as long as they wanted, wear me down with their eyes, and subject me to the social judgment of those who had nothing better to spend their time on. Monica. A name to forget, no matter how over it was. Diya, Diya, what was the use of repeat- ing all those names in my head? We are what we are, regardless of the circumstances. And always in spite of the circumstances, which in reality do make up what we are. What a mess! On paper, in the exams, all those philosophical and literary theories could be of some us
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Anna's Decision XXXIII-AN OPEN DOOR
XXXIIII couldn't help but break down in tears. 'Stop it, for fuck's sake, have you guys gone crazy?'I got in the middle of the two of them to try to separate them. Harlan wouldn't let go, and Jack looked focused, like he was gathering strength to punch him.'Let him go!' I insisted. Jack gained momentum and threw a punch, which hit him glancingly, but I got in the way and shouted again.'You're a bastard. You already hurt her once, you hear me?' Harlan accused the other as he stepped back, ready to walk away. I'd never seen him like that.If I'd been told Jack would get cocky, I'd have believed it more.'Did I? I don't know what nonsense you're talking, you deadbeat.'
Anna's Decision XXXII-ABOUT TO BE CAUGHT
XXXII I hurriedly searched for the keys, and sighed in relief that the car was driving away. 'Were you coming with Harlan?' reacted Diya, surprised. 'Yes, of course. It's better if he doesn't come in here. Or at least, I wanted to warn you first.' 'But why? I've already told you there's nothing going on between us.' My emotional brain was making me jealous, while reason was telling me that Diya was right. 'I didn't want to bring it without telling you first, in case you felt uncomfortable,' I lied. I didn't know if it sounded very convincing. As we drank coffee and watched MTV videos, I thought about how to say the right words. 'Well, we've got a problem,
Anna's Decision XXXI-ARGUING
XXXI We entered the hotel arguing, with mutual reproaches. I demanded impossible proof from him that he had never been with Diya while she was with me. He, for his part, seemed to ask the same of me regarding Jack. We were evenly matched, so we ended up in bed, staring into each other's eyes, repeating "swear to me no..." and then eating each other out. Again those arms were wrapped around me. I was like floating after carrying all the tension with him. And yet, that night I dreamed of my brother Ben. We were in the park, playing cowboys and Indians, laughing and then playing cards with some cousins from London. I was happy then, but happiness is elusive.
Anna's Decision XXX-LOVE TRIANGLE
XXX Leaving the house with Kate to go to college, I found a flower in the mailbox. "To Anna, with love," it said on a tag attached to the stem. 'Look, this has been left here. Could it have been Jack?' I asked Kate, whom I had already filled in on the boy's courtship. 'Well, if you don't know,' laughed Kate. I sighed, thinking about Jack's proposal, as we headed for the bus. 'But you've told him no, haven't you?' I remembered that I had turned him down without much vehemence. 'I'm with Harlan, you know that. But he has to make up his mind to come with me to London. Besides, you know something, and don't let him get out of here? Sometim
Anna's Decision XXIX-YOU'D BETTER MAKE A DECISION
XXIX I had caught up on my studies and was ready for any challenge. I had no rehearsal that after- noon, so I met with Harlan. I hoped everything would be cleared up, so we agreed that I would pick him up at the hotel. The front desk was clear, so I went straight to the desk. He gave me a discreet kiss on the lips. 'And your father?", I demanded. 'He's coming.' He didn't seem nervous, so I got straight to the point. 'Diya is not depressed.' He shook his head. 'I already told you, Anna. It was her father who told me.' Just then her father, who had overheard the conversation, came in. 'I've already spoken to my partner. He has lied,
Anna's Decision XXVIII-LET'S GATHER
XXVIII I knew it was clumsy to do it that way, but one afternoon I went to where I had seen her get out of Harlan's car and there she was. She was walking near the tourist office. 'Good afternoon, Diya?' I tried. 'Yes,' she answered, puzzled. 'I wanted to talk to you about Harlan.' 'Ah, are you Anna, his girlfriend?' I didn't remember us defining the relationship that way, but it sounded good. 'Well, that's one way of loo
Anna's Decision XXVII-WILL YOU CHOOSE?
XXVII We were sitting across from each other, wine and fish, dim lights. He insisted that I wait be- fore he told me what he had to tell me. 'Well, what's that so important,' I asked before taking a sip from the glass. 'Diya.' It was off to a bad start. My face changed. 'You're going to leave me for her and you're laughing at me?' 'Wait, Anna, wait,' he frowned. 'I'm not with her, okay? But there's a little problem with her father.' 'A problem with his father?' I repeated, laconic. 'Yes, and with Diya...Yesterday, she told me she was really in love with me.' 'But you don't love her, do you,' I tried to get him to confirm. Silence. 'D
Anna's Decision XXVI-MONICA AGAIN
XXVI My instinct was sharp. I shouldn't have accepted the conditions, but it was time to face the music. After all, I would spend all day studying. In class, they could stare at me for as long as they wanted, wear me down with their eyes, and subject me to the social judgment of those who had nothing better to spend their time on. Monica. A name to forget, no matter how over it was. Diya, Diya, what was the use of repeat- ing all those names in my head? We are what we are, regardless of the circumstances. And always in spite of the circumstances, which in reality do make up what we are. What a mess! On paper, in the exams, all those philosophical and literary theories could be of some us
Anna's Decision XXV-BACK TO SCHOOL
XXV My only way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day was to study the first semester subjects I had left half-finished. Kate volunteered to help me and we spent many hours catching up. Language, literature, history. Victorian era, Modernism, Postmodernism...Kate's notes were neat and everything was well summarized. She was the one who lent them to Beth and Erika. I went to bed exhausted, not thinking that the next morning I would have to see them and face them. The aula magna had a staircase in the center, which I climbed, trying to cover my face, to the surprised looks of my classmates. It was ridiculous that I was acting like a child. Kate was a- head of me, even though
