LOGINShare
XXXII-ABOUT TO BE CAUGHT
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56XXXII
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,
Related chapters
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 I-ANNA STARTS ANEW
I ANNA STARTS ANEW It is often said that misfortune and heartbreak make you stronger. I wish I could believe that. Having lost a brother might be a life lesson, but it was horrible when God decided Ben would pass away at the age of twenty-four. Just six years older than me, my beloved. And damn cancer killed him. Why? I don’t know. It was different with Monica, my ex-girlfriend. She never wanted to tell anyone we
Anna's Decision II-IS HE THE RIGHT GUY?
II The quarter progressed and, as I'd expected, I was unable to get Jack out of my mind. We would greet each other laconically in the hallway of the house, keeping quiet at lunch. My conversations with both him and Beth were limited to household chores. Don't mix colors in the washing machine, turn off the light when it's daylight, don't let Roy overindulge in cho- colate and sweets. The literature professor had set a group assignment, so we met in the library. Most of the girls had little initiative. They obeyed everything proposed by Erika, an arrogant girl who thought she was always right. She was tall and posh, dressed in leather and after every word s
Anna's Decision III-TWO HURDLES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
III My joy ended as soon as I returned home. 'But why are you coming so late?,' Beth, Jack's sister, chided me. Then I remembered that Erika, the one boasting to have seducted Jack, had mentioned her the day before. "'If it's just that they're two silly girls, it's normal for them to be such good friends", I thought. I tried not to answer back. That would have made things worse. Now no one could know that I liked girls too, but I was also afraid that they would find out about my kiss with Jack. 'Has the cat got your tongue?' 'I'm a little fed up with you, Beth.' 'What? Who do you think you are, you little girl?' I thought she was going to hit me, but
Anna's Decision IV -AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL
IV It wasn't until the following Monday that my mind reacted to the fact that Monica had been hiding things from me. Then I felt as angry with her as I did with Jack. How can you play with someone's feelings like that? They both knew perfectly well who I was, which was unclear even to myself. I felt emotionally naked and vulnerable. When I got out of class, I told Monica I wanted to go to the Museum of Natural Science. We went in, and I soon realized that what was on display there was beautiful, sad and disgusting at the same time. Stuffed animals. Big elephants and giraffes whose bones, skin and gaze had been paralyzed forever, immortalized on wood in such a way that
Anna's Decision V-STRUGGLING TO GET BY
V The next few weeks were spent running from building to building at the university, eating snacks and fast food, overwhelmed by classwork, upcoming exams, and visits to professors' offices. There was hardly any excitement that Monica had taken me into her shared apart- ment. The other roommate was a computer geek who was almost always in her room, and Monica and I didn't even talk more than necessary, except for the common assignment. I lost track of time. It's amazing how one can perceive eternity in a single minute and get sucked into the routine for months. Before I knew it, it was already June. In Irish Literature exam I had to answer a question about Samuel Beckett. I
Anna's Decision VI-AND HE GAVE ME THE COLD SHOULDER
VI The summer passed like an exhalation in my life. If this was living, stringing together seasons, routines, loves and disappointments, then I wasn't going to be the one to make sense of it. Just as I was about to cancel my projects and move back to London, I was called to work for a consultancy. Against all odds, I was selected as a part-time administrative intern. A temporary job, but better than nothing. My boss, Mrs. Stern, was strict but fair in her demands. But one day I discovered that she was a distant aunt of Beth and Jack. I was still living with them and was being paid a small amount for tutoring Roy, so I had enough money to send home to my parents. Whether I wanted to or not, my w
Anna's Decision VII-ON THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY
VII What happened over the next few weeks still clouds over in my mind. I only know that I slept little, started drinking and suffered anxiety attacks. I thought the office would be more understanding, but they were not. I had bitten more than I could chew and colleagues com- plained about my performance. I was fired from there too, to put it simply. I felt worthless and guilty for having to tell my parents that I could no longer send them money. My father told me that he’d found a new position and I shouldn’t worry, but that didn't solve anything. I couldn't see myself getting ahead, I had to pass all my subjects and I’d started drinking heavily. At first, I
Latest chapter
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
