Chapter 19
The Educator
My friends and I continue to talk but over video call. My friends are frantic about what happened and asked what I was feeling. I take a moment to contemplate, make sure I answer correctly. âI donât think I love him,â I say âIâm just attracted to himâ I tell them. They are silent and after a few seconds, all of them start talking that I could not even understand what they are saying.
âEli, do you think you could be just forcing the feeling?â Hannah asks.
âI donât know. I donât feel like Iâm forcing it. Elliotâs just a real gentleman. Heâs kind, warm, generous, sweet and considerateâ
âHow is he all those things?â Venice asks.
I prompt to tell them what happened here in Thailand, all the gestures, the planning and the general idea that he finds my comfort a priority.
âMaybe heâs gay?â Venice comments âDonât stereotype. Just because Elliotâs more of a man than any of your boyfriends, doesnât mean you could spread hateâ Hannah says.
âGuys, please just help me outâ I tell them.
âWell, okay, to be honest, it seems like things are going great between you guys. For one, Elliotâs not hard to be around with. Second, he respects you and you respect him. Third, living with him wouldnât be such a burden, you donât have to pretend or keep any mannerisms from him. You married life will be easier than we thought it would be and hey, who knows, you might actually end up falling in love and all is well in the endâ Hannah preaches.
"Yeah, but I was hoping my love story wouldn't be like thisâ I tell him âNo every love story is perfect and Iâm not saying this is it for you. I was just saying, think positive about thisâ Hannah reasons.
âYeah. Thatâs true. And think of it as a genuine way for your parents to see that youâre really happy even if it did not start out as the usual love storyâ
âWait a minute. Can we stop referring to the situation as a love story? Eli and Elliot havenât even known each other long enough to say that they are in loveâ Hannah says.
I was a little hurt. Iâm such a hopeless romantic. Maybe deep down, I wanted to marry Elliot. Maybe I didnât protest because, I secretly had feelings for him all these years? I donât know. Iâm lost.
âThink about how easy it would be to be âmarriedâ to Elliot. He doesnât bite, unlike other husbands in fixed marriagesâ Venice points.
Thatâs true.
The Educator ï¤Chapter 18: 18 âAnd, hey! You have unlimited access to all of his credit cards, letâs just use that to your advantage and start shopping when you get homeâ
âyeah speaking of getting home, Iâll be busy arranging the small get together Elliot was saying earlierâ I tell them.
âThen weâll be shopping for goodies!â Hannah says.
I roll my eyes and thank them for their time. I end the call and I lay on my bed. Itâs already two in the morning. Jesus, when can I ever sleep early? I roll to my side and I hear voices downstairs. I crack open my door and I see Elliot talking to someone on his laptop and by the way he was talking, it seemed like they werenât business related.
âI donât know what happenedâ he says in a pressed but low tone.
âCome on, you know. Youâve been feeling this way for quite sometime and you know what you wantâ one voice said.
âThe question is, are you able to confirm if Eli feels the sameâ another voice said.
What?
The Educator