Make Sense
Alice merely responded with a single word, unable to grasp what he should say in return.
Yet, at least she had nightmares that had his presence, so he couldn't deceive her; it wasn't that terrible after all.
Even though those were nightmares, she longed for him, perhaps offering his heart some reassurance.
Alisha gazed at him, scrutinising his expressions to decipher his thoughts or why he had responded so flatly.
"So, what else did you do all week?" Alice changed his question.
"My feet were injured, that's why I spent most of the time resting in bed. Mother Mary wouldn't let me leave the house. I finally went to college after a whole week," Alisha rambled on, providing every detail.
Alice smiled at her explanation, appreciating her effort to converse with him, rather than giving the usual contrary responses.
And then they fell into an argument; somehow, it felt better this way. When she replied so innocently, he could listen to her all day long.
Even though he wasn't accustomed to listening to anyone, it was he whom everyone listened to.
"That's good; your injury certainly needed a lot of rest. But now it seems like your feet are fine," Alice replied.
Alisha rolled her eyes. "Now I have wounds on my forehead, cheek, and my knees are still in pain."
Here he was, commending her need for rest, yet he didn't know how she sacrificed her studies for the entire week because of it, and how she acquired more wounds.
It seemed like he wanted her to be perpetually injured, then rest, and then acquire more wounds again.
Who in their right mind would find joy in thing's like this.
But what can she expect? He's the one who inflicts these injuries, so naturally, he would find satisfaction in her pain.
"Then you need to work on your behaviour. How can you just ignore things when you know they can harm you?" Alice spoke nonchalantly.
He could see her expressions and words, all pointing to him as the cause of her suffering, which he was.
But where was the responsibility on her side? She couldn't place the blame solely on him when she was practically asking for it.
At least in his eyes, she was.
"So when are you sending me back, as you promised? I did what you asked for," Alisha inquired.
"I don't know. I said maybe I will send you, but I am not sure. Let's wait. When I'm not in the mood to send you back, I'll do it whenever I feel like it. Don't worry," he replied casually.
Alisha narrowed her eyes as she heard his words, wondering if he had just deceived her.
It certainly felt that way; he had completely deceived her, no doubt about it.
What else could explain why she had performed that act, only for him to now claim he wasn't in the mood to send her back?
She regretted trusting this man; she had learned one thing: he couldn't stick to his word.
Sure, in other cases he could, but when it came to fulfilling his promise to send her back, she didn't think he could.
"Don't give me that look. Do you want to go back like this?"
"Like what?"
"Looking like a wounded ghost. If your Mother Mary saw you like this, she would be stressed," Alice said, his tone laced with a touch of manipulation, leveraging Alisha's emotional connection to her mother.
And to be honest, who wouldn't be devastated seeing their child injured?
So he wasn't entirely fabricating the concern either.
He might be using it for his own benefit, but he's not lying, that's for sure.
It's not like he has any genuine concern for Mary; he just wants to expedite that old lady's demise, that's how much he hates her.
The whole week he spent feeling like a walking corpse because of her taking Alisha away from him. So why not? He just wants to hasten the demise of that lady, for sure.
Alisha tried to make sense of his words, considering the fact that her Mother Mary would indeed be stressed if she saw her wounded again.
"But what about now? I'm sure she's even more worried now that I'm not with her. She told me she would pick me up from college, and now it's been a day. I've been here sleeping, and she's probably searching for me," Alisha said, her voice tinged with concern and frustration.
Alice was genuinely taken aback by the practicality of her question; in his eyes, she didn't seem like someone who would come up with such a straightforward inquiry.
"You could say you're spending time with a friend," Alice suggested.
"I don't have friends," Alisha replied with a hint of sadness.
Alisha had never had friends she could go out with at night. Just yesterday, she had made a friend, and now, how could she even make sense to Mary by saying that she suddenly made a friend and was having a night out at that friend's house? She had already been missing for a day, and the whole scenario wouldn't even make sense.
He sighed, realising his oversight. He had read her bio data and noted her extreme introverted behaviour, which he was grateful for.
He didn't want her to have friends or a boyfriend. If she were to have any romantic involvement before he even laid his hands on her, he would have his hands on the guy who dared to be in her same orbit.
"Tell her you're with me, but this time, with your own consent," Alice suggested confidently, believing it to be the best solution.
Alisha was shocked by his words; this was even worse than lying about having a friend.
She never lied, and even if she tried to for a good cause, how could it be justified to claim she was with Alice of her own free will?
Mary wouldn't even believe it; she had already witnessed firsthand how Alice treated Alisha.
"That's not happening. Mother will never agree, and she won't even believe me," Alisha protested.
Can't believe he came up with this crappy excuse that no one is going to believe at all.
"Then just don't tell her anything. She won't be able to find you here either. This penthouse—my own mom doesn't even know about it.”
