Shattered Heart

Chapter 6 : "An Evening with Clara"

Ethan's concern grew as the days passed without any sign of Antonia. He suspected that she might have found another lover, given her pattern of seeking comfort in others when her heart was broken and then disappearing when she found new love. While he had grown accustomed to this behavior, what troubled him most was not knowing her whereabouts. He pondered over his role in her life, wondering why she never bothered to keep him informed, despite their friendship.

Thoughts swirled in Ethan's mind as he questioned his significance to Antonia. "What does she really think of me? Why doesn't she care enough to call or even check on my well-being? Why does she only return when she's hurting?" Ethan's confusion only deepened with each passing day, and he couldn't fathom the reasons behind their dynamic.

Frustrated by her constant disappearances, Ethan had made futile attempts to reach out to her, always met with silence on the other end. He finally decided to visit a friend of hers to inquire about Antonia's whereabouts.

As he stood lost in thought, a voice broke through his reverie. Turning around, Ethan saw his manager, often referred to as "chief," approaching him. Startled, Ethan quickly rose from where he had been seated. "Ethan, are you alright?" the chief inquired with genuine concern.

"Yes, sir, I'm fine," Ethan replied, his posture straightening as though he were addressing a commanding officer. The chief's concern persisted. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Ethan reaffirmed his well-being, his words steady and determined, "Yes, I'm perfectly fine, sir."

The chief observed Ethan's expressions for a few moments before continuing, "You know, you can always..."

Ethan cut him off, not wanting to burden his manager with his personal struggles, "Seriously, I'm fine, sir. You don't need to worry. I'm completely okay."

Meeting the chief's gaze squarely, Ethan clarified, "I was just gathering some tools, nothing more, chief."

The chief finally relented, sensing Ethan's resolve, "Alright then. If that's what you say. Get back to work."

With that, the exchange ended, and Ethan returned to his tasks, carrying the weight of his concerns.

In the evening, after Ethan's work shift ended, he drove to Clara's apartment. They had coordinated their plans over the phone earlier, and she had invited him for dinner, knowing she'd be available around that time.

He pressed the doorbell and waited patiently outside. When Clara opened the door, she started to apologize, saying, "Oh, hi Ethan, sorry for keeping you outside. I was at the..."

Ethan quickly interrupted her with a warm smile, "No need to apologize, Clara."

Clara welcomed him inside, and she led him to the living room. Impressed by her apartment, Ethan couldn't help but comment, "What a beautiful apartment you've got."

"Thank you so much," Clara replied with a chuckle. "I just moved in about a week ago, so this is how it looks." She then playfully added, "So, what can I offer you, my lovely guest?" She presented this question with a wide smile, as if she were participating in a debate. Their laughter filled the room, and Ethan settled on a glass of water.

Clara came from a well-cultured family and possessed striking beauty with a slender figure. She had a reserved and shy disposition, which often led people to view her as somewhat eccentric. Among Antonia's friends, Clara was the one Ethan had grown closest to, and they shared a bond that made them seem like best friends.

After offering Ethan a glass of water, Clara explained that she was in the midst of preparing dinner before his arrival. She asked for a bit of time to finish her cooking and turned on the TV to keep him entertained while she wrapped up in the kitchen.

After an hour, Clara emerged from the kitchen, balancing a demonstration plate. She set it down on the dining table before turning her warm smile toward Ethan. "Ethan, my love," she began, her eyes filled with curiosity, "what is it about Antonia that keeps you so uneasy?"

Ethan's response was tinged with a mixture of calm and despair. "Clara," he began, his voice heavy with emotion, "you know I'm never at ease when Antonia is absent. What do you expect me to do?"

She stood for a while, approached where Ethan was seated on the couch, and took a seat beside him. "Ethan, you're a very caring and wonderful man," Clara said with a warm smile, placing her hand on his chest. She gave him a quick, affectionate peck on the cheek before darting into the kitchen to retrieve the remaining food.

"But for now, let's just enjoy our meal," Clara declared as she emerged from the kitchen, carrying a demonstration plate. She then made a detour to her glass showcase filled with various types of wine, selecting one for their dinner. Returning to the dining area with the wine, she extended her hand toward Ethan, inviting him, "Come and join me for dinner, lover boy."

Their laughter filled the room as Ethan complimented her, "You're really funny, Clara." He stood up from the couch, and together, they made their way to the dining table.

Ethan and Clara sat across from each other, savoring their meal and drinks, relishing both the flavors and their ongoing conversation. Laughter filled their moments as they enjoyed each other's company.

After finishing their meal, Clara played some music and invited Ethan to dance. They swayed to the music, lost in the moment for about an hour. Suddenly, a loud scream from the neighboring apartment startled them. They rushed to the window to investigate, but found nothing amiss. Concerned, they decided to check on their neighbors, knocking on their door.

"Hi, good evening, Clara," greeted Mrs. Ammie. "We heard a scream and came to check if everything's alright."

While Clara engaged in conversation with Mrs. Ammie, Ethan peered inside their neighbor's apartment, trying to discern any unusual activity. Mrs. Ammie reassured them with an uncertain tone, "I assure you that everything is alright, there's nothing to worry about."

Clara said, "Okay, no problem. As you said, take care. We'll head back to my place." She led Ethan away, and Mrs. Ammie closed the door gently.

Once back in Clara's apartment, Ethan expressed his unease, saying, "I'm pretty sure everything is not fine with her."

Clara responded, "Ethan, she said she's alright, and that's all we can do. We can't force her to say anything. We've done our best as caring human beings."

They both settled on the couch, facing each other, a moment of silence passing between them. Ethan's thoughts wandered back to their earlier encounter and his unanswered question about Antonia.

"Oh, right," he exclaimed, breaking the silence. "Clara, what about Antonia? I haven't seen her for a few days now, and I recall we discussed it over the phone, planning to talk about it this evening."

"Ethan, don't be annoyed by this question, but I just want to understand why you care so much about Antonia," Clara inquired. Ethan hesitated for a moment before responding, "Clara, I just want to know where she is. If you don't mind sharing, I'm genuinely concerned."

Their eyes locked in curiosity before Clara finally spoke, "The last time I saw her, we were at the beach with Ava and Emily. She told us about a new guy she met at her office who initially wanted to buy property but then seemed interested in her. He asked her out, and she accepted. However, since that day, I haven't heard from her. I've tried texting her, but I receive no replies."

Ethan felt devastated but couldn't find the right words to express his emotions. He gazed at the ground in silence. Clara, sensing his mood, moved from the couch to sit beside him.

"Ethan, I don't know what to say either, and I won't speak ill of her. I just want you to carefully consider your feelings and make decisions that will bring you peace. You're a wonderful person, and there are many great women out there who would appreciate you. You're hurting, and I hope you'll reconsider because you deserve the best."

Ethan managed a smile and replied, "Thank you, Clara." She suggested, "How about we watch some funny movies, have some cake and wine? You always have a way of brightening people's moods, and that's why I enjoy being around you."

"Stop flattering me, Mr. Ethan," Clara playfully responded, adding humor to the conversation. They both burst into laughter as Clara headed to the kitchen to retrieve two slices of cake and some wine glasses. Ethan then requested to stay the night at her house.

"You're welcome anytime, Ethan," Clara replied as she went to fetch the wine from her showcase.