The Heart Never Forgets

Chapter-4

CHAPTER-4

Everything was going smoothly. The date for the farewell ceremony celebrating the graduation of high school students has been officially set. Everyone was eager to participate. Della and Ethan decided to participate in a play. They would come to the high school auditorium every day for rehearsals. They both participated in the rehearsals along with everyone else. Lucas would also participate in the ceremony. He would recite a beautiful poem. But he was practicing his poem at home.

Meanwhile, Della and Ethan were practicing very well. Everyone encouraged them because they impressed everyone with their excellent acting. Thus, Della and Ethan's days were passing beautifully and dreamily. After rehearsals, Ethan would take Della out for ice cream. Sometimes they would sit in the nearby coffee shop and enjoy coffee. But one day, Billy joined them. Billy was their classmate. Billy was a bit complicated. Especially with the girls at school, because Billy enjoyed teasing the girls. Billy thought that all the girls liked him. But the truth was that everyone only liked Billy when they needed him for something important. In fact, everyone avoided him. Coincidentally, Della, Ethan, and Billy would be acting in the same play on the day of the farewell ceremony, and that's why Della had to tolerate Billy.

One day, Della and Ethan met Billy at the ice cream parlor. Then Billy's chatter began.

Billy: Hey, Della! You two are eating ice cream. Can I join you?

Della: Of course, Billy, sit down. You can eat ice cream with us.

Ethan was trying to avoid Billy. Billy noticed that. Ethan whispered in Della's ear—

Ethan: Della, why did you let him sit with us? Let Billy go. We were having a good time. Billy probably doesn't like this. He's very jealous.

Della: Oh, nothing will happen. He won't cause any trouble.

Ethan: You didn't listen to me, Della. You'll regret it later.

Della overlooked Ethan's words entirely. Della had never thought of Billy as such a bad boy. In fact, Della sees good qualities in everyone.

Della: What's wrong? Sit down, Billy.

Billy readily agreed to Della's suggestion with a big smile. He pulled up the chair next to her and sat down. His yellow, discolored teeth were visible. The shopkeeper gave Billy an ice cream, and he began to eat it loudly. Then, he gestured towards Ethan with his eyes and raised his eyebrows, asking—

Billy: So, how long have you two been in a relationship, Ethan? Tell me?

Ethan: What do you mean?

Billy: I mean, how long has your relationship been going on?

Della: What kind of relationship are you talking about, Billy? I don't understand anything.

Billy: Oh! I'm talking about your romantic relationship.

Ethan: Shut up, Billy. What kind of nonsense are you talking about?

Della couldn't understand a word of what Billy was saying.

Billy: Why? Why would it be nonsense? Your romance has spread throughout the entire school campus like wildfire these days. Don't you know anything? Or are you pretending not to know?

Ethan is a very calm boy; he doesn't get angry easily. Now he was controlling himself with great difficulty. Della glanced at Ethan nervously. Ethan was also looking at Della. Della's entire face began to flush. Ethan understood that Della was feeling uncomfortable. Ethan clenched his jaw and looked at Billy.

Ethan: Billy, have you lost your mind? Do you understand what you're saying?

Billy: I'm telling the truth. Can you deny it?

Ethan: What? Billy: Can you deny that you two are having a great time romancing each other?

Ethan then got up from his chair. Standing in front of Billy, he slowly began to say:

Ethan: Shut up, you fool! You know well that I, Della, and Lucas are good friends. Yet you're saying all this nonsense. Shouldn't you be ashamed? Besides, both Della and I are feeling very embarrassed by what you're saying. Stop making such jokes. Billy: Why would this be a joke? If you two are such good friends, why didn't Lucas come to hang out with you?

Ethan: Go and ask Lucas yourself.

Billy: Oh, I understand now. You two are secretly having a relationship. We can all see it with our own eyes, and you're saying we need to go to Lucas to find out?

Ethan: Yes, if necessary, you will have to go. Now get out of here. Stop your blabbering.

Billy: Hmm, I'm not someone who talks unnecessarily. I know that Lucas has distanced himself because of your relationship. Shame on you! You betrayed Lucas like this.

Della's mouth hung open in surprise at Billy's words. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Della: Billy, what are you saying? I'm sure you're playing a bad joke on us. But enough is enough, stop now. I can't take it anymore!

Billy laughed, showing his yellow teeth.

Billy: I'm not joking with you at all. I'm saying what I know.

Ethan couldn't control himself anymore. He grabbed Billy's shirt collar. He brought his mouth close to Billy's ear and said,

Ethan: How dare you! You're trying to ruin our long-standing friendship.

Billy: It won't be good, Ethan. Let go of my shirt collar. You don't know me. I'll teach you a lesson.

Ethan: Oh, go on. Show me what you can do. You uncivilized brute.

Billy: I'll teach you a proper lesson.

Della couldn't understand anything. These two were arguing in front of her. Della was thinking about how to calm them down.

Della: Please, both of you, calm down. I don't like this at all. Billy, I trusted you. But what you're doing isn't right.

Ethan: I told you before, Della, Billy is not trustworthy at all. See now?

Billy freed himself from Ethan's grip. Then, pointing a finger at Ethan, he started saying—

I'll get back to you. I'll make you all cry.

Della: What will you gain by doing all this? Why do you want to ruin our friendship?

Billy: Ha ha, now your love story will end.

Della: What nonsense are you talking about? Have you really gone mad, Billy?

Ethan: See, I told you before. Billy is very jealous. Do you believe me now?

Billy left angrily, muttering to himself. Ethan was surprised. Because he knew Billy was jealous, but he didn't know that Billy also liked to interfere in other people's affairs. Even if Della and Ethan liked each other, it was entirely their personal matter. But Billy easily said things to them that weren't true. Yes, Ethan indeed likes Della a lot, but that doesn't mean he has made Della his girlfriend! This is simply Billy's excessive behavior.

Billy's behavior deeply hurt Della. Della couldn't understand why Billy was suddenly behaving like this. Until yesterday, Billy was normal. They had been rehearsing together for a long time. She had never seen Billy make such bad jokes before. Why did Billy suddenly change like this? Has Billy lost his mind? Della refused to stay there any longer. The rehearsal might not be over, but she turned to Ethan and said—

Della: Let's go from here, Ethan. Forget what Billy did. I think he was very upset about something, so he tried to have some fun by making bad jokes with us. Maybe we took the matter too seriously. Anyway, forget everything.

But Ethan looked quite worried. He said to Della—

Ethan: Whatever you say, I didn't find what happened here normal at all. There's some mystery behind it. Let it go. We'll see later. Let's go. I'm going to rehearsal. My mother has told me to come home quickly.