The Change
1368 Words
# Chapter Four: The Change
Ruth was staring at Egide's latest message
You don't trust me?
She read twice.
Something in the sentence was off.
She never said she didn't trust him.
She just preferred a public meeting over his house.
But somehow he made her boundary sound like a confession.
Ruth set her phone down next to the laptop.
She wasn't going to indulge him.
If he wanted to misconstrue her meaning, he could do it himself.
She grabbed her bag and left for class.
For the next few hours she tried her best to pretend Egide wasn't part of her life anymore.
But it was difficult.
Everytime her phone vibrated at her side, she shot a glance at the screen.
No message from Egide.
By the time lunch arrived she realized something.
She had gotten used to them.
Her hands trembled slightly as she turned away from the text icon and went to open a menu.
---
Meanwhile, Egide had decided against contacting Ruth.
He sat in his office, gazing out the window at the city beyond.
His assistant knocked on the doorframe and entered with a file.
"Sir, the meeting with the investors is at two."
"I know."
"The documents are prepared."
"Leave them."
She set the folder on his desk and turned around as she left.
As she passed the door she looked back at him.
"Are you okay?"
Egide glanced at her.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You seem preoccupied."
"I'm working."
She nodded and stepped out.
Egide took a breath and picked up his phone.
Egide's name still lit up on the screen.
His finger hovered over the touchpad.
He had so many reasons to pursue her.
But not today.
Not after she had refused him for the second time.
He would not chase her anymore.
At least, that's what he told himself.
His phone rang.
He answered without checking the caller ID.
"Hello?"
"Egide?"
He immediately recognized the voice.
It belonged to one of the women he was seeing.
"Yes?"
"Are we meeting tonight?"
"I don't know."
"You said you would."
"I changed my mind."
There was a pause.
"You always change your mind."
Egide's jaw hardened.
"I said I'm busy."
He hung up and then stared at Ruth's contact.
For some reason, he wanted her to text him.
She didn't.
And somehow it made him angrier.
---
At four o'clock, Ruth walked away from campus.
She checked her phone again before tucking it back in her pocket.
Still nothing.
She didn't know whether to be happy or frustrated.
She hated that she was feeling both.
She caught sight of a familiar car across the street.
Egide's car.
Her heart skipped a beat when she wondered if he had come to see her.
She waited.
The man in the driver's seat stepped out.
Their eyes locked.
He gave her a long look.
Then he strode towards her.
"Hi."
His voice was colder than usual.
"Hello."
"I was nearby."
Ruth nodded.
"Oh."
He was looking at her.
"You didn't answer my question."What question?"
"Whether you trust me."
Ruth exhaled.
"Egide, I didn't say I don't trust you."
"But you won't come to my house."
"That's because I don't visit men alone."
"You've said that."
"And I'll continue saying it."
He was studying her now.
For a few seconds they simply stood there.
Then he smiled.
But it wasn't a warm smile.
"Fine."
Ruth felt annoyed.
"I don't want us to argue."
"We're not arguing."
"Then why are you upset?"
"I'm not upset."
He turned away.
Ruth watched him.
She didn't understand his moods.
One moment he was thoughtful and considerate.
The next he accused her of lying.
"Did you still want to help me with writing?" she asked.
Egide turned back.
"Writing?"
"Yes."
He paused.
"Maybe another time."
Ruth's heart sank.
"Okay."
He nodded.
"Take care."
Then he walked back to his car.
Ruth stood watching him go.
She felt stupid.
She was thrilled that the opportunity to learn from him had come.
But now she wasn't even sure if he remembered the deal.
---
That night, Ruth opened her laptop.
She searched for online courses on article writing.
She could learn on her own.
She didn't need him.
Still, she couldn't stop thinking about the conversation.
She opened the chat between the two of them.
The conversations they shared in the beginning had been cute.
Friendly.
Now it all seemed different.
Maybe she had done something wrong.
Perhaps she had been too aloof.
Maybe she failed to grasp his intentions.
She stopped and then remembered how he had kept asking her to come to his house.
Come to my place.
She closed the chat.
No.
She hadn't done anything wrong.
All she had been was polite.
She said no.
---
Two days passed without either of them contacting the other.
Their conversations grew shorter.
Finally Egide texted her again.
Egide: What are you doing?
Ruth: Studying.
Egide: You always study.
Ruth: I have exams coming.
Egide: Come out with me.
Ruth stared at the text.
Ruth: Where?
Egide: Somewhere.
She smiled.
Ruth: That's not a place.
Egide: You ask too much.
Ruth: Because you don't answer.
He sent the laughing emoji.
For the first time in a few days, Ruth felt the tension lift.
Perhaps their relationship was returning to normal.
But the next message only made her doubt it.
Egide: You can come to my place first. Then we can decide.
Her smile vanished.
Again.
What did he mean by this?
Why was he always trying to get her to come to his place?
She didn't reply.
Egide waited for a while.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Nothing.
His expression darkened.
He threw his phone onto the table.
"Fine."
---
The next week Ruth attended a small workshop on writing.
It wasn't the kind of event she was used to.
But she learned a lot about opening paragraphs and building intriguing characters.
Afterwards, she felt thrilled but immediately regretted it.
She texted him.
Then stopped.
Why was she always the one thinking about him?
She put it away.
---
That evening, Egide finally called.
Ruth answer.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing much."
"Come over."
Ruth closed her eyes.
"Egide."
"What is it?"
"I have already explained."
"I know."
"Then why do you keep asking?"
He was quiet for a while.
Then his voice softened.
"Because I want to spend time with you."
Ruth didn't know what to say.
That was the first time he had ever stated his feelings so plainly.
"Why?"
"Because I like talking to you."
Her heart softened.
"Then we can talk elsewhere."
Another pause.
This one was longer.
"You are really serious about this boundary."
"Yes."
He sighed.
"Okay."
Ruth smiled.
"Thank you."
"Goodnight, Ruth."
"Goodnight."
The call ended.
Ruth stared at her phone.
For a moment she felt proud of herself.
Perhaps Egide was starting to understand.
But she didn't know what the other end of the call had seen.
Egide, too, was looking at his phone.
He was no longer angry.
In fact, he felt a bit more confused.
Why did Ruth's rejection of him bother him this much?
Why was he always so concerned with whether she trusted him or not?
And why was he starting to feel that she had more importance than he ever anticipated?
---
The next day, Ruth received a message.
It was not from Egide.
It was from a number she didn't recognize.
Hello. Are you Ruth?
She frowned.
Ruth: Yes. Who is this?
The reply came quickly.
I'm looking for Egide.
Her stomach twisted.
She reread the text.
Before she could respond, another message appeared.
Are you his girlfriend?
Her hands froze.
She didn't know what to say.
Because she wasn't.
At least, she didn't think she was.
Then another message appeared.
Because he told me he was single.
Her fingers went numb as she stared at the screen.
Who was this woman?
And why was she asking about Egide?
For the first time, Ruth considered that there was something about her partner that she didn't know.
She was curious what the other side had to say.
And suddenly she wanted to find out.
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