Testing Her Boundaries
1306 Words
By Friday afternoon, Ruth had nearly completely forgotten about Egide
Almost
She was sitting in the university library finishing up a programming assignment when her phone buzzed in her hand.
Egide: Are you free this evening?
She stared at it for a moment.
She had been expecting him to contact her about writing
He had sent her some casual messages the last two days.
How was your morning?
Have you eaten?
Why are you always busy
Nothing serious.
Nothing she could complain about.
But nothing that looked like writing guidance.
She finally replied.
Ruth: I have an assignment to finish.
His reply was quick.
Egide: You work too much.
She smiled.
Ruth: That's what students do.
Egide: Come and relax.
Her fingers froze over the keyboard.
She already knew where that was going.
Ruth: Where?
Egide: My place.
She leant against her chair in her chair.
Again?
She had already made her position clear.
Ruth: I told you I don't visit men alone at their homes.
There was a long pause; three dots blinked on then off, then the dots appeared again then disappeared until his text appeared.
Egide: I'm not asking you to marry me.
She frowned.
She wasn't sure whether he was joking.
Ruth: And I'm not accusing you of anything.
Egide: Then why are you afraid?
She stared at the screen for a few seconds.
She wasn't afraid.
She simply knew herself.
Ruth: I'm not afraid. I have boundaries.
For the first time, he didn't reply right away.
When he did, his reply was brief.
Egide: Fine.
She put her phone down, and returned to her assignment.
But something had changed.
She could feel it.
His messages had grown shorter.
Cold.
Almost like her refusal had hurt him.
---
Across town Egide was at his desk, and the first thing his assistant did when she set a couple of documents in front of him was remind him.
"These need your signature.
Egide barely looked at them.
His mind was on Ruth;
He couldn't remember the last time he was so frustrated at a simple rejection.
He had been approached by numerous women who wanted his attention.
They wanted his money.
They wanted his connections.
They wanted his lifestyle.
With them, he understood the game.
But Ruth?
She never asked him for anything.
Not even coffee.
She had never asked him about his cars.
Never about how much house cost.
Never about what he owned.
She had asked him about writing.
That was it.
His assistant cleared her throat.
"Sir?"
He looked up.
"What?"
"The documents."
He signed them without reading them.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown: Are we still meeting tonight?
He replied.
Egide: Yes.
He put his phone away, and after a few seconds, he looked at Ruth's contact.
He almost called her.
Almost.
Then his pride stopped him.
What was the point of chasing someone who had refused him?
He smiled to himself.
She would come to him in time.
They always did.
---
On Monday morning, Ruth was surprised to see Egide sitting at a corner table at the café near campus.
He spotted her and greeted her right away.
"Ruth."
She gave him a polite smile.
"Hello."
"Come sit."
She hesitated then sat down.
Egide pushed a cup of coffee towards her.
"I remembered you don't take much sugar."
She looked at the cup.
"You remembered?"
"I remember things that interest me."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
For a few minutes they talked normally.
School.
Work.
Writing then Egide questioned gently, "Why do you want to become a writer?"
Her face softened.
"Because I have things I want to say."
"Such as?"
She pondered for a moment.
"Things people feel but don't know how to explain."
Egide studied her.
"That's a good answer.
What about you?
"What about me?"
"Why do you write?"
He leant back.
"Business."
"Only business?"
"Mostly.
Ruth smiled.
"You don't seem like someone who writes for pleasure."
"Maybe I don't."
She laughed softly.
For the first time in a few days, Egide felt relaxed around her.
Then his eyes settled on her phone.
"You've been talking to someone?"
"No.
"You smiled at your phone."
"It was a message from my friend."
"Male friend."
She looked at him.
"Why?"
"I'm curious."
"That's none of your business."
Egide smiled.
"You're right.
But something had already changed in his expression.
Jealousy.
Small.
Almost invisible.
Ruth noticed it but didn't understand it.
"Egide?"
"Yes?"
"You said you would help me with article writing."
"I did.
"When can we start?"
He smiled.
"Whenever you want.
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow.
Ruth nodded.
"Okay.
---
The next evening, Ruth waited.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Twenty.
She checked her phone.
Nothing.
She had arranged to speak with Egide at six.
By six-thirty there was still no message.
She called.
No answer.
She waited another ten minutes before calling again.
There was still nothing.
Ruth stared at the screen.
Maybe he was busy.
Maybe something had happened.
She didn't want to judge him too quickly.
At seven she sent a message.
Ruth: Hi. Are you okay?
There was no response.
She closed her laptop.
Disappointment settled heavy in her chest.
It wasn't simply that he had failed to call.
It was that she had trusted his word.
She had believed he would help her.
And now he hadn't even bothered to tell her he couldn't make it.
She whispered to herself.
"Maybe he forgot."
But deep down she knew something was wrong.
---
The following morning, Egide finally called.
Ruth almost didn't answer.
She did.
"Hello?"
"Hey.
His voice was completely relaxed.
"Where were you yesterday?"
"Busy.
Ruth went silent; her fingers curled into tight fists.
"You could have told me.
"I know.
There was no apology, no explanation.
Only two words.
"I know.
Ruth swallowed; her heart hammering.
"I waited."
"I didn't ask you to wait.
The words hurt more than she expected.
She didn't respond.
Egide realized he had gone too far.
"Ruth—"
"I have class.
She ended the call.
For several seconds, Egide stared at his phone.
He hadn't intended to hurt her.
But something about her expectations irritated him.
Why did she expect so much from him?
They weren't together.
They weren't dating.
They were simply talking.
At least, that's what he told himself.
---
That evening, Ruth sat outside the university library.
Her friend saw her quiet expression.
"You look upset.
"I'm fine.
"You're not.
Ruth smiled weakly.
"It's nothing.
She didn't want to explain.
She didn't want to admit that Egide's behaviour had disappointed her.
After all, she barely knew him.
Maybe she had simply expected too much.
Her phone vibrated.
She looked down.
A message from Egide.
Egide: Don't be angry with me.
She stared at it then another message arrived.
Egide: I'll make it up to you.
She didn't reply.
A minute later.
Egide: Dinner tomorrow?
Ruth frowned.
He had ignored their writing appointment.
Now he was inviting her to dinner.
She typed.
Ruth: Why?
His answer came almost immediately.
Egide: Because I want to see you.
Ruth's heart skipped.
She hated that it did.
She looked away from the phone.
There was something about Egide that confused her.
Sometimes he was warm.
Sometimes distant.
Sometimes thoughtful.
Sometimes careless.
She couldn't understand which version of him was real.
Finally, she replied.
Ruth: Somewhere public?
A few seconds later.
Egide: Of course.
Ruth smiled.
She didn't know it yet, but she had just agreed to the first real test of their relationship.
And Egide?
He was already wondering how long it would take before Ruth finally lowered her guard.
He believed it was only a matter of time.
He had no idea that Ruth's boundaries were not a challenge to overcome.
They were a line he would eventually have to choose whether to respect.
And that choice would change everything.
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