I Was Their Lab Rat, Not Their Daughter

Chapter 2

I applied to study abroad in Paris.

When my advisor had encouraged me to apply before, I firmly refused. "My parents, my friends, and my fiancé are all here. I don't want to be so far away from them."

I had given up a better future just to stay close to them.

Looking back now, it was terribly foolish.

I was halfway through packing when Rohan came home.

He paused, clearly surprised to see me packing. "Where are you going?"

He knelt down, smiling, and ruffled my hair. "What's wrong? Are you still upset? I spoke too harshly earlier. I'm sorry, okay?"

Rohan spoke gently, and it made me want to cry.

I couldn't tell whether his kindness came from love, or from Odette's experiment.

But I didn't want to guess anymore.

When I didn't answer, Rohan took me to my room to get dressed, and even helped me put on my scarf.

"You've been wanting to try that new grilled fish restaurant, haven't you? Let's go now, all right?"

He led me out to the car.

The bunny charm I had given him still hung there, smiling as always.

But the scented ornament I had chosen was gone. In its place hung Rohan's least favorite thing, a Belle charm.

Identical to the one in Odette's profile picture.

I turned toward the window. I didn't point out the neon lights or wonder aloud when the street cleaners might finish work, the way I used to.

The silence inside the car grew heavy and cold.

Rohan glanced at me but said nothing.

*****

We stopped outside the restaurant. Odette was waiting at the door. She looked startled when she saw me. "Sister… what are you doing here?"

She pulled Rohan aside. "The professor's inside. If you brought her… what if everything falls apart?"

Rohan nodded. "I know. But we're at the stage where the professor needs to see how she's doing."

He patted Odette's head. "It'll help with your graduate school recommendation."

Rohan assumed I hadn't seen the research proposal.

He came over and brushed a flake of snow from my scarf. "Odette and my professor are inside. Just enjoy the meal. Don't worry about anything else," he spoke as casually as if he were commenting on the weather.

At the table, the others glanced over at me from time to time, talking about things I couldn't understand.

Rohan joined in their conversation, and once, as if out of courtesy, he picked a piece of onion from the grilled fish and placed it on my plate.

I stared at the food but didn't touch it.

After a long while, Rohan turned to me. "Why aren't you eating?"

My fingers tightened in my lap as I lifted my chin and spoke clearly, "I never eat onions, Rohan. Did you forget?"

Odette immediately pushed a plate of boiled shrimp toward me, shrimp Rohan had just peeled for her. "Have these instead, sister."

She and Rohan exchanged a natural, easy smile.

One of the professors smiled warmly at them. "You two are so sweet, are we expecting wedding bells soon? I look forward to attending your wedding."

Odette blushed and leaned against Rohan.

Rohan put his arm around her and didn't deny it.

Watching them, I suddenly felt utterly weary.

I reached out and swept the tablecloth away. The dishes crashed to the floor.

Everyone stared at me in shock.