The Gilded Cage

chapter 8

I stopped talking, staring at the phone that had suddenly rung!!

I jumped towards it as if I were practicing hurdle jumping and with all enthusiasm, hoping it might be Edward, but it was none other than... Ethan!

I don't know whether to feel joy or disappointment!

I smiled calmly and moved from my spot, answering: "Hello..."

His annoyed voice came: "I just hope you remembered that I'm still alive!"

I felt joy just hearing his voice. Who would have thought that a call from him would be enough to completely change my mood?!

It's true that Sam is much closer to me than Ethan, but Ethan is usually a professional at rescuing me from my distress, even with just one word!

Maybe because of what happened to me these past few days... no, ever since that ill-fated night when I saw Chris's face, I've been suffering from a foul mood all the time, everywhere! Sam noticed my annoyance, and I exploded my irritation and anger on him, so he preferred to stay silent for a while until I confessed what was bothering me myself if I wanted to. But... as is the case now, I've left my city and entangled myself in a spider's web that forces problems to cling to me one after another! By the way, the spider is an example of Chris's face, which I realized is a punishment sent to me from heaven as a result of every sin I've committed since the softness of my nai—

I jumped in panic when a scream rose from the phone: "Are you talking to yourself, you fool?!"

I caught myself quickly: "I... I'm with you, no need to scream like that!"

— "What were you daydreaming about? Are you thinking sadly about how much you miss me?"

— "Such confidence! You're worse than Sam sometimes when it comes to self-love..."

— "Don't compare me to that i***t! He called me two days ago screaming that you had run away from home. He said something like you being upset all week, so maybe you ran off somewhere... He kept being afraid our parents would hold him responsible..."

I burst out laughing, so he continued: "But he remembered later that you moved to the neighboring city... What a foolish brother this is!"

I headed to the sofa to sit down, ignoring the presence of Chris, who was staring at me silently, his look tinged with boredom as he yawned. I looked at my hands, fiddling with the edge of the sofa, saying amid my laughter: "Oh my God... he really is crazy! Okay, let's leave Sam aside and tell me your latest news. How are you?"

He answered with a sigh: "Not well, but at least I'm still breathing!"

I asked in surprise: "Why? Did something bad happen?"

— "No, nothing happened. It's just..."

He hesitated until he muttered in surrender: "It's... Catherine!"

My eyebrows rose: "What's wrong with her!"

He answered calmly: "We broke up."

I sighed in relief, saying happily: "Really? That's better, Ethan, believe me... She was never suitable for you, and you must have finally discovered that!"

— "I won't deny that..."

He continued calmly: "The important thing now... Have you talked to my parents? How are they now? I'm trying to call, but it seems they're ignoring me..."

— "Of course they'll ignore everyone, especially your and Sam's meaningless chatter..."

— "I still don't know where they went!! My work in a distant city doesn't mean I'm excluded from the family, for God's sake..."

I smiled sarcastically: "They're spending their vacation on the usual island. What now, did changing your knowledge of the matter change anything?"

— "Fine..."

— "I forgot to tell you! I got an excellent evaluation!"

— "For the training?"

— "Yes!"

— "That's good. Your efforts didn't go to waste..."

— "Tell me, don't you intend to come back?"

— "I'll be back soon, but I haven't found a specific date yet. As you know, I'm now working at a very suitable company, and I don't think I'll be back for at least four weeks!"

— "You seem convinced by your job!"

— "Very much!"

— "I think it's the third company you've worked for so far! Stop moving and traveling, Mr. Christopher Columbus, and settle in one place."

He laughed sarcastically: "I will. I'm serious this time..."

— "Finally."

We talked for a long time until I hung up the phone and bid him farewell, then sighed in relief, thinking absently how easy it is for some people to bring happiness just by the comforting tone of their voices falling on our ears. Ethan is very far from the city, but no matter the distances between us, we are ultimately under one sky, and our hearts have always united in love... That's what my mother always used to say when I cried over someone's absence from the house! And regarding what he said about Catherine, I never accepted that girl! It's clear she never loved him. She's just a flirt, that's all. I'm truly happy about their breakup! He deserves a good, suitable girl... He'll be turning twenty-eight soon, and he should—

My thoughts were cut off by a curious voice: "You seem deeply lost in thought about him!"

— "Mind your own business, please!"

He shrugged boredly and stood up, heading to his room, humming the tune of some song. Then it seemed as if he told himself a joke and laughed at it!

I eyed him helplessly, telling myself: "I think something's wrong with his mind!"

Time passed quickly, and the clock pointed to eight in the evening. Because I was hungry, I bought some food, as the kitchen was empty of everything except the basics...

I put the food on the table and hesitated about telling him, as he might be hungry, but...

I sighed in surrender and headed towards his room, knocking on the door. His voice came: "Who's there?"

I whispered: "What a fool! Who else would knock, for example?!"

I entered and was surprised the room was dark, so I quickly raised my hand searching for the light switch to illuminate it. I found him lying on the bed with an impatient, drowsy face!

He straightened up, leaning on his elbows, staring at me expectantly, so I said: "I bought some food and... I wondered if you were hungry!"

He pursed his lips and stood up, moving away from the bed, then opened the wardrobe and muttered, tilting his head: "Okay..."

I furrowed my brow, noticing the many items in the wardrobe, the boxes, clothes, and other things!

He didn't go out these two days!

And when I met him, he only had a small bag the size of mine, maybe even smaller! So how did this wardrobe suddenly become full?!

I left his room, heading to the living room in deep bewilderment and disapproval!

Those items are too many for him to have carried in two days without me noticing...