“Ethan saved me. The rest is history.”
“So, you just met yesterday, and then you accepted Ethan as your new boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
Stacy said nothing for a while. Then she stared at me. “I’m your friend. I want the best for you. I mean, you just met Ethan yesterday! Will you accept anyone who saved you too?”
I shook my head fast. “Of course not, but …. I don’t know why; the moment I stared into Ethan’s eyes, I felt a strong connection with him. I feel like … I don’t know how to explain this. It’s like … you know, there’s something between us.”
“Is he handsome?”
“Absolutely!” Then I blushed.
“Is his body great?”
My face was hot immediately. I was sure it was blushing already. “Yes. Ethan is perfect. Before you ask further, he’s also rich, kind, and protective toward me.”
Stacy whistled. “Perfect guy, saving you from drowning. Is this a fairy tale?”
We laughed together when we heard that.
“I know it’s hard to believe. I was with Kenneth for six months. But I don’t feel the bond as strong as I have now with Ethan.”
“Well, he saved you from death. For sure, it will add to the chemistry. He’s your savior.”
“Yes, you’re right.” I sighed. “But I felt the connection instantly. It was the moment I opened my eyes and stared into his eyes. I felt something I couldn’t explain. It’s like …. Please don’t laugh at me about this.”
Stacy shook her head. “No, I won’t laugh at you. Please go on.”
“It’s like I know that he’s the one for me.”
Stacy said nothing for a moment. Then, after a while, she finally said, “How can you know for sure? I don’t want to burst your happiness bubbles. I’m happy if you are happy too.” She held my hand. “But since you just have a broken heart, I wonder if it’s better if you wait for a while.”
“You sound like my mom.” I giggled. “My mom told me a similar thing. But I haven’t told you the complete story. I mean about Kenneth’s reason to break up with me. He cheated on me with another girl.” I let out a long sigh, still stung by Kenneth’s betrayal. “Yet when I met Ethan, I didn’t think of Kenneth anymore. It’s as if he never existed before.”
“Wow! Is Ethan so good?”
“He’s serious with me. My mom asked what his intention was toward me. He said he wanted to marry me.”
Stacy raised her hand. “Hold on. Ethan is a handsome, wealthy, protective guy, right? Yet, he wanted to marry you on the first day you two met?” She shook her head. “I find it hard to believe. Be careful. Who knows, he’s a cult leader, and he may need some young women to be sacrificed to get more power or everlasting life.”
I laughed when I heard that. “You read too many fantasy books.”
Then some library visitors immediately said in unison, “Sssshhh!”
“Sorry!” I showed a regretful face and raised both hands as an apologizing gesture.
Soon, the readers were back to their reading.
“Uh, well, he’s a leader of a community. But I’m sure he’s not a cult leader.”
“How can you know for sure?” Stacy asked. “You just met him.”
“Because he didn’t want to hurt me.” I pondered if I should share it with Stacy about the intimate things as it would be too private, yet I didn’t want Stacy to think of Ethan negatively. “So, you see, Ethan had many chances to use me as I was willing, but he didn’t do it.”
“Wait a minute. Use, do you mean have sex?”
My face was hot, but I nodded. “Yes. He made me feel safe.” I sighed. “I felt a huge physical attraction between us. I wanted him too. Yet, he didn’t want to ruin me.”
Stacy wanted to say more, but my phone was buzzing.
A text message came. “It’s from Ethan.” I immediately smiled from ear to ear as I read the text. “He said, ‘Have you received the flower? I hope you like those. I love you.’ Oh, how sweet he is!”
Stacy smiled too. “I hope Ethan is truly the one for you. I’ll be happy for you if he’s truly a great guy.”
“Yes, he is. Thanks for your care, Stacy.”
Stacy hugged me. “It’s my pleasure. By the way, just wondering, since he wanted to marry you, is there something that happened before?”
“What do you mean?”
“Men don’t easily ask women to marry them. But, if they are serious, they will take time to consider it. So, since he didn’t force himself on you, I wonder if there is something that happened before between you two.”
“Well, he did something that bound us together.”
Stacy’s eyes were rounded, showing her curiosity. “What’s it?”
“It’s hard to explain, but well, shortly, it connects him to me and vice versa.”
“Soul mate?”
“Maybe like that. I know it’s not lusting when I stare into Ethan’s eyes for the first time, as if something within me told me that he was the one for me.”
“You know, I have heard similar stories like you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, their story details are different, of course. Yet, they also knew their spouses from the first time they met.” Stacy sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I may be too skeptical. But I’m happy if you’re happy too.”
“Thanks. I’m glad that you care about me.”
“Okay, let’s get to work again.”
The rest of the day was as usual. Finally, at almost five p.m., I pushed the book cart to the bookshelves, returning the books to their racks.
That was when someone patted my shoulder lightly. “Helena, I need to speak with you.”
I thought I might be hallucinating about it, but Kenneth was in front of me. His eyes were pleading at me.
I immediately stepped aside, farther from him. “What do you want? We have nothing to say.”
“Please, Helena. Please?”
Then the remaining library visitors said, “Sssshhhh!”
I shook my head and let out a long sigh. “Follow me.”
I approached Stacy, then muttered, “I need to speak for a few minutes with Kenneth. I’ll be right back soon.”
Stacy glared at Kenneth, then nodded at me. “Sure.” She added, only for me to hear, “If you don’t return in five minutes, I’ll search for you.”
I nodded. “I’ll be in the garden.”