Chapter 35

It had been a day since I had begun to live with Alex, and it wasn't all that awkward as Alex was home only at night. It made me wonder where he had went. It did not matter where he went, just as long as he had not killed anyone and implicated me, I thought as I cut the vegetables that were sitting on the cutting board. I had been craving porridge and had decided to make some. It took about 30 minutes to prepare, and I was finally done. Turning the stove off, I had picked up a plate in which I poured some into. Bringing the food to my nose, I was greeted by the sweet aroma, my mouth watering. The sound of the doorbell ring pierced through my ears, cutting through my happy thoughts of food. Placing the food on the counter, I headed for the door as I wondered whom it might be. Might be Alex, I thought as I headed for the door, my expression deadpan. Pulling the door open, I was greeted by the woman who stood at the door, her eyes staring at me questioningly.

Oh, no! I thought as I wracked her brain for what to say.

"Errrr...it's you again." The woman said, her face contouring in disgust as she stared at me. She was the woman whom I had thought to be Alex's girlfriend. The one who had offered to poison me at the cafe that day. I had wished to never come across her again, but who would have thought that I would be staying at Alex's apartment one day.

Busted! I yelled in my head.

I stared at the woman, a forced smile coming to appear on my lips.

"What are you doing here?" I heard the woman ask, and I cleared my throat, not saying a word.

Pushing me aside, the woman had come to a stop inside the apartment, her eyes scanning it as though looking for someone.

"Where is Alex?" She asked, her eyes resting onto me whom had by now shut the door.

"I don't know." came the short reply from me as my eyes darted around awkwardly.

"Well, I'll wait for him then." The woman said, her footsteps echoing in the room as she made her way towards the couch, sitting gracefully onto it as her eyes rested onto the fireplace that had began to burn out.

"You still have not answered why you are here." The woman said, not turning her head to stare at me.

Taking a deep breath, I replied.

"Alex had me stay here for the mean time, I had some issues at my house."

"Trying to curb your way up his bed, are we now?" I heard the woman say as she turned to look at me.

Abruptly standing to her feet, she took slow and steady steps towards me, her eyes holding a deadly glint.

"I know exactly who you are, Isabella Anderson." The woman said, her lips curling up into a devious smirk as she came to a stop in front of me, and I felt my throat tighten.

"You did not expect me to not investigate you, did you?" She asked, stoking her chin as she feigned innocence.

"Turns out you were not some goody ass lady as Alex had thought you to be. You had been a slut dancer." She continued, her eyes going wide as though she had realized something important.

"Could it be that you have slept with a lot of men?" She asked rhetorically, her hand coming to cover her mouth in dramatic shock.

"Now get this straight, Missy...Alex is my man." She finally said, her gaze getting serious as she stared at me, where I stood, my demeanor calm.

"Who said he wasn't?" I asked, staring mockingly at the woman who had begun to breathe cold air from her nostrils.

walking away from her, I had headed to the kitchen, where I found my plate of porridge had turned cold.

...

Back in the living room, Alex had just arrived, pushing his feet inside the house only to be welcomed by the woman who sat fuming on the couch.

"Alex!" She called out, rising to her feet as she noticed him come in.

"Mabel." Alex called out with disinterest as he watched her walk towards him.

"What are you doing here?" Alex asked, his tone not hiding his disinterest.

"Is that how you welcome me now?" He heard her ask, and by now her eyes were glassy with tears as she stared at him.

"I have never welcomed you a different way, if I can remember correctly." Alex said, his gaze empty as he stared at Mabel who felt a pang in her heart. It was indeed true. Never had Alex welcomed her with love despite being her boyfriend. Back then she had been the one to ask him out, and he had agreed to the relationship. She knew it was all play to him, but she just could not give up on him.

"I love you, Alex." Mabel said, and the man had not stared at her. He had his gaze directed at the fireplace.

"I hope that one day, you would remember that I am your girlfriend." She said, and by this time, she had gone to pick up her bag from the couch, walking out of the house with yet another broken heart.

Alex stood staring into space, lost in his own world of thoughts, he had not realized me whom had come out of the kitchen carrying my heated plate of porridge. Stopping in my tracks, I stared at him, feeling sorry for both he and his girlfriend. It was rude, but I could not help eavesdropping on their conversation. Clearing my throat, Alex was brought back to reality, unknown emotions flickering in his brown eyes.

"I will get some porridge for you too." I said, heading back to the kitchen. I had thought of Alex a friend now, I had realized he wasn't that bad, his life was only just too complicated.