The Educator

Chapter 19: 19

My friends and I continue to talk but over video call. My friends are frantic about what happened and

asked what I was feeling. I take a moment to contemplate, make sure I answer correctly. “I don’t think I

love him,” I say “I’m just attracted to him” I tell them. They are silent and after a few seconds, all of

them start talking that I could not even understand what they are saying.

“Eli, do you think you could be just forcing the feeling?” Hannah asks.

“I don’t know. I don’t feel like I’m forcing it. Elliot’s just a real gentleman. He’s kind, warm, generous,

sweet and considerate”

“How is he all those things?” Venice asks.

I prompt to tell them what happened here in Thailand, all the gestures, the planning and the general

idea that he finds my comfort a priority.

“Maybe he’s gay?” Venice comments

“Don’t stereotype. Just because Elliot’s more of a man than any of your boyfriends, doesn’t mean you

could spread hate” Hannah says.

“Guys, please just help me out” I tell them.

“Well, okay, to be honest, it seems like things are going great between you guys. For one, Elliot’s not

hard to be around with. Second, he respects you and you respect him. Third, living with him wouldn’t

be such a burden, you don’t have to pretend or keep any mannerisms from him. You married life will be

easier than we thought it would be and hey, who knows, you might actually end up falling in love and all

is well in the end” Hannah preaches.

"Yeah, but I was hoping my love story wouldn't be like this” I tell him

“No every love story is perfect and I’m not saying this is it for you. I was just saying, think positive about

this” Hannah reasons.

“Yeah. That’s true. And think of it as a genuine way for your parents to see that you’re really happy

even if it did not start out as the usual love story”

“Wait a minute. Can we stop referring to the situation as a love story? Eli and Elliot haven’t even known

each other long enough to say that they are in love” Hannah says.

I was a little hurt. I’m such a hopeless romantic. Maybe deep down, I wanted to marry Elliot. Maybe I

didn’t protest because, I secretly had feelings for him all these years? I don’t know. I’m lost.

“Think about how easy it would be to be ‘married’ to Elliot. He doesn’t bite, unlike other husbands in

fixed marriages” Venice points.

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“And, hey! You have unlimited access to all of his credit cards, let’s just use that to your advantage and

start shopping when you get home”

“yeah speaking of getting home, I’ll be busy arranging the small get together Elliot was saying earlier” I

tell them.

“Then we’ll be shopping for goodies!” Hannah says.

I roll my eyes and thank them for their time. I end the call and I lay on my bed. It’s already two in the

morning. Jesus, when can I ever sleep early? I roll to my side and I hear voices downstairs. I crack

open my door and I see Elliot talking to someone on his laptop and by the way he was talking, it

seemed like they weren’t business related.

“I don’t know what happened” he says in a pressed but low tone.

“Come on, you know. You’ve been feeling this way for quite sometime and you know what you want”

one voice said.

“The question is, are you able to confirm if Eli feels the same” another voice said.

What?