A Love Trap

"Ellie! Stop... talking... like that!" he spluttered.

Francis might have been with a lot of women, but he took nobody seriously. Those women knew it and they didn't mind.

But Ellie was different. He never thought of treating her badly.

He could not fathom why she had to hurt herself like that.

He was really upset. Not because of what she thought about him, but because of how she saw herself.

The worst part of it was that she called him "Mr. Francis." The fact that she called him "Mr. Francis"

hurt him the most.

Ellie closed her eyes and pursed her lips. She didn't say anything.

Francis grabbed both her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Ellie, please tell me you're joking." He looked at her, his eyes firm with pleading and frustration. "Please tell me you didn't mean any of what you just said."

Francis' eyes spoke sincerely to Ellie.

She couldn't take another look at him. She needed strength to say what she was about to say, "No, I meant everything I said."

Francis could see right through her lie. He shouted, "Look me in the eye and tell me again! You didn't mean any of that, right?"

Ellie looked into his eyes, her visage as fierce as the crunching in her chest. "I meant it. I meant every bit of it. You may leave Mr. Francis."

Ellie pointed to the door gesturing for Francis to leave.

"Fine!" Francis clenched his jaw and gnashed his teeth in anger.

He let go of her and turned around to leave.

The thud that came from the shutting door made Ellie flinch. As the door closed, the room fell into silence.

Ellie could only look at the direction where he had gone.

arms to

facade she had shown him earlier had started crumbling.

left for real. She was really all alone.

Ellie went to L City was to

spend some time and have a few nice meals with them. But none

went out for some groceries. She wanted to surprise them and didn't call. But when it was getting dark, and they

an answer. All of them just looked at her with

they looked at her. However, she started to panic after she didn't hear anything about her grandparents for the whole day.

at

the neighbors told her that her grandparents had passed away and it had already

of

had before they passed. They told the neighbors not to tell Ellie. They said that they might fight it through and they

the story, she didn't believe

their last visit to J City. She didn't believe that any sickness could just take their

would not agree to let them

mourned until she decided

returned to Ellie's house and saw her sitting on the bed, holding her knees, her head buried between them and crying out

wondered why it was so hard for her to accept

breakfast

surprised, "Why are you

but she couldn't keep her tears

her, Francis sighed, "Did you forget what I told you last night? No matter what happens, I will be with you.

him with a blank

didn't know if she

when he told her she would not be alone.

took over Ellie.

what to

left a huge traumatic mark on her. She had stayed

the idea of getting close to

but she was happy

couldn't see him, she felt lost. She wasn't sure about what she was feeling, but she