With her hand under her chin, Ember sat there staring between the two of them. The discomfort on Ailon is palpable. The crazy girl was still staring, but now a creepy smile emerged on her face.
Has she noticed me or not? I don't think she has. Should I see how long this lasts? Maybe snake dance with my fingers, she might notice if I wiggle them into view.
Ember sat there thinking about whether to stop the crazy girl from staring. Before she could decide, Ailon chose for her. He cleared his throat, glanced at Ember and started his spiel.
"Amy, we haven't known each other long. We both know how we met. We didn't talk for long. The most we did was dance. I'm sure, from the short conversation we had, I told you I was not interested in anything. For whatever reason, you decided that I was somehow playing hard to get. I don't need to play. If I really wanted you, I would have said it. I am not the kind of person who beats around the bush"
Amy opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Ailon continued.
"I am not interested in ANY kind of relationship with you, whether platonic or otherwise. Just the fact that you threatened my friend tells me that we would never be able to work out, even if I were, for some reason, interested. So, all I need you to do is stop whatever fantasy might be drifting around in your head. We are not together and we will NEVER be together. I STRONGLY suggest you receive psychiatric help"
He didn't think what he said would help, but he still felt the need to put things on the table so they could cut the cord all at once. It doesn't make sense to pretend. Especially, since Ember would deal with it since she couldn't take a hint.
Amy's smile slipped away slowly. She turned to face Ember, rage visible on her face. If one didn't know any better, one would think Ember had stolen her family fortune.
Amy took in Ember's features: her sun-kissed skin, her almond eyes, her shoulder-length red hair. Her body, while not the epitome of perfection, because perfection is subjective, had the necessary front and back that would make people look twice. It made Amy look at her with hatred. Mixed with the anger that contorted her face previously, the originally pretty face became hideous.
Ember furrowed her brows, wondering if things might get physical. While she can fight, it doesn't mean she wants to. She usually considers herself a pacifist simply because she knows if she can't beat someone with her fists, she will find anything that can help her fight. And if she ends up stabbing someone with a very sharp object, she would go to prison, and she doesn't think orange is a good colour on her.
"It's you, right?" asked Amy, which took Ember out of her reverie.
"It's me, what?" Ember asked, pursing her lips.
"You're the bitch who wants to steal him from me. Didn't you get my gift? Why don't you leave him alone? Or do you want what I sent to happen?"
Ember laughed, a genuine laugh. It was unexpected for Amy to mention what she sent. Especially to say it in front of Ailon. Doesn't she claim to like him? If it were her, Ember would never mention doing something like that to the best friend of someone she claimed to have a romantic interest in.
She stole a glance at Ailon and raised an eyebrow as if to say, What the hell is wrong with her? Ailon responded with a shrug of his shoulders. She turned back to look at Amy.
Ember decided she didn't want to deal with this. Whatever was going on with this crazy bitch had nothing to do with her. Neither she nor Ailon likes trouble. If doing this can fix the problem, then we might as well fix it as soon as possible.
She looked Amy in the eyes and started to speak, the authority in her voice undeniable. "Ignore him, ignore Ailon. It doesn't matter where you see him; act as if he doesn't exist. When you see me, do the same."
Ember and Ailon could see that the words affected her, but what they both didn't expect was the hint of struggle that they saw in Amy's eyes. It is something that has never happened before. Usually, she would say whatever she needed to say, and it would be accepted.
This time, they could see the struggle in her eyes, and honestly, it fascinated them. They both wondered if Amy was so fascinated with Ailon that she could resist.
Her struggle didn't last long before she was able to snap out of it. What they didn't expect was that she was able to deny the command.
"I don't want to, "Amy scoffed, "who the hell do you think you are? He's mine; whether I talk to him or get into bed with him is none of your business."
Although slightly stunned, Amy was able to say no; Ember didn't allow it to bother her. "It doesn't matter who I am; what matters is that you need to leave. Don't look, touch, talk to or even sniff in Ailon's way again."
Ember used her trick again, this time with more force. The more she used it, the more draining it was. Ember knew this, but she did it anyway. People like Amy, if you give them an inch, they'll take a mile, and Ember did not want to take any chances that she might continue to be in their lives.
Again, they could see the struggle on Amy's face, this time more evident. As if she really could not let go of Ailon. It wasn't until Ember said, more forcefully, "Do you understand?", that Amy's look of struggle stopped, and she finally agreed.
Her reply meant Ember didn't need to continue using her trick. She was feeling a little drained from using it. More than usual, which Ember would have noticed if she weren't angry at Amy.
After Amy agreed, she didn't leave immediately. Instead, an almost blank look overcame Amy's features. It seems her soul had disappeared. The blank look in her eyes and the way her body went rigid sent both Ailon and Ember into shock.
This was something that had never happened before. Usually, they all agree and leave. Some are even more polite than before when they meet again. And occasionally they would see each other and have a polite conversation. There was never anyone who had the kind of reaction Amy had.
Ailon waved his hand, snapped his finger and did just about everything short of flipping the table. Even Ember tried to get her attention. People had also begun to notice the strange happenings at their table. Seeing one person sitting there ramrod stiff, staring ahead, while the other two tried to get the person's attention. No matter where you go, it would be weird to see.
He whispered to Ember, "What the actual hell is happening, Em?"
"How am I supposed to know? This never happened before," Ember responded through gritted teeth.
Enduring the stares, they decided that since they couldn't wake her up, they would wait until she woke up on her own. So they continued sitting there awkwardly, hoping that Amy would wake up from whatever trance she was in. It took another five minutes before she started moving again. Slowly at first, like ice thawing, until her movements became normal again.
She didn't say anything; instead, she got up, left money for the coffee she had been holding when they first arrived and left. She walked away as if it was the most normal thing in the world to freeze for five minutes and then be fine the next.
Confusion flitted across both their faces.
"Is this...ignoring me?" Ailon asked, confused. "She just...I don't know what that was."
Ember coughed, just as confused as Ailon, but shook her head. She decided not to dwell on whatever just happened. It never happened before, and she didn't think it would happen again. It's possible Amy was just super crazy and took to the command differently. Her brain is just wired differently, was the thought that came to Ember.
"Let's pretend that never happened. If it works, you won't see her again anyway. No matter how crazy she is, it's going to be someone else's problem next time"
He shrugged and decided not to think about it. As long as it worked, he wouldn't have to deal with Amy ever again. What neither of them expected was that the next time they saw Amy, it would be on the news.
The two spent the rest of the day having a good time together. Ember didn't want to go out, as per usual. And Ailon tended to follow her lead when he wasn't being stubborn. So that's what they did for the day.