Leaving Him Alone

Ana arrived at the restaurant at the crack of dawn, hoping to impress Ethan with her dedication. She imagined the pride in his eyes when he saw her efforts, her commitment. But as she stepped into the warmly lit restaurant, her heart sank. Ethan was there, smiling broadly, standing with Mary. 

Mary, with her effortless charm, had already completed all the tasks related to the decoration and kitchen. The restaurant looked immaculate, and the air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread and brewed coffee. Mary had clearly been there for hours, and her presence was like a splash of cold water to Ana's dreams.

Ana felt a surge of jealousy and frustration. She had come early to show Ethan how much she cared, but Mary had beaten her to it. Gathering her courage, she walked up to them. "Good morning, Ethan. Mary," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Ethan turned to her, his smile unwavering. "Good morning, Ana! Look at what Mary has done. Isn't it amazing?"

Ana forced a smile. "Yes, it is," she said, though her heart wasn't in it. She couldn't ignore the sinking feeling that she was being overshadowed.

After a few moments of awkward small talk, Ana couldn't take it anymore. "Ethan, can we talk in private?" she asked, her voice a bit sharper than she intended.

Ethan's smile faded slightly, sensing the tension. "Sure, let's step outside for a moment."

They walked out of the restaurant, and as soon as they were alone, Ana couldn't hold back any longer. "Why didn't you tell me you didn't need my help this morning?" she demanded, her voice trembling with frustration.

Ethan looked genuinely puzzled. "Ana, I didn't plan for Mary to come so early and do everything. She just did. Why are you so upset?"

Ana's frustration boiled over. "Because I came early to impress you, to show you how much I care! And now I feel like an idiot because Mary has already done everything."

Ethan sighed, looking down for a moment before meeting her eyes again. "Ana, why are you trying so hard to impress me? Is this really about me, or is it about something else?"

Ana blinked, caught off guard by his question. "What do you mean?"

Ethan's gaze softened, but there was a hint of steel behind his words. "Ana, let's be honest. What about the guy you liked in university?"

Ana felt a flush of heat rise to her cheeks. "What does he have to do with this?" she asked defensively.

Ethan gave a small, sad smile. "Everything. You never talked about him to me, but I know you had feelings for him. You were never serious about him, were you?"

Ana's heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't find the words to reply, and the silence stretched between them.

Ethan's smile faded completely, replaced by a look of resigned understanding. "Ana, I know you were never serious about him. But I still want to keep our relationship. Now it's up to you whether you want to continue being with me or not."

Ana felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under her. She had been so focused on impressing Ethan that she hadn't stopped to consider her true feelings. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She had been using Ethan as a fallback, a spare tire. And now, her own lies had trapped her.

Without another word, she turned and ran back home, tears blurring her vision. Once home, she collapsed onto her bed, sobbing. But even in her despair, she couldn't stop thinking about Ethan. In the past few days, she had started to forget everyone else but him. She missed him terribly.

Ethan's words echoed in her mind. He was right. She had been using him, but now she realized how much he meant to her. She had fallen into her own lies, and it was time to face the truth.

Ana knew she had to make a decision. She couldn't go on like this, living a lie. She had to confront her feelings and decide whether she wanted to fight for her relationship with Ethan or let him go. 

The choice was hers, and she knew it wouldn't be easy. But for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of clarity amidst the confusion.

 Ana sat on her bed, her face buried in her hands as she sobbed quietly. The emotional confrontation with Ethan had left her feeling raw and confused. Just as she was about to leave her room, the door creaked open, and her mother stepped inside, her expression stern and unyielding.

"Ana, we need to talk," her mother said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Ana looked up, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "Not now, Mom. Please, I can't do this right now."

Her mother crossed the room and sat down beside her on the bed. "You have to listen, Ana. This is important."

Ana took a shaky breath, wiping her tears. "What is it? Why now?"

Her mother hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "I know you're upset about Ethan. But you need to understand that starting a relationship with him is a bad idea."

Ana's heart sank further. "Why? Why is it such a bad idea? I thought you liked Ethan."

Her mother sighed, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. "I don't mind if you have fun with him, Ana. But you and Ethan can't be together for a lifetime."

Ana's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? Why can't we be together?"

Her mother avoided her gaze, her expression troubled. "There are things you don't know, Ana. Things that are better left unsaid. Trust me on this."

Ana's frustration grew. "Mom, you can't just tell me to stay away from someone without explaining why. I deserve to know the truth."

Her mother stood up, her eyes cold and serious. "Some truths are too painful, Ana. But I'm warning you, for your own good and for Ethan's. Stay away from him. Don't get involved in his life."

Ana felt a surge of anger and defiance. "How can you expect me to make such a decision without knowing why? This isn't fair!"

Her mother took a deep breath, softening her tone slightly. "I know it seems unfair, Ana. But sometimes, protecting you means keeping certain things from you. Just trust me on this. Stay away from Ethan."

With that, her mother turned and left the room, leaving Ana in a state of shock and turmoil. Her mind raced with unanswered questions and conflicting emotions. She wanted to trust her mother, but the ambiguity of her warning only fueled her determination to find out the truth.

As the hours passed, Ana's thoughts kept drifting back to Ethan. Despite her mother's warning, she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to talk to him, to understand what was really going on. She missed him terribly, and the thought of losing him without knowing why was unbearable.

Ana knew she had to make a decision. She could either heed her mother's cryptic warning and stay away from Ethan, or she could confront the situation head-on and seek the truth. One thing was clear: whatever she chose, her life was about to change dramatically.