It'll Come Naturally

"You seem to always find an excuse to save you ass," Luke said, his eyes full of mischief. He found the woman in front of him quite amusing, though he managed not to show it.

"I am simply telling the truth. I do not lie," Michelle replied, slowly stressing each word, for she was not only telling the truth, but was also talking about a virtue that she had always been proud of.

"Really? You mean, never? Then how do you explain what I saw just now?" Luke scoffed. They stood face to face on the stairs, one looking down and questioning condescendingly, the other looking up in defense and trying to challenge and argue.

"Well, that wasn't my fault! Hilda asked me to go shopping with her, but I didn't know that that jerk Bradley would come, too! I did not invite him to come along," Michelle said, her fingers kept scratching the handrails a bit nervously. She didn't feel guilty at all, it was just that Luke's high and imposing manners tended to create stress in every conversation that they had. It also seemed like Luke was already convinced with his belief and wouldn't think otherwise.

"No, not that. I don't give a shit about that guy at all. I mean why didn't you tell the people in your school that you are already married?" Luke looked her in the eyes. He just couldn't forget how Michelle's classmates had mistaken him for her brother. It was truly awkward and embarrassing. He somehow felt a pinch of disappointment. He might not admit it but it hurt a little.

"Because I don't want to stand out and attract everyone's attention. Besides, I need some privacy. I don't think it is necessary to announce my private life to everyone in school," Michelle said seriously. What she feared the most was people around found out about her marriage, and started treating her differently. They were already giving her a hard time for Bradley giving her the special treatment. This would be more ammunition for them to attack her. She would have to take more heat from all those bitches, and it was the last thing she wanted. She took classes to learn, not to make enemies.

"So this... is what you want? Keep it a secret so that you could flirt around with others and win yourself a few more suitors?" Luke asked sharply. Those words hurt, but he was only telling what he had in his mind.

"Ridiculous! That's not what I want. If you listen to what I'm saying, that silly Bradley is the only one making advancements. As a mater of fact, it takes most of my energy trying to avoid him and get away from him!" Michelle retorted. She felt a bit uneasy when speaking of Bradley, and she tried to hide it. However, there was suddenly an untimely neck pain and she couldn't help but bow her head to relieve it. It was a slight movement that caught Luke's attention nonetheless, and he took it as a sign of guilt.

"Only one? You seem quite disappointed that you can't get more of them. You know what, Michelle, I never knew that you are such an experienced woman when it comes to handling men," Luke's face darkened. He didn't know what came over him, but whatever Michelle said to explain herself, he would fight back with harsh words. He just would not listen.

"I beg your pardon?" Michelle gasped. "What did you mean by that, Luke?" She avoided his gaze earlier, but now she looked at him in disbelief. She wouldn't let this one pass. So he thought that she seduced Bradley, as a loose and easy woman?

"What more could I say? To tell you the truth, what you have done really disappointed me. But if you want to make me jealous by playing this kind of trick, I'm afraid that you have miserably failed. Just don't overestimate yourself." This time, even Luke himself couldn't believe that he had actually said those words. He didn't mean to, but he just kept unleashing those hurtful words.

"So now you are saying that I have staged all of this, and I asked Bradley to pose as my suitor, to get back at you and make you jealous? Oh wow! Do you think that I am crazy enough to ask for trouble and make that annoying guy follow me around? Why, that's like picking up a rock and hitting my own head with it! I am not that crazy, Luke!" Michelle's voice was starting to rise but her heart was sinking horribly. 'Am I such a sophisticated, cheap and shameless woman to you, Luke?' She thought helplessly.

"Who knows. That's just your side of the story. You may never tell me, but I bet people concerned would know the whole story. Anyway, I don't want to be a part of it." Luke waved his hands in disgust. They were at swords' points now and were glaring at each other. They both took such a tough stance that another mean word could start a bigger fight.

But then... "I don't know what else to say if you insist on it," Michelle relented, sighing. "I just hope that you could be more sensible, and try to be more considerate. I really wish that you don't hurt me like this anymore. I'm scarred, you see. I don't know how else I can take a lashing from you. My heart is made of flesh, not rocks. Your harsh words have hit me, cut me, stabbed me and ripped me open like a sharp knife tearing through my soul. Really, it hurts, Luke," Michelle said faintly. She continued up the stairs, going past Luke without waiting for his answer. Feeling frustrated, she cast him a plaintive glance when passing by him, and went into the bedroom without looking back.

Luke was speechless. He was clenching his fists, not out of anger, but with remorse. 'Damn it! I have hurt her again," He thought regretfully. He had vowed to himself that he would care more about how he treated her, but what he had just said and done was simply counterproductive. 'What an idiot!' he thought to himself.

Not knowing what Luke was thinking, Michelle slammed the door and sat on the bed. 'He would do this every time!' Whenever she thought his attitude towards her might be changing for the better, he would prove her wrong by dealing her a blow. Did she deserve it, because she was not good enough for him? It must be, because whatever she did seemed wrong in his eyes. But what did she do wrong, though? If she ever made a mistake, it could only be that she had fallen in love with him.

Life is hard, she knew it. She could drink life's gall, but she just couldn't stand it that she loved him with all her heart but got no more than a casual glance in return. Most of the time, they were angry glances.0000