43 I came back because of you

Hanna's Eatery.

Counter.

''So, how did it go at school with the whole stealing thing?'' Bertha and Mrs. Hanna chatted as they served customers in a queue.

''Trust me Mrs. Hanna, you don't wanna know. Ayah's aunt is one big force to reckon with. She put Samantha in her place and later that bitch came to class all angry. She said she could get Clara's mom fired from her job and Clara busted on her. It was so chaotic''

''That's school life for you. It's getting late'' Mrs. Hanna looked at the time.

''Yeah. I should clean up fast and go home. Ben is on night duty''

''Leave this to me and go home. It's not good for a girl to stay out late''

''I'm not staying out late; I'm working'' Bertha said and went to the cloakroom to change. At that same time, Gideon walked into the diner. He wasn't holding his crotches.

''Hi'' he said.

''Sorry, we're closed''

''I know. Please, is Berth here?''

''Berth?'' Mrs. Hanna looked at Gideon and smiled. ''This is the first time someone is here for that girl. Hey Berth. You got a boyfriend here looking for you'' Mrs. Hanna said loudly and Bertha rushed out.

''Boyfriend?'' She frowned when she saw Gideon. ''Mrs. Hanna, he is not my boyfriend; he is an asshole who bullies girls. Remember that boy who called me fatty fat in first year?''

''Wait!! That boy you had a crush on? Did you call my sweet little girl fat?''

''Aunt, I didn't have a crush on him. He called me fat back then and he did it again this morning. What do you want here, Gideon?''

''Gideon? Then, he is the one who got into the accident?''

''Yes, he should have died back then'' Bertha said with strong hatred.

''Reverse what you said girl. I know you hate him but don't ever wish that for him'' Mrs. Hanna said and Bertha looked away. ''Now, you are one lucky boy. But, what do you want here? Is late''

''I need to talk to Berth''

Bertha turned to him and said sharply. ''Okay, this is it. You don't get to call me Berth. We are not close enough for you to call me that''

''Listen, I need to talk to you'' Gideon said with a serious gaze.

''I don't want to talk to you. In fact, I want you to disappear from my sight''

''Berth, why don't you go aside and talk to the boy? He came all the way here for you''

Bertha threw her bag over her shoulder and said to Gideon. ''Follow me''

Bertha stood outside the glass walling and crossed her arms around her chest and asked, ''what do you want to say? Speak, I'm listening''

Gideon looked at her and suddenly stepped closer, trapping her with both of his arms. Mrs. Hanna who was still inside saw this and gasped, smiling. She leaned against the counter watching them. She could guess what it was about even without hearing them.

''What…what are you doing?''

''First year, I was curious about you but you never paid attention to me''

''What are you talking about?'' Bertha asked, genuinely confused.

''You started to pay attention to me when I started calling you fat''

''Have you gone crazy?''

''I had this same feeling back then. What is this girl thinking? Why does she do what she does? I always asked myself such questions. I realised that it wasn't just me but you really never paid attention to anyone apart from your friends. But, when I started bullying you, you paid attention to me. You found out my name and started finding out all the places I loved to hang out just so you could avoid me''

Bertha looked at him. Everything he said was true. But she still didn't understand why he would be curious about her. She didn't understand why he used to love bullying her.

''But, I don't regret bullying you. I had my reasons and even if you hate me for it''

''Let go of me'' Bertha said to him.

''You are looking at me with those eyes again. You are really making me even more curious than before''

''What exactly are you curious about what? Let go of me'' Bertha tried to push him away.

''You. About you. You're wrong about something. I didn't come back to make Ayah's life worse. I came back because of you''

''Excuse me''

''Of course, I would like to clear any misunderstanding between Ayah and myself, but, the real reason why I came back is because of you''

''What nonsense are you saying?''

''I remember clearly, that you were there that night'' Gideon looked into her wavering gaze and continued. ''I remember clearly that you wanted to record my confession with Ayah and upload it in case she rejects me''

''I don't know what you're talking about''

''I bet you do, Berth. And now, I want to know what you intend doing with that recording. I know you have it. Why are you not giving it to Inayah?''

''As I said, I don't know what you're talking about'' Bertha said back furiously and Gideon smirked. He circled his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

''How about this? I will give you a chance to redeem yourself''

''Let go of me you dickhead'' Bertha struggled to release herself.

''I have a habit of never letting go of my prey once they peek my interest. After waking up, all I could think about was you. So, I am going to see to the end of this curiosity.

''What do you want from me?''

''Give the video to Ayah and let's settle our personal issues. Those are two different things; don't you think?''

''I planned on giving the video to Ayah from the start but this is not the right time. I know what I'm doing. Ayah is my best friend and I do want her to clear her name. Don't try to preach to me''

''Then, now that, that is out of the way, let's talk about ourselves''

''I have nothing to talk to you about'' Bertha stepped back after pushing him away.

''I want you to make me fall for you in the next two months that we have left before graduation. If you succeed; then I will let my father to promote your brother to senior director of the hospital. But, if you don't, then I will make you fall in love with me, and I will dump you afterwards. Do you dare to do it?''

''You are so sick. Why didn't you just die in that accident?''

''Are you scared? Your brother has been working in the hospital for a long time already but because he is such an honest person and don't want to get involved with hospital politics, he is still just a general doctor. Don't you want to see him getting promoted?''

''I should have let you die back then. My brother saved your​ pathetic life''

''I think I already paid for that by making my father maintain him at the hospital''

''What?''

''Did you think with the way your brother is so pure, he would have been able to get a chance to work in that competitive hospital without my work?''

''I am not entering into any lose bet with you just to satisfy your ego. Go and find someone else to mess with''

''Are you scared?''

''Who is scared of who? The fact that you are curious about me means you think about me all the time. I don't need to do anything to make you fall in love with me. Also, my brother would be promoted with or without your help. You know why? Because, he is hardworking and doesn't need any connection to succeed'' Bertha pushed him aside and walked away.