The Devil's Sweetheart

Reese Leena and Jane were playing the Warlords of New York game and in between, the three of them would gossip about the affairs going on in the university. Finally, Leena and Ethan\'s topic came into the picture.

"Speaking of him, I wanted to see his arrogant mother once." A spasm of irritation crossed over Jane\'s face when Leena talked about an awful encounter with Ethan\'s mom a month back.

"I am not liking Ethan either. He is giving more importance to that arrogant cow." Reese snapped angrily.

"Precisely." Jane threw her mobile when she got bored of the game. She turned her attention to the most interesting topic. "How can he leave you in the middle of the movie just because his ex-girlfriend was injured? He could have called his friends to take care of that shrewd cow." Jane spoke up brusquely. It\'s because, of him, her friend has to come home alone.

"And yesterday he blamed Leena for pushing that woman into the water. For god\'s sake, I should knock some sense into him. He has a girlfriend already. He doesn\'t even know to stay away from his ex?" Reese retorted. When the three friends went out to enjoy water sports, Ethan tagged along with them. They were happy to have him but to their annoyance, he brought his ex-girlfriend. When Jane and Reese were playing in the pool, Leena was just standing at the corner and Casey happens to slip into the swimming pool suddenly and became unconscious and the white lotus put up her damsel in distress act and Ethan blamed Leena that she was the one who has pushed her into the water. Although Casey later told Ethan it was not Leena\'s fault, it was clear that he didn\'t believe Leena in the first place.

"Let\'s resume the game." Leena was not interested in hearing about him anymore.

"You guys continue. I am going for a walk." Jane grabbed her mobile, got up, and stepped out of the room.

"She is enjoying with your brother." Reese giggled.

"It\'s not too late. We can also enjoy, Reese?" Leena winked.

"Get lost_"

Reese curtailed her thoughts when she heard a buzz and glanced at the intercom. Walking towards it, she peeped into the intercom.

Ethan was standing outside.

Reese whisked towards Leena and spoke up in an urgent voice. "It\'s Ethan. Why didn\'t the security call us? Did you put him on the guestlist?"

"He nagged until I added him." Leena sighed.

"Anyway, I don\'t want to talk with him. Send him away."

"Do you think he is going to leave without talking to you? It\'s all your fault." Reese yelled and walked into the living room to open the door.

"Hi, Reese." Ethan smiled the moment the door was opened.

Without speaking a word, Reese threw a cold glance at the man and made herself into her room. Ethan knew he has made a big mistake and he has angered everyone and that\'s the reason he is here. To coax Leena.

He straight away went into Leena\'s room. His smile broader seeing her."Are you angry at me?"

There was no response.

"I am sorry! I misunderstood you. Casey and I have been together for a long time and suddenly when I saw her drowning in the pool, I got a little scared...You know what I mean_"

"I understand she is very dear to you_"

"That\'s not what I meant." Ethan urgently explained."I don\'t have any feelings_"

"Let me complete my words first." Leena interrupted. "Before you assume, learn the facts. Before you judge, understand why and before you speak, think with your brain."

"I know and I will keep that in my mind," Ethan ensured. He has made a bigger mistake blaming her and he will never suspect Leena. They have fought a lot of times already and each time it is because of Casey. I have to maintain a little distance from her.

"If you are still into your ex, I would suggest you reconcile with her," Leena muttered.

"There is no way we are breaking up, Leena." Ethan\'s face darkened at the mention of a separation. "I am telling you again. Casey and I have already broken up long ago. She is just my friend and I don\'t have any feelings for her."

"Fine." Leena was tired of hearing the same words from him every time and she also knew Ethan would again prioritize Casey when he has to chose between both. This relationship is not going to work out. I have to put an end to it soon.

"We will work out together if a problem comes up. But don\'t talk about break up." Ethan squatted in front of Leena and grazed her hand. When she did not refuse his touch, he leaned his body until he was only an inch away from her lips. "You look so beautiful Leena and the thought of kissing you has stuck in my head for a long time," Ethan whispered, and not before he covered the tiny distance and pressed his lips against her, Leena turned to her side.

"I want to sleep." She muttered and pulled her hand from his grasp.

"You are such a mood breaker." Ethan riposted and left the room in anger.

Leena breathed in loudly when Ethan was out of her sight. She was in a different world to notice he was only inches away from her.

"What\'s wrong with your face?" Reese entered the room the moment Ethan left the home.

"It\'s not working out, Reese." Leena cried.

"What do you mean?" Reese asked in confusion.

"He tried to kiss me. But I backed off. I am not feeling anything even when he was an inch away from my lips." Leena propped on her arm as she explained Reese.

"It must be because you don\'t have feelings for him. You feel strong emotion when you have met the right one, the one you have been waiting for your entire life. You feel as if you have known him all your life and you connect with him on so many levels." Reese explained.

"How do you know this? You don\'t have a boyfriend, right?" Leena asked. Reese\'s theory was in such a way that even Leena believed it. Will I meet such a person? No. There is no such man.

"It\'s because my EQ is exceptionally high." Rease proudly said.

"That explains why your IQ is exceptionally less." Leena countered with a giggle.

"Hey!" Reese screamed and threw a pillow onto Leena\'s head.

"Alright. Let\'s go and cook. We have to enjoy our time now before the graduation." Leena said.

"We are going to graduate soon, Leena." Reese beamed."I am so happy. What do you want to do next? Do you want to study further?"

"Tired of studying for two decades. I want to earn lots of money and become a billionaire." Leena was excited to graduate and start a company on her own. She has dreamed of sitting in a CEO chair and order the employees.

In a happy mood, Leena and Reese went into the kitchen to prepare food. Leena was cutting vegetables to experiment with a new dish, she received a message notification. She knew who it is. She has set a special notification tone for that person. She threw the knife and grabbed her mobile. A smile reached her eyes when she saw the content of the message. He has asked if she could meet him once. It\'s a yes obviously. Even she wants to directly see him in person.

"Who messaged you?" Watching Leena smiling like a love-struck fool, Reese tried to peek into the mobile but as usual, Leena locked it.

"Are you secretly maintaining another boyfriend?" Reese growled.

"No." Leena refuted.

"Then tell me who it is," Reese bawled out. With continuous pestering, Leena briefly explained about the person she was chatting with.

"What the fish? Four years? You have hidden such a big secret from us?" Reese lashed out at her friend. "What\'s his name?"

"I don\'t know anything about him, Reese."

"Then how did you meet him?" She asked curiously.

"Enough with your questions, Sherlock Holmes," Leena interjected. "Let\'s continue with the cooking." Leena doesn\'t want to share much about him.

...

Days passed and their finals were approaching. Jane, as usual, went to meet Wilbur when the weekend approached. Reese was leaving for New York to meet his grandfather and Leena has to stay alone.

"I don\'t want to leave you alone, Leena," Reese pouted. If not her grandfather has come back from a trip and pestering her to come home, Reese was not planning to go home leaving her friend alone.

"For god\'s sake. You will be back tomorrow."

"Alright. Lock the doors properly." Reese said.

"The security is top-notch here." Leena was moved by her friend\'s concern.

Reese hummed in reply and hugged Leena before she left.

The whole day, Leena did nothing except eating and sleeping. At night, she had a long shower and was about to jump into the bed, the intercom of her house buzzed. "Who is here to disturb my sleep at this time?" She glanced at the wall clock and walked toward the intercom. It was Ethan. Why is he here?

The moment Leena opened the door, she covered her nose when the overwhelming alcohol stench nauseated her.

A night she would never forget in her life.