UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER (EDITED VERSION)

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX: Movie night

-Shelley-

As I paced back and forth in the living room, anticipating Ben's arrival for movie night, I pondered. "This is definitely not a date, right? It's just two friends enjoying a movie and each other's company."

"I need to chill out," I sigh. I am overthinking things. I make a last check on the food that will be needed for movie night. Ben is a nice guy; he really is. So why is it that when I am around him, I can't let my guard down and enjoy my time with him? Must I treat him coldly all the time? Well, one can't be careless with these people. I can't let my guard down. The last time I did it almost cost me.

Enough thinking—what do I have? I have some chilled cans of soda, KFC, and popcorn. With these, nothing can go wrong. Just then, a knock comes, startling me.

"He is here." I peek at my watch, and he is right on time too. Couldn't he be any less perfect?

Standing with the door ajar, I looked at a casually-clothed Ben, who held a bag of chips and fries. He raises the objects and declares, "Something for the movie."

"Please, come on in."

"Which movie are we watching?" he inquires.

"I was hoping you had one in mind," I replied.

"Not really. My wish was that you would be the one to decide this time and that I would be the one to decide next time. So, what do you think?" He turns to me.

"What do you mean, next time?" I echoed his remarks... So, are you implying that we're going to commit to this permanently?! As we approach the sofa, I pose this question.

"Sure. Why not? There's nothing wrong with it. Is it? It's just two friends spending some time together. If it bothers you, we can invite some friends over. Both mine and yours."

Ben looks at me, steadily expecting a response to his suggestions; instead, I sit on the couch and fumble with the remote.

"Well....?" He asks as he sits by me on the couch.

"I don't think I am ready to host a full house just yet. For now, we can manage with just the two of us." Attempting valiantly to conceal his enthusiasm from me, he can't help but crack a grin as he does so.

"Now that everything is in order, we can concentrate on the current task. So, what are we watching?"

"You will see soon enough," I said.

***

A moment later, Ben and I sit cosy on the sofa as we share a bowl of popcorn while the movie comes to an end.

"So, what do you think?"

"About what?" he asks.

"The movie. Do you think it is appropriate for a professor to get involved with his students?"

"Feeling distressed, he spoke up. Who knows, maybe the professor is already in a relationship; nevertheless, it's not acceptable in the academic world."

"Well, I will say screw academia. Obviously, both of them are truly in love; they deserve to be together," I stated.

"That is what you will think."

"What do you mean by that?" I snap at him.

Sighing, he said. "Never mind that."

"But I do mind your opinion. Go on."

"Listen, I think it's important to adhere to the rules, not to break them. As much as they are in love, it is wrong, per the rules governing teachers and students. Furthermore, it's difficult to determine the true intentions of the professor. He may be taking advantage of her."

With my mouth open, I stare at him. I couldn't believe I was hearing this from him. "Obviously, we did not watch the same movie. It clearly shows the guy's pure intentions towards her. Where is this prejudice from?"

"Please let's not talk about this anymore, alright?" said Ben.

"Ok, it looks like I have stepped on a nerve or something. What's going on, Ben? I feel like we are not talking about the movie anymore."

Leaning back on the sofa, he let out a heavy breath, pinching the bridge of his nose in the process. "Look, I do not mean to act this way. It's just that this movie brings back memories I do not want to visit."

I stare at him. I did not know what to say, although I was curious to know what those memories were. I know it is best not to ask. Observing his conversation about it will likely make him feel uncomfortable.

I will let it go this time. Giving him room to decide when he wants to talk to me about these bad memories of his.

"Well, I am sorry for picking this movie and asking you about it. To make you feel better, let's pick another movie. How do you feel about comedy?"

-Adam POV-

Watching her try to cheer up my mood, I couldn't help but chuckle. "You don't have to do that."

"Do what?"

"Make me feel better," I say as I take her hands in mine. "Remember, I told you my dad was a professor?" I Tucked a loose hair at the back of her ear. She said, 'Yes, you did.'

"Well, what I didn't tell you was that he cheated on my mom with his student."

"Shit." I have no idea and am so sorry. If I had known, I wouldn't have picked this movie.

"It's ok; it's not your fault. Besides, it's just a movie. I reacted badly to it; I should know better."

"My mom was a model. She and my dad met at a college fundraiser held by the university where my father was teaching. She was beautiful, and my father felt for her instantly. He wasted no time courting her. Soon, they were married. My father has his looks and charm, and women are aware of that, as is he. He also has a weakness for art collections and women."

"As soon as they had me, my father changed for the worse. People mistakenly believed that the money associated with my family name came from my dad. It was from my mom. My dad prefers to spend the majority of these funds on himself. Dabbles in art with it. He almost ran us into bankruptcy. My grandfather's intervention saved us from ruin."

"But why did they assume it was your father who was the breadwinner of the family since professors don't earn much, asked Shelley.

"That is because they did not expect much from coloured people like my mom, and since my dad dealt with art, they thought that was his source of wealth."

"I see. That's terrible."

"I wish I could tell you that that was all, but it's not," I said. "It got to a point where my father became possessive of my mom. He asked her to quit modelling because he couldn't stand the attention she was receiving from men. The nerve of it all. He dared to ask that of her when he had been sleeping with his student.

"When my mom found out he had fathered a child with his student, it broke her heart. She was never the same again." Planting a kiss on Shelley's hand, I said, "I hate him."

"I see. So when I asked you if you had a little brother and you said something like that, that was what you meant." I shook my head in agreement with her.

"I am really sorry, Ben. Truly." Holding on to my hand tightly, she asks, "How is your mom now? I can imagine how difficult this might have been for her."

"She is recovering from the divorce. It's a process. Little by little, she will get there."

"Yes, she will. She got you. You are an amazing son."

"Thank you. Coming from you means a lot to me." I said this as I held her gaze.

You know what? How about this? I still stand-by we watching comedy, and after that, you can stay here on the couch since it's too late to go home now. You can leave tomorrow morning. How about that?"

"That's a plan," I responded with a smile.

_

A/N: Hey guys, what do you think about Shelley and Ben's relationship now?