A moment of silence.
Those were legit the longest ten seconds of my life. I waited. I wanted to see if he would get off and go on ahead or if he would go up with me to see me off even though he was in no way obliged.
And somehow I WANTED him to stay. Don't ask me. Don't judge me, people. I don't know what crazy girl hormone got to my head.
The door of the elevator closer again.
And then in a dramatic slow motion, he turned his head to face me; his eyes were on mine and my eyes traced his face. It was an awkward kiss environment and I wanted to bolt out and run, AND stay all at once.
He broke the tension.
"Who the hell pressed the buttons?" he said, frowning slightly, "didn't I tell you that I'd walk you home?"
I nodded.
"Or is it that you don't want me to?" he said, and clicked his tongue.
"No, it's not that!" I said quickly, "I just don't want you to go all out of your way for me, it's not like you're obliged or anything. Right?"
"What are you talking about, peasant?" he said, eyes wide.
I felt a dagger on my chest.
Peasant?!
"What ranks of humanity were you born into?" he continued.
Another dagger.
Ranks of humanity?!
"It's always, always a gentleman's duty to see that a lady safely reaches her home."
A dagger of roses.
"Were you never taught such basic courtesy?"
The saw on my body.
B-basic courtesy?! Basic?
"Are you a low life?"
I died.
Low life? He was pushing buttons.
"Yes, I am a low life, you arrogant midget!" I bursted, as the DING indicated my floor, "And good day to you, high and mighty boy born into the high ranks of human species!"
I stormed off, making a dramatic exit by dragging my feet loudly.
"L-Lisa?" he said, surprised.
I didn't know back then, but he was genuinely surprised. He didn't feel any guilt about talking another person down, and was never conscious stricken by his acts because he never perceived them as wrong.
That was layer two: He was dense and couldn't understand that other people were fragile too.
He walked swiftly behind me, as I fumbled to get my keys in.
"Hey, hey Lisa," he said holding one of my elbows, "why are you mad?"
"You DON'T know why I am mad?" I said, almost speechless. I couldn't believe he could be so thick headed.
"well, you're not telling me. How am I supposed to know?" he said.
He had a point, but I had a better point.
"Common sense, you twerp!" I yelled to his face. He didn't flinch but his eyebrows were frowning.
Back to the door. My hands shook. I was agitated, nervous and was at the tip of a frustrated breakdown.
"I don't get most of it, but if you don't tell me, I will never know, Lisa," he was calmly talking. But I was humiliated for one; for two, I had no energy to deal with the child of the teenager.
"And I don't want you to know!"
The door clicked open, and I took long strides inside only to be jerked back by Zerah.
"Wait Lisa. One word."
"What?" I said, my eyes rolling to the back of my head.
"It's 'goodnight' not 'good day'," he said meekly.
"Oh dammit, Zerah Seastein. I swear to god, if you don't shut your mouth, I will throw you down the windows," I have a groan and added darkly, "I do know how to hide a body."
He sighed, smiled and said softly, "I really don't know what I did to offend you so much, Lisa. But I know I've made you upset. And please forgive me for that."
He gave a sheepish smile and then walked back to the elevator and pressed the button, the door opened and he walked into it.
I watched him as he stood there, and waved at me.
"See you?" he said.
I smiled, "No."
He laughed, "Oh, I will."