By the time their dinner came to an end, Marzia planned to go home. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was already 8 in the evening. Judging by Sicily's intense traffic, she surmised that she'd arrive at Deniece's place by 9.
On the other hand, Chan was already in his room, sulking and eating mac and cheese, she supposed. After eating, Ian walked to the living room with documents and papers scattered on the coffee table and on the sofa. He didn't talk to Marzia again after their heated exchange earlier, so it was hella awkward for the woman, but she still initiated the courtesy of approaching him.
"I'll be going now,Ian," Marzia said in a tepid tone. She tipped her head partially and added, "Thanks for the dinner. It was great."
In his spectacle glasses, Ian's eyes tilted up to meet hers. "Wait a minute. I'll call Romeo to drop you in your place."
She hastily shook her head at him. "No, it's alright. I can take the bus home."
"I insist. It's already late. It's dangerous for you to commute home by yourself," Ian explained, fishing his phone out of his pocket.
"But I don't… want to bother him just to take me home," Marzia muttered, making Ian pause. She turned to look at the door and thriftily smiled at him. "Don't worry, I can… I can take care of myself. Goodbye," Marzia bid farewell and was about to step away when Ian's voice rang behind her.
"If you don't want to bother that asshole, then I'll drive you home myself."
Marzia's eyes widened as her body shifted behind to see the man rising from the comfortable couch. He looked at Marzia with those appealing eyes and stuttered whilst waving her palms. "N—No. I swear, there's really no need for you to do that. I'm okay…"
However, Ian didn't even listen to her. He just walked past the surprised woman and said, "Wait for me here. I'll just grab my keys."
At that point, Marzia knew she couldn't do anything anymore. She just pouted to herself while waiting in that same exact spot, scratching her nape and mildly cussing herself. 'I should've just run for it. Why did I have to bid goodbye?' she thought.
After a few minutes, Ian, wearing a stylish black coat, stepped down the stairs and strode toward the front door. Marzia obediently followed him out, admittedly feeling a little jittery. Though she often see Scott in business suit, it never fails to stump her, even if another man wears one. Nonetheless, this time, in particular, Ian wins. Both his stance and face make up for his somewhat standoffish personality.
As they both reached the driveway, the parked Maserati blinked. Ian stepped into the driver's seat while Marzia decided to nestle on the backside. She was contemplating where to sit earlier, but she thought that she might be overstepping his boundaries if she sat upfront. But it seemed like she has made the wrong move. Ian seemed dismayed by her intended avoidance. He assumed for the worse, so his gaze sharpened.
"Sit by my side," he ordered her as he took a glance at her in the rear-view mirror.
"I'm fine here." Marzia said with wet lips, turning her face away by looking at the windowside, even though the car has yet to start.
Ian raised his eyebrow. "I don't want to look like I'm your driver, Marzia."
Upon hearing his words, the woman jolts in surprise. "Oh, you're not.. Uhm—" she shrugged obstinately and couldn't speak properly. She hasn't considered that.
The man then pursed his lips and added. "No need to explain yourself. Just come here," he stated, cranked his neck, and added, "Now, are you going to sit beside me so we can go, or will you keep on insisting, wasting both our precious time?"
Sighing in defeat and embarrassment, Marzia was left with no choice and got out. She hastily opened the car door and sat beside Ian, clearly avoiding contact. "Fasten your seatbelt," Ian coldly ordered before turning on the engine, revving, and driving the vehicle on the road, ignoring the shivering lady beside him.
…
While on the road, silence consumed the car. Even the air-conditioning unit of the car seemed timid about making noises. Because of this, the woman dwelled in her provoking thoughts. Marzia couldn't help but recall what Ian said to her when they were having dinner earlier. Marzia didn't like Ian's implication that she was like a nosy bitch who meddled in other people's life.
Marzia knew she wasn't that kind of person; she was just concerned as a teacher toward Chan's reprehensible attitude. The kid was too much and way out of line for treating everyone, including his elders, in such a disrespectful manner.
Somehow, Marzia was brought back to the Dickins' mansion, where Ruth would chastise her for her ideas and views, causing her to develop crippling insecurities. However, now that she swore she'd change and let her mind speak for herself, Marzia knew that she had to say something.
For this reason, she broke the silence between them as she clutched her purse tightly. "I know this might be way too overboard as I am just Chan's tutor, and I mean no disrespect for your parenting skills with him, but I think you shouldn't tolerate his tantrums."
All of a sudden, Ian pulled the clutch, shifting his gears. Despite not looking at her, the anger on his face swelled up that it was evident to be noticed by Marzia.
"As I've said before, Marzia, I know what I am doing with my nephew. If you can't comprehend that, please just keep the advice to yourself. You're not a psychiatrist, you're a teacher." Then, after a couple of seconds, he continued speaking while driving. "Don't go beyond the boundary. You know nothing about him and you also don't have the right to talk about him that way. I don't want this to become personal, but please do me a favor and have some respect. That kid has been through a lot. Am I making myself clear to you this time, Ms. Marzia Delta?"
Marzia became tongue-tied after hearing that. Even though she understood his point, she still couldn't accept his explanation. She knew her limit as Chan's teacher, but she also knew her responsibility along with that role. Deep in her heart, she believed that she shouldn't only teach the kid basic education, but also induce a positive attitude towards himself and others. Respect begets respect, or so they say. Being a teacher didn't end in the four corners of the room. To be a teacher was also to be a second parent to the child.
With that, Marzia's brows knitted. She felt like she was talking to Scott once again, what with all these lectures about boundaries and stuff. Marzia is not stupid, and she knows that. In the heat of the moment, the woman muttered, "Well, I wouldn't tell that to you if you know how to treat your nephew."
Disbelief immediately consumed Ian's eyes. "If this is how you do your work professionally, Miss Delta, then I think this deal between us would never last long. Just pay me the fine you've caused for the inconvenience and the ruckus you've made."
Marzia gritted her teeth. Her blood also boiled because the man started to raise his voice. "Oh, don't you worry, mister! Because I'm not like others who run away from their debts!"
"Good to know! Because if you continue being an insufferable swot, then I don't have a choice but to fire you!" he shouted back, stopping the car to a screeching halt when the red light blinked at a traffic light. It's as if they've known each other for years with their heated exchange.
Marzia scoffed. "You don't have to worry about that! I already quit!"
"Huh, so this is how you want to do this? Jesus, after taking pity on you, this is how you repay me?" Ian spat back.
"Yeah, because apparently, I'm a fucking insufferable bitch! And stop saying those words! You sound just like my ex!" She snapped at him and hastily opened the door. She then walked out of the car before Ian could say anything anymore. She may not have a job and she may have additional debt again, but at least she won that argument.
All alone by himself in the car by the traffic light, Ian thumped his hands on the steering wheel, looking pissed off and irritated. "I said swot, not bitch!"
As soon as Marzia dashed out of the car, Ian was left alone with a bothering thought about her. He couldn't explain it, but somehow, he rather felt like a jackass to Marzia for the insensitive remark that he had made. He didn't know why he suddenly reacted that way, but when it came to Chan, there were times when he could really lose all sense of proper decorum. But it seemed different now because when Marzia disappeared, he felt so guilty.
And not because he cared about her or took notice of her, but because, at the bottom of his heart, he knew that what she had said was right. He didn't know what and how parenting was when he took responsibility for Chan. Ian was just also a young adult back then with a child-like maturity to even handle that kind of tremendous responsibility.
So, without thinking about it thoroughly, he swerved the car to turn around in the nearest corner and shifted to the right, to where Marzia exited the vehicle. Parking the car by the sidewalk, he walked on the street, trying to find the same woman he just fired.
A few minutes had passed, and to no avail, he couldn't find Marzia at all. Frustrated by it, he raked his hands through his hair and ran back and forth to the same street, scrutinizing every corner of the avenue.
Meanwhile, Marzia, who was still pissed off, was walking in an empty alley all alone. She heard that taking this shortcut will lead her to the closest bus stop. Covered by a dark, grim night, the pathway was shrouded with an odd, deafening silence. Marzia's back shivered in anxiousness as she felt the stiff brush of the breezy wind swirling around her as though it were whispering dangers.
She wrapped her arms, skidding away quickly to the eerie path so she could get away from there as fast as possible. Turning to the left side of the alley's corner, she, unfortunately, collided with three buff men.
"What the—Oh, hi, little lady! Where are you headed?" The short man whistled, wiggling her eyebrows back and forth in a disgusting manner. Worse of all, he seemed high as well as his peers.