After he returned from the restroom, they all settled back into their conversation, but the mood had definitely shifted. There was a bit of an awkward tension in the air, but they all tried to move past it and enjoy their time together. After a while, Rebecca decided to lighten the mood by asking, "So, Marshal, what's your favorite hobby?"
Marshal was a bit taken aback by the question, but he decided to answer honestly. "Well, I'm a big fan of board game" he said. Rebecca's eyes lit up when she heard this. "Ooh, I love board games too! What's your favorite one?" she asked. Marshal thought for a moment, and then said, "Well, I really like Settlers of Catan. I like the strategy involved, and the way you have to build up your resources". Rebecca's eyes lit up again. "I love Settlers of Catan too! It's such a great game!" she exclaimed. And all of a sudden, their was laughter and more gist for them to discuss.
As the evening came to a close, Marshal started to feel a bit nervous. As they got ready to leave, Marshal saw Ethan turn to Rebecca and say, "It was really nice meeting you. Do you mind if I get your number?". Marshal's heart sank a little bit, and he tried not to show it. He didn't want to seem petty or jealous. Rebecca smiled at Ethan and said, "Sure, that would be great!" as she pulled out her phone. Marshal felt a pang of jealousy as she exchanged numbers with Ethan. But he tried to push those feelings aside and focus on being a good friend. As they all said their goodbyes, Marshal couldn't help but feel a bit uncertain about the future of their friendship.
As Marshal walked home that night, he felt a mix of emotions. He was happy that he had made a new friend, but he also felt a bit uneasy about the bond that Ethan and Rebecca seemed to have formed. He kept replaying the events of the night over and over in his head, and he couldn't stop thinking about how well they seemed to get along. The next day, Marshal was feeling a bit down about the whole situation. He couldn't help but wonder if Rebecca would start hanging out with Ethan more often, and if that would mean less time for him. As he was lost in his thoughts, his phone buzzed with a text message. It was from Rebecca. The message from Rebecca said, "Hey, Marshal! I just wanted to thank you again for taking me and Lucy out last night. It was really nice getting to know you both. Do you want to get together again soon?". Marshal felt a wave of relief wash over him. She was still interested in being friends with him! Maybe everything would be okay after all. But he wasn't sure how to respond. Marshal took a deep breath and started to type out a reply. "Of course! I'd love to hang out again soon. Maybe we could even play a board game together?". He hit send, and then he waited anxiously for a response. After a few minutes, his phone buzzed again. Rebecca had replied with, "Ooh, that sounds like a great idea! What about this weekend?. Marshal couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Saturday should be perfect! We could make it a picnic, if that's okay with you?". "Great! I'll bring the snacks, and you can provide the board games" Rebecca replied. Marshal was relieved that their friendship seemed to be on solid ground. And he was excited to spend some time with Rebecca again, board games and all.
That was the end of their texting conversation for the day. But Marshal couldn't stop thinking about how things were going to go on Saturday. "Would everything go smoothly, or would there be more awkwardness?" He asked himself. On Saturday, Marshal spent the morning cleaning there apartment and making sure everything was perfect so that they would start their hangout on time and spend more time together. He wanted everything to be just right. As they settled in for an evening of board games and snacks, their conversation flowed easily. There was no awkwardness, and it felt like they had been friends for years. They played game after game, and the three of them had a great time. By the end of the night, they were all exhausted but happy. So as they were about leaving, she turned to Marshal and said, "Thanks for a great day! We should definitely do this again soon". Marshal smiled and said, "I'd love that! Thanks as well for bringing up the idea in the first place".
So, as they were leaving, Marshal noticed a shadow fall across their path. He turned only to see Ethan standing there, looking at him with a smug smile on his face. Marshal's heart sank as he became annoyed that Ethan had suddenly showed up again, and he was not happy about it. As Marshal stood there, frozen in place, Ethan spoke. "So, you and Rebecca seem to be getting pretty cozy. Are you two dating?" he asked, his tone sharp and accusatory. Marshal was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond. Should he tell the truth, or tell him a lie, as it might help waving him off Rebecca.
Marshal took a deep breath and decided to be honest. "No, we're not dating," he said, his voice full of annoyance "We're just friends." But it was clear from Ethan's expression that he didn't believe him. Ethan scoffed and said, "Sure, whatever you say." He turned to leave, but then he paused and looked back at Marshal. "Just so you know, Rebecca is mine. You'd better stay away from her." He said jokingly as both Rebecca and Lucy bursted into laughter. And with that, he decided to give them a lift, but they refused as they had already booked a Taxi, so Ethan had to wave farewell and drove away. But that statement if his left Marshal feeling shaken and confused. After the silly joke made by Ethan, Marshal was left reeling. He had never felt so conflicted before. On the one hand, he wanted to respect their friendship and stay away from her, but on the other hand, he couldn't deny the feelings he had for her. "Should he pursue her anyway, or should he try to move on?" He asked himself.
Marshal knew that pursuing Rebecca would be a risk, but he couldn't get her out of his mind. He decided to write her a text, pouring his heart out and telling her how he felt. He finally wrote the text, and then he agonized over whether or not to send it. He knew that there was a chance it could ruin his friendship with Rebecca, but he also knew that he might regret it if he didn't tell her how he felt. Finally, he decided to take a chance and sent the letter, then waited patiently for Rebecca's reply. Unfortunately for Marshal, he didn't know that Rebecca was with Ethan at the time, for she saw him on her way back from the market when he decided that they should have a cup of coffee together. And to make matters worst, she was in the bathroom, and her phone was with Ethan at that point the message came in. Ethan took the opportunity to grab her phone and saw the message from Marshal. Without a second thought, he deleted it and kept the phone back from where she had kept it earlier. When Rebecca returned, she didn't even realize that anything had happened.
But what will happen when Marshal doesn't get a response? .
Marshal waited anxiously for a reply from Rebecca, but it never came. He started to worry that he had made a mistake in sending the text. He wondered if he had ruined their friendship and if he had made things awkward between them. But he couldn't stop thinking about her, and he knew he had to do something. So, he decided to confront her in person.