Chapter 4

“Uncle Alex!” She exclaimed loudly and ran towards him.

It would be an understatement to say that Marissa was shocked. She was not expecting Alex to be here. In her personal heaven.

Alex would have never guessed that Marissa was a dancer, let alone one of the best. Her flexibility, her stance, her attitude, it was mind-blowing. It mesmerized him.

He had never seen her this happy. His eyes were transfixed on Marissa all the time, and it was only broken when his niece came to hug him and dragged him towards her dance instructor.

“Marissa, this is my favorite uncle Alex, and Uncle Alex, this is one of the best dancers, Marissa.”

“I am your only uncle Brook.” He rolled his eyes and ruffled his niece’s hair.

“Only for a few months until aunt Jenny marries.” She murmured, hoping that her uncle wouldn’t hear, but much to her dismay, he heard each and every word.

“What do you mean to marry?” He asked her in astonishment, with wide eyes.

“Oops! I should go back to my group.” With that, Brook ran off. She forgot that her aunt had not yet revealed to her uncle about her fiancé.

“Brook, come back. Brook...” ‘Damn this girl,’ Alex thought.

“I think Linda forgot to tell you that today, the class hours have been extended. You are an hour early.” Marissa spoke directly to him for the first time in three years.

“Well, I cannot say I am surprised. She tends to forget this kind of information unintentionally or intentionally.” To which she gave him a slight but hesitant smile.

“If you want, you can take her early. Brooklyn won’t miss much.” Marissa told him, hoping that he would leave soon. She really didn’t want him here in her personal paradise.

“No, no. It’s okay. Do you mind if I sit here until the class is over? I really don’t want her to miss class, plus Linda would have my head if she heard that I took her early, although that would be her own fault, and I also don’t want to travel back and forth again.” Alex asked her hesitantly.

Both of them had a past, and Alex was not proud of how he had handled things back then. So it wasn’t easy to talk to Marissa. It is a miracle she hasn’t punched him. But he was glad that they were able to have a civil conversation.

“Sure. If that’s what you want.”

Marissa was about to go back to continue her class when Alex said, “Marissa.”

“Yeah?”

“You are definitely one of the best dancers I have seen.” The compliment took her aback, but that didn’t stop her cheeks from turning a shade of red.

This was the first compliment that Alex had ever given her since he had known her.

“Um... Thank you.” She smiled and sincerely acknowledged his compliment.

Marissa closed her eyes and murmured, ‘He is not here. He is just a shadow. You can do it. Alex is no one to you. He is past. The past cannot affect the future.’ She took a deep breath and continued her routine with the class, trying to forget that Alex watched each and every move of her with intent.