"You seem to always find an excuse to save you ass," Luke said, his eyes full of mischief. He found the woman in front of him quite amusing, though he managed not to show it.

  "I am simply telling the truth. I do not lie," Michelle replied, slowly stressing each word, for she was not only telling the truth, but was also talking about a virtue that she had always been proud of.

  "Really? You mean, never? Then how do you explain what I saw just now?" Luke scoffed. They stood face to face on the stairs, one looking down and questioning condescendingly, the other looking up in defense and trying to challenge and argue.

  "Well, that wasn't my fault! Hilda asked me to go shopping with her, but I didn't know that that jerk Bradley would come, too! I did not invite him to come along," Michelle said, her fingers kept scratching the handrails a bit nervously. She didn't feel guilty at all, it was just that Luke's high and imposing manners tended to create stress in every conversation that they had. It also seemed like Luke was already convinced with his belief and wouldn't think otherwise.

  "No, not that. I don't give a shit about that guy at all. I mean why didn't you tell the people in your school that you are already married?" Luke looked her in the eyes. He just couldn't forget how Michelle's classmates had mistaken him for her brother. It was truly awkward and embarrassing. He somehow felt a pinch of disappointment. He might not admit it but it hurt a little.

  "Because I don't want to stand out and attract everyone's attention. Besides, I need some privacy. I don't think it is necessary to announce my private life to everyone in school," Michelle said seriously. What she feared the most was people around found out about her marriage, and started treating her differently. They were already giving her a hard time for Bradley giving her the special treatment. This would be more ammunition

  ul. Really, it hurts, Luke," Michelle said faintly. She continued up the stairs, going past Luke without waiting for his answer. Feeling frustrated, she cast him a plaintive glance when passing by him, and went into the bedroom without looking back.

  Luke was speechless. He was clenching his fists, not out of anger, but with remorse. 'Damn it! I have hurt her again," He thought regretfully. He had vowed to himself that he would care more about how he treated her, but what he had just said and done was simply counterproductive. 'What an idiot!' he thought to himself.

  Not knowing what Luke was thinking, Michelle slammed the door and sat on the bed. 'He would do this every time!' Whenever she thought his attitude towards her might be changing for the better, he would prove her wrong by dealing her a blow. Did she deserve it, because she was not good enough for him? It must be, because whatever she did seemed wrong in his eyes. But what did she do wrong, though? If she ever made a mistake, it could only be that she had fallen in love with him.

  Life is hard, she knew it. She could drink life's gall, but she just couldn't stand it that she loved him with all her heart but got no more than a casual glance in return. Most of the time, they were angry glances.