Chapter 30: What Do You Think of Me?

Bella grew increasingly uneasy about her landlord, Leonard. He seemed intimidating, and she felt she couldn't afford to offend him. His casual appearance—a tank top, even in spring, showcasing his physique—didn't entirely mask this impression. After sharing a meal the previous evening, he readily joined her for dinner again.

Casually, Bella probed, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

Leonard scoffed. "Why would I want that? It's just a burden."

Stunned by his response, Bella worried about living with a single man she barely knew. The memory of him following her to meet Simon resurfaced, unsettling her. She felt guilty for suspecting someone who had helped her, but his actions had fueled her anxieties.

Later, she cautiously asked, "One of the guys from yesterday returned my wallet. Did you talk to them?"

Leonard nodded while eating. "Yeah, I told you I'd handle it."

"How?" she asked hesitantly.

He grinned mischievously. "I used force to deal with force."

Her suspicions confirmed, she felt unnerved. "Do you like men or women?"

"Women," he replied without hesitation.

Taking a deep breath, Bella blurted, "So what do you think of me?"

Leonard choked on his food. "What? You're alright, I guess. Did you are you thinking about dating me?"

"No, no way! First, my dad wouldn't allow it, and second, my friends wouldn't either. Let's just stick to being landlord and tenant."

Feeling flustered, Bella quietly put down her fork. "Yeah that's fine. I didn't mean it like that. You're overthinking. I'm going to wash my face."

Unbeknownst to Bella, Leonard rushed to his room and texted Dominic: "If you don't get here soon, Bella's going to ask me out. She just asked if I have a girlfriend, if I like women, and what I think of her!"

Despite Bella's clarification, Leonard avoided her, even ceasing to wear tank tops. Bella knew he'd misunderstood but, unable to clear it up, she gave up. Besides her hospital job, she earned extra money designing for Lia's successful sculpture studio. Lia, a university alumna Bella didn't know, had thrived in her field.

At month's end, Bella transferred her remaining earnings (after expenses) to Dominic's account, using a new SIM card since he'd blocked her number. Her message remained unanswered, but she wasn't disappointed. Though they shared the same world, they would never meet again. The thought brought her heartache.

(Note: The initial spurious text about a website was removed.)