A whole week passed and I haven't heard from Adrian. I'm embarrassed to admit how many messages and missed calls I left him. He simply ignored them all. At this point it's clear that he doesn't want to be with me anymore, but at least he could give me a closure. That is what I need to be able to move on.

There was only one thing left for me to do in order to get him to talk with me. And that is show up at his workplace which I certainly wouldn't do. Oh and there is one more thing... Something which crossed my mind but I immediately shrugged it off. That is to call Julian. He is the only person who might know what's going on. But if I were to get ignored by him too, I'd sell all my possessions and move to Madagascar.

The more I think about it, the more I want to do it. I seriously contemplated on pros and cons. The worst thing would be him ignoring me because I would lose my dignity. But with how much I begged Adrian to talk to me, it is long lost. With that out of the way, the only bad thing that could happen is if he doesn't know anything about what's going on. So I took my phone and texted him on Instagram. Where I ignored him like ten times...

'Can we meet please? I need to ask you about something.'

While waiting for his reply, I got ready to go over to Valentin's house. We are having a lunch with his mother. This is the first time I'm seeing him since we were at Ellen's, because the two of them have been meeting up constantly.

I wasn't even bothered to brush my hair properly. This whole situation with Adrian gave me a lump in my chest, and as soon as I start doing something and remember of it, my body gets filled with anxiety and I lose my will. Same for dressing up.

I took a taxi to his house and Ms Heilig opened the door, rushing me in since the food was ready. I helped her take it all out on the table and Valentin came, greeting me. She poured us a bit of everything in our plate and my portion was larger than I could possibly eat. Especially with this anxiety that I've been feeling. I took in a deep breath before eating.

Just as I was giving myself an invisible medal for managing to eat everything on my plate, Ms Heilig said it was time for a desert. She refused both of us to help her with the plates. Not that I insisted since I felt like I would explode if I got up. 

After placing freshly baked cheese cake in front of us, and taking a seat back on her chair, she spoke, "You know, I was a prostitute back in the day."

Definitely not expecting her to say that, I choked on my first bite. I looked at Valentin, waiting to see him laugh but he didn't. Instead he was completely serious.

"Don't look at him." She continued. "He is the product of it all." She only shocked me further as I started pitying Valentin. 

This woman never ceases to surprise me. She gives the impression of someone strict and proper, but suddenly comes up with advice for seducing men. No wonder how she knows 'the art of seduction' so well.

"I am telling you all this so you stop hiding your stripper job. I am not going to tell on you or get you fired." I opened my eyes wide, not able to believe my own ears. How on earth did she find out?

"I don't understand." I didn't say that because I wanted to try and deny it, but because I was completely confused. Shifting my gaze between her and her son, I waited for one of them to explain.

"Ellen let it slip by mistake. She was honest about her job immediately, but mentioned you by mistake. Then I asked her about it and she explained why you've been hiding it." It finally started to make sense. "You don't need to worry." He concluded. 

"I'm sorry, this all came as a surprise." I apologised, explaining why I'm acting weird. "I need the job at the library and I didn't want to risk losing it."

They both understood and Ms Heilig went on telling me her life story. She was quite a trouble maker when she was young, so she isn't surprised that she ended up doing that job. I was curious to ask Valentin how he deals with his mother's past profession, especially with the fact that he came out of it, but decided not to. Instead I told them more about my own life and how things are.

___

As I waited for a taxi home, my phone made a noise so I looked down at it. 

'I think I know about what. I'll stop by after work.' 

Julian's positive reply both relieved me and made me nervous. Perhaps I will finally get my closure. I rushed home in order to tidy it up a little bit and maybe get changed, although I don't really care. At this point I just want to get it all over with in order to be able to properly move on. 

He arrived soon and I remained in the same clothes as earlier. Just this time he made a comment.

"You look like shit." Wow, thanks! "I hope it's not because of my idiot brother." He said as soon as he walked in. I motioned for him to sit on the armchair, not bothered to offer him anything to drink or eat. 

"He's been ignoring me for a week now. I just want to know why." I explained in desperation. He looked at me and nodded. 

"Yes...But first tell me what did he tell you about us and our disputes?" He asked, bringing to my mind a story about him hooking up with Adrian's girlfriends, and provoking those same bitter feelings that I felt when I first heard it. I was unsure what it had to do with this, but I told him nonetheless.

"He was in a serious relationship with some girl and you slept with her. Then you kept on doing it with his other girlfriends as well. He also said that's the reason why you are friendly with me." As I explained he kept a cynical smile on his face.

"What a liar... Crystal was my girlfriend. We liked each other since we were kids and were together since our teens till I was twenty eight. On the day when I wanted to propose to her, I found her riding my brother." 

As the second shock for the day hit me, I experienced a complete block. I didn't know what to think or what to say or what to do. My heart began pounding as I realised that all those disgusting things I believed Julian did, were done by the man I fell for.

"So he is the one sleeping with your girlfriends? How do you explain being flirty with me then?" I demanded hoping that he is the one lying. But something about his face tells me that he is telling the truth.

"No. After he did that with Crystal I wanted him to feel my pain so I seduced the girls he took interest in. But he never loved any of them the way I loved Crystal. Then you came along and I must admit he seemed more protective over you than any of them. You'd be my ultimate revenge." He told me the full story but I still couldn't understand everything. I was on the verge of crying.

"But what does all this have to do with him ignoring me?" I asked.

"In the end Crystal ditched him and moved out of town. I hate to be the one to tell you but now she is back and I think they are together. I saw them making out the other night." I couldn't believe it. I gasped, dramatically putting one hand on my chest.

"But I thought we were serious!" I fired, my eyes watering. He watched me with pity.

"Honestly I think he cares for you very much. But she hurt his ego and I think that's the reason why he's with her, apart from our mother pressuring him." He replied.

"What do you mean?" I didn't know anything about his mother.

"Adrian would never bring a stripper home. He is a mommy's boy, and she wants him to be with someone who is rich with a high social status. Someone like Crystal..." At this point my eyes weren't just watering, but I was sobbing. 

I was unable to speak and he handed me his handkerchief.

"Come to our annual family event as my date. It will crush him." He suggested and I immediately shook my head.

"I don't want to crush anyone. Besides I am a stripper, remember?" I reminded him.

"I don't care about that, I don't listen to others. Expect a dress delivery next week, the event is on weekend." He finished and got up, ready to leave.

I was still sobbing and he gently touched my shoulder in support. Forgetting I was holding his handkerchief and not a tissue, I blew my nose which was runny from crying. He wrinkled his nose as I realised what I did.

"You can keep it." He said before leaving and I sighed in embarrassment.