Comment faire? Que penser?

So I went to visit my high school (Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Tech) yesterday (23 Dec). I had actually just visited last Friday (19 Dec)—that time, I went inside the Computer Systems Lab, where Perscheux likes to loiter during eighth period. I didn't see him, however, and if he saw me, he ignored me. So I expected something similar to happen for my second visit.

I signed into the main office, stumbled upon an old friend, and as I stepped outside the office and said good-bye to him, who else should happen to be walking in the opposite direction but Perscheux d'Herbinville.

I ignored him, walking past with an air of "haha, I'm in college now, and I no longer have to deal with all the crap you have to deal with—what's more, I don't have to deal with you anymore" (or so I imagined). I expected him to do the same, that is, walk past me with an air of "I don't have to deal with you anymore"—or simply not recognise me altogether, falsely or genuinely. Instead, he did this dramatic double-take in the middle of the hallway, which looked very contrived. I didn't know what to make of that, but I wasn't concerned.

So I had a lively conversation in three languages with my former chemistry teacher. Five minutes into the conversation, I noticed that Perscheux was standing in the doorway. What could he possibly want from me? Ten minutes later, I noticed that he was no longer standing by the door. Good, maybe he gave up. But no, now he was behind me.

I bade my chemistry teacher farewell and walked out the door, with Perscheux on my heels. The conversation went something like this:

"Stéphanie-Felice."
"What?"
"I heard that you found someone else."
"Well?"
"Well in that case, I was wondering if I could have my ring back."

Ah yes, the ring. You see, he had given me a ring, that to the best of my descriptive abilities consists of 2 carats amethyst, 0.1 carat diamond, and an unquantifiable amount of 14 kt gold (due to my lack of a precise analytical balance). It cost approximately $275.

I said nothing. We approached junior lounge.

"If you just give it back, I'll stop bothering you. I'll be out of your life forever, I promise."
"And if I don't?"
"Then I'll keep bothering you."
"How?"
"I... have my ways."

We went up the stairs to sophomore hall.

"So can I have it back?"
"Why don't you take it to court?"
"What court?"
"A court. There are lots of them, you know. Or you could look in some pawn shops."
"I see. Well, I don't think I'll take it to court, because I don't care that much. I just wanted to know if you were in it just for the profit... I guess you were."

I said nothing. I turned left into freshman hall, heading towards my old German classroom.

"Well, I really have to go and get my stuff. I wish you the best of luck with Mr Integral."

Mr Integral. I pulled off the best cold laugh I could before peering inside the empty and locked German classroom.

But I chewed over what Perscheux had said for the rest of the day. Now I don't really care what he thinks, but I couldn't help asking myself: Did I lie? Is this morally wrong? And what is he capable of doing to me?

You see, there are two details that I did not tell him. Firstly, I had not actually sold the ring to a pawn shop. It is in its original box in my room at this very moment. I have not legally promised it to anyone else. As I see it, however, the ring is effectively no longer mine to do with as I please; it has been that way since the commencement of the Plan. Secondly, I did not tell Perscheux what I planned to do with the ring. Well yes, I wanted to sell it, to a pawn shop or elsewhere, but what then? I did not tell him about the Plan, and naturally, I cannot describe the Plan here, because it involves Évariste.

It is true that I am selling the ring (and many other things he gave me) for a "profit"—relative to my not having received the ring at all, that is. However, Perscheux was wrong in that I am not keeping the profits for myself. In the end, in fact, he might actually reap a very small indirect benefit from the profits, a type of benefit that he would not be able to obtain from simply having a ring or however much money he would get for it. (Admittedly, the magnitude of this indirect benefit that I will reap will be greater, but not by much.)

Furthermore, I did not enter into a relationship with Perscheux with the objective of obtaining this profit, as much as he did not enter into a relationship with me with the objective of obtaining help with his AP US History grade. We both invested what we chose to invest and lost what we were bound to lose when the relationship ended. Should I therefore stalk him down and ask for my presents for him back? For my hundreds of hours of wasted effort? For a revocation of his 4.03 junior year GPA that was largely my doing?

So no, I believe I did not lie, and that I am not making a moral error here. Feel free to suggest otherwise, however. And as far as what Perscheux can do to me? We'll see. Ce qui sera, sera.

In fact, this is all about the Plan. I have wanted to get rid of the ring ever since I dumped Perscheux, and if he had asked for it back before I came up with the Plan, I probably would have given it to him. But now I have a better use for that ring.

I have a new goal now, a worthy one. And if Perscheux wants to interpret it as profiteering, then why doesn't he go pick a fight—or a duel—with a windmill?

Ainsi soit-il.