Chapter 28: Video

Am I still normal? Or am I beginning to lose my sanity due to overthinking?

He drew me closer by the waist. I posted my arms against his chest to create some distance, preventing us from becoming too intimate. The situation felt incredibly awkward. I could no longer sense any affection for him. I could feel the warmth of his body; and whereas before, I would have been tempted to hold him closer, now I just wanted to push him away and distance myself from him.

Do I still love him?

I attempted to decipher my feelings. I was confused. What is this feeling anyway?

Is this falling out of love?

I'm not really sure...

But I won't go back. Why would I? If I still have feelings for him, perhaps a small amount of love? I'll move on.

My mind was preoccupied, but my thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Kyle leaned down to kiss me. I blinked, unable to evade him in time. His lips met mine.

My eyes blinked open again as bright lights shone in our direction. I could hear muffled screams and noises caused by Kyle's impromptu kiss.

Upon regaining my composure, I gently, yet firmly, pushed him away. He seemed unfazed by my rejection and even had the audacity to bring his lips close to my right ear.

"Happy third anniversary, Yvonne..." He whispered in a low voice. He slowly straightened up, led me away, and we resumed our seats at our table.

A wave of irritation washed over me as the reality of what Kyle had just done sunk in. How dare he kiss me with his tainted lips?!

"Why did you kiss me?!" I asked, fuming.

Before, I would have wanted him to kiss me in front of everyone, to let them all know that I was his girlfriend and he was my boyfriend. But after catching him cheating, he had no right to kiss me on my lips anymore!

I mentally reprimanded myself. Foolish. It was also your fault for not avoiding him sooner. You didn't push him away immediately!

Kyle raised an eyebrow at me.

"Why you're my girlfriend, right? That's normal," he answered.

I am your girlfriend? Nonsense. We broke up a long time ago! Ever since I caught you, I made it clear that you are now my ex, my past, an experience I will never allow to re-enter my life.

Annoyed, I chose to ignore him and focused my attention on the dancers. After a while, everyone started wishing the birthday boy, a celebration that had been interrupted by the dance earlier.

Kyle's mother was the first to give a message to her husband. She was in tears, though I wasn't sure whether they were tears of joy or sadness.

Next was Kyla. She was smiling, her gaze fixed on her father. A slideshow played on the projector, showing pictures of her with her father. From her childhood up to her adulthood.

I grimaced. "What the heck, tears already?" The event had barely begun and she was already crying. I, too, would probably shed a tear or two if I were delivering a speech of gratitude to my parents.

My eyebrows shot up in disbelief. Blood and sweat? Or was it blood that was shed so their family could accumulate wealth?

She continued her homage to her father. My forehead creased into a frown, listening to her words.

We both knew that her father was not a kind man. No one in their family was, and they would resort to all kinds of unscrupulous activities just to gain power and wealth.

She was crying as she delivered her speech. I rolled my eyes. I had felt the same way about my own father, but I didn't cry. Well, I might have had a few tears, but not to the point of sobbing loudly.

It was her father's birthday, but her tears made it seem as if it was his funeral.

"And that's all, Dad. Again, happy happy birthday!" Kyla concluded.

The crowd applauded. Messages from business partners, like my own father, were also shared. His was simple, just a "Happy Birthday, Mr. Quinto", nothing more. And then there was my mom who had no intention of wishing Kyla’s father a happy birthday.

If I hadn't noticed how subtly my father had nudged my mother, she wouldn't have spoken.

"Happy Birthday, Kristoff Quinto," my mother said coldly.

My eyebrows knitted together as Uncle Kristoff stared at my mother. My mother's icy gaze returned to my father. He was serious now, his playful aura completely gone. I also noticed the cold look he gave my mother.

I thought to myself, what is going on between these three?

The greetings continued until it was my turn. I kept it simple.

"Happy birthday, Uncle Kristoff. More birthdays to come,"

His response was a forced smile.

I almost rolled my eyes, but I managed to hold myself back.

Then Yanna gave her messages, and Uncle Kristoff’s ridiculously sweet smile to Yanna almost made me roll my eyes. Yanna didn't leave the stage immediately and instead went over to Aunt Elyse.

Then it was Kyle's time to give his father a birthday message. An evil smirk etched itself on my lips.

He stood up and left the seat next to me. He intended to include me, but I declined. I had already wished his father a happy birthday, that was enough.

In that moment, as the man gracefully handed Kyle the microphone, my gaze naturally shifted towards another individual, clad in a sleek black ensemble, who seemed to exude an air of mystery and importance. With a calculated swiftness, he produced a USB drive from the depths of his pocket and expertly inserted it into the awaiting slot on his laptop. I am damn sure that it was the USB that I switched with Kyle's USB. The soft click of the connection echoed in the room, marking the commencement of an intriguing chain of events.

As the video began to play on the impressive display of the projector, a hush fell over the room, as if time itself held its breath in anticipation of what was about to unfold. The ambient sounds of conversation and rustling papers were abruptly replaced by an eerie silence, as all eyes were irresistibly drawn to the captivating visuals projected before them.

Gasps erupted from the assembled crowd, dispersing like ripples across a tranquil pond, as shockwaves of disbelief coursed through the room. The video that unfolded before their eyes was nothing short of disgusted, transcending the boundaries of their expectations and leaving them in a state of disgust-struck bewilderment. It was a sight that defied rational explanation, evoking a myriad of emotions within each individual fortunate enough to bear witness to such a disgusting and disgrace display.

Faces contorted in a symphony of emotions, ranging from disbelief, from confusion to anger. Some jaws dropped open, frozen in mid-sentence, while others instinctively reached for their mouths, their hands unable to shield their disappoinment and disgust. Whispers of disbelief and murmurs of disgust intermingled, creating a symphony of voices that mirrored the collective bewilderment that permeated the room.

In that room, in the presence of Kyle and the enigmatic man in black, the guest became witnesses to a disgusting that defied explanation. Their minds raced with questions, hearts with anger, as they collectively grappled with the staggering implications of what the had just experienced. Little did they know that this video, this seemingly disgusting string of images and sounds, would set in motion a series of events that would forever alter the course of Siran and Quinto lives.