Chapter 2 I kissed my enemy
Lydia's POV:
In high school, Justin was my nightmare. When Harridan drifted apart from me, he took it upon himself to continuously torture me and make sure that my feelings were out in the open. He was a certified playboy, and to him, girls were just a piece. So narcissistic.
I remember how he used to mock me because I was always following Harridan. He said I reminded him of a kitty, and he nicknamed me little kitty. At first, I hated that name and protested that he stop calling me that, but when he didn't stop, I had to get used to the nickname.
“What do you want, Justin? Were you sent to frustrate me?” I asked with furrowed brows, purposefully ignoring his question.
Justin smirked, and his eyes lingered on my busty cleavage. “You've grown up, kitty. Unfortunately, you still hate me,” he murmured, and faked a pitiful face.
I stared at him with disgust, wondering why he was even talking to me. He's just like his sister, she believed she was the Queen of the school, while he saw himself as the Lord.
“Why are you still in my presence? Are we friends?” I asked him with a grimace, and without waiting for a response I left.
I heard Justin chuckle. He probably wasn't expecting me to be blunt with him.
“Annoying prick,” I hissed as I entered the main hall. In that moment of anger, I made up my mind, and I was determined not to run away or cry like I usually do.
“Everyone, get your ass in! We're about to start a game!” Amber yelled from the living room, screaming above the music.
I rolled my eyes. Both of us spent over six years of our lives attending the same schools, but I still couldn't get used to her constant screaming.
Everyone was already seated in a circle, and they arched their brows at my arrival. They probably didn't think I'd join. Justin was seated in the middle, and he kept trying to exchange gazes with me.
Girls and boys were swooning over him, talking about how wealthier and powerful he had gotten ever since he inherited his parents’ multi-billion-dollar company. But Justin wasn't paying attention to them, and his eyes seemed to be fixed on my body.
While my feelings were still hurt by the engagement announcement, I realized that isolating myself wasn't going to solve anything. I had to act brave and unaffected, else everyone would find out that I was obsessed with an engaged man.
On the other side of the circle, Harridan and Amber were seated. Harridan looked like he wasn't interested in playing, and he tried leaving, but Amber had her arms wrapped around his neck, and she kept placing kisses on his cheeks, begging him to play with her.
I could feel Harridan’s gaze on me, and I became hot and sweaty. It was my body's way of telling me that I was craving what I would never have. I tried not to look at him, but I couldn't control myself, and our eyes locked. I couldn't take my eyes off him, and he seemed to be lost in my gaze. Although this happened for approximately five seconds, it felt like years to me, and I vowed to cherish the memory.
“Baby,” Amber pouted, and rested her shoulder on Harridan, breaking our stare. Amber noticed that I was still looking at her fiancé, and she smiled broadly. It wasn't a friendly smile, instead, it was filled with menace. The exact one she gave me before hitting my face back in high school.
Janet, her best friend was seated beside her, and I noticed the mischievous smirk they exchanged. Staring at them wasn't going to change anything, so I looked away and tried to focus on the bottle on the floor.
“Hmm, who will spin the bottle first?” One of my ex-bully asked, and Amber jumped to the front. She carefully spun the bottle, and I anxiously watched as it went round and round and round, till it stopped in front of Harridan. Amber smiled and sat on his lap.
“Babe, apart from me, have you ever liked any other girl?” She asked with a confident voice and shot me a triumphant gaze.
Harridan didn't reply at once, he kept quiet, carefully thinking of what to say. And for a moment, I could swear I caught him looking at me.
“No!” He suddenly declared. “Of course not, Amber, you are my first love,” he said with a sure conviction, and my heart arched. I was friends with him for a long time, but he never felt any romantic attraction to me. Not even a little bit?
Amber grinned at Harridan's words and plastered a kiss on his face. They both stared at each other, kissing and caressing themselves. I should have gotten used to this by now, but seeing them as they acted clingy to each other broke my heart, and I attempted to take a quick break.
“Where are you going, sweetie?”Janet, Amber's best friend, asked me with furrowed brows, and I immediately noticed the ugly smile on her lips.
I stumbled to the back and nervously sat down. “Nowhere, I just wanted to stretch my back,” I replied, scared of getting unnecessary attention.
Justin smirked from where he sat, and he eyed me.
“Alright, I'm next!” Janet said and spun the bottle. I looked at it anxiously, and when it stopped spinning, I froze.
“Hey, Lydia! Truth or dare?” Janet asked me with a naughty smile.
I was caught unaware, and I looked at the bottle's direction to check if she had made a mistake. “Truth,” I finally said, and Amber giggled.
“Are you still in love with your high school crush?” Janet asked, and Amber nodded, encouraging her.
“What?” I stammered, and my eyes widened at Harridan.
“It's a trap! They want to confirm if you still have feelings for Harridan,” my subconscious whispered.
I knew this already. I mean why else would Amber be interested in a question if it doesn't benefit her?
I kept quiet thinking of the right answer. I couldn't say yes because Harridan was getting married, and I couldn't say no because that'd be a lie.
Harridan's eyes and Justin's were on me, and they looked more nervous than I. ″What should I do? What should I say?″ I wondered.
“No, I no longer have feelings for him,” I replied in a whisper and Amber scoffed.
“We all know that you still love Harridan. So tell me the truth, are you jealous? Do you wish he were yours?” Amber asked with an annoying smile, and she placed her lips on Harridan's cheeks.
Everyone seemed to be waiting for my answer, but my mind was a whirlwind.
“Who told you that I ever had feelings for Harridan?” I asked, trying to be brave.
“Don’t you?” Amber fired back, and I smiled.
“Not at all. Harridan is like a brother to me. I don't have feelings for him. I never have, and I never will,” I lied with a bright smile. In my mind, I was praying that no one would ever find out about my true feelings.
Harridan looked disappointed, but Amber didn't seem to believe me. She was about to say something when I suddenly stood up and left. I knew that if I stayed there, they'd keep asking me questions, so I acted like I was annoyed by their accusation, and went to the balcony.
A part of me wished that Harridan would run after me and ask about my well-being. But if that was possible, he'd have done it years ago.
I heard footsteps behind me, and my heart leaped, thinking my dream was coming true. But when I heard Justin's voice, I clenched my fist. I didn't bother to look at him, but a disappointed expression was on my face.
“After how boldly you spoke to my sister, I was actually expecting you to stay for the rest of the game,” Justin said, slowly moving towards me.
“What do you want? Don't you have your twin to babysit?” I asked with a sarcasm-filled voice.
Justin shook his head. “Nah! Teasing you is so much fun. Also, she has Harridan now,” he said, and I subconsciously clenched onto the balcony railing.
Justin must have noticed this, because he chuckled. “You're still interested in my brother-in-law, aren't you?” He asked.
His words caught me by surprise because I thought I had hidden my emotions. I quickly turned to face him. His eyes had darkened, and he looked at me with an unreadable expression.
“What are you talking about? What brother-in-law? I have no idea,” I lied in between gritted teeth, and looked around to make sure that no one was watching.
A sly grin settled on Justin's face, and he stood in front of me. His lips hovering over mine. “I am an Alpha, Lydia, I smell things. Also, I can help you get over him for free. Spend a night at my place, and all your worries will be gone,” he said with a soft voice, and slowly moved towards me.
I began to take steps backward, until I was trapped in-between him and the balcony railing.
“Don't run away from me. I wouldn't bite. I promise,” Justin sang in my ears, like a predator coaxing his prey. I didn't want to be a coward like back in high school, so I looked at him. Determined to show him that I wasn't scared. I leaned forward and placed my lips on his.
Justin looked surprised, but he quickly adjusted and pulled me closer to him.
“I will make you forget all about him within a day! I promise!” His words rasped as his mouth dropped to my neck, leaving slow, open‑mouthed kisses down the side of it.
My head tipped to the side on instinct, exposing more of my skin to him, and a soft moan slipped out of my throat. His eyes were darker, hungrier, as if daring me to stop him when he already knew I wouldn’t.
But I knew I should. I needed to—before we went too far, before I let happen what should never happen between us. The cold breeze carried the pain and dejection I felt, and I poured it all into the kiss.
“Lydia, what's going on?” Harridan's voice called out to me, and I froze.