Chapter 36~RINGS AND LIES

Chapter 36~RINGS AND LIES
Cherry’s POV

Watching Nathan kneel in front of Tasha to slip a ring on her finger made me want to faint. For a moment, he hesitated. His eyes locked on min, long enough to make people uneasy. He had never looked at me like that before, and it terrified me. But then, just as quickly, he looked away and smiled at Tasha.

“Will you marry me, Tasha?” he asked, holding out the ring.

“Of course, Nathan!” Tasha squealed, bouncing with excitement.

My chest tightened until I could barely breathe. Jason, noticing, held my hand.
“Are you okay?” he whispered.

“I need to get out of here,” I said weakly.

“Alright, let’s go,” he answered, guiding me out to his car.

He drove in silence, all the way to the ocean. When I stepped out and saw the waves crashing against the shore, my lungs finally found air.
“Wow… it’s beautiful here,” I breathed.

Jason chuckled. “Are you really that excited?”

“Yes!” I said, forcing a smile.

I ran toward the water, letting the cold waves tickle my feet. Jason joined me, and for a while, we played like kids, splashing each other.
“Do you know how happy it makes me to see you smile?” Jason shouted.

“You shouldn’t be here. You’re missing your friend’s big moment… because of a pathetic girl like me,” I said bitterly.

“I couldn’t leave the pathetic girl alone,” he teased, splashing more water at me.

“Come here!” I shouted, chasing him.

“I don’t want to!” he mocked, laughing.

For a moment, thanks to Jason, my world wasn’t completely shattered. But the peace ended as soon as I got home.

The whole family was in the living room.
“Cherry! Where did you go?” Mr. Hyde asked.

“I wasn’t feeling well, so I left the party,” I said with an awkward laugh.

“What do you mean you weren’t feeling well?” Mom asked in concern.

“I’m fine now,” I muttered.

Then Tasha lifted her hand, her new ring gleaming under the light. She rolled her eyes mockingly.
“Aren’t you going to congratulate me, Cherry?” she asked, flaunting it.

I forced a smile. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Really? Thanks. But we need to talk.” She grabbed my hand.

“What are you doing?” I hissed.

“Let’s go to your room. It’s inappropriate to talk here,” she whispered.

Reluctantly, I led her upstairs. As soon as she entered my room, her nose wrinkled.
“So shabby,” she muttered, scanning it with disgust.

“Say what you came to say,” I replied, sitting on my bed.

Her lips curled into a smirk. “How does it feel, knowing Nathan is completely mine? We’re not married yet, but as long as he’s by my side, that’s enough.”

“Nathan was always yours,” I said weakly.

“So you knew. Then why did you keep hanging around him?”

“Enough, Tasha! Nathan is yours, so why are you acting like this?” I snapped.

“I’m warning you don’t ever go near him again. It’s over now.” Her words sliced through me like a blade.

“Fine. Happy now? Leave me alone,” I said, pulling the blanket over myself.

When she left, I broke. Tears soaked the blanket as I replayed the image of Nathan smiling at her, proposing as if I didn’t exist. To him, I was nothing.

I didn’t even hear Mom enter until she sat beside me, gently stroking my back.
“I’m sorry, Cherry,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“Why are you sorry, Mom?” I asked without looking at her.

“I knew how much you both loved each other… but I did nothing.”

“Mom, it’s not your fault. I’m just a fool,” I said bitterly.

“No, honey. You don’t know how much Nathan adores you. Before the proposal, he came to me. He asked if there was any way to call off the engagement. He said he was in love with someone else. I told him there was nothing he could do, and he begged me to keep it secret.”

I froze. “He… he really said that?”

“Yes, sweetheart—”

I didn’t let her finish. My legs moved before my mind did. I ran outside, hailed a taxi, and didn’t care that it was late. I didn’t care if Nathan was at the dorm or not. All I knew was that I had to see him.

And then I found him. Leaning against a wall, cigarette in hand. His face was heavy with sadness. My chest ached! when did he even start smoking?

I stepped closer. His eyes lifted, staring at me like I was a stranger.

“You jerk!” I cried, pounding his chest with trembling fists, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Cherry…” he finally said, his voice breaking.

“Why did you do that? Why did you tell Mom?” I demanded, still hitting him.

He caught my wrists gently. “You’re making this harder for me.”

Then, without warning, his lips crashed against mine hungry, desperate. My body burned under his touch.

But just as I melted into him, a voice
tore through the night.
“Cherry!”

I froze. It was Jason. He stood there, his eyes fierce, watching us.