Chapter 80 Not hurt enough
Uriel's POV
As you must've rightly guessed...
Yes, my life was slowly falling apart.
Even after weeks.
People still looked at me with that pity face while some laughed to my face and behind my back.
The ones that irked me were the ones who looked at me like a broken toy.
"Hey." Kathie greeted, standing beside my locker.
"Hi."
"Have a good day in school okay?" She forced a smile at me.
Honestly, I wasn't mad at her but I needed to be alone.
I couldn't face anybody.
I was ashamed of myself for being a nerd yet foolish. They didn't deserve to be associated with such a friend.
"Thanks." Shutting my locker, I said.
She sighed. Simultaneously, our eyes caught onto Chloe's eyes. She still had those gloomy eyes from weeks ago. Yeah, she walked with Peter some times but most times she was alone.
I was the first to turn away, making my way to the class.
Chloe tried to talk to me after the incident but it was just too late. She had my heart broken and it just wasn't something I could easily heal from.
"Uri!" The familiar voice called up to me. My feet stopped moving, pinning me to a spot as I waited for him; for Lance.
Indeed, you only had your true friends at the end of the day.
I didn't know who to turn to when it all happened so I ran to him. Of course, he welcomed me with open arms and blamed me for everything that was happening to me.
And yeah, he didn't fail to remind me about how he warned me of Ryder. As much as I dreaded to hear that, it was just the truth.
"Hey Lance."
He smiled brightly, "you look human today."
Groaning, I hooked my hand around his. "I'm just trying to round up this semester and leave this hell hole."
"That's good. Hopefully, we get admitted into Brin College and never ever separate. Maybe we could even become something ..."
His voice trailed off as my eyes spotted the crowd that was approaching into the hallway. My heart clenched in my chest when I saw him - smiling, living his best life as the captain of the basketball team once again.
Good for him.
As if he sensed me looking, Ryder turned in time, his eyes meeting mine. His smile doesn't fade but his eyes held that hollow, empty look.
A hand from nowhere grabbed his face, turning it to their direction and that was how the girl placed a peck on his lips, running away with a giggly laugh.
I sucked in a sharp breath, turning away abruptly. My eyes stung, tears itching to build up.
Never.
I was done crying over spilled milk.
"Still haven't gotten over him, have you?" Lance spoke coldly, untangling our hands. I raised my eyebrow at him, confused. "Ryder."
"I... It's just - You won't understand." Sighing, I began to walk fast so I could just hide myself inside a class and drown myself with reading afterwards.
At least I had been able to set my priorities straight after the incident, dropping all the decisions 'we' took together.
Fucking pretender acting like he gave two shit about me.
I was going to get into Brin College under the Business Administration major. I didn't even know why i listened to him then, and thought that taking Art major was a better option.
But I hadn't cancelled my application though. Been too emotionally occupied.
"Movie at my place?" Lance asked once we got to the class door.
"Uhh... I haven't really covered much in accounting." I scratched the back of my neck, hoping he'd get the hint.
It wasn't exactly a lie because I was seriously having a slower time to understand and process anything.
How could I not when all that flashed in my head was that day, at the party.
When all I could see was his icy dark glare; the coldness in his facial expression - so inhumane.
Lance's eyes darkened for a split second but then he breathed out, flashing me his teeth. "Friday night then. No excuses." Lance patted my cheek before leaving for his class.
Bracing myself up after being in shock at his attitude, I sighed heavily before bolting into the classroom. Everyone turned to look at me, watching me until I went to sit down. Then came the whispers.
"Don't you all have better things to do with your life?!" Someone yelled. I recognized it to be Peter's voice.
Clenching my jaw, I pinned my eyes to my desk like it was so interesting.
"Uhh...hi?" He said after taking a chair next to mine. "Uri, look -"
"I don't want to speak with you."
"I'm sorry about -" he paused when I glared at him. He sighed, then continued, ignoring my death glare. "Just don't put it on Chloe. It's all my fault. I was the one who told her to keep it to herself after walking in on Mason and I's conversation."
Rolling my eyes, I turned away to face the window.
"Look, everybody is suffering here. Kathie doesn't talk to Mason again because of you. Ryder -" he clamped his mouth shut. "All I'm saying is -"
"Is that I'm being inconsiderate. You're saying that my feelings do not matter. You're saying I should swallow the wrong you guys did and embrace you all like you didn't fucking stab me in the back." Then I stood up, picking my bag. "But I won't do that. I won't blindly sit with snakes. Excuse me."
"Shit. Uri, you're not getting me. I'm sorry if that's how it came out but we're all -"
"Sorry? Yeah, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for thinking you guys were my close buddies. I'm sorry for choosing the wrong crew. I'm sorry for fucking loving the wrong person!" My voice grew loud at the last sentence, causing the class to go quiet.
Without waiting for him to say anything because i didn't even think he had, I bolted out of the classroom.
My eyes teared up, my heart constricting in pain. It felt as though he had just ripped open the band aid from my injury. It came back all fresh.
It took me exactly two weeks to bring myself to school. I trended online and offline for exactly two weeks - not one single person seeing my pain. Video clips, meme photos and all of it were scattered everywhere on the school group and even in rival schools.
At home, my mother made rubbish of my name as Emma showed the video to her. As for my dad, he was very much disappointed in Ryder and maybe at me... I don't know.
But I felt he probably hated me for letting myself get played like that.
For loosing myself to him.
Honestly, I understood him so I couldn't even get mad if he felt that way.
I was passing when I heard two voices. However when one grew louder making me paused in shock. But what I heard next...
"I have done everything you asked of me, Emma! Uriel already hates me too much."
My hand trembled, moving up to my mouth. My head suddenly felt light weighted, spinning. Hot tears slowly cascaded down my cheeks.
Oh God,
Not him too. Not Ryder.
How much more?
Just in time, Ryder jumped out of the corner, his eyes growing wide as he saw me. Emma followed suit, her eyes flying open first then followed by a sinister smirk.
Ryder's eyes flashed pain in them - or maybe I was only looking at my reflection in his eyes. He turned away, leaving without a word.
"Looks like I'm winning, sis." Emma chuckled, walking closer to me. She brushed my tears off my cheek, then pushed her thumb into her lips. "Mmmm. Not hurt enough."
She had only walked few meters when I croaked out.
"You may have won for now but my comeback would be far more dangerous." Then I turned to her, my eyes blazing with fury. "First, we'd start with your affair with the principal."
I walked closer to her, placing my hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sure everyone would love to see the photos I have."