Chapter 24 Pair Made In Heaven
Recalling her class schedule, Isabel emerged from the washroom and splashed water on her eyes to reduce the puffiness caused by crying. With a heavy heart, she made her way to the classroom, the harsh insults from Mason and Anna echoing in her mind.
Upon entering the classroom, she received no reaction, as was customary. Ignored by her classmates, no one bothered to inquire about her recent absence.
With a heavy sigh, Isabel headed straight to the back seat of the classroom, where she usually sat alone or occasionally with her one and only friend, Olivia. Unfortunately, Olivia had yet to arrive, and Isabel impatiently awaited her, missing her best friend dearly.
The other students in the classroom paid no attention to Isabel, a situation that had become the norm for her.
Since the beginning of college, making new friends or interacting with classmates had been impossible for Isabel. She understood that her imperfections led to mistreatment from her peers.
Initially, Isabel had tried her best to forge friendships, hoping for normal interactions without mockery. Although she succeeded in making a few friends, they proved to be anything but true companions.
Whenever Isabel outperformed her so-called friends academically, they sought to belittle her by highlighting her flaws. They even disguised insults as jokes, inflicting deep emotional wounds.
Over time, her classmates grew disgusted and jealous of her academic success, with Isabel consistently ranking as the top student. Rather than liking or treating her kindly, they often bullied her with harsh words.
Among all her classmates, only one person consistently treated her well and stood against the bullying—Isabel's best friend, Olivia Smith.
Olivia joined the class in the second year, and from the beginning, she exuded kindness and beauty. Given Olivia's striking appearance, Isabel half-expected her to join the ranks of those who had mocked her for her looks. To her surprise, Olivia turned out to be the kind of friend Isabel had always hoped for.
As a friend, Olivia never looked down on Isabel; instead, she consistently provided encouragement and inspiration. Olivia's arrival even prompted a reduction in the bullying from other classmates, who were wary of Olivia's protective nature when it came to Isabel.
Though the occasional criticism still lingered, classmates refrained from doing it in Isabel's presence as they had done before.
"Oh no! You're back, Isabel!" Olivia exclaimed with sheer joy as soon as she spotted Isabel entering the classroom. Isabel, lost in her thoughts, was startled by the sudden scream.
However, a bright smile quickly replaced her initial surprise as she laid eyes on Olivia after a month. Before Isabel could say anything, Olivia rushed over and enveloped her in a tight hug.
"How are you, Isabel?" Olivia asked with genuine emotion, having missed Isabel unconditionally during their time apart. Olivia's display drew the attention of the entire class.
"I'm good. Tell me about you. I haven't seen you in a month," Isabel replied, sounding a bit uneasy under the gaze of their classmates.
"Forget about me. Tell me about your we—," Olivia couldn't finish her question as the teacher abruptly entered the classroom."I'm going to hear every detail about your wedding, Isabel," Olivia whispered in Isabel's ear before shifting her focus to the class. In response, Isabel nodded with a forced smile, masking her inner nervousness. She lacked the courage to lie to Olivia about her new married life, as she had done with her sister Emma.
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After the class, Olivia whisked Isabel away to the canteen, eager to catch up. They placed their orders, taking advantage of the break time.
"Now spill the details. How's your new life treating you, Isabel? Have you already jetted off for your honeymoon?" Olivia asked in a single breath.
"Oh God! I still can't wrap my head around the fact that my best friend is already married. It feels unreal, doesn't it?" Olivia continued, her eyes sparkling with genuine happiness for Isabel.
Caught in a dilemma, Isabel hesitated, debating whether to divulge the truth to Olivia. Almost on the verge of spilling everything, she refrained, well aware of her friend's fiery temperament. Olivia wouldn't take the news lightly and would undoubtedly stand up against Mason without a second thought. Therefore, Isabel chose her words carefully, avoiding too much mention of Mason so as not to weave a web of lies.
"What can I say? Everything is perfect. You wouldn't believe how much my new family adores me. My mother-in-law and father-in-law treat me like their own daughter. What more could I ask for?" Isabel shared, a smile playing on her lips as she reflected on the affection she received from Nina and John. She genuinely felt fortunate to have such wonderful in-laws.
Olivia was pleased but not entirely satisfied, prompting her to inquire further, "What about your husband? Is he treating you well?"
Caught off guard by the shift in Olivia's tone, Isabel's smile vanished instantly. "Of course. Why wouldn't he?" she replied, the sudden tension in the air making her uneasy, sensing Olivia's doubt.
"Then why didn't you mention him at first? Anyway, show me a photo of you two," Olivia demanded, her curiosity not as innocent as it had been moments ago.
Isabel breathed a sigh of relief as Olivia didn't seem to suspect anything more about Mason. She showed Olivia her wedding pictures, the only photos she had with him so far.
"Woah! You guys look amazing together. Totally like a pair made in heaven," Olivia exclaimed in excitement, the images capturing the undeniable chemistry between Isabel and Mason.
Isabel forced a smile at Olivia's compliment but remained silent. Deep down, she firmly believed that while Mason was a perfect match for her, she could never be a perfect match for him.
"I'm so happy for you, Isabel. Please accept my apology that I couldn't attend your wedding," Olivia sounded guilty, still regretful about missing the wedding due to her grandma's sudden illness that required her presence in Spain.
Now, Olivia felt utterly saddened, realizing she couldn't be present on such an important day in her best friend's life.
"You had your reasons, Olivia. Why are you apologizing?" Isabel consoled her, though she too felt a bit sad that Olivia couldn't attend her wedding.
"I want to make up for it. I want to invite you and your husband for dinner at my house. My parents will also love it," Olivia insisted. This was the last thing Isabel wanted to hear, as she already knew that Mason would never go anywhere with her.