Chapter 162 Nelson's speech

Chapter 162 Nelson's speech
Irene didn't need to turn to know who it was. She recognized the voice and the spite. Angela.

Ever since the rumor began that Tori was dating Nelson, she had shifted all her hate from Irene to Tori.

"I mean, first she dated Nelson, now Miles? Why not just take all the handsome guys for yourself?" She muttered, obviously wanting both girls to hear.

Irene rolled her eyes. She could have found any other place to gossip about them, and maybe have done it a little more quietly like every other person had been, but no... She just had to do it in their faces, or in this case, behind their backs... literally.

"Were you not at prom, girl?" A girl sitting beside her asked. "According to them, her dating Nelson was just a ruse."

"Are you serious? So the slut didn't..."

That was it. Miles had heard enough. His eyes reddened with anger.

"You..." He attempted to stand up, but Tori held him down immediately. "Let it go, Miles. They are not worth it."

Thankfully, before Miles could argue, the speaker made a loud sound and Nelson's voice came through.

"At first, I didn't want to give a speech, but the principal threatened me with my father, so... Here I am."

"Did Nelson just make a joke?" Tori asked, her tone overly sarcastic. Then she nudged Irene. "I guess my girl has been influencing him."

Irene shook her head.

She was just as surprised.

But with Nelson, anything was possible.

She returned her attention to the stage.

She, just like everybody else, expected Nelson to give a motivational speech. Something about hard work, reading, and all that bullshit to get the juniors present to be like him, but instead, he said something completely different.

"In front of everyone here, I want to apologize to someone." He began, and the crowd became silent.

Irene could hear her heart beating. "Right from when she came to this school, I made her life hell."

She wanted to doubt it. But she knew he was talking about her.

A public apology.

Tori blinked. She leaned towards Irene and whispered, "Is it me, or is Nelson apologizing to you publicly?"

"Shush..." The people around hushed her, which made Tori roll her eyes, resting her back on the chair.

"It wasn't because I didn't like her." Nelson continued. "It was the opposite, actually. She captivated me at first sight, and I wanted was to make her mine. But she didn't see that. She took my actions the other way, and then I began acting the other way."

Irene could feel her eyes becoming watery.

Nelson's eyes found hers, and he kept looking at her. It was as though he wanted her and everyone else to know that he was talking to her.

"After a while, I got used to doing it. Annoying her. Bullying her." Irene noticed his hand holding the microphone tremble slightly. "Anything just so I'd get her attention."

"But after a while, and by a while, I mean years... It was only after a few years that I realized that if I kept up with what I was doing, I was going to lose her forever. So I tried to change."

A tear slipped from her eyes.

Irene had always imagined what getting an apology from Nelson would feel like. She used to imagine saying, 'No. I would never forgive you.' all the time.

She wanted to be the exception in those fairytales she normally read, who, no matter what, refused to fall for the guy.

But even without the apology, she had fallen for him a long time ago.

Irene sniffled, bringing a hand to her eyes to wipe her tears.

"I tried to be nice to the girl who avoided me at every chance she got. I tried to be there for her, even though she thought there was always something else under my sleeves. I tried to show her that I liked her. During that process, I fell in love with her. It was only after that that I began to feel guilty about everything I did to her."

"Now I'm with her, and I still feel guilty."

He still felt guilty?

Irene blinked, and another tear fell from her eyes.

"I was such an asshole, Irene." Now he was definitely talking to her.

"I don't know what I did to make you give me a second chance, but whatever it was... I'm grateful. I love you. I love you a whole lot."

Her lips trembled as she smiled before whispering, "I love you too."

A mischievous smirk appeared on Tori's lips.

"Louder!" She yelled, and the crowd immediately backed her up.

"We can't hear you."

Laughing, Irene yelled, "I love you too!"

The entire crowd burst into a series of shouting, shrieking, and clapping.

"Ahhhhhhh!"

Even the sour Angela couldn't help but clap along.

The program continued. After a few more speeches from the principal and guest of honor, the students were called out one after the other to receive their certificates.

Once their names were called, they would take a picture with the principal, collect their certificate, and be off.

Nelson, Irene, Tori, and over half of their classmates were called, and it went on smoothly.

That was until Miles' name was called out.

"Miles Sanchez."

He walked up to the podium, collected his certificate, got his picture taken, and was supposed to get down like every other person, but instead, he collected the microphone.

"Okay, I just have to make a speech too now." He announced, and the crowd burst into a fit of laughter.

"Hey..." Irene motioned to Tori. "Look. What's Miles doing?"

"No." The principal tried to persuade him. "Mr. Sanchez, you don't have the... And he's on the stage."

"That is my girlfriend." Miles straightforwardly pointed at Tori, who gasped in shock.

Everyone turned to look at her.

"I don't care whatever this school says, and I don't want you to care either. Whether it's problems at home or school... college, of course. We're done here. I just want you to know that I'm here for you, and I love you!"

He was saying this not only to reassure her but also to shut girls like Angela up.

Tori placed her hand on her chest, touched by Miles' words. "I love you back, Miles!"

Miles wanted to say more, but the principal took the microphone away from his hand and practically chased him off the stage.

"That's... well, Miles Sanchez." He chuckled, his tone mixed with embarrassment.

The rest of the program went on smoothly.

The other students' names were called, their certificates were issued, and in no time, hours had passed.

The principal took the stage one last time. "Before we wrap this program up, I would like to call on a student to grace us with her talent. Irene Walker."

"Really?" Tori turned to look at Irene, who had already stood up. The latter nodded. "Yeah."

She hadn't had time to be nervous because of Tori's presence, but now, as she walked onto the stage, Irene could feel her bones shaking.

She wasn't the type to do anything out of the ordinary, but everything that had happened to her for the past few months had been out of the ordinary.

Playing in front of dozens of people wouldn't be any different.

Plus, she hadn't gotten a reply yet, and Irene was getting anxious.

She needed something to remind her that she could still play.

She walked towards the huge piano on the stage and took a seat.

"I would be playing an original piece by me and Katarina Hart, a friend of mine whom I lost a few years ago." She spoke into the microphone after clearing her throat. "We promised each other that at least one of us was going to play it one day."

"Okay."

Irene took in a deep breath.

She closed her eyes, her hands positioned on the keys. Opening her eyes slowly, Irene began to play.

"Do you know about Katarina?" Nelson asked in a hushed tone.

"Yeah." Tori nodded. "She was the reason Irene was a bit mean in the first semester at school. She had just moved because of her friend's death."

The melody of the piano filled the air, captivating everyone in the audience.

Every key was perfect.

"She's amazing." Tori whispered as she watched Irene, who had closed her eyes again, gently swaying to the sound of the piano.

Inside the crowd were multiple college scouts. One was from the music school Irene had applied to.

"Who is that girl?" The lady asked, watching in wonder.

Tori smiled. "That's my best friend."