Chapter 2
2407 Words
Treon was beside me as I cried in the staircase near the ladies’ room. He’s sitting beside me while I’m bawling my eyes out while hugging my knees.
I hate that he asked me if I’m okay. But I hate it more that I did not go to work because of this. My wage! Maybe I’ll just go overtime in the next days.
Too much for liking someone like Daire. I thought I knew him well. I thought he’s intelligent. f**k his intelligence! Why the hell did I fall for that crap?! I should have known. He was being cold me to me. He was already seeing someone else.
“Here.” I heard Treon say. I looked up and saw a blue checkered handkerchief in front of me. I looked at him and saw him staring at me with his usual intimidating gaze.
I reached for it but then he took his handkerchief back and gave me a pack of Kleenex instead. I snarled at him.
“I don’t think my handkerchief is worth the tears you shed for an asshole,” he told me in his low voice.
My jaw dropped at what he said. Did he just say I need to use tissue for a worthless man like Daire? Wow! He already judged him just because he was with another woman?! But then again, why am I trying to defend him? It’s not like Daire is innocent.
“Do you know him?” I asked him.
Treon looked at me with his brows arched. “Who? Your ex?” he asked back.
I bit my lip. Is Daire my ex-boyfriend now? I don’t know. Maybe? Should I give him another chance? Should I give him the chance to explain?
“Are you okay?” he asked again when I seemed to be spacing out.
I looked at him and shook my head. “Obviously, I’m not okay,” I said as I wiped my tears with the tissue he gave me. I still can’t believe he took his hanky back just to give me tissues to dry my tears.
Treon leaned on the wall and let out a heavy sigh. “He’s the man who stood you up last night?” he asked me in his usual cold voice.
I rolled my eyes. Isn’t that obvious? Did he think I had someone else? I told him that it was our anniversary. He shouldn’t be thinking that I would be seeing someone else, right?
“He’s not worth it,” he uttered, making me look at him again.
I narrowed my eyes at him but he just looked at me with his blank stare. “Are you defending him even after seeing him with someone else in his arms?” he asked me bluntly before shaking his head, looking as if he’s disappointed in me.
I pursed my lips tightly. “You don’t know him,” I told him.
He laughed out loud. “You’re too blinded by him,” he replied. “That's the main reason why he thinks he can get away with it.”
I clenched my fists and he saw it but he only smirked at me.
He c****d his head to the side. “I am not close to any of you but seeing you right now, how you’re contemplating on forgiving him or not, I have quite an idea how you’re the person who loves more.” His frankness makes me want to shove all the tissue to his mouth.
But then again, he has a point. Now that I think of it. Between Daire and me, I am the one who is willing to go for the extra mile for him. It’s crazy how I was that kind of girl for him and only realize it now that someone is shoving it to my face.
“That’s scary,” he said. “Really scary.”
I stared at him as he leaned his head on the wall. One of his knees is bent and he placed his elbow over it. Last night, the first thing I noticed when I saw him is his physique. But right now, I can see how deep his eyes are. He’s looking at me like he’s trying to read me and I can’t help but wonder about the possibility that a high school student looks like this.
Yes, we’re eighteen. We’ll be in college next year but Treon Mendez looks like a higher specie compared to other men our age.
“Why are you here anyway?” I asked him when I finally got back to my senses.
“Tss…” he rolled his eyes. “How do you expect me to leave you alone when I saw you break down on your way to the ladies’ room?” he asked me sarcastically as he straightened his legs. “I have a sister. So I don’t like seeing girls cry.”
My lips parted when I heard his reply. Coming from a cold-looking and stoic person like him, I did not expect that. He was kind to me because he has a sister? That’s a pretty good analogy. I hope everyone has the same thinking as he is.
“Besides, I’m against polygamy,” he continued. “And having a woman wait for me for hours during our date.”
My eyes widened in surprise. He already took all that into account? Unbelievable!
He let out a deep sigh before turning to me. “Why do you need to cry for an asshole?” he asked. “He’s not worth any of your tears.”
I shrugged. “He cheated on me, yes, but I couldn’t call him a complete asshole,” I replied. “Up until yesterday, he is still the best man I know. So yeah, I’m crying because I’m about to lose the best man I know.”
Treon’s eyes lingered on me for a while before shrugging. “Well, then, I guess you’re right. You’re the one who has been with him for months. I’m pretty sure you know him better,” he started. “But then again, he cheated on you. So he’s not all the kind of guy you’re referring to.”
His words sent thousands of knives in my chest. Honestly, that is what I am afraid of—to finally realize that the man I have loved is not the kind of man I have known. Sure, Daire is intelligent and he’s a responsible leader. He’s funny and eloquent at the same time. And he promised to never break my heart but here he is, cuddling with someone else out in the open.
“What’s your name?” he suddenly asked me.
I gave him a look. “Carrie,” I replied, surprised that he’s here beside me even though he doesn’t even know me.
He nodded before grinning at me. “I’m Genius,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes. “Genius?” I asked, confused. “I thought your name is Treon?”
Treon chuckled. “Yeah, Treon Genius Mendez.”
“Ylona McCarrienne Russell.” I extended my hand for a shake and he took it. For a moment, I thought he would find it weird and annoying. Thank God he didn’t.
His phone rang and he rolled his eyes when he saw the name on the screen. He angrily accepted the call. “What?” he asked rudely. He paused and listened to what the person on the other line is saying. “I am still on campus. I’ll go down in a bit,” he said calmer before hanging up.
He looked at me and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. That’s my sister,” he told me.
I nodded. “How old is she?” I couldn’t help myself from asking. “I mean if you don’t mind…”
“She’s the same age as me,” he replied. “We’re twins.”
My eyes widened and jaw dropped in shock. This person has a twin? I can only imagine how beautiful his sister is!
He chuckled and stood up. “Come on,” he told me as he offered his hand. “Let’s get out of this place.” He pulled me up before leading me out of the campus.
I bit my lip. I never thought a stranger would make me feel better after a break-up. But then, I’m still grateful.
***
Daire kept texting me last night. He was asking if I had eaten or if I am already asleep. He also tried calling me several times but I didn’t answer anything. I am angry. Mad. Raging. I don’t know. I am in disbelief at how stupid and blind I was for him.
Student council president? Honor student? But a cheating son of a b***h.
I narrowed my eyes at Treon who was standing in front of me. He’s near the vending machine and is taking his sweet time to get his drink.
He smirked when he saw me standing behind him. He stepped away and let me insert a coin and choose my drink.
I raised my brow when I saw him still standing there. “What?” I asked him.
He smirked. “Did you have a good sleep?” His teasing tone couldn’t go unnoticed. “Or did he keep you up all night?”
I scoffed and shook my head before bending down to get my drink. “If you’re curious if I forgave him, then no,” I told him while trying to open the tight cap of my bottle. Treon grabbed it from me to open it. “Thanks,” I uttered when he handed it back to me.
I started to walk away to finally have my own peace and quiet but I noticed that he’s following me. I stopped and turned to him who was following me from behind. “Don’t you have a class?” I asked him.
He shrugged. “Where are you going?” he asked me.
I sighed. “To the garden,” I replied. “I want some fresh air.”
He arched his brows before nodding. “Well, that’s great. I wan some fresh air, too,” he told me. “Why don’t we walk to the garden together?” Then he began walking ahead of me.
I looked at him in disbelief. “He probably has nothing to do,” I mumbled as I followed him.
The garden was quiet. And that’s why I love it here. It’s peaceful.
Treon walked to the huge tree. He turned to me and motioned to come closer. I sighed and followed him. I watched him sit down while leaning his back on the trunk. I hesitantly sat at least a foot away from him.
He raised his brow at me before smirking. “Your eyes are puffy,” he commented. “You really cried all night for that bastard.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I got cheated on. Who wouldn’t cry?”
He shrugged and then looked out the vast empty field in front of us. Usually, there are junior high school students running around here but since it’s almost the school’s foundation day, they are all busy with their practices and booths.
“I hope you don’t spend days or weeks moping,” he uttered.
I frowned at him. “We’ve been together for one year.”
“But he still cheated on you. It means he doesn’t love you enough to fight off the temptation.”
My jaw dropped at his words but I cannot deny how right he is. If Daire really loved me, he wouldn’t look for someone else.
“Or if he respected you enough, he would have the decency to break it off before he moves on to another woman.” He looked serious when he uttered those words. He looked like he’s really pissed off. He tightened his grip on his canned drink.
I didn’t speak nor retaliate because I know that he’s right.
“So stop wasting your time, McCarrienne. He’s not worth it.”
My eyes widened when he called me by my complete name. No one in the campus ever calls me that. They only call me Carrie. But Treon calling me McCarrienne has a different impact on me. I never really liked that name because it sounded like some food. However, Treon made it sound regal. Like it’s a name of someone from a higher class.
“Carrie?”
I froze when I suddenly heard Daire’s voice from behind me. Treon raised his brow and sat straight as he looked at the man behind me.
I slowly turned and saw Daire looking at me with narrowed eyes. His jaw is clenched and he’s looking at me like I have offended him. He then turned to Treon.
“Daire,” I called him but he didn’t look at me. I stood up and blocked his view of Treon. “What are you doing here?”
Daire looked at me with furrowed brows. “What are you doing here with him?” he asked me suspiciously.
Anger immediately rushed through my system when I heard that tone of his voice. I clenched my fists and fought the urge to slap him hard.
Sure, I loved him. And maybe I was stupid to love him. Love blinds people. Love only made me see the good in him. And it betrayed me now that I realized what a lying bastard he is.
“We were talking,” I replied curtly. Daire narrowed his eyes at me, jaw ticking in anger. “What about you? What were you doing with Alyssa yesterday? Why were you hugging her?”
Daire froze and the brief trembling of his lips didn’t go unnoticed. His eyes were wide as he nervously swallowed. “Babe, that was—”
I cut him off with a strong slap on his face. I totally lost control. I was supposed to be in control. I already know that he cheated but the guilty look on his face made me angry.
“We’re over, Daire.” I was shaking in anger. “I never expected that from you. You were intelligent and responsible. But you’re an asshole.”
Daire stared at me with regret written all over his face. I just smiled sarcastically. “Thank you for showing your true colors. But I hope I had known it a little earlier so I wouldn’t have made a fool of myself in that restaurant.”
“Babe, please listen to me,” he said and reached for my hand.
I sighed and, for no reason, turned to Treon who just stood up. He started to leave but stopped and leaned to my ear. “If you listen to him, you’ll make a fool of yourself again. And this time, it’s not his fault anymore. It’s yours,” he whispered before walking away.
Daire was left looking at me apologetically. I stared at him longer, studying his face while Treon’s words echoed in my head.
He’s right. Can I afford another heartbreak?
I took a deep breath and let go of all the doubts in my heart. “I’m sorry, Daire. As I said, we’re over,” I told him as I yanked my hand away and left.
- Writer
