Chapter 18
1568 Words
I weaved my way through the garden paths, holding my textbooks to my chest, my footsteps crunching softly against the gravel. Elena was waiting for me at one of the pavilions in the east school garden, where we had planned to study for the upcoming exams.
As I rounded a bend, the small circular pavilion came into view, nestled among the greenery. Spotting Elena, I lifted my hand to wave and call out to her, but it froze mid-air when I saw Luna standing in front of her. Both girls were on their feet under the pavilion’s arching trellis, their postures rigid, and I quickened my pace, anxious to get to Elena before things got worse.
I reached her just as Luna’s voice cut through the air with a sharp edge, her face a mask of disdain.
“Do you think he sees you as a legitimate partner?” Luna sneered. “You’re nothing but an outlet for a passing whim.”
My blood boiled at her words. “You couldn’t keep up the friendly act anymore, could you, Luna?” I snapped, stepping between them. “Seriously, you have no right to harass Elena like this. She’s not the one causing problems here.”
Luna’s gaze never shifted from Elena, her demeanor icy. “What can you do for Jonathan?” she continued, her tone dripping with contempt. “The world you live in and the way you think are completely different. Do you truly believe your existence could be positive for him?”
I tried to pull Elena away, but she remained frozen, her eyes fixed on Luna with a mixture of defiance and hurt.
“Don’t listen to her, Elena,” I muttered urgently.
“Why shouldn’t she listen?” Luna sneered at Elena. “Jonathan’s future is at stake here, and she isn’t the kind of person who can contribute anything meaningful to his life.”
I shot Luna a hard look. “And you think you can?”
Luna raised an eyebrow. “Of course I can. Don’t you know who you’re talking to?”
“What I know is that you keep repeating the same accusations. You’re bullying Elena over things she can’t control. Stop blaming her for Jonathan’s feelings.”
Luna’s gaze turned icier as she crossed her arms. “If you believe she’s innocent in all of this, then maybe you’re not as smart as you think you are, Coline. A girl like her? She’s just an opportunist.”
I clenched my jaw. “You b*tch.”
Luna ignored my outburst, her voice cold and dismissive. “Think carefully, Elena. I know this world has been suffocating you. For your sake and Jonathan’s future, I expect a smart answer from you. Tell me after the exams.”
With that, Luna turned on her heel and stormed off, her footsteps echoing across the garden.
God, but I hope she trips and breaks her pinky toe.
I turned sharply to Elena. “Why are you just standing there, letting her throw her venom at you?” I demanded, my voice tinged with concern.
Elena blinked, her eyes reflecting a mix of shock and resignation. “I—”
“Seriously, Elena?” I cut her off. “I know you can handle Luna. You’ve always been strong enough to stand up to her. But why are you just letting her insult you today without saying anything back?”
Her shoulders slumped slightly, and she looked away. “I don’t know. I guess... I guess I’m tired of fighting with her. It feels like every time I say something, it just gets worse.”
Concerned, I asked her, “Are you okay?”
Elena nodded slowly, though her gaze remained unfocused. “I just… Yeah, I’m fine.”
She sank into a chair at the table, opening her textbook. I put my things on the table and sat down across from her, watching as she flipped through the pages with a distracted air.
Something was not right.
Elena had always been quick to respond to Luna’s barbs, never letting her insults go unanswered. She’d never let Luna’s words get under her skin like that.
Something was wrong with her.
Frowning, I asked, “What answer does Luna expect from you?”
Elena hesitated, staring at her textbook as if searching for the right words. “She wants me to reject Jonathan,” she said softly, barely above a whisper.
“But, you’ve already rejected Jonathan—.”
“She wants me to do it once and for all… and be final about it.”
My chest tightened.
I could see the conflict in her eyes, the way she wrestled with Luna’s words.
I knew she had already rejected Jonathan multiple times, but her heart had never fully been in it. Which was why Jonathan hadn’t given up. And Luna knew that too.
“She thinks I’m not strong enough to end things properly,” Elena continued, her voice trembling slightly. “Luna even said she’d back me up at school, help me get into a good college, set me up for life… if I just do what she asks.”
I took her hand, trying to offer some reassurance. “Elena, listen to me. You know Luna’s just doing this to get what she wants, right? She doesn’t care about your future. She just wants to push you out of Jonathan’s life.”
“She sounded sincere.”
“That b*tch is anything but sincere.”
A slight smile tugged at her lips. “I know, Coline. But—”
“No.” I shook my head firmly. “No buts. I told you not to believe anything that comes out of her mouth.”
“Still, she’s known Jonathan the longest,” she whispered. “She knows him better than I do.”
“She’s not the only one who’s known him that long,” I said, my frustration bubbling up. “I’ve been here too, since kindergarten, watching him grow up just like Luna has.”
“I guess that’s true,” she reluctantly agreed.
“That’s why you should believe me when I say she’s just insecure because the only girl who’s truly seen different sides of him is you. And I’m not lying when I say that you’re the only one he’s shown his true self to.”
“Maybe he’s just changed. It couldn’t be entirely because of me.”
“He has changed, Elena,” I said softly, leaning in closer. “And it is because of you. Before, he would just smile at everyone equally, like it was his default mode. But after your arrival, the Jonathan we all knew started to change. After meeting you, he has been swayed by his emotions like a regular person in matters regarding you.”
Elena looked at me, a flicker of hope in her eyes, and I smiled. Though it was fragile and uncertain, I sensed that I was finally getting through to her.
“Elena, listen. You can’t just stay away from Jonathan because Luna says so. You’ve felt something real with him, and that should matter.”
Her gaze dropped to her lap. “But Luna’s right about one thing. I don’t want to end up hurting him more by being unsure.”
“You know what else is real?” I said, leaning closer. “The way you looked when you told me about the kiss. You were glowing, Elena. You felt something amazing, something powerful, something that made you happy. That’s not something you should just throw away because of someone else’s agenda. If you let Luna dictate your decisions, you’ll end up regretting it.”
My chest tightened painfully when I saw her lips quiver slightly. I took a deep breath.
“Don’t get me wrong,” I added. “I can understand why you’re upset, always taking the full brunt of Luna’s malice.”
She chuckled lightly. “Isn’t that her default mode too?”
I reluctantly smiled. “Exactly. But what I’m saying is that I’d like it if you didn’t avoid Jonathan.”
She sighed and leaned back, turning her gaze to the sky. “I know I’m getting special treatment from him, and I know he wants me around. But I don’t have anything to offer him. Even if I stayed with him, I’d just be useless.”
“She did get right to your head,” I grumbled.
“Because she’s right.”
“And since when have you started listening to her?” I demanded.
She let out a sad, resigned smile. “The world being as it is, I think it’s just right to stay away from him.”
Before I could respond, she patted my hand, then slowly stood up with her things.
“I think I need some time alone,” she murmured, her voice heavy with emotion.
Then, without another word, she walked away, and I stayed, trying to process the weight of what had just happened.
“Well, that was a disaster.”
I nearly jumped out of my skin, spinning my head around to see Lucas standing there.
Was he really quiet or did I just have bad hearing? He was going to give me a heart disease.
My defenses went up instantly.
What the hell was he doing here?
- Writer
