Chapter 53: 53

"James"

"James"

"Did you see the notice board?"

"Woah I can’t believe you will surely win the bet like this."

"I know you could have won the bet anyhow but this is just too spectacular the way you did it."

"Now that Aaron will know it will always be you who will win, not him."

My friends kept on telling me while I just entered through the school entrance. I still have no idea what is going on. I still have no idea what he is rambling about but I sure know something is off for sure.

I didn’t respond but walked further when I saw everyone kept on circling around near the notice board as if something bad happened.

I still don’t know the reason and went inside but what I saw made my feet tremble. It was the picture I clicked with Chloe while sleeping beside me covering a bed sheet around her body. My mind went blank all of sudden seeing the scene in front of my eyes.

"Woah I didn’t know you two were in that kind of relationship." someone said.

"Yeah I only thought Chloe was dying to be with him but who knew she will choose to sleep with him just to be in a relationship with him."

"I always knew her character was no good as I saw her with other guys too."

"Yeah, she was with Aaron too."

I wanted to shout and make everyone shut but I chose to be the cool guy and stay silent with a playful smile on my face and walked toward my classroom when I saw Chloe standing in front of me.

"Why did you do this?" her voice was low but it was clearly audible even though we have a huge gap between us.

"Chloe?-

I tried to speak but she stopped me.

"Don’t take my name!!!"

"Just stay where you are and say why did you do this?"

I was frozen in place. No people were coming where we were standing. I couldn’t utter a single word. I couldn’t answer a single question from her just like before.

"Was it fun?"

"Was it fun seeing me act so crazy and telling you how I fucking love you?"

"Tell me was it fun?"

"Did I ever come and tell you I love you and be my boyfriend?"

"Tell me did I come to you and beg you?"

Her voice is still calm. I couldn’t see her face as she was looking down but her voice sounds as if she is in lots of pain because of me. I wanted to run to her and pull her closer and say I love her. Yeah, I love her with all my whole heart even though I never said that. Even though it was a bet, I still loved her with all my heart but my words are not coming out.

Still, I tried to go near her when I saw Aaron standing behind her which made me stop.

"Tell me why did you do it?" she shouted this time and looked at me with her teary eyes. Her lips were gambling which I always kept on kissing. Her eyes were hesitating to look my way as I was the one who brought this on my own.

I’m in a dilemma where I couldn’t even know if what I’m doing is right or not.

"Tell me for god’s sake", she shouted, making me laugh unconsciously.

"Why are you laughing?" her voice sounds scared while telling.

"Or what would I do if I won’t laugh? Did you really think it was all true? Did you really think I went to confess to you because I was head over you? Did you really think kissing me in public will make you look like I’m dying to have you?"

"No right?"

"If you really know I didn’t love you at all then why are you crying now?"

"Didn’t you know this before?"

She stayed silent while I heard something breaking. I don’t know if it’s something made of glass or our heart.

"It was a bet all along."

"It was always a bet for me to win you as a trophy but it’s not because you were popular but you were eyeing on Aaron so I made you fall for me."

She took her step back while Aaron left the place seeing my hatred side.

"So you don’t want anyone to be with your brother?" she asked again.

"Exactly!!! I don’t want anyone to be with him and make any more misunderstandings between us so I will clear every way which can make him be with someone else"! I clenched my fist knowing what I’m saying.

"So it was all your brother?"

"Yes it was all Aaron", I replied when a slap ended up on my cheek making the corner of my lips bleed.

"You know what you did just now will never bring you any good."

"You think you are doing good for your brother by tossing one’s feelings around? But you are just trash, James."

"I’m regretting because I fell in love with someone like you. I’m regretting how someone like you was my first love, first kiss and my first time. Everything you did was hurting me."

She said and walked past me while I fell to my knees. Yeah, whatever happened was the right thing. It should have happened long ago. I can’t be like my mom. I can’t be in love and be pathetic with this weak heart of mine. I fucking can’t be.

I don’t want to be a dog whose leash would be in anyone’s hand.

I’m good alone.

Yeah the more I am with myself the more I can be focused on getting Aaron to come to me and let him know I never hated him despite not having the same mother.

But still, something hurts like crazy. I couldn’t even have the strength to utter a single word nor do I have the strength to get up in the same place as if she made me weak like this.

Some corner of my heart kept on saying yeah I love her and I wanted to tell her but my brain didn’t help me do the same.

Love is pathetic.

Back to present

"James"

"James"

"Where did you get lost?"

" I have been calling you for freaking long."

I snapped out of the past and looked at her again. She looks hell gorgeous. She was pretty before and she is still in my memory but now she is like a proper woman.

"Oh hey Chloe", I said while waiting for her to say something.

"Are you staying here now?" she asked while I stayed silent.

"I think you didn’t change at all", she has the same sad expression which I have seen years ago as if she will again say the same thing.

"What do you mean?" my voice was calm.

"Your silence tells me that you are not staying here but sure you are here just like before for your brother right?" as she said I clenched my cost as it only made me remember the past memories. I kept visualizing her teary face. I kept seeing how she cried loudly when I only hurt her.

"Yes you are right", I somehow said it when someone from behind came and wrapped his hand around her shoulder making me flinch.

"Who-

"Oh, he-

She was about to say something but the guy cut her off and said, " I’m her boyfriend."

As he said I felt the sudden urge of blood lust.

"Ok hi", I said.

"Nice to meet you, James Lee," he said my name, making me ask him how he knew.

"Oh, I heard a lot of things from Chloe. She talked a lot about her sad journey with you even though it was not much time still you sure made a huge impact on her life"m he was saying while having a bitter smile on his lips.

"Shut up Eric." Chloe hit his stomach making him yelp.

"Ignore his words. I didn’t mean to remind you of those years when it has been so long. Just forget about it. He was just rambling for no reason", she looked awkward but she didn’t deny the fact he is her boyfriend which made me even angrier than before.

Seeing her talking with this guy named Eric made my eyes darker. I just couldn’t accept anyone with her. I kept having the thought of monopolizing her as if no one could see her. I want to look her up just like before so that she could see no one but me and only ever talk about me.

Can I do this?

Am I even qualified to do this?

Can I?

Can l?

I kept asking myself questions while that person again wrapped his hand around her making me pull Chloe my side holding in my arm.

She smells nice just the way she was before.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay