Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 17662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
"How many times must I say there is nothing going on between those two?"
"I can ask the same of you," I bite out. "Why the hell are you so convinced that I'm wrong?"
"Because she's always been in love with you," Dean Garrison exclaims in an exasperated tone. "And yes, if you feel hearing this will make any difference---it is true that the boy likes her. We all know this, too. But Riri has never led him on. She's made it clear to him from the start that she sees him as a friend, but it didn't make any difference to his feelings. And that is how it is with love, isn't it? Not everyone wins."
"That's still not enough proof---"
"We also have security cameras all over the university," Dean Garrison points out. "And as the heavens would have it, you actually have access to those cameras. So why not watch as much footage as you need? Follow their every move."
"What about what they're doing outside---"
"Watch some footage first then get back to me on that. Because I am telling you, son. You only have to see them together once, and it will be enough."
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
The older man is starting to get to me.
And I don't fucking know if it's something I should be happy or pissed about.
"Will you tell me now, Jacques? Who spoke to you?"
"It doesn't matter---"
"It does, son. You know it does. So be kind to this old man, and tell me the truth. Who told you?"
"I can't."
"Then I already know who it is."
I don't need to see the old man to feel the sadness in his tone, and the sound has my chest tightening inexplicably.
"You have been truly blind, son. In more ways than one."
I look around me, and the only thing I see all of a sudden are the fucking petals.
"That woman has always been in love with you, just like Broderick."
And it reminds me of the broken pieces of someone's heart.
"But unlike that boy, your so-called friend has no honor. So think about that, boy. Think about that."
Dean Garrison hangs up, but I remain frozen in my seat.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I don't even have the urge to check the footage like the dean says.
Get the fuck out of my house.
Because I already know.
What the hell have I done?
Riri
I'm in the middle of packing my things when I hear the door to my dorm room open. I turn around, and it's him.
"I'm sorry, Riri."
God, oh God.
It's the gentleness of his voice, oh God.
It's that of all things that reminds me of last night.
Get out of my house!
My heart feels like it's about to explode with pain.
"Riri---"
He reaches for me, and I just scream.
"No!"
His face whitens.
"Riri..."
I suddenly realize that this is my room.
I suddenly realize that I can say it now.
To him.
But I can't.
And the realization tears me apart.
"Why can't I say it?" I sob out. "Why?"
Why can't I tell him to get out like he did?
Why?
Jacques
The pain in my wife's eyes kills me.
Why, she asks.
She wants to know why she can't tell me to get the fuck out like I did to her.
And I know the answer because I'm the evil bastard between the two of us.
"Why can't I say it?"
Her knees buckle, but I catch her in my arms, and she no longer has the energy to avoid me.
All my wife is able to do is beat my chest as she cries her heart out.
"Why? Why? Why?"
And I only have one answer for her.
"I'm sorry, Riri. I'm sorry."
A crowd has started to gather outside her dorm room, but this means nothing to me.
All that matters is the girl in my arms.
"I never allowed myself to believe that you love me," I say hoarsely. "I told myself that all you felt for me was infatuation. And that your feelings will die over time. And so when Eva---"
The moment I say the other woman's name, I know I've made a mistake.
My wife shoves me away, and I have no choice but to let her go.
"I'm sorry, Riri."
It's all I can fucking say because there's no excusing how I hurt her.
"I'm sorry. I should never have believed her."
But my wife only stares at me.
"Forgive me."
"I do."
I know she means it, but the way she also says the words terrifies the hell out of me.
"Give me another chance, Riri."
"I can't."
"I won't make the same mistakes again---"
She shakes her head, and hope starts to slip out of my grasp.
"Remember what you asked me?"
Her face pales at my question.
"Because this time, I'd like to ask the same thing."
My wife starts crying again. "Stop it, please just stop---"
"Let me love you, Riri," I say rawly. "The way you deserve to be loved."
She tries to cover her ears, but I grab her hands because I need her to hear my every word.
"Let me love you," I repeat doggedly. "Let me love you the way I have always wanted to love you---"