Chapter 199: The Past [5]

The knife cut through the cake, and everyone clapped.

"Every time it’s fun, right?" Annabeth said chirpily, but when she caught my expression remained unchanged, she asked. "You okay?"

I spent the last hour of jubilations silent, and I didn’t even bother to put on a poker face or smile for the camera.

She licked the sugar off her finger and said again. "Did something happen?"

"..."

She gasped. "Did you tell him? Did you tell Jacob how you feel?"

I darted my eyes away from the cake and pinned them on her. Her eagerness for my answer threw me off.

"Come on, Ana, tell me, please?"

I forced a smile. "I couldn’t tell him."

She sighed and wrapped an arm around me, prompting me to flinch impulsively.

She was puzzled by that reaction because I always leaned in for comfort. She seemed not to think too much of it as she held me tight and walked me to the sofa.

"Why are you so scared?" she began softly. "If you don’t learn to confront your feelings, then you’ll spend your whole life running from them."

My fingers curled into tight fists in my lap.

"I-I see..." My voice broke before I could stop it. "Is that why you kept urging me to tell him? Better learn now than never knowing, right?"

She fixed me with a pointed stare. "What do you mean?"

"You knew he’s gonna reject me the moment I tell him how I feel. You always knew."

"That’s not—"

"I saw you... and him. How long have you been fucking Jacob behind my back?"

She paled. For a minute, her gaze swept the guests as though checking to see if anyone was listening. Then she grabbed my arm and led me out.

The moment we were away from the courtyard, I ripped my arm from her hold.

"A-Ana..."

"You knew I’ve always had feelings for Jacob. And yet you did this!"

"It’s not...!" She ran her hands through her hair. "It’s not what you think."

I scoffed. "Not what I think? I clearly saw you bouncing on his fucking cock!"

"Ana!"

"What? Are you gonna deny it?"

"He came onto me, okay? What were you expecting me to do?" She reasoned. "Look, things just happened, alright? I-It started one drunk night, and then it just happened and..."

She paused before shrugging. "One thing led to another. It was too late to stop."

"This wasn’t the first time, was it?" I asked in disbelief. "You said he wasn’t your type!"

"Clearly, Jacob didn’t get the memo! What was I supposed to do when he kept trying to grab my attention? It wasn’t my fault he wanted me!"

My throat grew tight, a heavy pulse in my eardrums that matched the sound of my heartbeat.

"Please understand, Ana."

She took my hand and placed it against her chest. "I urged you to tell him how you feel because I knew that would get us to stop. I was hurting every single time, believe me. But it just kept happening and... before I knew it we had a connection. I’m sorry, Ana, you’re my baby sister and I never meant to hurt you."

When I didn’t say a word she continued.

"Don’t you ever think that the reason why you never came forward with your feelings wasn’t the fact that you’re scared of rejection but..." She raised her shoulders a little bit. "Because what you have for Jacob is just a crush and nothing deeper than that?"

Her words were like a blow straight to the chest. Before she could say anything else, I tore my hand from her grasp and walked away.

"Ana!"

~☆~

I pulled out my buzzing phone. It had been ringing nonstop for the past three hours, but I hadn’t picked up any of the calls.

I eyed the drink on the table that remained untouched.

I came to the club for a solo night alone, but it doesn’t seem like it anymore.

The moment I got in here, I didn’t dance to let loose or take my mind off things. I used my VIP pass and headed straight for the exclusive bar.

I was alone in my booth and just sulking.

My phone vibrated again, and the screen lit up again with Annabeth’s name.

I purposely ended the call so that she’d get the fucking message that I didn’t wanna talk to her.

I’m done here. I was getting irritated already. So much for peace.

I grabbed my purse and pushed to my feet to leave, but I face-palmed a hard surface.

Rubbing my forehead, I shot my gaze up in anger, but it quickly morphed into shock.

It’s him!

A wicked grin spread on his lips. "There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you."

"Y-You..." I stuttered, and for a moment my eyes raked every inch of him, and Lord knows he looked even better than the first time I saw him.

Hotter.

"Y-You’re alive."

"You sound relieved."

I quickly rephrased my words. "You should be dead."

"Yet here I am, a dead man walking."

"Well, good. Bye now!" I moved, but his hand coiled around my wrist at lightning speed, and yanked me back to his solid frame.

My mouth was left agape as my hand pressed against his chest. A-Are these walls or chest?

"This dead man has been searching every single fucking club in this city for you."

Heat flushed my cheek as he leaned close, that grin yet to falter.

"The least you could do is let me buy you a drink for saving my life."

"Can you afford it?"

The end of his lips twitched. It seemed like I hit a nerve. Sorry not sorry. I just want him gone; however, the relief I got when I set my eyes on him still lingered.

I guess a part of me had been wondering if he made it alive.

"I’m wounded," he said, releasing my hand. "Didn’t realize you thought so little of me."

"It was just a question," I shrugged, and the moment I felt my phone vibrate again, my irritation grew.

You know what? Screw it.

"Alright then, it’s my birthday after all."

I took a seat, and crossed my legs. "Fair warning... I’m gonna drain every penny in those pockets of yours. That is, if you still wanna buy a girl a drink."