He rolled his eyes. “Are you just going to stand here and waste my time or are you going to speak?”
Yes, the talk.
“Yeah…I wanted to talk about why I wasn’t…there for you―”
“Not this again.” He shook his head as frustration pooled on his face. “I’ve told you a million times, I don’t fucking care.”
His raised voice now grabbed everyone’s attention, making me nervous and jittery in seconds.
“I had my reasons―”
“You keep your reasons to yourself. And don’t waste my time again.”
Before I could protest, he turned around, wrapping an arm around the girl. Meanwhile, I stood there with everyone’s eyes on me while I watched him walk away again.
I could feel the familiar sting in my heart. It wasn’t the first time he’d behaved that way. Every time I brought up the topic, he would suddenly turn into an asshole and leave right away. I didn’t know what to do or say to make him listen to me.
I raked my hand through my hair and left the room.
Just then Monica came out from her class, and from one look of my face she could easily tell what happened. She engulfed me in a hug as we made our way out and walked to the park. The warm sunlight hit my skin, but it didn’t do anything for my cold heart.
Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. Never.
“He didn’t listen, did he?” she asked, even though she knew the answer.
I shook my head in response as we took seats on one of the empty benches.
She sighed heavily. “Let it go, Lisa. It’s not like you two are in love and you must get him back.”
Love.
She just unintentionally revealed one of my deepest secrets. Something I never shared with anyone.
Was I in love with Aiden? Yes.
Did him not being in love with me always break my heart bit by bit? Yes.
But was love making me so blind that I was holding onto him so much that I might hurt myself further? I didn’t know.
“Just ignore him. He’s not worth it, Lisa.”
I wished I could take her advice, but deep down I knew I would be lying to both of us if I said I would let this matter go.
Because deep down, I wanted to keep trying and trying until I reached my goal.
I didn’t know if Aiden loved me or not. Would he ever fall in love with me? I had no answer to that either. All I wanted was his forgiveness and friendship.
Because I was willing to lose a lover but not my best friend.
I didn’t know what it felt like going through a break-up, but I did know when you lost your best friend, your whole world became dark and empty. And for me, Aiden would always be the light of my life.
He felt the same way too, but he was too stubborn to confess it.
But I would make him see the truth.
All I could do was pray that he listened to me in time. If it was too late when he realized it, I had no clue what I would end up doing to us.
“Promise me you won’t talk to him again,” Monica muttered, presenting her palm.
“You know I can’t do that. I can’t lie to you.”
She frowned with a sad look. “Lisa, don’t hurt yourself more…all I’m saying is be careful.”
“I know. And I can promise to be careful.”
CHAPTER 2
I looked in the floor-length mirror one last time, nodding at my choice of attire. The pale white cami top and black knee-length skirt made me look passable for getting in the motorbike race at the arena.
I couldn’t believe I was doing this, but I had no other choice left.
With a few more touch-ups on my make-up and running my fingertips through my short black hair, which I curled for hours, I grabbed my purse and phone as I left my dorm room.
I hailed a cab. For the next thirty minutes, it was a silent drive, but in my head, several thoughts started to roam around.
This was the first time ever I was going to see one of Aiden’s motorbike races. The closer the cab got to the arena, the faster my heart started to beat.
Paying the fare, I got out. Music blasted my ears, followed by the roars and cheers of the crowd. Everyone gathered together, circling around the caged arena, not bothering about the dust and sand coating the atmosphere. My nerves jittered as I made my way through the crazy crowd, looking around the arena for Aiden.
The racetrack had one full circle and two high board slopes in the center. The thought of Aiden taking such risk made fear shadow over me. The crowd screamed and cheered with excitement, nearly hurting my eardrums.
“And now it’s time for the big race!” the announcer boomed from the speakers, making everyone more excited.
“Everyone, give it a round of applause for Aiden!”
And boy, everyone did; their cheers and applause nearly made it impossible to hear the music. My heart skipped a beat when I finally spotted Aiden on the racetrack with his motorbike, looking as beautiful and swoonworthy as ever. He raised his hand and smiled, waving at the crowd. He was wearing a denim jacket with a white t-shirt underneath, and blue jeans.
“You all know the drill. Aiden will first complete five loops around the track, and for his finale he will drive across one slope to the other but with a new landing this time!”
Wait. What?
He was seriously going to drive across those two slopes? That death trap?
No way in hell. Before I could think of my next move, I ran toward the entrance gate of the arena. As expected, it was more crowded.
“All right, everyone, the betting is closed! Let’s begin the countdown! Ten!”
No. No. No.
Pushing past the crowd, I stood at the very front, with Aiden’s back facing me while he was putting on his helmet.
“Aiden!” I screamed, but my voice was lost in the crowd’s countdown.
He got on his bike as I watched him start the engine.
“Five. Four. Three.”
“Aiden! Don’t do this!”
He finally turned and instantly caught my sight. His eyes widened in surprise, but it was soon replaced by worry? Anger? Yearning?
I didn’t know.
“Please don’t do this!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, feeling my throat getting dry already.
“One!”
He turned away from me and drove off at full speed.
“No!” I shouted as fear and worry overruled my emotions.
Why was he doing this? Why?
I watched him driving his motorbike at full speed as he completed the five loops as fast as a cheetah in a few minutes. But unlike the others, I wasn’t entertained at all. The moment I was dreading was getting closer and closer. He halted at the slope with the engine of his motorbike still on.
But his eyes were trained on me with such a scorching gaze that I felt it burning my skin.
My fingers looped through the cage holes as I shook my head.
Don’t do this, I mouthed.
Suddenly, his ride bolted forward as he stepped on the pedal with full force. I watched him flying in the air with horrified eyes as he crossed the slope. But the moment he let go of the handle, I felt my heart sinking. The crowd went wild with his stunt, and they cheered even more when he landed safely on the other side.
I let out a breath of relief, seeing him safe and in one piece.
“Wasn’t that just fucking amazing, everyone! Aiden never fails us!” the announcer exclaimed.