Aiden huffed, rolling his eyes. “I will win the fucking bet. I-I will…get her to my room…and t-there I will do the…task. You guys will get the proof, so stop fucking asking me about it again and again.”
All the air seemed to be sucked out of my lungs, and I found myself almost gasping for air as the reality of all this set in.
I was just a bet for him. I chased after him day and night to get back his friendship, but he was making me chase after him to win a fucking bet.
I didn’t know what possessed me, but before I knew it, I was getting out of the booth and striding toward Aiden. His horrified eyes looked up at me as he realized that I must have heard everything.
He opened his mouth to spit out more lies, but he never got the chance because my right palm slapped him across his face with viper-like speed. His face turned sideways from my force as sudden silence filled the room with everyone’s eyes on us.
“You fucking asshole. I will never forgive you for this!” I spit at him, venom oozing from my voice. I had no wish to make a scene, but I couldn’t tolerate even looking at him right now.
I felt Monica’s hands on my shoulders as she showed her support for me, but it wouldn’t make any difference for the pain I was in right now.
Tears emerged in my eyes, but I didn’t allow him that satisfaction as I left the restaurant even when Monica was calling me. I needed to be alone. I hugged myself, shielding myself from everyone as I headed back to my dorm.
Shutting the door, I rested my back against it and knelt down on the floor. I didn’t have the strength to stand or think after what I heard today.
Curling myself into a ball, I finally let the tears cascade down.
CHAPTER 5
The rest of the day went by in a blur. Monica found me on the floor, crying my eyes out. She did everything she could to comfort me, but I was stuck in my shadow of sorrow.
I should have listened to Monica and let this go, but my stubborn heart was after his forgiveness and friendship. Not anymore.
Aiden could go to hell for what he did to me.
He was just using me for a stupid bet, and I was going to fall for his trap like some stupid, innocent prey.
I didn’t know when I fell asleep, but Monica’s high-pitched voice woke me up from my slumber. Another familiar voice was echoing from the doorway, making my heart thud against my chest.
What was Aiden doing here?
I looked at the clock, which showed it was past midnight. Throwing back the covers, I summoned the courage and left the bed before stalking toward the doorway.
“Leave her the fuck alone, Aiden! She has already been through a lot―”
“I’m here to see her, not you. Let her decide for herself, because last time I checked, you aren’t her guardian.”
Could he be any more of an asshole than he already is?
“Fuck you, Aiden. Get out of here before I call the guards,” Monica warned while blocking the doorway.
“Monica,” I whispered as both of their gazes turned toward me.
“It’s okay. Let him in.”
She shook her head as she stood her ground. “No way, Lisa. I won’t let him―”
“Please. I need to do this,” I pleaded.
She sighed, looking down then back at me. “Fine. I’ll be in the hallway.”
Before she left, she gave Aiden a fierce warning. “Make her cry again and I won’t hesitate to stab you.” With that, she left the room, leaving me alone with Aiden.
“What do you want, Aiden?” I asked coldly.
I saw the shadow of guilt in his eyes before he looked down. There was a pregnant silence while we both just stood opposite each other.
“Why?” I asked, breaking the silence. If he didn’t know what to say, then he could answer my questions so he could leave as soon as possible.
He knew what I was asking about, but I was left with silence only. His jawline ticked as if he were clueless for the first time about what to say to me. Most of the time he held the power, intimidating everyone in the room…including me.
But this time, the roles were switched. “I…the…” he stuttered.
He closed his eyes, inhaled a deep breath, and let it out before opening his eyes, determination set in his gaze.
“The guys saw you running after me for months and thought they’d turn it into a stupid bet―”
“And I’m sure you agreed right away. After all, you were halfway there,” I retorted. He took a step toward me, making me take a step back as I shielded myself from him.
“You know what the sad part is?” I could sense my voice breaking from the tsunami of emotions colliding with my heart.
“I was after something that was never real. I was after your forgiveness and friendship so badly that I ignored everything else around me…” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
He remained still in his spot like a statue.
“I thought if you listened to my truth, you would accept my apology. But now it seems like I never had a chance.”
My eyes burned slightly from the tears forming. His face filled with pain, as if seeing me was breaking him. No. This isn’t real.
Nothing was ever real with him. “I didn’t know your mom died. I couldn’t answer your calls because I was dangling between life and death.”
He frowned in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
I snorted, rolling my eyes. “Of course. How would you know, right? You were too busy ignoring me,” I hissed out through my clenched teeth, feeling anger consuming me into its darkness.
“I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation before the break. I didn’t know I even had it before one night when I felt this immense pain in my heart. Doctors said it’s curable, but sometimes the operations can cause death.” Tears streamed down my cheek as my voice turned hoarse from the memories of the nights I spent in fear of dying. “The operation succeeded, but I was still having complications. I had to stay at the hospital for a month so they could monitor my heart every day.”
I saw the horror diffusing all over his face as his breathing turned shallow. It was clear that it was tough for him to process the truth as he never expected it.
Suddenly, Aiden strode toward me and hugged me tightly. He buried his face in my hair as he inhaled and exhaled heavily.
“Oh God…Lisa. I-I don’t have the words to express how sorry I am.” His voice was muffled by his lips pressed against my temple.
“I was so blinded by my own pain that I didn’t allow myself to see the reality…I’m so sorry, and no matter how many times I say it, it will never be enough.”
I laughed humorlessly as I bucked away from his hold and pushed his chest.
“Feels painful, doesn’t it? You keep saying sorry again and again, and the person makes you sweat for it. The place you are in now, I was there months ago. But not anymore, because I can never forgive you for what you did to me and how you treated me,” I growled, and then I lifted my knee, hitting him hard in his groin.
He knelt down instantly, pain radiating all over his face as he grabbed his crotch and grunted deeply, while I kept staring at his hunched over form.
“I loved you, and that love made me determined to get you back. But it was all a vain attempt.”
He was struggling, but at the same time his gaze never left mine as he let my words hurt him further.