EIRA'S POV:
One thing is for sure—Adrain needs psychiatric help. I was sitting in his car, replaying everything in my head. And yes!! He did exactly what he said—first dropping me at the hostel, and now we were heading to college.
Sometimes I wish… can't he just behave like a normal human being? Why does he have to be so controlling, so overbearing, every single time?
I didn't even notice we had reached the college until the car stopped. The moment Adrain stepped out, a girl came running and threw her arms around him. Hugging him so tightly, I wondered if he could even breathe.
And of course, she was none other than Victoria.
I froze. My instinct screamed at me to slip away before she noticed me. I started walking off quietly, praying she wouldn't see. But… of course, my clumsiness betrayed me. I tripped on my own foot and landed face-first on the floor.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect. I should win an Oscar for this performance.
Victoria's heels clicked toward me, her expression cold and scornful, as if I were some unwanted pest.
"What are you doing here?" she sneered, her tone dripping with contempt.
Before I could form a single word, Adrain's hand closed around hers.
"Nothing," he said flatly. "She was just trying to get my attention. You know these types of girls. Let's go—we're getting late."
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
I couldn't believe it. Had I heard him correctly? No. No, this wasn't happening. My chest burned. I was wrong about him. I thought, deep down, maybe he wasn't as cruel as he pretended. But no. He was worse—an egotistic jerk. First, he dragged me from my hostel, and now this? He humiliated me, discarded me like I was nothing.
The bell rang.
Not again. Please, not now.
I ran as fast as I could toward class. Thankfully, there was no teacher yet. Safe—for now. I collapsed into the seat beside Tessy.
The next lecture was English. We were practicing a play. And as much as it hurt me to admit it—Adrain was good at acting. Too good. Maybe because he wasn't acting at all; lying seemed to come naturally to him.
Later, I searched everywhere for Tessy. She hadn't shown up in the canteen for lunch. Then I saw it—Peter hugging her, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
My stomach knotted.
"We need to go," I muttered. "We're getting late for class."
In the biology lab, she was glowing with happiness. But my heart ached, because I knew I had to shatter her world. For her own good. I couldn't let her get hurt.
The bell rang. This was my chance.
"Tessy, I need to talk to you."
"Not now! Peter's waiting for me—I need to go." She was practically glowing with excitement.
But I couldn't let her leave. I grabbed her hand, my voice trembling. "I know it will hurt you, but you need to see this."
I pulled out my phone, opened the video, and placed it in her hand.
She watched in silence. The color drained from her face. A single tear slipped down her cheek. Then another. My chest tightened as I realized—I was crying too.
Peter appeared suddenly, his face pale with panic.
"Tessy! What are you doing here? I was waiting for—" His words froze. "Why are you crying?"
She handed him the phone without a word. She looked… destroyed.
I reached out to hug her, but Peter grabbed her shoulders, turning her toward him.
"Who showed you this video?" His voice was sharp, demanding.
"Does… does it matter?" she whispered, broken.
And then I snapped. "Your truth is out. Leave her, you disgusting jerk!"
His eyes flickered to me, filled with feigned pain. "Why did you do this, Eira? I know you're jealous. You want me for yourself. But Tessy is your friend. How could you betray her like this?"
My blood boiled. "What nonsense are you spewing?! You're a liar! A filthy liar!"
Tessy's wide, tear-filled eyes darted between us.
Peter softened his voice, as though he were the victim here. "Don't believe her, Tessy. Just tell me what you saw in that video. Did she—did Eira—force you to believe something false?"
"Did she also force you?" Tessy asked in a shaking, broken voice.
I wrapped my arms around her from behind, desperate to anchor her.
Peter sighed dramatically. "Yesterday, I went to a party at the club. I was drunk. I didn't do anything. She—" he pointed at me "—forced herself on me."
"NO!! He's lying!" I screamed, my throat raw.
Peter smirked slightly. "Fine. Let me prove it. I'll call her now, right in front of you."
He dialed.
"Hi," he said smoothly.
"Hi, Peter." A girl's voice, shaky. "I'm… I'm sorry. I was jealous of Tessy. I knew you loved her so much. Please forgive me. Please, just give me one more chance."
My world tilted.
What? No… no, this couldn't be.
"Maybe she's not the girl in the video," I stammered. "Maybe it's someone else!"
"Can you come on FaceTime?" Peter asked.
A minute later, the video connected. The same girl. The exact same girl from the recording.
She looked straight into the camera. "I'm so sorry, Peter. Please forgive me."
Something inside me cracked. I grabbed the phone. "Why are you lying?! Tell the truth! Please!"
She sneered. "Oh… you're the girl who tried to force yourself on him. And then you ran off with Dave, didn't you?"
"No!! Stop lying! Please!" My voice shattered.
But then she played another video—this time, of me at the party. The angle was twisted, manipulated, making it look like I was the one throwing myself at him.
"No," I whispered. "This is all wrong. It's all—"
SLAP.
The sting burned across my cheek.
Tessy's hand.
Her face twisted with disgust. "I can't believe you. I thought you were my friend. But you… you're the most disgusting, manipulative girl I've ever met. You did all of this just to take Peter away from me."
Her words pierced deeper than the slap.
"Just leave! I don't ever want to see your face again!"
"Tessy, please—"
"I'm sorry for not believing you earlier, Peter," she whispered, collapsing into his arms.
He hugged her back, smirking slightly over her shoulder. "It's okay. I could have done the same if I were in your place."
And just like that, I was erased.
I had no words left. No strength left. I walked out of the lab, clutching myself tightly just to stay upright. My legs moved, but my mind was numb.
How could this happen? How could everything twist against me?
My eyes burned with unshed tears. I forced them back, refusing to let them fall.
But then—suddenly—I froze.
He was there.
Adrain.
Leaning against the wall, watching me. His face was blank, unreadable, but his eyes… his eyes betrayed him. Behind the mask of coldness, there was something else. Concern. Anger. A storm he wouldn't admit.
I staggered forward, and before I could collapse, his hand caught me—firm, steady, grounding.
I didn't say a word. I couldn't. I had no energy left.
But for the first time… I didn't need to.