“Don’t,” I say, as soon as she steps through the door.
“He’s right, you know.”
“Why don’t you just stay out of this? What’s happening between Rafayel and I, that’s for me to worry about.”
Her eyebrows deepen, until she’s glaring at me.
“Cut the bullshit Ate, Rafayel is a dickhead, and you’re acting like one too right now. We’re both just concerned about you and just want the best for you so if you can’t see that -”
I don’t want to hear anymore. I don’t want to hear Ria telling me off, because that’s what’s going to tip me over the edge. That’s what’s going to make me break. I point out the door, turning my head so I don’t have to see her face.
“Just, leave me alone.”
She doesn’t need to be told twice. Ria isn’t the type to linger and have the last word. Saying nothing more, she leaves.
Somehow, the silence hurts more than if she had stayed to yell.
Twenty Five
The moment of truth lies before me.
I’d been standing in front of theBooks and Bricksfor a few minutes. Something tugs at me to step away, to forget the boy standing inside.
Yet, another voice was telling me to wait it out. To prove Marlon and Ria, andeveryonewrong.
To show everyone that this is written for me. The meet-cute was a prophecy, just like Mum and Dad. It couldn’t have been for nothing. Mypridewon’t let it be for nothing.
I told Kiara and Diane today that I was planning to ask Rafayel out myself, withholding the argument I’d had with Marlon and Ria last night.
Maybe he isn’t the type to ask someone out. Maybe he wantsmeto do it, since he’d asked for my number.
Is love meant to be plagued with so many maybes?
I quash the thought down. I need to push through and set us back on track, like how it’s meant to be.
I start forward, pushing through the doors. The scent of books calms the nervous beating of my heart immediately, and I am confident that everything will be okay. Rafayel is likely manning the cashier right now. I plaster my biggest smile. My most charming one, and head toward the cashier desk.
There’s a girl at the desk, being served by Rafayel. It’s the same customer from before, the one who’d been arguing withhim once. I linger back, waiting for him to finish serving her. She’s smiling, and her hip is jutted to the side as she leans forward.
An icy sensation begins at the centre of my chest, and slowly makes its way across my body. Is she flirting with him? Surely, she must be.
My jaw tenses.
Why wouldn’t she be flirting with him? Rafayel is handsome, attractive. I’m sure many girls flirt with him.
My eyes skitter to Rafayel, to gauge his reaction. To see him shut her down.
Except, Rafayel is leaning toward her, his lips twisted in a wickedly sweet smile, his eyes drifting over her face, her figure. The way he’d done with me, when I saw him on Tuesday. It’s an intimate action, and suddenly I feel like the intruder watching on. I’m praying that he hands her the book she’s purchased, so she can leave and forgets all about him.
That’s when she leans forward and kisses him.
And he kisses her back.
Ohgod.
There’s a sword in my stomach, and I’m bleeding out. My heart race is accelerating, but it’s all backwards. Bile threatens to rise as the two of them continue to kiss.
This can’t be. This can’tbe.
