@cressidaofficial: Oh don’t worry about him, he is harmless
@anwenodstar: Allow me to not believe you. Why are you in Hawaii?
@cressidaofficial: Rhy got bored of New York and said you were angry with him, so we got away for a few days. He gets to stay entertained and you get a much-needed break
@anwenodstar: Cressi no! That is not what I need at all. I need the guy to be here, I need to keep an eye on him so he doesn’t do anything stupid
@cressidaofficial: He won’t, I’ll make sure of it. See you Tuesday sexy!
@anwenodstar: Cressi!!!!
@cressidaofficial: Let the guy have some fun, enjoy a few drinks and we’ll be on our way :) We need to go, they are organising a luau party and we need to get ready. Love you!!
@anwenodstar: Take care Cressi, don’t trust anything he says!!!
@cressidaofficial: Stop worrying so much, we’re fiiiiiiiine
I tried to write a few more times but she did not answer. Because Cressi was probably dancing with Rhylan and sharing coconut drinks with him, while they laid almost naked on a beach. I could not bear the thought, it made me so angry that I barely contained myself from smashing something. Instead, I went to the gym and trained for hours, consuming my energy and rage until I couldn’t physically move anymore. Rhylan was with Cressida, my brain reminded me constantly.
Rhylan was with Cressida.
Day 20
“Please excuse me,” I said to mum and dad as soon as Cressi strolled in the dining room, without a care in the world and with a tan that made her look like a Roman goddess.
Without uttering another word, I grabbed her hand and dragged her up the stairs and into my room, pushing her forward to force her to take a seat on the bed.
She even had the nerve to look surprised.
“What the hell are you thinking?” I adopted a mother-like posture and acted as though Cressi just turned fifteen and arrived home at three in the morning.
“What?” she arranged her slightly dishevelled hair with her fingers, using her nails like a comb.
“You go away with him? Alone? Without telling me?” I let my rage blow, along with my raised voice. I did not know where Rhylan was, and honestly, I did not care if he already reached his room and heard my screams from next door. They both deserved it.
“Anwen, it’s not like that,” my sister tried to defend herself but I did not want to hear it. I couldn't bear hearing her lips say “Rhy” with that sweetness she always accompanied the sound. I would not give her a chance to speak.
“I told you numerous times not to trust that guy. I told you how he tricked me, how he tricked Ansgar, how he played both of us for months, just to win whatever the hell he needed to. He is a bastard, a conniving, deceitful son of a bitch. He is hatred personified, he is anger and destruction, all the bad things in the world combined in a single person.”
Cressi did not let me finish and to my dissatisfaction, started defending Rhylan.
“But he is also kind when he wants to be, interesting, respectful and loyal, honest and so, so hot.” She uttered the last word with her eyes closed and a small contort of her face, like she could taste that hotness while thinking about it.
“Because he had hundreds of years to practice it!” I could not believe I had to explain this to her. “Maybe thousands. Do you know anything personal about him? Has he told you about his family? About his life? Or did he spin you the stories about how rich he is and how amazing he can act within a short timeframe? Because let me tell you, he was amazing when he wanted to be with me too, back in Sweden. He was as charming and as caring as he is with you, maybe even more. He came to visit me with cake and we sat on the sofa and chatted for hours, have debates about how to break a kitkat or if chewing a square of dark chocolate or letting it melt in your mouth brought out more flavour,” I finished speaking breathlessly.
“Anwen, there are things you don't know yet, things that he needs to tell you. He has his reasons,” Cressi started defending him but I was on fire, burning my rage with the sharp use of my tongue.
“Stop defending him!” I shouted, maybe for the first time in my life at Cressi. The woman who was like my own sister. “He killed Ansgar! He took him away from me! He has no excuse, he is a bastard, a man who deserves nothing good in his life, only suffering and pain.”
“Anwen…” Cressi stood from the bed and made a gesture to come closer to me but I backed away. I couldn’t believe she was defending him, that she would risk my anger and our friendship, the entire life we spent together on him.
“Why?” I couldn’t understand, so I had to ask. “Why are you on his side instead of mine?”
“There are things you don't know—” Cressi started explaining, but I would not have it. I would not listen.
“Why?” I repeated again, this time shouting, tears sprinting from my eyes. From hurt, from anger, from pain. I did not know.
My friend returned to her initial position on the bed and shifted her gaze downwards, taking a minute to find her composure. When she looked at me, I realised that she, too, was crying.
