Chapter 3: The Confrontation

Logic told me I should leave.

The reasonable part of me whispered, "Get out before you make it worse." Otherwise, I’d only hurt myself more.

But my feet wouldn’t move.

I took out my phone and called Jason.

The dial tone seemed to last forever, and I wiped my palms against my jeans to keep them from shaking. He picked up quickly.

“You’ve cooled off?”

From his tone, Jason seemed to be in a good mood.

It sounded like he was smiling, and that made something inside me snap. “So, can I go home tonight?”

......

I stared at the private room door and didn’t answer. Instead, I asked, “Where are you?”

He paused. “What’s wrong?”

His voice grew wary, and I could hear music blaring in the background—glasses clinking, people shouting over each other. Afraid to say?

Noisy sounds came from the phone. Jason’s voice was choppy.

“What am I afraid to say? Rachel, can’t you stop being so suspicious all the time...”

Just then, Jason, who’d just stepped out of the room, happened to see me.

He put away his phone and walked over.

“Why are you here?”

“If you can come, why can’t I?”

I lifted my chin, refusing to let him see how much I was hurting.

*The supporting female character is at it again. If only she could communicate properly, she wouldn’t keep pushing the male lead away.*

*No way—they’re not the official couple. They’re destined to keep missing each other for all kinds of reasons.*

*Actually, it’s not all the supporting female character’s fault. The male lead isn’t honest enough. If you’re together, no matter what happens, you should talk things out. In this relationship, the supporting female character has already lost her sense of security, but the male lead never noticed.*

I glared at him, refusing to back down.

Jason was amused by me.

He let out a dry laugh and shook his head, as if I was some endearing but impossible puzzle. “Alright, alright, it’s my fault. Just wait a bit. I’ll take you home later.”

Without thinking, I blurted out,

“Aren’t you going to introduce your friend to me?”

The question slipped out, sharper than I meant. Even I was surprised at myself for saying that.

What am I doing?

That day, he hid the ring, and even the comments said there’s no future for us.

But knowing he was going to be with someone else, I still couldn’t accept it.

Three years together, over a thousand days and nights.

I know I can’t let go of this relationship so easily.

My hands twisted in the bedsheet, desperate for something to hold onto. I started to get anxious and lost myself.

Because I cared too much, I wanted to be cherished.

I held back my tears and said, “If it’s inconvenient, forget it. I’ll just get a cab myself.”

I could feel the eyes of strangers watching, or maybe it was just my own paranoia. Jason grabbed me as I tried to leave, his eyes flickering with emotion.

“You never liked crowded places, especially when there are lots of people. You always felt awkward. I thought you didn’t want to come to places like this, so I never asked you...”

There was an unexpected tenderness in his voice. Jason took my hand and led me into the private room.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of beer and buffalo wings. There were about seven or eight people inside.

A blur of faces—some I recognized from old photos, others complete strangers. Jason introduced them to me one by one. After making the rounds, he suddenly seemed to remember to introduce me.

Someone put an arm around my shoulders.

I stiffened, but Jason just laughed. Jason announced loudly, “This is my girlfriend. You’re probably meeting her for the first time.”

A few people whistled or clapped, raising their Solo cups. Instinctively, I looked at the only other girl in the room besides me.

It was the same girl who’d come in with Jason earlier.

She was pretty, with sharp eyes and a polished smile. It was my first time seeing her. So this is Natalie Summers.

Noticing my gaze, she looked back at me.

But it wasn’t a friendly look.

Or maybe I was just imagining things.

I felt a prickle along my skin, a silent battle playing out in the glances between us.

I wondered, if I left now, would anyone even notice?