Chapter 35 #2
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what happened next.
He broke into carefree laughter, like a boy.
I had no doubts left in me.
She was his girlfriend.
“Vodka,” I asked the bartender, not looking away from them even for a moment.
They looked perfect together. A beautiful couple, a perfect match.
I wondered what she captivated him by that much. Her beauty, I guessed.
Her hair was so thick and long, so silky. It shined and glimmered. You could see a rich, dark hazel shade in them. It was a warm, eye-catching color.
My hair color looked dull and greyish in comparison, like a heap of straw. It’s fuzzy and weirdly frizzy. If you were to compare my hair color with any other, mine would not win.
She was tall, which made her look sophisticated and feminine. I think men like women like her. Those just a little shorter than them. They’re easier to kiss and hug. No need to lean towards them and fuss about.
She was slightly tanned. The tan enhanced her appearance, giving her a healthy look .
My skin looked pale. Any tan I had had already been washed away.
Her makeup made her look foxy. It looked expensive and elegant.
There were days when even makeup wouldn’t help doll me up. And today was one of those days.
I bet she looked fresh and radiant with no makeup on.
If makeup makes her look like a sultry Venus, then she probably looks very attractive and inviting without it, too.
Her fingers were long and straight. Her manicured nails were painted red.
I looked down at my own fingers.
They looked small and crooked. One nail on my right hand got chipped and I only managed to file it down a bit.
I covered my right hand with the left.
Did she know he’s sleeping with me?
She probably didn’t care. Maybe she suspected it.
What if she knew and still accepted him just the way he was? Maybe she’s okay with it and had someone on the side as well? Maybe they’re in an open relationship? They allowed each other to sleep with others, but would only start a family with one another.
That must be a special connection, then. The one to survive anything, floods, fires or drought.
Anything.
Her hand wandered his neck, sending daggers into my heart.
He never brought any girl home, but he’s never home himself. He could be away for weeks on end. Was he leaving to see her? Was he staying with her? Was he sleeping with her? Did he like sleeping with her more than with me?
Did he love her?
The song ended and my empty glass slipped from my hand, shattering into tiny pieces .
I only noticed it when people started turning their heads in my direction.
I kept staring at them. I watched her adjust his bow tie, grinning widely at him, when his gaze suddenly caught mine.
My eyes only dwelt on him for a few seconds. I turned back to the bar and stood up, heading for the refreshments.
I hated myself for waiting for him. I wanted him to come to me. I wanted him to say something nasty and pull me by my arm.
He told me I was his shadow. Then why wasn’t I with him now?
I turned around to look for him, but he was nowhere to be found.
He’s with her now.
They might be in the living room on the ground floor.
I wanted to burst in on them and see it with my own eyes. I wanted that because it’d have helped me stifle the anxious waves swaying inside me.
“Champagne?”
A familiar voice stopped me.
“Yes.”
I looked up and saw August.
“Enjoying the cocktails?”
“You were right. This is the most interesting part.”
He smiled and took a sip of champagne.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a proper goodbye the last time.”
“I understand. Eric can be...”
“An asshole?”
He smirked.
“Blunt.”
We both smiled.
Silence fell between us and I felt it was a good time to start the ball rolling.
“Have you heard anything about the attack on the university?”
“Yes. ”
My pulse quickened.
“I heard many students were killed.”
“It’s worse than that. Half of them went missing. Parents are still looking for their kids.”
But why did they have to kill?
For revenge.
But upon who? And, most importantly, for what?
I put a crunchy shrimp tartlet in my mouth.
“It looked more like a targeted attack, than an act of revenge.”
Bloody writing on the dorm bathroom mirror flooded my memory.
“Were you there?”
“Oh, no. No.”
I looked at the floor, smiling.
“I’m just gathering rumors. My life’s rather boring, so things like this take up all my attention. Conspiracy theories make life a lot more exciting than facing the real world.”
“I like your way of thinking.”
He smiled.
Something changed in his eyes, but I didn’t know him well enough to understand what it was.
“Who do you think might have wanted it?”
“Do you wish to know if Eric was involved?”
“I know he was.”
“And you are correct. Him and his business partners, if you can even call them that, had a hand in this. Some more. Others less.
I looked at the crowd, getting lost in thought.
“People are a commodity, aren’t they?”
“Yes. One can get good money for them.”
Goosebumps pierced my skin like needles.
“Have you taken part in the attack?”
“Are you suspecting me now?”
“Oh, no. I’m just curious. I don’t suspect anyone. ”
He grinned and I got the willies.
“No. I’m interested in completely different things.”
“Like what?”
“Rare watches.”
He showed me his wrist with an expensive watch that screamed of a downtown penthouse.
“It’s terrific. I’ve been thinking about getting a watch myself for a while now, but Eric says it’s a waste of money. So now I’m just left dreaming of one like that.”
August smirked.
“Would you like me to give you a watch?”
“What? No. No way. This is too expensive. And it’s a men’s watch.”
“No-no. I’ll give my driver a call and he’d bring in a ladies’ watch. I bought it at an auction yesterday. There are only ten of those in the world.”
“Don’t you want to keep such a rare watch for yourself?”
“There are things that can’t be bought. I think that watch would flatter your eyes perfectly. I’d like for this to be the dawn of our friendship.”
“But could we keep it all...”
I pursed my lips.
“A secret? Definitely. Eric isn’t very fond of me, so the gift will stay between us.”
He picked up another champagne glass from a passing waiter.
“For the new friendship.”
“For the new friendship,” I echoed.
Our glasses met with a chime.
My lips barely touched the liquid when my eyes caught a gaunt blond girl with a banged bob.
She stood next to a tall man clearly a decade older than her. She was walking with a slight limp in her left leg, but her gait seemed incredibly familiar. The blonde turned her head towards me, staring into space. Her eyes looked tired and haunted.
Bell?