Chapter 5

"That would be nice to hear, Eli, but it's not. Your sister already has a boyfriend. She told me then that I should just wait for her until she graduates from college," he said to me one after another, so I became silent.

"I did what she told me to wait for her. You saw how I avoid women who pay attention to me just for your sister, but I didn't expect it now. While I was waiting for her, she was already in love with others. How ridiculous, right?" he continued speaking then shook his head.

I bit my lip as I listened to Josiah's story. I don't know anything my sister said to him because Josiah doesn't like to tell stories. Even now I am shocked by what I found out.

"Why don't you tell me?" he asked.

I frowned, "Say which one?" I asked curiously.

"That someone else is flirting with Stella. For sure he's visiting your house and you see it. Why didn't you tell me? Why did you let me hope?" he said and asked me one after another so I shook my head one after another.

"Jos, I-I didn't know what you're talking about. Do you think I can do that to you?" I answered and asked him.

He just shook his head and looked at me with disappointment in his eyes before leaving me there. My jaw dropped and I asked myself.

"Why does it feel like it was my fault?" I whispered to myself.

"Where's, Jos?" Clara asked me when she got back to our table.

I also returned to our table earlier when Josiah left me there and I thought he went there but I didn't see him there.

I shook my head in response to Clara while I was stunned. It was already noisy there earlier because the boys were teasing us again. Stefan even talked to me earlier but I didn't pay attention to him because I was thinking about Josiah. I just don't understand why he blames me for having Stella's boyfriend even though I don't know anything.

"You don't know where he is? Maybe he and Stella are still dancing?" Clara asked me again.

"No. They finished dancing a while ago and the song and dance are over so I'm sure they're not dancing anymore," I answered her.

"Then where is he? Wait a minute and I'll call him," Clara said then took her phone out of her purse to call Josiah.

I sighed and took the wine in front of me to drink. I didn't know that Stella had a boyfriend, especially since no man came to our house to court her.

"Stop calling him, Clara. Maybe he won't come back here. He's mad at me," I said as I placed the glass of wine on the table.

"He's mad at you? What's the reason? That's impossible! Duh!" Clara said to me in disbelief.

"She blames me for Stella having a boyfriend. I don't know anything about that because if he hadn't told me earlier I wouldn't have known that my sister had a boyfriend!" I'm complaining one after the other.

"Stella already has a boyfriend?!" Clara asked me in surprise because I nodded.

"And I don't know how because no one visits or goes to the house to court Stella. I'll be the first to know, Clara you know that" I continued speaking.

Clara took a deep breath and lightly rubbed my shoulder while nodding.

"I know and I believe you. Let me go and I'll talk to Josiah when I see him. Maybe he's just surprised because we know that he's crazy over Stella," Clara said to lighten my heart.

We stayed there for a while and Stefan's group still didn't leave. I saw Stefan staring at me again but I just looked away because I was alone.

"The venue for our after party is set up. Are you guys ready?" Julius asked, one of Stefan's group mates.

I took a deep breath because there was even an after-party. I opened my eyes to look for Josiah again because he was not answering our calls to him and Clara.

"Eli," Stefan called me.

I turned to him and slightly raised my two eyebrows as if asking what he needed from me.

"Are you coming for the after-party?" he asked.

I didn't answer right away because I looked at Clara for a moment. She nodded at me so I looked back at Stefan before nodding at him as an answer.

"Yeah," I answered, then shrugged my shoulders.

He grinned and nodded at my answer before turning to his friends.

"Okay, guys! I'm coming," he said to his friends.

"Oh, I thought you wanted to rest early tonight since you have training tomorrow?" Julius asked him.

"I can postpone that until the next day. I also want to have fun first," he replied to his friends then slightly looked at me again which is why I avoided looking at him.

"Gosh! You just found out Eliana is coming so he's coming too!" another of his friends was teasing him there.

I just shook my head and sighed before looking again at Clara who was now smiling too, which is why I frowned at her.

"You seem to be Stefan's type. Elijah also mentioned it to me earlier," he whispered to me.

I rolled my eyes because of that. I don't believe and I don't agree that he will like me right away.

"Oh, why are you reacting like that? Stefan is a guy and a basketball player. He's smart and kind. He's up to your standards," Clara added when she saw my reaction.

"My standards are higher now, Clara. Let's just say he's handsome, kind, and smart, but we still can't deny that he's a chic boy," I continued and rolled my eyes again.

"How did you know that he's a chic boy? I like him more for you than Jackson!" she answered me.

I just shook my head because she was making me sympathize with her madness again.

"You know what? I'll just look for Josiah first. You can leave it there if you want," I told her then stood there.

"Huh? You're going to leave me? I'm coming with you!" she said in a hurry that's why I started to leave there.

I even forgot to say goodbye to our companions there but I heard Clara's voice that seemed to be saying goodbye to our friends.

"Should we split up so we can find him quickly? I'll also find his Dad and ask where Jos is," Clara said, which made me nod.

"That's fine. Let's just call when we find him," I answered.

Clara and I had separated and almost everyone when I saw our schoolmates, I asked if they had seen Josiah until I saw Stella at their table with her friends. I didn't go to them right away because I was looking for the boyfriend that Josiah was referring to earlier. I noticed that there was a man next to her and it was obvious that he was her age. They were laughing there, that's why I didn't even think twice about approaching there.

"Stella," I called my sister.

She immediately looked up at me and I saw the shock in her eyes when she saw me so I kept my serious face.

"E-Eli," she also called me and looked at the man next to her before standing up.

"Can we talk?" I asked her.

I can see the nervousness in her reactions but I don't care anymore because I want to talk to her. Our mother doesn't forbid us to have boyfriends but we have to let her know that and we will talk about that at home. I just can't imagine that she has a boyfriend now especially when we don't see anyone visiting with her at home.

"But-"

"No buts, Stella. I need to talk to you. Now."

Her eyes widened slightly and she immediately said goodbye to her friends before finally joining me.

"Eli, what is it? You see, my friends are with me. What do you need from me?" She complained to me one after another when we got away from there.

"Is it true? Do you have a boyfriend?" I immediately asked her.

I saw her sigh before falling on her head.

"I won't ask who you found out about this. Of course, Josiah," she replied to me and then was tormented by nothingness.

"I'm asking you if it's true. You can only answer yes or no," I told her.

"Yeah, it's true! I already have a boyfriend but it was unexpected so I didn't introduce it to you right away," she answered me directly.

"Unexpected? What is it that suddenly came in front of you tonight and has become your boyfriend? You disobey Mom's rules and I'll let her know about this. You just made my friend hope!" I told him one after another with an angry voice before leaving her there.

I heard her calling me but I didn't look at her anymore. I'm very annoyed with her now because Josiah blames me and maybe because of her, our friendship will be destroyed.

"Eli,"

I stopped walking when I heard Josiah's voice behind me, so I quickly stopped walking and faced him.

"Jos," I called him and immediately approached him.

"Trust me, please. I don't know anything," I told him to explain myself again.

I saw him nod and smile slightly at me.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blame you. I was just carried away by my emotions. Are we out of here? Clara and I have met and she's at the table again," he told me.

I didn't know what my reaction would be because of what he said and I didn't know what to say. That's why I came closer to him to hug him. That's the only way I can think of to ease my friend's heart.

"I'm sorry, Jos. I'll talk to Stella again," I said but he just lightly patted my shoulder.

"What are you doing? You don't have to. At least now I know myself that I have no hope for your sister. The only thing that I can do right now is to move on," he answered me, then shrugged.

I sighed because I still couldn't accept that because what Stella did was so wrong. I can't tolerate it, that's why I will talk to her again at home tomorrow and I will also let Mommy know about it.

Somehow I feel better because Josiah and I are on good terms. We rode with him to the venue where our after-party was. Mommy knew that before we left the house earlier, so she will be the only one going home later, especially since she has bodyguards and a driver. I didn't even bring my car because we went to the party together earlier.

"Let's enjoy the party tonight. There's more alcohol here than at the other party," Julius said when we got to the bar.

Most of them were our schoolmates and the others I think are from other universities. We have a lot of companions tonight and I also like that because I will be able to meet more people tonight. Just like before, we were together again at a table and the others continued the drinking that had been interrupted earlier at the other party.

"Here's your shot," Clara told me then handed me the tequila.

"I don't like this, Clara. Isn't there anything harder?" I'm complaining because I don't like to drink tequila.

"I don't know what you want, duh? Just take it from there," she answered me.

"What do you want, Eli? I'll get it for you," said Stefan, who I thought was busy talking to his friends but seemed to be listening to Clara and I's conversation.

Before the teasing of our companions started, I immediately shook my head and smiled slightly.

"I'll go for it. Thank you," I said casually than I immediately went to the counter.

"Can I have two shots of vodka, please?" I said to the bartender after I sat down at the bar counter.

I did it immediately and I just waited for a moment. I closed my eyes when the heat of the wine hit my throat, but I recovered immediately. I was about to drink my last shot, but I was surprised when Allison suddenly appeared by my side.

"Stella is here too. You should go home together because Bea and I will sleep over," Allison said to me.

I was stunned because I didn't expect Stella to come here, especially since that one doesn't like to party.