Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Rhea's Pov

“Ginny… Actually, I need your help with something…” I started shyly, wringing my hands together. Ginny beamed at me, nodding her heads eagerly and taking my hands in hers, squeezing them.

“You can ask me for anything, I'll do it to the best of my abilities.” She seemed like she was looking forward to what I wanted to ask her for.

I smiled. Bingo.

“Well… The thing is… I can't go home like this… After… After I confessed to Kevin, I think he got angry and accidentally pushed me into the water. No… That can't be right, Kevin is too kind, he couldn't do that to me.” I shook my head, as if disbelieving the fact that Kevin pushed me. Even if I didn't want to, I still had to maintain the façade that I still liked Kevin for now.

“I must have slipped on my own and fell into the pool, so I got drenched and embarrassed Kevin in public. If I went home like this, mom and dad would get angry at me. So I was wondering… Could you give me back the card that I gave to you? I really need it. It's so cold and I need to change my clothes or I might fall sick.” I said the last two sentences really loudly so everyone could hear what I asked and then I met Ginny's eyes squarely, forcing out tears from the corner of my eyes.

I could see surprise on her face; she truly didn't expect me to ask her back for the card that I had given her two days ago.

“R… Rhea, I…” Ginny’s voice faltered, the brightness in her face dimming like a flickering bulb.

I tilted my head, keeping my voice soft but just loud enough for the students still lingering nearby to hear, “You know I always do everything I can for you, right? I mean, everyone knows that.” I offered a shaky, sad smile, blinking through the fake tears, “But if… if you can’t do this one thing for me, Ginny, then maybe I was wrong all along. Maybe you never really cared.”

Her eyes widened in panic. She glanced around and noticed the curious glances being thrown her way. Whispers had already begun rippling through the crowd.

I struck the final blow gently, “But I understand… if you can’t even lend me something I gave you myself… Then I guess I was the only one who saw us as family. You must have also wanted to use it so badly, you're so kind, so it must be something very important.” I finished, sending a sad closed eye smile at her. My lower lips were trembling and it wasn't hard to see that I was trying so hard not to cry.

There it was. The slight twitch in her jaw, the tightening of her grip on her phone. Ginny was selfish, yes, but she was also deeply obsessed with how others viewed her. She loved playing the innocent sweetheart, the grateful sister, the perfect girl. And now I’d handed her a script where she’d play the villain unless she acted accordingly.

Her lips trembled into a smile that looked like it hurt her to keep, “Of course, Rhea. I… I was just surprised. That’s all.”

She dug into her designer purse and pulled out the silver card, holding it out to me with forced grace, “Here. Go get something warm to wear. I’ll even help you find something if you want.”

I took the card with a grateful expression, clutching it to my chest, “Thank you, Ginny. You’re really the best. But you don't have to worry, I'll look for what you wear myself.”

I said, and collected the card from her, holding it tightly between my fingers.

“Are you sure? I'm the only one who knows what sort of clothes Kevin likes so…”

“Like I said, you don't need to worry about that, I'll shop for my own clothes myself, Ginny. Thank you.” I cut her off coldly, stepping backwards to put some space between us. Staying this close to her made me nauseous.

“Greet mom and dad for me when you get home, okay? Tell them that I'll be late.” I said and turned around, the smile instantly dropping from my face. I headed straight to the nearest boutique with no intention of spending modestly.

“Welcome customer.” An employee came to greet me the moment I entered, “Do you want me to help you choose clothes that would suit you?” She ignored my present look and smiled professionally at me.

“Of course.” I raised the silver card up, “I want everything you think would fit me.”

I swiped the card like I was erasing every memory of the old Rhea with each beep at the register. By the time I walked out, the bags in my arms were worth more than Ginny’s monthly allowance, and I didn’t care one bit. I had saved up quite a lot of money on the card so even after all I spent, I still had quite a lot on it.

By the time I got home, the thrill of revenge shopping still buzzed in my blood. But the second I stepped into the house, the air shifted. My mom and brothers were in the sitting room, hovering around Ginny.

“Ginny?” I called out when I saw her curled up on the couch, shaking with sobs, “What happened…”

SLAP.

My head whipped sideways. Pain bloomed across my cheek like fire. I turned, eyes wide, meeting the furious gaze of my older brother, Jason.

“What the hell did you do?!” He roared, his nose flaring.

I narrowed my eyes on him, so, this is how he wanted to start it? No problem then, I needed to pay them back for all the years of mistreatment they had given to me.

“What do you mean? Brother, could you explain more so I'll understand what is happening instead of barking at me like a dog the moment I come in?”