Book 2 Chapter 2: The Truth

“Space, huh? You needed to focus on basketball?” Charlie reacted with sarcasm. “Wait, don’t tell me you just met this girl today? Because we just broke up the other night!”

Following Charlie’s arrival, The Nook & Brew Café fell silent. She caught a look of horror on her best friends’ faces—Ashley and Sofia.

Luke’s hold on Regina loosened. He looked down before meeting Charlie’s gaze and admitted, “I’m sorry, Charlie. I could not tell you. I… I did not want to break your heart.”

Charlie scoffed. She felt tears brimming in her eyes, but she held it. Instead, she allowed her anger to take over. “You could have just said so and not leave me wondering what I did wrong!”

“I deserve the truth, Luke. I have been good to you for the past two years.” She pointed at him, adding, “You know it!” Then Charlie eyed Luke’s friends, including their girlfriends. She added, “And they all know it!”

“And you two!” Charlie called Ashley and Sofia’s attention. “It’s obvious that you knew, but you chose to lie to me? How long have you known?”

Charlie returned her attention to Luke, adding, “How long has Luke been bringing his new girl into your group gatherings?”

She had not attended The Wall Street Warriors gatherings lately because she was studying for the exams. She never expected to have missed so much in just a few days!

At that point, Charlie felt a tear slipped silently down her cheek. Never mind Luke’s betrayal, but her so-called best friends? What kind of friends would lie to her face? 

“Charlie, we are sorry,” Ashley said. “We did not want to hurt you.”

“Clearly, your loyalty is to this fucking basketball team!” Charlie reacted. She rarely cursed, but now, she couldn’t help it. “You both hurt me now more than Luke ever did! Some friends you turn out to be.”

“Charlie -” Sofia tried to hold her, but Charlie moved back. 

“Don’t touch me!” Charlie said through gritted teeth. 

“Charlie, I’m sorry,” this time, Luke approached, further angering Charlie. 

“Especially you!” Charlie shouted. “You’re the last person I want comfort from!”

She raised her hands and said, “I don’t deserve this. I’m done with this.”

Charlie turned on her heel and walked away. Instead of returning home to their apartment, she stayed in a hotel five blocks from the school. 

She spent a good two hours crying. 

She felt like a fool!

[Charlie, we are sorry. We did not mean to hurt you.] A message popped up on her phone, and it came from Ashley. She and Sofia had called many times, but Charlie refused to answer. 

[Charlie, Luke asked us not to tell you.] Sofia texted next. [Where are you? Can we talk?]

Reading Sofia’s text, Charlie mused. If that was the case, then Luke’s relationship with Regina had been going on for a while now. 

Charlie remembered the previous days when she was busy preparing for the preliminary exams. There were times when Luke failed to respond to her texts. According to him, he was also often practicing, but was he really? Or was he spending time with Regina?

“Who the hell is Regina, anyway?” Charlie muttered. 

Luke and Charlie were in their fourth year in college. He joined the basketball team as a freshman while simultaneously pursuing her. Luke was a natural talent, and quickly rose to fame. As a result, Charlie also found herself in the spotlight—after all, the star player had his eyes on her. Once they officially became a couple, no one dared to openly flirt with Luke. They were widely regarded as the golden couple in the College of Business.

Truth be told, Charlie was just as beautiful. She had thick, long, wavy blond hair. She had green eyes and a slender frame. She supposed the only difference between her and that ‘Regina’ was the way they dressed. Also, from what Charlie had seen, Regina liked makeup. 

Charlie wasn’t fond of dressing like a star. She was allergic to many makeup brands, so she avoided most cosmetics. She could dress like a model, but she was not used to it. She grew up with two brothers, and they had greatly influenced her fashion style. 

While she was in deep thought, her phone rang. When she saw it was her older sister, she answered the call, her sobs deepened.

“What is happening?!” Her older sister, Freya, said frantically. “Why are you crying? Who bullied my baby sister? I’m going to hunt them down, make their parents lose their jobs,  and I’ll slap them ten times just like in those drama reels!”

“Haha!” Charlie was hurting, but her older sister made her laugh. After sniffing her tears away, she replied, “Luke and I broke up.”

There was a moment of silence before her sister said, “What? I did not get a chance to bully Luke?” Freya let out a sigh, adding, “Bummer!”

Yet again, Charlie cracked up. Her sister sure knew how to lift her spirit. “God, I wish you were here. I think he cheated on me, Freya.”

“What? The nerve! No one would dare hurt you if you were dating a local guy in Halliport!” Freya declared, referring to their hometown. 

“I know. I know,” Charlie acknowledged, but she had no regrets about studying in Luxford. She had learned a lot in academics and life itself. 

“Listen to me. It’s for the best. Remember Dad’s rule for dating at twenty-five? Well, you broke it, Sister, and I have been carrying the guilt for knowing what you have been doing in Luxford!” Freya reminded. “So, we can just forget about him and never tell Dad you had a boyfriend, okay? Just focus on your studies. If you want to, you can transfer here next semester.”

“Maybe it’s not so bad studying in Halliport, Charlie,” Freya added. 

“Thanks, Freya. I know what I must do,” Charlie said with a smile. 

Charlie did not go to school the next day. At around four in the afternoon, Charlie decided to head home, but to her shock, Ashley and Sofia had visitors!

The second she entered the living room, she saw Regina in Luke’s arms, and they were cozying up on the sofa. 

On one side, Sofia was with her boyfriend Archie. When Sofia saw Charlie, her eyes rounded, and she muttered, “Ch—Charlie? We did not think you were coming home this early. Don’t you have a six p.m. class?”

Ashley walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn. Her lips rounded before she asked, “Charlie, where have you been? We have been worried sick about you.”

"Really?" Charlie asked, raising a brow. She glanced around and spotted Tom tailing behind Ashley, carrying a bucket of ice. With the TV on and drinks set out, it was clear to her—they were about to enjoy themselves and completely forget that this was where she lived!"

“Clearly, you were so worried sick about me,” Charlie said. She ran upstairs, packed up some clothes, and left. As she exited the living room, she felt everyone’s eyes on her, especially Luke. 

In the end, Charlie returned to the hotel. It was rather inconvenient because the hotel was far from the university.

Luxford University provided dormitories, but there were not enough to accommodate all its students. There was a residential building in front of the school and a few apartments behind it, but most were occupied since it was just the beginning of the first semester. 

“Arrgh! So much for living independently,” Charlie scolded herself. 

She spent the rest of her time online and checking on apartments for rent. There were available apartments six to ten blocks away, but she would have to inspect these homes. Safety was her main priority. 

With the weekend approaching, Charlie was determined to go house hunting. She had already decided to leave the house she shared with Ashley and Sofia. 

On a Friday morning, Charlie was running late for her first class. The hotel car service did not have a pass to the campus, so she ran toward the College of Business. To get there faster, she passed through the College of Engineering. 

The building had a shortcut to the College of Business, so it was her best way to get to her class. Along the way, however, she bumped into two students. 

“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” 

“Sorry!” When Charlie looked up, her eyes rounded in shock. It was Taylor West!