7 Betrayal

Harper’s POV

The next morning, I was woken up by my mom. I almost overslept again.

Yawning as I brushed my hair, I pulled on my shirt and skirt. Parties really weren’t for me, I thought.

More precisely, it was the “adults’” kind of party. I felt like a kid sitting there, watching adults talk about things I couldn’t understand at all.

Once I finished fixing my hair, I went downstairs, grabbed a few bites of breakfast, and then got in the car for school.

In the car, I received a friend request from an unfamiliar number.

“Harper, I was a guest at the party yesterday. It was love at first sight for me, so I asked your father for your contact information.”

I didn’t know who he was, but since he was someone from the party, I thought it best not to offend him. So I accepted the request.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“Let me introduce myself. Yesterday, you met my father, Jack Conti. I am his successor, Angelo. We will have many collaborations with the Moretti family in the future. I know this may seem abrupt, but I would like to ask if you have time this weekend. I’d love to invite you for coffee.”

He seemed like a polite person, but unfortunately, I didn’t have much of an impression of him.

I figured I should resolve this quickly. “I already have a boyfriend, sorry, but thank you for your kind words.”

I put my phone back in my bag and stared out the window, watching the scenery blur past.

For some reason, an uneasy feeling settled in my chest.

After our team’s success at the last game, our coach praised our cheerleading performance highly. We were motivated and hoping to gain even more recognition.

After class, I wanted to find Lily to practice, but I couldn’t find her. A classmate told me she had already gone to the gym.

I had to carry both of our bags there myself.

As I reached the gym entrance, I noticed a few of my teammates staring at me.

It was strange. Had I worn my clothes inside out? Or maybe I had something stuck on my face?

“Hi, Alice!” I greeted one of the girls.

“Hi, Harper…” Her hesitant attitude only confirmed that something was definitely off.

“What’s wrong? Do I have something on my face? Can you check for me?” I asked her.

“No… I don’t know,” she replied, backing away before running off with two other girls.

I scratched my head. Forget it. I’ll just change.

……

The locker room door was half-open, and I heard some intimate sounds coming from inside. Embarrassed, I stepped back a few paces, thinking I’d change somewhere else. No wonder Alice and the others looked like that—someone was hooking up in there.

But the next second, a voice reached me, making my blood freeze.

A hoarse voice laced with l.ust. “Matthew…”

Then came the sound of heavy breathing and kissing.

Matthew was my boyfriend’s name, and that voice—that girl’s voice—was all too familiar. My legs nearly gave way beneath me.

Pain, anger, disbelief—all swept over me in an instant.

What should I do? Leave and pretend nothing happened while distancing myself from them? Or…

My hands were shaking, my legs trembling, but I made up my mind.

I pushed open the door.

I didn’t know what kind of expression I had on my face.

They were kissing passionately—my best friend and my boyfriend, making out.

“Lily.”

I heard my own voice, and it was eerily calm.

Matthew, who was facing away from me, flinched as if he had been slapped. He betrayed me first, so what was he afraid of?

“Matthew, turn around.”

He couldn’t bring himself to.

So I walked up in front of them. Lily’s skirt was hiked up, and Matthew’s collar bore her lipstick stain.

“Harper, let me explain…”

“Explain. I’m listening.”

He wasn’t expecting me to say that, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? And you…” I looked at Lily, who stood there indifferently.

“Think whatever you want.”Lily said.

The tension was suffocating.

Slap!

They stared at me, stunned, but my expression remained unchanged.

“You deserved that. We’re no longer friends.”

Why didn’t they feel even the slightest bit guilty?

They stood there, angry, as if I was the one who had done something wrong.

“Harper!” Matthew grabbed my hand, trying to pull me into a hug like he used to.

But the scent of jasmine perfume clinging to him made me nauseous.

Disgusting… absolutely disgusting.

I pushed him away.

“Harper, look at me. I know I was wrong this time. I just lost control, but it won’t happen again. Please, forgive me, sweetheart…”

He forcibly held my face, and I saw my reflection in his pupils.

It was only then that I realized I was crying. I didn’t want to see this side of me, and I didn’t want to see him anymore.

“Let’s break up.”

“Harper, you can’t just sentence me to death like this.” He didn’t let go.

“I hate you. Let go of me.” I tried my best to keep my composure, not wanting to scream and cry like a madwoman.

But he suddenly seemed to snap, “Can you not be so selfish? I’m just a normal guy. Other people can sleep with their girlfriends, but you—always going to school on time, coming home on time—I never even had a chance. I have desires too. If you won’t be intimate with me, I’ll just find someone else. It’s perfectly normal. I don’t like Lily; we were just having s.ex. Ever since you got that Italian coffin of a father, you’ve been living like a nun…”

“Smack!” I slapped him hard. The force stung my hand, leaving it numb.

“What you do is none of my business. If you had remembered that Lily was my best friend, you never would’ve done this. Now she isn’t, so you and she can get out of my life, but I suggest you watch your mouth. If insulting my family makes you feel powerful, then go home and try it with your father’s photo.”

I would not let anyone insult my family.

I left in anger. In this school, I was alone again.

I skipped today’s practice.

Whatever. I was so tired.

As I walked aimlessly, a sudden downpour drenched me.

How pathetic, Harper. How did it come to this?

The strength I had barely managed to hold onto could no longer support me.

I ran into a hallway, rainwater dripping down my hair. I didn’t know where I was on campus, but right now, I just wanted to lick my wounds like a lonely kitten.

I slid down against the wall, the cold floor mirroring the emptiness in my heart.