Deceived

What we see might not be true. Though I kept telling it myself, my brain and my heart already accepted the fact that Eric was kissing someone else; a girl, who looked so classy and elegant.

Why did he raise my hopes when he wanted another girl? Or did we all were mistaken about his feelings for me? Many questions started to revolve in my head, for which, I had no answers.

Suddenly, the girl pulled herself from him and slapped him which startled me. I hid behind the tree to hear their conversation, which was audible enough. She shouted, “Why did you kiss me?”

I could see her wiping her tears. When Eric started to go towards her, she shouted again “Why are coming towards me? Aren’t you happy with Serena?”

“Don’t blame me,” Eric shouted back. “You broke up with me. You said you wanted to move on.”

“And you easily moved on, Eric. While I was thinking about how to get back with you, you were enjoying yourself with her.”

“Stop it, Lia.” He grabbed her arms. “Do you know what I have gone through when we broke up? I couldn’t even stay in Sydney so I returned home. I… was in depression. I thought I would be able to come out of your thoughts if I get close to others or if I at least try to date someone else.”

And, my eyes got wet. He raised my expectations only to push me from above. He used me for his benefit.

He continued “You don’t know how much I love you. Now, you tell me, what should we do? You and I both cannot be happy going away from each other.”

They both hugged which clarified to me that I was just a side character in Eric’s life. What hurt me the most was his deception. He never told me about her and created false hope in me.

I took a deep breath after I wiped my tears and walked towards them. As soon as Eric saw me, he broke his hug and started to say something but I stopped him.

“Your girlfriend?” I asked even though the answer was obvious. I saw a little guilt on his face that increased my sadness. He did use me for distraction and he knew his behavior could make anyone think he had feelings for me. “You both look cute together.”

“Serena… I thought to tell you earlier…”

“Eric, you don’t have to explain.” I swallowed down my sadness. The reality was killing me inside still I managed to sound as if it didn’t bother me, at all.

“I’m Serena.” I introduced myself, looking at Lia. She nervously replied, “I’m Lia.”

As they wouldn’t stop looking at me as if they were pitying me, I said “Why are you looking at me like this? It’s my birthday today, don’t spoil the environment.” I held their hands and dragged them to go inside. “It’s my treat.”

Never in my life, I wanted to look pathetic despite whatever I was facing. I didn’t want them to pity me or project me as a pathetic girl.

The dinner was awkwardly silent. Neither of us enjoyed the expensive food. I paid the bill only to show them my attitude then I walked out even though they insisted on dropping me. Again, I went inside and bought a bottle of alcohol as my anger and frustration wouldn’t fade. I didn’t bother taking a cab and I kept walking to my home, recalling the days I spent with Eric. Tears started to roll down my cheeks not because Eric was in another relationship but because I became a fool. Ignoring my surroundings, I started to have alcohol. To my luck, the cops didn’t notice me and I was able to reach my street.

My vision was already blurred and I was staggering. As I stepped forward, I saw a man coming towards me. I rubbed my eyes to get a clear vision and before I could see him properly, I fell as I couldn’t control my drunken self. Slowly, I opened my eyes to see Hayden’s face. He was holding me, I felt it. A small smile appeared on my lips but I felt wetness on my cheeks. Probably because of my tears that started to roll down again.

“He used me for his benefit. That selfish jerk.” I slurred my words before I shut my eyes.

____

Feeling the sunrays on my skin, I opened my eyes while stretching my arms. I sat straight holding my head as it was aching so badly. Then I remembered everything that happened the previous night, which again saddened me. After noticing myself in my room, on my bed, I remembered meeting Hayden and after realizing I cried in front of him, I died of embarrassment.

“No way!” I buried my face in the pillow, screaming my lungs out. I threw the pillow away and tried to compose myself. As I turned on my cell phone, I saw missed calls from Eric, Mira, and a message from Hayden.

Hayden – The tablet is on the table in the kitchen. Don’t forget to take it.

It made me realize Hayden brought me home after I passed out. I took the tablet for my hangover and then I showered. My phone started to ring when I decided to call Hayden to thank him. Before I could speak, Mira started to pose questions as if she were a journalist.

“Nothing happened. Eric introduced his girlfriend to me.” I spoke.

I could understand she was taken aback by my words. She didn’t speak anything for a few seconds and then she yelled “What!!!”

After I explained everything, she began to curse Eric. I talked to her for a few minutes, and most of the time, she was letting out her frustration instead of listening to me. I cut the call and again fell on the bed, feeling a little relaxed.

It was better to know the truth instead of living in confusion all the time. It was clear that Eric had no feelings for me and the fact that I got angry instead of feeling sad told me what Eric was in my life. He was my crush with whom I wanted to spend time, whom I wished happiness for, and nothing more than that. Even if we got into any relationship, it gave me the clarification that it wouldn’t last long. We were friends and our relationship would remain the same. However, I could not easily forget what he had done. He wouldn’t have used me, raised hopes in me, only because he wanted to come out of Lia’s thoughts.

I took my cell phone and texted Hayden – Thanks for last night. If you weren’t there, I would have been lying on the road.

He read my message but didn’t reply. I texted him again – What were you doing here last night?

Instead of replying to my message, he texted – What happened last night?

I didn’t understand if I should share it with him or not. Before I could come up with a conclusion, I got a call from Eric. Though I felt like avoiding it, I answered the call.

“Serena! I’m so sorry for what happened last night…”

“Eric! Can I ask you something?” I gritted. “You knew that your behavior was making me feel you have feelings for me, didn’t you? Still, you continued the same because you thought only about yourself.”

“Serena…”

I fisted my palm, controlling my anger. “That’s fine, Eric. It kind of helped me and I got a clarification that I needed.”

He didn’t speak for a while and then he asked “Shall we meet? I want to explain everything.”

“You don’t have to, Eric. I understand you, and we can be friends like usual.”

As the charge on my cell phone dropped, I cut the call to charge it that was when I noticed there was a power cut. I put my cell phone away and shut my eyes to sleep but a loud knock on the door startled me.

“Why didn’t you reply?” Hayden shouted entering as soon as I opened the door. “Where were you yesterday?” he shouted, coming towards me.

“Whoa! Calm down.” My eyes widened. “No charge on my cell phone and no power.”

He glared at me as if I had taken something precious from him. He then grabbed my arms shouting “Don’t you care about yourself? Why did you drink? What if something happened to you?”

“But nothing happened to me…” I pressed my lips together as I noticed his concern-filled eyes.

He left my arms as I kept staring at his hands that were holding me. Again he asked me the same question, to which I replied “It’s nothing. I was…”

“Dumped by Eric?” he asked.

“No!” I scoffed. “He introduced his girlfriend, that’s it.”

“There’s not much difference.” He rolled his eyes. “That’s why you cried.”

“I cried because he used me to get over his break-up depression…” I put my palms on my head, “W-wait! Did I really cry in front of you? Ugh! So embarrassing.” I hit my forehead for what I had done. “Hayden, erase that moment from your memory.”

“It’s okay.” He spoke in his serious tone. “You can cry in front of me.”

Don’t! Don’t! Don’t cry.

I told myself as my eyes again started to get teary. I might look strong but deep down, I was an emotional fool. I shifted my gaze away for a moment and then I asked, looking at him “What were you doing here yesterday?”

He didn’t reply. He turned around, saying “I have to go.”

I held his hand to stop him from going out. “Hayden, tell me.”

“I wanted to take you out on your birthday.”

“To where?”

He offered his hand, asking “I can understand you must be sad because of whatever happened between you and him. But remember, that pain will fade soon. So… why don’t you come with me now instead of experiencing the pain that will fade someday?”

“What?” I narrowed my eyebrows.

“Let’s go out. I want to take you somewhere.”