70. Itching cream

BETH.

It's been days and the news about me betraying my friend hasn't died down yet. I stopped going to work because of the stares I got at work. No one needed to tell me that the murmurs I heard whenever I passed by were about the rumour they heard about me. I called Lara to ask why she manipulated the things I said on the call, but she refused to pick up my calls. I called the other girls too, but they refused to pick up my call either. The only person I had with me was Tony. Luca also supported me, but he was distant due to work.

I sighed as I got down from my car and approached the door of the hall. It was the wedding party of one of our friends from college. This was my first outing ever since the leak of the voice note, but I was now ready to face the world and get over the shame. Tony also told me he'd support me through it all, and I believe him. I sighed one more time, closed my eyes and opened it before walking into the hall. As I walked into the hall and I saw people in twos and threes greeting one another, I cleared my throat and found a nearby chair to sit on.

Just as I was about to drag the chair closer to me, someone was fast enough to drag it closer to themself first. I looked up to see the person, and it turned out to be the person that had been ignoring my calls. "Lara?" I called out to her amidst the noise in the hall.

"We meet again," she said, chewing a piece of gum in her mouth, a mischievous smile appeared on her face. "Betrayer," she added.

Looking behind her, I noticed the presence of Janet and Grace seated there. I hadn't seen them initially, I wouldn't have gone to that side of the hall if I had.

"Beth? Woah," Grace said as she stood up to come to meet Lara and me where we were.

"What? Beth?" Janet exclaimed as she also stood up to come to meet us. I was beginning to feel inconvenienced by now, for some reason I couldn't explain.

"Hi, guys. Been a while," I simply replied.

"You have no right to talk to my girls without my permission," Lara said and folded her arms, standing right in front of me and staring at me squarely.

I rolled my eyes at her before replying. "They have mouths of their choice, okay? If they don't want to talk to me, they can always say that by themselves. You don't need to be their mouthpiece."

"Woahhh!" Lara chuckled and clapped, then she turned to face Janet and Grace. "Guess who grew wings within the period she was behind bars in her house? Our holy lady, Elizabeth. And guess what again? She thinks she can talk to me anyhow because she now has the favour of my boyfriend—"

"Ex, Lara. Ex." I stated firmly to her with a serious face. I knew that short statement of mine stung her in the chest, but she tried to act tough. I loved to see Lara that way because she always felt she couldn't be intimidated or faced by anyone. "And one thing, Lara. Why did you release a fake voice note? You cropped it to make it seem like I was the one at fault in all this. Now, everyone sees me as a man snatcher. Is this the type of friend you've always been?" I asked her amidst the noise in the hall.

Lara scoffed. "Did you hear what she said?" She said, turning to face Janet and Grace. Then, she turned to face me again. "You still have the guts to face me about this? Don't you think you should still be in hiding? If I cause a scene here right now and everyone's attention comes on us and they notice that you're the lady that went viral, you do know that it won't end well for you here, right?"

That was the only thing she could threaten me with now, but she was right after all. People didn't notice my presence because they were busy with other stuff. It wouldn't be right if I brought attention to myself. I wasn't sure anyone would want to listen to my side of the story, so it was only right to lie low until I left.

"Whatever," I simply said and turned to leave. I was shocked as I felt something sticky on my body. It covered my eyes too, but I used my hand to wipe it and to see whatever it was that poured on me. Almost immediately, my body began to itch me. I heard a loud laugh behind me and I turned to see Lara, Janet and Grace laughing. No one needed to tell me that she was the one that poured it. "What the fuck did you pour on me, Lara?" I shouted.

By now, other people in the hall had gathered, and some of them were making videos by now. I was so embarrassed at the scene as I continued itching my whole body. My body turned red as I itched it continuously.

"Guess who it is?!" Lara shouted.

"The man snatcher!" Someone replied and they all burst into laughter as they continued making videos of me itching myself.

They were saying other things, but I was too concerned about myself to listen to the things they were saying. I turned to look at Lara who was smiling evilly and staring at me intently as if she was content with what had just happened to me. "You're a bitch," I managed to say to her before rushing out of the hall. I kept on itching my body as I rushed to my car.

Thank goodness I had come with my car and driver, it wouldn't have been easy to escape that day. He drove me home, but nothing annoyed me more than how he continually told me sorry in the car. I was tired of hearing it, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him to stop. The thought of how I was embarrassed came to my mind again and tears dropped from my eyes.

As soon as I got home, I let the tears fall when I got into the sitting room. I removed my dress and immediately went to take my bath because of how itchy my skin was. When I was done with the bath, I felt much better as my skin wasn't so itchy anymore.

Retiring to my sitting room, I went online and saw several videos on the net of how Lara had embarrassed me in the hall. I sighed and closed my eyes, only to hear a knock on my door. I wasn't waiting for anyone, so I wondered who it was. I went to the door and opened it, only to see Tony.

Without saying a word, he pulled me into a hug when he entered the house, and I hugged him back, letting out the leftover tears I was keeping inside.