Chapter 13

Irene's POV

I felt really stupid. I cried in front of a man, twice. To say I was humiliated would be an understatement. Recalling how he treated me caused me to cringe internally. Luckily, my flatmate was too busy on her phone to notice my sadness. She spoke to me without even taking her eyes off her phone.

"You are back early, how did the date go?" Her fingers tapped away on her screen and several pinging sounded soon followed, signaling a notification arrival.

"The food was great and drove me home after."

"That's it?" She finally looked up at me. I had thankfully reapplied my makeup outside. It wasn't much but it covered the evidence of my crying, red, puffy eyes.

I shrugged her question. I didn't feel like answering or even talking about it. I didn't want to humiliate myself any further.

"Wait, so he didn't even try to kiss you?" It was more of a statement than a question to which I replied with a glare.

"What?!" She knew I wasn't into that kind of stuff or at least for now I wasn't ready for that.

"You are still a woman, when last did something go into that p*say? You don't even own a toy for God's sake."

"I'm mean," she shook her head at me, staring down at my crotch area. "That p*say must be drying up or worse dying. I think I need to take you to the hospital. There must be something wrong." She tried taking hold of my hands but I swapped it away.

"Are you sure you are a woman?" She paused for a second, narrowing her eyes are me, closely checking out my face

"And you couldn't even try to make a move on him. That's just sad." She shook her head, returning to her phone.

I still hadn't said a thing and I wasn't planning to. I walked away from her and towards my room before I heard a shout behind me. "I'm so ordering some toys for you."

I knew better than to take her seriously. She was too selfish to spend a dime on anyone other than herself. "Do whatever you want." The first words I spoke since my arrival. I just wanted to sleep and never wake up.

*****

The morning came way too quickly for me and classes were starting. It was still the beginning of the semester so I had time to slack off. I skipped the first few classes and went to the library to take a nap. It was short-lived as the nasty librarian woke me up.

"You are snoring." Her voice was low and came out through gritted teeth. I almost gulped at how much she scared me.

"Grab a book or get out!" She was surprising yelling quietly at me. I didn't know anyone could pull that off.

"I'm leaving." I was quick to fetch my bag, bumping into someone on my way out, and from the size of the person, it was a man.

"Hey, are you okay?" I knew that voice from anywhere. It was Eugene. His hands stable me to the ground while I checked my nose for any injuries.

"Is it broken? I didn't see you coming." He had his hands all over and I didn't like it. Just as I didn't like how he humiliated me yesterday but I wasn't going to bring it up.

"It's fine. You don't have to worry." I said in defeat

"You aren't ignoring me so I guess that's a good start." He was smiling down at me and I hated it. I hated his 6'3 frame, his beautiful eye, and perfectly curved lips. I wanted to hit him so bad. I guess I kinda hold a mean grudge. I wasn't one to let go of the past very easily. A trait I hated.

"So why weren't you in class?" All he got in return was a questioning look from me

"I saw your friend and asked about you. She was the one who told me where to look for you. Why are you cutting class?"

"I knew attending would be a waste of time. I'm not in the right frame of mind to learn. I shouldn't have come told." My voice was low. I don't how he caught any of it.

"I want us to talk about last night." I gave him my full attention

"Remember how I told you I didn't use to people and how all this new for me. I wanted to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have embarrassed you the way I did. I should be flattered." That had me straightening my spine.

"And why do you say that?"

"Because." He walked closer, the space between us thinning and our breath mixed. "You liked me so much you lied to get closer to me." He had his stupid grin on again

"I wasn't sure how to feel about it at first but I thought about it and it clicked that you have a crush on me." His grin was getting to me now. I was turning red at a rapid rate. If he went on, I'd look like a ripe tomato

"I-

"Alright stop." I couldn't take his gloating anymore and a part of me knew he was right but a tiny part disagreed with the stubborn part.

"I do have a question though. How did you start crushing on me? We only met like twice." He was anticipating my response. My mouth opened up to give a response when another voice stopped me. Again, another voice I could recognize anywhere.

"Irene?" The source of the voice was smiling down at me. How everyone was in a good mood today was getting to me.

"It's been so long. You haven't changed at all." He was checking me out, quite tastefully might I add.

"It has only been a couple of months," I said, giving the same attitude back

"You mean this is the ex you told me about?" Eugene cut in, I completely forgot he was still here.

"I'm sorry about what I did. It was disgraceful and you don't deserve to be treated that way." The change in tone had me confused. Taking a step back I bumped into Eugene who thankfully caught me.

I didn't know how to reply to that. I wasn't ready for any of this. First Eugene and now him, the name I don't want to mention. I needed a break.

"Eugene can we leave now?" His name felt weird in my mouth. We were never on first name basics I think.

"Why? We just met your friend. Why do we all go out to eat? It's already lunch anyways." For someone who was asking for forgiveness, he was pushing it.

We headed to a restaurant that was right around the corner and by that I mean outside campus. I couldn't be seen eating lunch with a lecturer, it could cause some nasty rumors. I was hating this day even more because Mark stupidly agreed to eat with us. There, I said it, his name is Mark.

"You stopped picking my calls. I'm sorry about how I acted. I should have told you but a part of me was ashamed.  I didn't think I rolled that way will I met him." He was waiting for my response but I didn't say anything. If I were to say something, he wouldn't like it so it was better to keep shut.

An awkward silence graced our table but I wasn't planning on doing anything about it. This was all Eugene's fault so he would handle it. A look at Eugene and I nearly bruised my palm. He looked so relaxed, eating away from his dish while I was having a hard time.

An idea popped up within me and I jabbed his leg. His hand slipped and his food nearly went in his nose. I chuckled wickedly internally and I faced Mark again who noticed what happened but said nothing.

"So are you two an item?" I paused, my half-chewing mouth falling open

"No."

"Yes."

Eugene and I stared at each other before turning back to Mark who looked very confused. "I mean, we are getting there. We just want to get to know each other first." It was Eugene's turn to be confused.

"Well enough about me, how are you and your boyfriend?" Mark fidgeted in his seat uncomfortably.

"We are going great, I can see the relationship leading to something you know. He has a wife and-

" Come again, I don't think I heard you right." I chuckled slightly. "Did you just say, wife? As in you are in a relationship with a married man?"

"Yes, I believe that's what I said." He wasn't looking at me anymore, In fact, he was looking everywhere but at me.

"I know it's the wrong thing to do especially since he has kids but I can't help it. I love him and I know he loves me." He gazed at me like he expected me to understand and the truth was I didn't. I couldn't accept the fact that he was dating a married man and with kids!.

"I don't condone what you are doing. I'd advise you to talk to him. He can't treat you this way. You deserve better even though you-" I let my statement hang in the air. They both knew what I meant and I didn't have to explain further.

A phone rang, it was Mark's. He picked up, words were exchanged and the next thing he was leaving. A large part of me was overjoyed. I couldn't believe I had just given him some advice. The same man who hurt me.

"I'm sorry, I have to run an errand. That was why I was at your school earlier. I had a meeting with someone there but he wasn't available and now he is so I have to run." He was up so fast. He was about to pay when Eugene stopped him. "I have this. You don't need to do that. It was nice meeting a friend of my girlfriend's, right babe?"He spoke for the first time since the meal, his hand over my shoulder, and squeezed it a little letting me know he wasn't too happy about the stunt I pulled. I faked a smile, ready for the conversation to be over so I can head home.

"It was nice meeting you too and Irene, I hope we can remain friends. I did enjoy your company back then and I would love it if we could hang out sometime."

"We'll see about that." I wasn't planning on seeing him ever again.

Immediately after he left, I hit Eugene on his chest. "Why did you invite my ex? You know I don't like him but you did anyway."

"It's not right to hold a grudge. It will make your heart heavy and give you stress lines. And then you'll look old" I rolled my eyes at that. The school was enough to give me stress lines.

"Don't you feel at ease now that you spoke to him?" I wasn't going to admit it to him but it was true. I felt a little bit relieved but I couldn't ask him the questions I wanted because of a certain someone's presence.

"Let's just go Sir."

"Sir? What happened to Eugene?"

"It was inappropriate to refer to you like that. You work at my school and would be wrong if I spoke to you so fondly." I replied

"But I like you speaking to me. You are the first friend I have had in a long time." He said softly

I didn't want to say it out loud but he lived a sad life. An old lady with nine cats had a fun life compared to him. At least she had friends though they were animals they but friends nonetheless. I promised myself right there to help him have fun even if it was just an ounce of it.

"What are you smiling at?" He asked, taking a look behind him

"It's nothing, I just thought about something," I replied. I didn't realize I was smiling till he spoke.

"We should leave now." He paid the bills and on our way out, I bumped into someone. This was the second time today.

"Irene, it's been so long!" I stable myself and looked up to find the source of the voice was my high school nemesis. It felt like the gods were against me today. This just wasn't my day.