Chapter 22

Do you know the kind of look that pierce your heart and makes you want to crumble to the floor?

Do you know that feeling you get when it looks like you've committed a crime?

Do you know the way your heart beats rapidly due to guilt?

Crystal looks taunts me; the look she gave me made me feel like shit, made me feel so terribly bad. I've never been a good friend to her and with the look she gave me when Richard announced I was his girlfriend made me disheartened.

I tried explaining to her that it was all fake but Richard had told me not to tell. It hurts that the only friend I ever got felt betrayed by me for a lie.

Last night when I had wanted to go explain all to Crystal, Richard had begged me to endure. I was so pissed.

The only thing I cared about was getting my friend back.

I tried calling her but she wouldn't pick up and when it became too much, she blocked my line.

If I knew this would all turn out to be a mess, I wouldn't have signed up for this.

It's Christmas today, and here I am sucking in my room. Richard has been calling since last night and I wasn't in the mood to listen to anything he has to say.

The knock on my door finally brought my voice out. "Liliana Rose Lim, merry Christmas!" Juli screamed as she wrapped her arms around me.

I chuckle lightly as she lifts me off the floor. I wonder where she gets her strength from? She lifts me like I'm nothing but feather in her arms.

When she drops me down, she notices my mood. It was easy for July to detect my issues from looking at my face. She knew me too well and I'd never hide anything from her.

"What's wrong Liana?" She asks me.

I sigh before I narrate everything that had happened last night to her.

Juliana was good for one thing, she'd laugh first before she starts assisting. She finds all things funny and hardly takes things seriously.

"Why not go talk to Crystal first and explain." She advises.

"And what made you even say yes to a pretend date? Don't you know situations like this lead to complications?" She asks now to speak seriously.

"I.....i.....I...," I trailed.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Liana, most of the time, you don't have to be the hero and you don't always have to listen to that soft side of yours," she tells me.

"Sometimes listen to your head, the heart just tends to want to satisfy all that asks for it's assistance, don't you know?"

She sighs," first thing first, go speak to Crystal first and then sort things out with Richard." She spoke softly.

That was it, if Crystal won't pick my calls, I will have to tell her even if it means exposing all.

"Thanks so much Juli," I squeal as I pull her in for a tight hug.

I dash out of my room with my small purse as I find my way to Crystal house.

When I got outside, I saw Ric coming down from his Honda Civic. I waved at him and when his eyes came in contact with mine, he ignored me and walked off.

Did he just ignore me? I thought to myself.

"Merry Christmas," i greet raising my voice so he could hear me but he didn't stop on his trail.

I felt a pinch in my heart, did I offend him?

First thing first, I thought to myself as I find my way to Crystals' house.

***************

Do you know the kind of feeling you get when you knock on someone's door? The door of the person you betrayed.

Do you always know how it feels when the person opens that door with a smile and when they see your face, that beautiful smile turns into a frown and they slam the door shutting you out?

Here I was, knocking on Crystal's door for the umpteenth time now after she had slammed the door on my face.

It hurts to know that the only friend you have is gone.

It's past six in the evening now and my Christmas is ruined.

Richard had called earlier but I declined the call.

I finally gave up when i saw she wasn't gonna give me a chance and decided to come back tomorrow.

When I got back home I saw Ric coming out from his house. I walk over to meet him.

"Hey," I said, smiling.

He didn't reply and ignored me, he walked past me like I wasn't there and got into his car.

What the hell is wrong with him?

I wanted to go after him but I went against that since he wanted to ignore me, why not give him space.

Was he going through issues right now? He only ignores me when he doesn't want to talk.

Arghh, I hate how inquisitive I am about him. I look desperate.

Suddenly my phone rings revealing an unknown number. I answered it and heard a familiar voice greeting through the phone

"Hey liliana, it's Richard's mom, Dorcas, I wanted to invite you for our Christmas dinner. Richard tried calling but said he couldn't get through,"

I groan mentally.

I really need a break from all this.

"Hey Dorcas, I'm sorry but........" I was cut off by her.

" I already called your house earlier and your sister said you have nothing going on at home, so please come," she pleads.

I sigh, "okay," I tell her and end the call.

Couldn't Rich come up with an excuse for me? What have I gotten myself into?

I arrived at Richard's family mansion, this time I wasn't interrogated before being permitted to go in.

The mansion really looked beautiful at night. The beautiful neon light used to decorate made it more alluring. Christmas lights and Christmas tree placed in every corner. The warmth of the weather sent shivers down my spine.

Richard was outside waiting for me, the moment he saw me, he walked up to me as he tried hugging me but I had pushed him off slowly. It was obvious that I wasn't happy about the whole situation.

"Welcome Liliana," his mother greets as she engulfs me in a warm hug as soon as I get into the mansion.

I can't do this, I can't keep lying to her, I don't have feelings for Richard.

They both directed me to the dining table. I stood in awe of the amazing place they had called a dining table. It was a whole size and half of my living room. The walls were all painted white. A long dining table was placed in the center with more than a dozen sits for people to sit on. But what caught my attention was a familiar figure that made my heart beat faster than usual.

Ricardo!

Immediately our eyes came in contact, he looked away immediately. For a second I could read him. He was definitely not happy with me.

"Take a seat Lily," Dorcas tells me as she walks to take a seat close to her husband. Richard places his hands at the small of my back as he guides me to sit.

I felt like I was doing something wrong. The dinner wasn't as bad as I thought as his parents didn't ask so many questions like the last time. But what Rich did made me paranoid. He was acting all lovey dovie again and that too in front of my crush.

Ric on the other side had a blank expression on, but anytime our eyes met he kept staring at me in a way I felt insecure.

When Richard kissed me on my cheek, which I found gross, Ric shook his head and said he lost his appetite.

We were now in Richard's living room, and when I say we I meant I, Richard and Ric.

Ric was sitting opposite us as he didn't say much.

And when he decided to speak up, it was like we were under interrogation.

"So how long have you two been dating?" He asked.

Rich clears his throat, "Almost two weeks," Rich tells him.

"Wow," he mutters under his breath.

"So since when did you start catching feelings for her that you didn't let me know?" Ric asked inquisitively.

"Since we were partnered together for an assignment," Rich stated, acting perfectly well.

"So when did you confess your undying love for her?" He asked, staring deep into my eyes.

His eyes were different and It made me numb as I felt uncomfortable.

"Two weeks ago," Rich says, playing it off cool.

"And the feeling is mutual?" He asked this time, raising his brows.

I couldn't help the way my heart beat, I didn't feel anything for Richard.

"Yes," Rich replied. Ric scoffed.

"It's been mutual since when was Liliana?" Ric turns his attention to me, dangerously gawking at me waiting patiently for my answer.

It's all for Rich, it will all be over soon, I tell myself.

Rich rubs my arm, squeezing it gently in a way that he is pleading to help him.

How could he lie to his best friend?

"Since...last two week," I replied and my heart sank.

He scoffed, " interesting," he said with a hint of surprise in his voice.

"two weeks ago? And he knows of all your midnight movements?" he asks, taunting me.

I knew what he was referring to, the cliff.

"Does he know? Does he...." Rich cuts him off.

"Enough! You've heard enough for today," he tells him more in a demanding way.

"Goodnight," Ric says as he stands up, not glancing towards any of us.

As soon as Ric was off I turned to face Rich; but before I could speak he spoke up.

" What midnight activity have you been doing?" He asks demandingly and possessively.

"I don't think it's any of your business seeing that we have so many things to talk about," I tell him trying to avoid issues.

He scrutinizes me before speaking, "I hate secrets lily and if we are in a relationship we shouldn't hide things from each other," he tells me and I scrunch at the word.

"You mean to say a fake relationship that will end soon?" I ask, raising my brows.

"And I'm not keeping any secret from you and do not forget this whole thing is acting!" I lamented slightly raising my voice.

"First thing first is that you need to come clean to Ricardo or I will," I tell him as I find my way to the exit without glancing at him.

Where is all this serious acting coming from? He isn't my boyfriend and he has ruined my chances with Ricardo.

When I got back home, I knew for sure I needed to clear things up with Ric first. I can't lose Crystal andRic at the same time.

They are my friends and the only people I've been myself with my whole life.

As I change into my nylon purple short and Cami top, I put my hair In a ponytail. As soon as I was done, I walked back to my room. When I came to my room, I switched on the light. I look out my window searching for Ric.

Luckily for me, I saw him pulling his shirt over his head and I couldn't help my gawk at his perfectly toned skin and body.

He sensed that he was being watched and turned to look around and when he did, I turned around acting as if I didn't see him.

As soon as he put on a grey tank top, I called him.

He didn't reply as he picked up his ear phone and wore them.

"Really? You won't speak to me for what?" I was annoyed that no one planned on listening to my explanation.

After some minutes of lamenting more to myself since he literally blocked his ear, he removed his earphone.

"Don't you have a boyfriend to worry about?" He questioned scornfully and sarcastically.

I hiss before replying. "I do, but that doesn't mean I will stop talking to you." I replied.

He clicks his tongue, "that's the issue lily, I can't speak to you and you have to stay away." He tells me and I got fired up.

"Really? I don't even know the reason for your sudden change of behaviour towards me and if you don't speak, how will I know?" I yelled.

He kept quiet, after some minutes he crossed over to my room. "Since when did you start liking Richard?" He asked walking dangerously close to me

I gulp as I swallow the lump in my throat. The answer is never.

"He already told you.... didn't he?" I question back.

"And when did you really get the time to spend with him?" He asks again and I gulp again.

"Isn't he your best friend? You should be happy for him,``I tell him, trying to end the topic before I confess the whole truth.

"And that's why, I'm staying away. You don't know Lily what you are actually doing to me, i don't think you know, that's why you need to stay away. We need to." He tells me to speak more slowly, passing every word he speaks gently yet directly to me.

But why? Why does he want to stay away? It was like we were breaking up. My chest tightened as he spoke those words. It hurts and I could feel my eyes glister.

"Why?! Why do we need to stay away from each other," I cry out, raising my voice.

"Because, you are my best friend's girl and I wouldn't want to jeo...." He trails off.

"Stay away Liliana, stay away or else I won't stop myself," he tells me as he places his both hands on my palm gently squeezing them.

"I won't and what..." I was cut off when two pairs of lips claimed mine.

My eyes widened due to shock and I stopped breathing for a while trying to process all.

This was dangerous and if I let it go on, I'd only be hurt but there was no harm. I kiss back as I wrap my arms around his neck and he deepens the kiss.

It was nothing I've ever tasted, better than the last kiss, he pulls me closer as he devours my lips fervently. There is no other way I can describe it but in two words; pure Bliss.

He shove his tongue into my lips unexpectedly and I gaps at that attempt. The feelings I felt deep down were all new as his touch sent shivers down my spine and butterflies dancing in my belly.

Unexpectedly he stops kissing me; "this is why I can't come closer because you belong to another and we have just committed a crime," he whispered and before I could process all that had happened, he was gone!