Chapter 434: EVEN MY LIFE [1/2]
As I expected, the main theme of the event was nostalgia and reminiscing. Led by our student president, whose name I couldn't remember, we started with the program.
It just went through some videos of the class highlights and achievements. The projects we did, the trips we took, and the competitions the class participated in. I said we, but it was mostly them. I was hardly in any of them.
Instead, I concentrated on my food. If anything, the steaks were fucking awesome. Cheers and boos followed when they showed some of the teachers. Harry and Caroline joined in and mingled with the others.
As I munched on my food, I absentmindedly wondered why I had missed almost all of the events. It was probably because I was too bruised to attend. They even showed the prom. I remember not going since Bless got sick that night.
"Wow! Who knew our prom king and queen would be the item!" someone cheered. I looked at the picture and it was Harry and Caroline dancing. They looked wonderful together and were all smiles.
'I wondered if they were already together at this point.'
"John! John! Look! It's you!" Caroline called happily as they showed us walking home together.
I humored her and stared at it for a while. But since it reminded me of nothing but bad memories, I said nothing and went back to enjoying my meal.
She had a disappointed look on her face when I ignored her. Maybe I was being petty. But honestly, I had nothing to say to her.
A saint from Hellsend came to my table and asked me. "My lord, how is everything? Is there anything else you need?"
I smiled at her and shook my head. "Tell everyone the food is excellent. I do not need anything. Don't mind me."
"Hey! Waitress! Bring out another bottle of wine!" my tablemate demanded.
"Harry, stop, you already had a lot. You have a meeting in the morning," Caroline reminded him.
"Shut up, bitch! Who are you, my mother? I have had a really bad week. Let me drink. Hey! Waitress!
Did you not hear me? Go fetch me another bottle!"
The Saint didn't move and stayed by my side. I gestured for her to comply with Harry's demands. Only when I did, did she leave.
"The nerve of some people! I should buy this place just so I can fire them all! Bitch!"
Harry stood up and began to circle the tables. Perhaps because of his arrogant yet pathetic behavior, most people just ignored him.
When he left, only Caroline and I remained. As usual, she barely touched her plate. I remember that she was very concerned about her figure. There was an awkward silence as the two of us ate wordlessly.
"How have you been, John?" she finally began.
"I'm fine."
"How is Noelle? Lana and Bless? I haven't seen them in a while."
"They're fine."
"..."
"John."
I ignored her and continued eating.
"John, why are you being so childish? Can't you look at me?"
Annoyed, I looked into her eyes for the first time this evening.
Her irises were a dark purple. It contrasted beautifully with her pale skin. At least I thought so. Still, I stopped looking at her and went back to my food.
"The steaks are good, right? I remember you liked juicy steaks with all the fat. Actually, that's why I had Harry pick this place..."
"What are you doing?" I interrupted her rudely.
"I-I was just making small talk. Didn't you sit here to talk to me and Harry?"
"I sat here because it was the least crowded. Don't talk to me and I'll do the same. Let's just get through the night."
"Why did you even come here? You look like you are doing well. You have a bunch of pretty girls fawning over you now. You're rich and you lost a lot of weight."
"I came here to meet my fiancés. For some reason, they wanted me to come here."
"Fiancés? As in plural? Stop lying John, just say you came here to see me."
"..."
I felt like I was about to get a tumor. What the hell was this woman saying?
"You stopped Harry earlier, thank you for that. What Harry said was true, we had a really shitty week. We had one accident after another, and Evan's group is struggling."
"Should you really say that to me? I mean, I don't give a crap, but shouldn't such details be confidential?"
"Hehe. It must be because of old habits. You have always been there for me, so when I am with you, everything just comes out."
I slammed my fist down on the table. I raised my hand and gestured for a bottle of wine.
"John, listen, I've been..."
"Don't," I said coldly.
"Don't say any more, Caroline. You and Harry betrayed me. And in case you don't remember, I begged you in tears. We are not nothing. Not friends. Not even acquaintances.
Let us just get through the night and never see each other again."
Caroline came closer and touched my hand. Her gentle caress made my chest tighten. Like a damn, I began to feel pain and hurt pouring out. I quickly pulled my hand away.
"Look..."
"Don't lie to me John."
"..."
"You can lie to anyone, even Noelle. But not to me. If you didn't feel anything for me anymore, you wouldn't have come here. And you would have let Harry hit me earlier."
With my feelings a mess, I brushed my hair as I asked in frustration.
"What the fuck do you want, Caroline? Aren't you happy with Harry? He is rich, right? Are you going to leave him now that he has financial problems?"
"Harry and I are going through a difficult time. I am only with him as his secretary. But we are no longer together."
"And why the fuck should I care? Then find someone else!"
Caroline touched my hand again as she batted her doe like eyes.
"I know about that card, John. That is a soul card, right? Only the truly powerful have one. Especially a black one. You seem to be doing REALLY well."
Her touch made my skin crawl. I forcefully shook her hand away as I rebuked her, "Caroline. Are you fucking insane? Do you think for one second that there is a chance for us to get back together? After what you did to me? I almost killed myself because of you!"
"I know I made a mistake. I know that now. You're still not seeing anyone, right? You love me and I never stopped loving you..."
"Shut up! Shut the fuck up. Not one word!"
"My Lord?" The Saint returned with a bottle of Serial Paso Robles, which I took from her hand and quickly uncorked. I drank the wine straight from the bottle.
Unfortunately, {Digest} seemed to be doing something, as I neither got drunk nor even felt tipsy. Ignoring the Saint, I focused back on Caroline. It was as if all the pent-up feelings I had in my guts came pouring out.
"I FUCKING LOVED YOU CAROLINE! I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU ANYTHING, EVEN MY LIFE, IF YOU HAD ASKED! WHAT THE HELL DID I EVER DO TO YOU FOR YOU TO BETRAY ME LIKE THAT?!"
My whole body started shaking as my anger reached a fever pitch. I was really emotional right now, but I knew I had to get it all out of my system. I couldn't move forward if I didn't. Unconsciously, tears began to fall from my face.
"Caroline. Do you have any idea how much it hurt? Do you know how much you broke my heart? And now because I have money, you come back here like a fucking whore? HAHAHAHA! FUCK!
How could I have been so blind?"