━━━ 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘

𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐨, 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨

louis has been cheating on you

What?  

For a moment—or perhaps longer than that, I wasn’t really paying attention—there was silence in the groupchat. 

Honestly, I let out a little laugh when she wrote that. Louis cheating? Of Course not! He was definitely not that type of person, I mean, he struck me as one. But as the silence grew longer, anxiousness crept over me. Even Joaquin didn’t reply, which was odd since normally he’d be the first one to come to my defense. 

I, on the other hand, couldn’t think of a response. No. Well, of course not. He would never. Instead, I didn’t reply at all. Waiting for them to add context to the statement made me feel agonizingly vulnerable. 

I didn’t want to think of the possibility of it being true—we were so happy, i was so happy. He’d convinced me that after shooting the movie we could be together without hundreds of miles between us—yet my mind decided to wander against my will. 

In that moment, all that I was told by my peers of long distance relationships never working out were taken into consideration. Another girl. Another beautiful girl that made him choose her over me. Another beautiful girl in London. Another beautiful girl with Louis, somewhere so far away from me. 

My phone buzzed, it was a private text from Joaquin. My wandering mind was put at hold.

♥️ Joaquin ♥️ : I’m sorry

I gulped, expecting something more like ‘Don’t listen to them’ or ‘They only talk crap’. Something that he would normally. But he didn’t. Almost as if he’d given up on covering the truth, even if it was for me. 

The reality was clear to me, but as I closed my eyes, I wished Joaquin would continue lying. If he could just tell me it’s not true, even if it was. Those limited days with Louis were my rock solid memories of happiness, and now they were stained.

I couldn’t bear typing anything other than why. Why? It didn’t matter if they did or didn’t know with who or when. I just wanted to know why. And yet again. There was silence on his end, and tears threatening to spill on mine. 

♥️ Joaquin ♥️ : betts, it’s not my place to tell

You : bullshit

♥️ Joaquin ♥️: please betty. Ik you’re hurting but its best if you talk to him directly

You : so you knew ?

♥️ Joaquin ♥️ : yeah

You : for how long

♥️ Joaquin ♥️: two days

You : and didn’t bother to tell me.

♥️ Joaquin ♥️ : im sorry betts, you were just so happy with him, and I thought he’d tell you sooner or later.

You : you know that doesn’t justify it right.

♥️ Joaquin ♥️: yes. I know im asshole for that but

You : but what?! You couldn't tell me bcoz you didn’t want to see me upset. Fuck, so instead i find out from the school group. 

He doesn’t reply, but by now I'm raging. Gripping my phone case tighter than I should, the tears let out. It’s a mix of anger, frustration and sadness that left me feeling hollow. I waited for Louis to call, to text or at least acknowledge it. He’s in the class group chat and would have definitely seen it.

But he doesn’t call.