Whisper In A Moonlit Night

Biggest Mistake

The next day, the atmosphere in the classroom felt heavy, as though the air itself was weighed down with the grief and tension that lingered over everything. Caden sat quietly at his desk, staring blankly at the chalkboard, lost in his thoughts. His hands were clasped tightly together on his lap, as if he were physically holding himself together.

Tina approached him, her heels clicking softly against the floor. Without waiting for an invitation, she slid into the seat next to him. "Hey," she said, her voice light but insistent.

Caden didn't even turn his head. He just sat there, frozen in his own world of grief.

Tina leaned in a little closer. "Wanna have some coffee?"

"No, thanks," he replied, his voice cold and distant.

"Please, I insist." Her tone was sweet, but there was a hint of impatience behind it.

"Thanks, but I'm not in the mood."

Tina frowned, frustration creeping into her features. She wasn't used to being ignored. "I know you're sad," she said carefully, "but... I think you're overdoing it."

Caden finally turned to look at her, his brows furrowed in confusion. "What?" His tone was sharper now, a clear sign that she had struck a nerve.

"Look, Cady, I know Bella was your girlfriend," Tina continued, her voice softening as she attempted to appear sympathetic. "But let's be honest. You two never had a typical relationship. You never really loved her. You flirted with other girls all the time. Everyone saw it."

Caden's eyes narrowed. "And your point is?"

Tina paused, as if gathering her courage. "Moreover," she said, her voice dropping into something more intimate, "I know you love me. I think... maybe I shouldn't have rejected you."

Caden blinked, stunned by her audacity. "Rubbish," he muttered, his voice dripping with disbelief.

"Cady, listen to me," Tina said, her hand gently touching his arm. "We can be together now... forever."

Caden recoiled from her touch. His voice was cold as ice when he spoke. "And Austin? What will happen to Austin?"

"I'll leave him," Tina said without hesitation, her tone matter-of-fact. "I'm not happy with him anymore."

Caden's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Why don't you just say it, Tina?" he said with a sarcastic edge. "Austin was nothing but a toy for you, wasn't he? Now you're bored with him, and you need a new one-me. You think you can just toss him aside and move on? How long before you get bored with me too?"

Tina's face fell, and for a brief moment, she looked genuinely wounded. "No, Cady, that's not it at all. I never-"

"Shut up," Caden snapped, his voice suddenly loud enough to draw the attention of a few nearby students. His hands clenched into fists on the desk.

"Cady, trust me, I can be like Bella," Tina pleaded, her voice shaky now as she leaned in closer, desperation creeping into her tone.

Caden's eyes darkened, and he turned to face her fully. "You and Bella?" he said with a bitter laugh. "Never. Not even in my worst nightmares. You don't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as her."

Tina's face twisted in anger at his words. She had never been spoken to like this before. Her voice sharpened like a blade. "Bella was a bitch," she spat. "She was using you. Behind your back, she was flirting with Austin. Everyone knows it."

"Shut up." Caden's voice was trembling with rage now, his body tensing as if he were on the verge of snapping. "Just shut the fuck up, Tina."

But Tina wasn't done. Her own anger flared, matching his. "You're pathetic, Caden. You're defending her like she was some saint. But guess what? She wasn't. She was just like every other girl-manipulative, fake."