The Possessive Bully

Part 30

"Do you want to go out? It's getting suffocating here.", Van said, looking at the number of people around us. It was supposed to be an intimate celebration.

Mum invited a few of her friends but Peter, on the other hand, invited the whole town. Ghad, are these his business partners? They're quite a lot.

I know he noticed what Tyler's doing, that's why he wants me to go with him. But I can't always run from the problem.

There would be a time when I'll need to face them.

Am I strong enough to keep a straight face while Tyler flirts with Tiff?

Tiff looked at me and smirked before she gave Tyler a peck on the lips. Tyler's eyes widened and looked at me. He was surprised but did not say anything.

"Ghad! Can you guys stop it?", Sunny hissed and rolled her eyes.

The kiss was a knife to my heart. Tearing me slowly, until I feel numb. Or so I thought.

I felt a teardrop from my eyes. Van grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the banquet.

This was supposed to be a happy celebration. But my heart is mourning for its loss. I'm such a fool!

Ghad, I hate myself!

I hate myself for loving him!

Please, make the pain stop.

My tears dropped uncontrollably, I tried to cover my face as Van pin me to a tree and cover me from the eyes of others.

Can we stay like this forever? Can I just hide behind you? Close all the windows and doors of pain?

Cause it's fucking breaking me.

Van gently wiped the tears on my cheeks. He gave me a warm smile as if saying he's just here. That he won't leave me.

"You don't deserve to be treated this way.", he whispered and my heart ached more.

I know... I know...

But I can't stop myself from loving him. I can't stop hurting.

He sighed and played with the strands of my hair.

"He won't leave Tiffany, that's a fact."

I looked at him, does he think I don't know that yet? I tried to push his hands, as gently as I could.

"I know that. There's no need to tell me.", I whispered.

"I guessed. But you don't know why, don't you?"

"He loves her, obviously.", I said with bitterness in my tone.

Van shook his head in disagreement.

"Nah. There's a deeper reason."

I looked at him, perplexed by what he said.

"What do you mean?"

Van sighed and looked at the vast ocean in front of us.

"Tiffany's not as tough as she might look like. Her father is strict when it comes to her academics. I remember a time when Tiff got an F back in 6th grade, her father beat the pulp out of her."

I gasped, covering my mouth. I didn't know that! Is this for real?

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Tiffany's name's in the red line. You know what that means. She might not graduate this year. Her father heard about it and locked her in their basement."

He looked at me. "I heard you were with Tyler when that happened.", he said.

"She could study and keep her grades up.", I said as a matter of fact.

"It's not that easy. It's not just her grade. It's everything that Tiff does. Her father blames her for the death of her mother. Her mother died when she gave birth to Tiff."

"Why do you know these kinds of stuff?", I asked. Shocked how he knows all of these things.

He paused for a second, thinking if he should answer my question or not.

"She's my cousin.", he finally answered.

W-what? I blinked at him.

But why is he being too friendly with me? Wait, is it because of Tiff?

"Did you make friends with me because of Tiff?", I asked in disbelief.

His silence confirmed it.

Ha! I should have known. Why am I surprised? He was one of the popular guys, yet he went his way and befriend us.

Fvck. Do I look gullible? Are they having fun making a fool out of me?

I moved away from Van, my temper running out.

"I'm sorry, Krysh. That was Tiffany's plan. She wanted me to get close to you... To know about your relationship with Tyler, but I didn't do that. I treated you as a friend."

I threw him a glare.

"But you omitted the fact that you were cousins."

He sighed in defeat and tried to hold my hand.

"I'm sorry. My bad...", he squeezed my hand. I can't deny that Van's been a really good friend.

But if I still don't like the fact that he hid his relationship with Tiff.

"Tyler's special to Tiff. And Tiff is to Tyler. She was there when his mother died. They have a deep bond.", he continued.

Yeah, something I can't surpass.

I remained silent and let him continue.

"It's not like he doesn't want to leave her side. It's just that he can't. Tiffany needs him. That's why Tyler can't choose you."

Life could suck at some times. One second you have everything you've ever wanted, the next you're crying your heart out grabbing whatever you could salvage.

If life's as easy as drawing a stick man, then everything would be running smoothly. But, it doesn't go that way.

As many have said, Life's complicated.

And I'm even making it more complicated.

"But it doesn't give them the ticket to hurt me.. to bully me.", I said, thinking about all the things they did to me.

"It doesn't give them the ticket to play with my feelings and treat me less human. I have my battles to face and I don't give a damn about their shitty problems.", I continued.

"Tyler already made his choice. He already chose Tiffany. Maybe it's time I chose mine."

———

A lame update cause I just want to.
chinChansee