When the Flower Falls (Fitzmael 7) - COMPLETED

13: What If It's True?

SOMEONE WAS KNOCKING HARD my bedroom door. My head hurts so bad. I forced myself up and opened it with zero enthusiasm. My cousins were huddled outside, brows furrowed like they were about to hold an intervention.

"Why are you all here?" I asked, confused.

Worry was written all over their faces. They glanced at each other before elbowing Cedar forward.

He scratched his head and cleared his throat. "You have a s-scandal," he said.

"What?!"

"A cheating scandal, rather," he added. He pulled out his phone and handed it to me.

I checked it quickly. My eyes widened at what I saw. It was a picture of me with a woman I didn't even recognize. The photo was taken last night. I was asleep in it while the stranger hugged me and kissed my cheek.

"What the fuck?" I snorted.

"For the record, we never believed you had a sidechick," Archer said.

"You're really the one they'd choose for that kind of scandal?" Marcus scoffed and laughed.

"What if it's true?" I asked them.

"We already know the truth," Lilac replied. "Even without knowing the details, we all know you'd never do that."

"A colleague of mine sent that photo to me," Catmint explained. "From the picture alone, I knew you were drunk."

"I went to my club to ask my staff if they saw you. They said you drank too much. You were wasted so Aaron drove you home," Imil said.

"I messaged the girl who took the photo and the girl beside you. They said it was just a dare and they were all drunk. They deleted the pictures and apologized. I think she also messaged you to say sorry," Jarzaiah said with a slight smile.

"I talked to Jenna earlier. She told me what happened between you and Elimae," Marcus said, sighing.

"We're here to check if you're still breathing," Amaris said with a smile.

"If you want someone to drink with, we're here!" Elisha laughed. "But sorry... Amaris, Jarzaiah, and I won't let our husbands drink. They used to be heavy drinkers and they might all drop dead at the same time so they just have to drink milk... or maybe water."

We all burst into laughter and I nodded.

"I'll pass on drinking for now. The elements will get mad," Zius joked.

"Thank you," I said. "I haven't even told you anything yet but you already know the truth and you know me so well."

"It's nothing!"

"No worries, Ren!"

"Seriously?! This is tiny compared to everything you've done for us."

"Just don't hesitate to come to us, okay?"

"We're still rooting for you and Elimae's end game."

They stayed for a couple of hours. They waited for me to finish showering before talking to me properly. I knew they were worried, especially about what might happen to me and Elimae.

"What's your plan now?" Franco asked. He had just arrived.

I combed my hair, sat beside him, and sighed. "I'll talk to her. I'll pick her up later. As far as I know, she's still at school." I closed my eyes.

My head was still pounding but that was nothing compared to the pain in my chest.

I didn't know where I went wrong. I didn't even know why she suddenly couldn't feel my love.