Shattered Reflections

Chapter 22

April 27, 2024

A week later, Fae and Kai went on a double date with Ally and David. Ally had made it clear she was against it, but agreed to go along to support Fae.

The four of them met at a cozy restaurant. Fae and Kai were inseparable throughout the evening. Ally and David, meanwhile, were the epitome of cuteness, laughing and teasing each other gently.

Kai smirked, pulling Fae closer. "You look hot," he whispered in her ear, causing her to blush.

Ally rolled her eyes but kept quiet, sipping her drink. David noticed her tension and squeezed her hand under the table.

David: "Hey, babe. Let's just enjoy the night, okay?"

Ally nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, you're right."

As the night went on, Ally couldn't help but voice her concerns privately to Fae when they went to the bathroom.

Ally: "Fae, are you really sure about this? Kai's... I mean, he's hurt you before."

Fae sighed, looking at her friend. "I know, Ally. But I love him. I can't just turn that off."

Ally hugged her. "Just be careful, okay? I don't want to see you get hurt again."

Returning to the table, the atmosphere was lighter. Kai was in high spirits, making jokes and making sure Fae was always smiling.

As they left the restaurant, Fae couldn't help but feel a mixture of hope and fear. Kai's presence was intoxicating, but the scars of the past lingered. Despite her friends' concerns and her own doubts, she chose to enjoy the moment, hoping that this time, things would be different.

But deep down, a part of her knew that the cycle of emotional abuse and neglect might not be over, and the path she had chosen was fraught with uncertainty.

May 10, 2024

It was a regular day at school, and Fae, Ally, Sophie, and Fiona were gathered in the bathroom, freshening up. The atmosphere was casual until Sophie suddenly turned to Fae with a fierce look in her eyes.

"You know, Fae," Sophie began, crossing her arms, "I've been thinking a lot about this whole thing with Kai, and honestly, you're being so fucking stupid."

Fae's heart skipped a beat, but she tried to stay calm. "What are you talking about, Sophie?"

Sophie rolled her eyes. "What do you think I'm talking about? This whole thing with Kai. Your self-respect has completely fallen apart. You used to be so strong, and now look at you."

Ally, who had been silent up until now, chimed in. "Yeah, Fae. You've changed. And not in a good way. You used to not give a fuck about what people thought, but now you're letting some manipulative bitch control you."

Fiona, always the more diplomatic one, tried to moderate. "Guys, maybe we should calm down a bit. We're all friends here."

But Sophie wasn't having it. "No, Fiona. She needs to hear this. Kai is a fucking man-whore. He has emotional power over you, Fae, and it's disgusting."

Fae felt her blood boiling. She clenched her fists, trying to keep her composure. "You don't understand. Kai's different with me."

Sophie scoffed. "Different? He's been stringing you along for months, playing with your emotions. And you just let him."

Ally stepped closer, her eyes filled with concern. "We're saying this because we care about you, Fae. You're letting him manipulate you."

Fiona nodded, but her expression was softer. "We just don't want to see you get hurt again."

Sophie, however, was relentless. "Face it, Fae. You've become a shadow of your old self. You turned into someone we barely recognize."

Fae couldn't hold back anymore. She snapped. "Fuck it! I'm in love with Kai! There's nothing I can do about it. You guys can all judge me all you want, but I do not care. I have never ever been happier!"

The bathroom fell silent. Fae's outburst echoed off the tiled walls, the weight of her confession hanging in the air. Her friends stared at her, a mix of shock and sadness in their eyes.

Sophie shook her head, her voice softer but still firm. "We're not judging you, Fae. We're just worried."

Ally sighed, looking down at the floor. "We want you to be happy, but not at the cost of your self-respect."

Fiona placed a hand on Fae's shoulder. "We're here for you, no matter what."

Fae took a deep breath, her anger subsiding into a mix of relief and frustration. "I appreciate that, but I know what I'm doing. I love him, and that's all that matters."

The girls exchanged glances, realizing that there was no changing Fae's mind. The tension in the bathroom slowly dissipated, but the underlying concerns remained.

As they left the bathroom, Fae felt a mixture of emotions. She knew her friends were right in many ways, but her heart was set on Kai. Despite everything, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had to follow her own path, even if it led to heartbreak.

For now, Fae was determined to hold onto the happiness she found with Kai, hoping that her love for him would eventually prove everyone wrong. But deep down, a small part of her wondered if she was making a mistake she couldn't undo.

Late one night, Fae and Kai were on a call, their conversation drifting from mundane topics to more serious territory. The room was dimly lit, and the weight of their discussion felt heavier than usual.

Fae: "Hey, Kai, there's something that's been on my mind. Remember when you told me about that girl who killed herself because of you? Why did she do it?"

Kai took a deep breath, his voice low and tinged with sadness.

Kai: "Yeah, I remember. That was a long time ago. Three years ago, actually. She was in love with me, and I fucked around with her feelings. I played with her head, then left her hanging. I just kept messing with her until she couldn't take it anymore."

Fae was silent for a moment, processing his words. 

Fae: "Jesus, Kai. How could you do that to someone?"

Kai's tone was grim as he continued.

Kai: "I know. It's fucked up. Listen Fae I am a diagnosed psychopath, and nothing about me is okay especially back then when I treated women like test subjects, just for my own amusement. When I was 13, manipulating and controlling people was easy for me. It was like a game. But that was three years ago. I'm trying to get better. I'm different now."

Fae: "You're seriously fucked up, Kai. But I get, I used to manipulate people to get what I want (She still does), just bat my eyelashes, pout my lips etc, but, you're on another level.."

Kai: "I'm not trying to make it okay. I'm just being honest. I know I'm messed up. I'm trying to change, but I get that it doesn't excuse what I did."

Fae tried to keep her composure.

Fae: "I get that you're trying to change, but you're not like actually trying"

Kai: "I have fucking tried everything! So many times. Nothing works, At this point just let time do it's thing."

Fae: "Yeah, well, I can help you, let me try! Why won't you just let me all the way in!"

Kai: "You can't fucking fix me, you're not the first and last girl to say this. No one can help me at this point, I even turned fucking Christian after being Atheist my whole life.

Fae: "You know what? You're right. No one can fucking change you, unless you are willing to change yourself. Maybe you don't even want to change."

Kai went silent. For the first time, he had nothing to say.

As Fae ended the call, her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. The revelation had shaken her to her core, leaving her grappling with the complexity of Kai's past and what it meant for their future.