Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

104. I'm Not Letting You Win

"You're right. I didn't want to come. Why should I? To hear more sarcasm? I've had enough," she blurted out, her voice sharp, eyes brimming with frustration.

I frowned, surprised by the rawness of her words. "Hey, isn't that a bit rude? I already confessed the truth, took a stand for you." My voice wavered slightly, but I tried to keep it steady.

She shrugged, completely unconcerned. "So?"

Her indifference hit me hard. "Sarah, I've been into you. Don't you trust me?" I asked, almost pleading, hoping for something more than coldness.

She let out a dry chuckle. "Did I tell you to love me?" she said, eyes narrowing. "By the way, you turned me from a victim into a villain. And you still expect me to love you back?"

I took a deep breath, the frustration bubbling inside me. "You're... seriously...?" I ran my hand through my hair, struggling to keep my temper in check. "Listen, I've been going easy on you lately. Don't mistake that for weakness. Don't think I'm beneath you just because I love you. I won't sit here and take everything you throw at me, like I don't have self-respect. I love you, but that doesn't mean I've lost myself. I love me more than you. If I've been treating you well, don't think I can't treat you worse."

The words spilled out before I could stop them, sharper than I intended. But I was furious. I didn't want her to think she could walk all over me just because I had feelings for her. I didn't want her to dismiss my emotions like they didn't matter.

She thrust two tickets into my hand. "Here," she said, "a belated gift."

I looked down, and to my surprise, they were tickets to the newly inaugurated game zone. A place I had been dying to visit. But as I stared at them, reality hit me -- it was too late now. The day had passed, and so had the moment.

Upon reaching home, Sarah was immediately confronted by my dad. His voice was stern, the disapproval evident in his eyes.

"If you had even a shred of respect for this family," he began, his voice tight with disappointment, "you would've attended the party. It was your husband's birthday, for God's sake! What can I expect from you, though? All you seem to know is how to embarrass us in front of others."

Sarah didn't flinch. Her response was calm, but her words were sharp. "Uncle, I think I made it easier for you. I'm fairly certain no one at the party cared to discuss Ryan's marriage. They probably just asked where his wife was. Isn't that right?"

My dad's face tightened, but before he could respond, my mom stepped in, trying to ease the tension. "Still, Sarah, it would've been better if you had come. It wasn't just about showing up -- it was about being there for Ryan."

Sarah's gaze softened as she looked at my mom. She took a breath and said in a gentler tone, "I'm sorry, Aunty. I had a project I had to submit, and I was swamped. Believe me, I didn't mean to miss the party. I even texted Ryan, but he was too busy to respond. I was hoping he might come pick me up, but... well, it didn't happen. I understand, though -- it's not a big deal."

Her words caught me off guard. Texted me? What texts? I hadn't seen any messages from her. I stood there, speechless, feeling a wave of confusion. My mind raced, trying to process what she was saying.

As soon as we reached the bedroom, I shut the door behind us, trying to contain the frustration building inside me. "I didn't reply?" I repeated her words, my voice tight with disbelief. "To unsent messages?"

She smirked, a glint of amusement flickering in her eyes, which only added to the growing unease I felt.

I moved closer, standing right in front of her, blocking her path. "What's going on in your head, Sarah?" I demanded. "Back at the hospital, the way you acted toward Nitya -- it was clear you were trying to get back at her. And now, downstairs, saying you wanted me to pick you up? That's not you. That's not how you usually are."

She didn't back down, didn't even flinch. Instead, she took a step forward, deliberately closing the small gap between us. Her eyes met mine, intense and unwavering. "I told you..." she said, her voice low, almost teasing. "This time, I'm not letting you win."

I felt my heart skip a beat, her words laced with a confidence I hadn't seen in a while. Her smirk widened, sending a strange mix of anticipation and dread through me. "I'm going to make sure you're the bad guy this time, Ryan. Watch me."

Her smirk sent a chill down my spine. There was something in the way she said it, the gleam in her eyes, that made it clear -- she wasn't bluffing. She was serious. And I wasn't sure how to handle it.