Change My Mind ©

14 | Truth Hurts

"A cheater and a traitor. A perfect combination, right? It's like you've got free admission to hell."

"Courtn--" I tried talking to her calmly.

"You don't have to explain yourself, bitch. I won't believe every single thing you are going to say because if you're really sincere in telling me everything, you should've done that at the very first place. And yes, I knew you were seeing him for long and you didn't even bother to at least tell me whatever it is your relationship with him," Courtney furiously said while walking near us.

"Courtney," Brian tried to cut in but Courtney continued.

"Maybe you are thinking. Why am I so mad? Everything between Brian and I was gone long ago and I don't have the right to interfere with whatever he's been doing with his life. Yeah. Maybe you guys are right. WHO AM I?! I AM JUST AN EX-GIRLFRIEND WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHEN HER EX IS FLIRTING WITH HER BESTFRIEND. Yeah. That's it. Am I right, Gabb? That's the reason why you lied to me," she shouted and pointed at me.

I didn't notice that tears are rolling down my cheeks like a waterfall. I have to admit, everything she said hurt me so much. Somehow, inside me knows that she says the truth and maybe that's the reason why it really hurts.

"If you could just listen to us. The wound will not be as deep as it is right now. If you just listened to me that night. Maybe we had more anniveraries to celebrate. Courtney, if you could have just learn to listen and set aside your hatred. Everything might change, everything," Brian said to her.

Honestly, I had never seen him as sincere as he was when he said those words to her.

And...

With the sincerity he showed to her, I felt some kind of...feeling inside me.

A feeling that hurts when I thought of how happy they could have been if they continued their lost relationship...without me.

"Can you hear yourself, Brian? Are you trying to say that it was my fault? You cheated on me and you're saying it's my fault because I didn't listen to your explanation? What the hell!" Courtney shouted.

"I never cheated on you! Okay? Never! If you could have just listened to me. You will know that everything was just created by your paranoid mind," Brian madly replied.

Courtney was stopped for a moment before saying, "What are you talking about?"

"It's nonsense telling you this now because everything that has been lost cannot be recovered. What I want you to understand right now is to listen calmly on the real story behind what you are thinking of as treachery by Gabb and I," Brian answered.

Courtney turned her gaze at me and said, "No. Everything is so clear to me. I no longer need millions of lies from the two of you. The damage has been done, Gabb. And don't worry, I'll return you the favor."

"Please, Courtney. It is not what you think we are doing. Please, listen to us," I begged.

"Enough, Gabb. She said she wouldn't listen to us and that's her choice," he whispered to me before turning to Courtney and say, "I knew it will be hard for you to listen to us but I never expected that you would be as closeminded as you are tonight."

"Oh my God. Brian. I can't believe you've changed a lot. That bitch made you even worse," Courtney broke down and cried before heading back to the hall.

I sat as I cannot feel my legs anymore. I cupped my face and cried as silent as I can.

Brian said as he taps my back, "I'm sorry."

I stood up and said with cracking voice, "I want to leave now."

"I'll drive you home," he offered.

"No need," I rejected.

"I'm sorry, Gabb. But I will not let you go home alone especially in that condition," he insisted.

"I said no need," I calmly said.

He sighed and said, "Okay. I'll call your mom to pick you up."

"I don't want to go home yet. Mom will just ask me about what made me go home this early and I don't want her to see me this broke," I explained.

"Okay then, come with me," Brian ended by pulling my hand and walking through the back of the hall and to the parking lot.

We rode on his car and went out of the venue.

I silently sat as he drive along an unfamiliar road when I decided to text Aimee:

I'm sorry I left you. Something happened. I promise I will tell you everything on Monday. Don't drink too much. Keep safe. Let me know when you're home.

I looked at the phone clock and noticed that the time is already 11pm. It has been two hours since Courtney confronted us and I could still feel the hurt she left inside me.

"Brian. I should be home at 1. Where are we going?" I worriedly asked.

He parked by the side of the street, looked at me and said, "I don't know either. I just want to drive the night away, with you."

"And...I want you to know that you don't have to keep that emotion. You could cry as much as you want and release every single heartache you have there," he added.

I suddenly cried like a little girl whose favorite ice cream was stolen.