How to Love a Girl

Chapter 2

I couldn't register the fact that my second girlfriend cheated on me.

What the hell did I did wrong? Was there something she wanted that I couldn't give her? Or was everything I gave not enough? Different things flood my mind and when I first found out about her secret affair with Talon Ryan.

I mean, I couldn't believe it. Seriously, Talon Ryan? Is she for real? She knows I hated that guy and she knows the whole student body hates the school where Talon goes to. His school and our school are always on a competion with each other. Always on a rivalry when it comes to sports and academic standards. And Talon was my hardest opponent in tennis.

Sure we had numerous competitions and the game always ends up in either way. I win, he wins, or its a tie. God, I hated the guy with every fiber.

It was a Wednesday afternoon, sophomore year. I was having my training at my school's indoor tennis court. I was preparing for an upcoming tournament and I bring the name of the school. Coach Garner made me do a whole batch of forehand and backhand strokes. He dismissed me and I took a break on my seat nearby. I drank up some gatorade and wiped my sweating face.

Then I saw Jake, my friend and a member of the soccer team running his way towards me. He pushed through the sliding doors with his phone in his hand. Behind him, other soccer players follow.

"Andrew, Andrew," he takes a deep breath. His teammates surround me. It never bothered me because they were also my friends that I hangout with.

Slowly I say, "Yeah."

Jake stares at me, then back to his phone and then back to me. He has this lost look at his face that I am not certainly used to see. Jake is the guy who was always so sure of everything.

I was staring back at him with wondering eyes. "What dude? You're creeping me out."

"Where's your girlfriend?"

"What's up with Kiara?"

"She's cheating on you," he blurts. Too quick.

What he said didn't really had that hurt effect on me immediately because I laugh and say, "Stop joking around." I fist pump his shoulder and his whole face goes nuts.

"I know you're not believing me until I show you some evidence," he says. I look at the others behind him. I recognize Wesley, Ezra, Aaron and the others. My eyes was searching for some expression that this whole commotion was a joke. But I don't find one.

"All right then," I place my towel on my shoulder. "What do you have?"

He flips and scrolls on his phone. He hands it down and before me, a video plays. On a park bench, a girl sits on a boy's lap. Snogging, touching, or for a direct point-kissing.

I couldn't quite recognize the people, but slowly, surely, I knew that it was Kiara. My girlfriend. No other girl would have the same hair as her's. I mean, it was originally blonde but she dyed it black. And no one else has the same and exact hair color as her's. It looked so artificial in color.

And there he is. Talon Ryan. My big opponent and someone so famous in my school to hate. I can't believe what I'm watching. A whole act of betrayal before my eyes. I don't know what to feel. I don't know. I want to pretend this isn't happening. The whole video must be edited, or they couldn't be who we think the are, or they could just be clones or...

"Are you okay?" Jake asks flustered.

I seem lost for words. My whole universe with Kiara is a false. All the words, all she said to me. They couldn't be just fake. They just can't. But I have to answer him. I have to act like it is bearable. I have a tournament to compete with and I can't be broken hearted. So I say, "I-I am."