Torn

Chapter 45

Selena...

It didn't make any sense.

I stared at Nina's face for too long, searching for anything, any clue to give way that she might've made a mistake.

There was none.

"What?" I repeated.

She appeared hesitant, mouth opening and closing before she came closer to me. "I think you should sit down first."

"No" I stepped away from her. "I need to know Nina. Please" My arms flailing everywhere. I felt bad for snapping at her, rebutting her efforts to calm me. But after what she's inadvertently revealed to me, nothing could ever placate me than to hear the rest.

"O-okay" she acquiesced, brown eyes looking at me in a mix of fearful and apologetic.

She swallowed. "I-I think I wasn't meant to find out that she even had the disease in the first place. I just accidentally walked in on her and Cara discussing her wellbeing. Of course I panicked after that, even if I didn't know her well enough, she was good to me. So I-I started asking questions." Her hands began to tremble noticeably and try as I might, I couldn't quench the feeling that what she's about to say next would be very crucial.

"She just laughed and told me not to worry because...because she was already on remission and was well on her way to a full recovery. The cancer cells could come back anytime of course but..." she risked a glance at me after her eyes failed to meet my own somewhere along her tale.

"...but the doctors assured her that won't be happening anytime soo - Selena!"

I couldn't fathom the reason for the sudden panicked shout that reverberated through the walls of my hotel room. The only things registering next on my brain was the rushed, clambering footsteps before a pair of hands were grabbing at me.

It seemed Nina was gone for only less than a second before she was back again, a glass of cold water being pushed on my mouth. My eyes went wide, the cold water effectively waking me up.

"Wha - what happ...ened?" I sputtered in breathless coughs and wheezy gasps.

"Sorry. Sorry" Nina repeatedly chanted while handing me a napkin and as I dabbed on my face with it, I wondered if her apology had anything to do with the spilled water. Seeing I was already out of whatever it is I was momentarily stuck in, Nina placed the drink on the table in front of us. I took this time to steady my breathing, only figuring out right there that I was comfortably sat on the sofa.

Maybe I should've indeed sat down in the first place.

Turning towards Nina, she still had the same look of remorse in her eyes, intensifying the foreboding feeling that started to stir in the pit of my stomach. "Are you sure?"

She paused before nodding.

I closed my eyes with a loud exhale as I reclined on the couch.

The silence stretched on from that simple gesture of hers. It was so easy to pinpoint the next topic but as the air became noticeably rigid, it was obvious none of us wanted to approach it. No matter how I tried, I couldn't find anything to describe Taylor's behavior other than intentional. Recounting Nina's story in my head, it's becoming easier to be convinced she deliberately pretended to be sick towards me.

The elephant continued to grow in the room and as much as I repulsed it, I knew it was me who was going to dive in first.

"I could only think of one reason why she lied to me."

Nina's eyes widened, seemingly still fearful to speak her thoughts "You mean..."

"Harry. She knows."