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I watched her leave, and I wish I ran after her, forced her to listen to me, but the look Ella gave me scared me off.
And when Aria was gone, I still stood there, helplessly, wondering what to do, until Ella came up to me and said, "Listen, Taehyung, I don't know what your deal is, but just know that you've really hurt Aria tonight and as her friend I have a right to protect her from y –"
"Friend?" I scoff bitterly. "You're not her friend. At least not anymore."
She curls her lip. "I'm sorry, did you not get the news? Or were you too busy with that red-headed witch to even know about who your girlfriend's friends are, because guess what, Taehyung? I'm her friend, maybe even the only friend she has right now that will stand up for her, because I'm not afraid of you, Taehyung. You know why? Because you're pathetic. A pathetic no-good boyfriend who can't keep his eyes to himself just like every other man!"
She's breathing heavily, and I notice tears in her eyes, her glazed eyes that look like she has had a few drinks. Of course she's drunk, it's her birthday! But that doesn't mean I don't take her seriously. Especially when I know that a drunk person reveals their true self. And I could see that Ella isn't as nice as she pretends to be.
"You really think I'm pathetic?" I take out my phone, glaring at her. "I'll call her right now, and then we'll see who the pathetic one is."
Ella snorts, crossing her arms as I tap Aria's contact, waiting. The longer it rings, the haughtier Ella becomes, and I feel my cheeks burn and my shoulders droop as the call ends.
She didn't answer.
"Well that's embarrassing," she laughs. "Anyway, good luck trying to win her back. But I suggest you get rid of them first." She juts her chin over to them, gathered for a smoke.
I clench my jaw, a million things running through my head as I look at her. Does Aria actually like this girl? How can they be friends? But the Ella I'm seeing is not the Ella that Aria sees, and I wish Aria could see that.
I wish I could see Aria.
"What's wrong, baby Tae?" Ruby pinches my cheek as soon as I return, head down and feet dragging. As soon as she touches me I flinch, rearing away from her as if she just burned me. "Don't fucking touch me," I snarl, and hurt flashes in her eyes, before it is replaced swiftly with a playful spark.
"Oh, come on, Tae! I'm just teasing you," she nudges me, and I step back from her, biting my lip to prevent it from trembling.
Victor finally looks away from his conversation with the guys to regard me. "Something happen?"
I lock eyes with him and for a moment I see the man who I used to look up to as an older brother, someone who I admired and thought was really cool. But now, all I feel is disgust and resentment against him. Against everyone here.
