I woke up in the hospital the next day.
Unfortunately, I ate some crabsticks and that triggered an allergic reaction which made me vomit and faint.
Vomit on Jaz's shoes.
Shit.
I'm pretty sure that he would ask payment for that.
I looked around and saw Ms. Veronica on the side of my bed arranging flowers.
"Where's mom?" I asked trying to sit up.
"Oh, you're awake. She is just checking other patients but she will be back. Are you feeling better now?" Ms. Veronica handed me a glass of water.
"Yes, thank you." I still feel a bit upset and embarrassed about what Jaz did. Ms. Veronica doesn't deserve that shock she experienced from that dinner.
She held my hand and checked me out.
I know that she is trying to find the description given by Karlee in me but I am not the girl he is talking about. It might be Zoe.
"My son really knows how to choose the right one. " she smiled at me sweetly. she hugged me and whispered, "Please don't let him go. He loves you very much."
That broke my heart. I can't tell her that we are actually just pretending to be in that relationship to make Jaz stop. I don't want to hurt her feelings right now. I will let Karlee explain everything to her when he is ready to introduce Zoe to his mom.
She helped me eat the food that she prepared and started telling me more about Karlee.
Time passed by so fast and it's almost sunset. Mom returned with Karlee. Karlee have a fruit basket with him.
"How are you feeling now? Karlee asked.
"Better. Thanks for the fruits."
"We'll just check out of the hospital. You rest for now. We'll leave you two alone." Mom said then left with Ms. Veronica.
It was a deafening silence. I just try to look at the window so I don't have to look at him and talk.
"Don't worry about what I said last night. We both know that it's not true. I just have to make sure that Jaz won't find out."
I nodded. I don't know if I should be relieved by what he said or not.
"Also, I'm sorry for putting you into that kind of pressure. I tried to stay calm but that idiot won't shut his mouth." he is standing on the window side now, sunset shining behind him. He is like an evil angel. Red, but glowing.
I can't help thinking what if I tell him how I truly feel? Will he be ok with that and take me seriously?
But I guess the gap between me and Zoe was too big that it was pretty obvious . He is in love with someone else. Deal with that.
"What's done is done. I'm just worried that Jaz actually made an impression to your mom and mine. I just found out last night that he used to be my sister's boyfriend. So, he definitely have my sister's vote by now." he chuckled a bit and turn to me.
"Your sister actually beat the crap out of him last night. I didn't know that she is the top taekwondo student before and you are the second one. Is that why you are into that sport that much?"
"No. I just need club activities so I joined. and also, coach have been bugging me to join. He knows my sister and I trained together."
"I see." he was just staring at me. I tried to stare back at him but I couldn't last that long.
"You look great last night." he said out of nowhere.
I was caught by surprise and can't utter a word. I avoided his stare and tried to clear my throat. I must not let my guard down and let his words get to me.
Mom and Ms. Veronica returned with the papers and helped me change clothes so we could go home immediately. He drove us back at home and left with his mom. I tried to stay calm in the car the whole time. I can see him glancing at the rear view mirror and looking at me. Is he waiting for any reply?
When we arrived at home, I went straight to my room and lay on my bed. Tomorrow is a battlefield again for the band and the school activities.
I heard mom knocking and let her in. I know she will lecture me about what she just found out.
"Do you want to talk about what happened last night?" She knows I don't want to but she wants to hear it from me.
"I'm sorry if I kept it a secret from you. I just can't tell you yet not until I'm ready." that's a lie mom. I'm sorry.
" I get that. But if you have told me then I wouldn't have to push you with Jaz Ford. I feel bad about making you feel like he is good for you when you already have someone you like. " she hugged me and I felt more guilty about lying to her.
"It's ok mom. I'll deal with him myself."
"But he really is a persistent guy. Even after your sister beat him up, he didn't change his mind about you. He must really like you a lot."
"He has a bad reputation about girls, mom. I think it's just a façade."
"True. but I don't think it's like that when it's about you." I don't know if she's team Karlee or Jaz.
"Mom. Let's just forget about it and rest. I don't want to talk about him anymore."
"Ok sweetie. Have a good rest." She kissed me on the cheeks and shut the door.
I really can't sleep because of how Karlee was staring at me in the car. I am also feeling bad about the lies and scared for the next day.
And I was right.
The next day, in the parking lot, I can already see this group of girls ready to gang up on me. I went out of my car and grabbed my stuff. I'm just going to pretend that I don't see them.
"You two-timing bitch!" The girl with pigtails threw a photo of me and Karlee at the opera house and some photos of me and Jaz in the restaurant. I grinned and didn't bother to answer any of them.
"Where do you think you're going?" Another girl grabbed my hair and pulled me back to them. They circled around me and start hitting me.
Slap. Push. Grab. Pull.
I usually wouldn't let it pass but at that point, I just don't have the energy to fight back. It's like I deserve those because I lied about me and Karlie and also hurting the people I love.
My clothes started to get ripped by the pushing ang pulling so I have to stop them before I lose my clothes completely.
"Are you done?" After pushing away the last one of them. I glared at them and grabbed my other stuff.
"Who do you think you are? Why do you keep both men to yourself when you are just a nobody? "
I have to conserve this energy for later. I feel like I need to stop wasting my time to these girls who clearly just want to make an argument for a guy who doesn't even like them.
"Jadis." Heleina was there holding the photos that was scattered in the parking lot.
What can I say? Should I just feed them lies over and over so that I can save myself?
"What's this? Are you dating Jaz while you are with Karlee?!" Heleina was almost into tears. Chloe just came and saw the photos also. She is calm and more worried on the state I am in than Heleina who is obviously mad about the pictures.
"Answer me!" That's the first time Heleina lost her gentle and ladylike composure.
Chloe went to me and helped me grab my stuff. "Heleina, can't we talk about it later? Jadis needs help."
Heleina kept clenching her fist with those pictures and left us there. I saw how heartbroken she was. I'm just not sure if it's because of our friendship or Jaz.
"Let's get you decent clothing first then let's go to the infirmary to patch those scratches."
I know Chloe has a lot of questions also but she remained as a friend first.
We went out of the infirmary and I stayed on our hangout place. Heleina wasn't around. Chloe said that she went home and skipped all the classes today.
"What's going on Jadis? Lately, you've been missing all our bonding and it feels like you're avoiding us. Does it have anything to do with Jaz and Karlee?" Chloe was gentle. She doesn't sound jealous but more concerned about what situation I am in right now.
"If I tell you, will you promise to keep it between us? I want you to understand that this happened because everything is getting complicated."
"You can tell me anything, Jadis. I will listen and understand. We're friends, remember?
And so I told her what happened. Every last bit of detail I can remember.
Now it's all up to her if she will understand and stay.