Chapter 4
It was like everyone was thinking, 'Why is she so awkward? Can't she just loosen up and play along?'
Being the odd one out was just the start of getting isolated, and once that happened, it was tough to fit back in.
And honestly, it was just a kiss with Andrew.
I didn't really mind it.
I clenched my fists, trying to muster up some courage. "I'm willing."
He raised an eyebrow and turned to face me, and his eyes were soft under those lowered lashes.
"Are you sure you want to?" he asked.
Andrew placed his hand on the back of my neck, pulling me a little closer.
He tilted his head, lining up our lips for a kiss.
His thumb brushed my lower lip, and then he pressed his lips to mine.
It was just a quick peck, gone in a flash.
Standing in front of me, he turned to the crowd, half-begging, "Alright, we kissed. Can you guys let me off now?"
After that, I worked part-time in the dining hall.
My hands were steady when I served up food, so students always preferred my station.
The lunch ladies would give me a hard time now and then, but I never talked back and just toughed it out,eventually, they let it slide.
That day, Andrew came by my station for lunch and asked for sweet and sour pork.
Seeing him made me nervous, and my hands started to tremble.
He watched as I scooped less and less pork onto his plate, then Andrew grinned and asked, "Still holding a grudge?"
That summer, he didn't go home. He stayed on campus and bumped into me at the library, where I was just reading.
He walked right up to me and called me that nickname in a soft voice. "Hey, Grudge Queen."
I looked up and saw a smile tugging at his lips.
The sunlight was perfect, and the breeze ruffled his collar, brushing past my ear.
I felt a bit awkward, stood up to pack my books and head out, but Andrew reached out and grabbed my hand.
Andrew glanced at my face and ears, both flushed bright red.
He leaned in close, speaking softly. "Why do your ears get so red every time you see me?"
And just like that, we became a couple.
But Andrew was good-looking. Being single or taken didn't really change things for him.
There were always people around him.
The one who stood out the most was Maisy, his junior from college.
She was always sticking close to him.
Everyone in his lab knew I existed, but that didn't change how they saw Maisy.
They said she was pretty, smart, and always so sweet and caring.
They'd say it was a shame Andrew already had a girlfriend. Otherwise, they'd be perfect together.
Sometimes, people would joke around, "So what? It's just dating, not like they're married or anything."
Andrew would just shake his head and laugh. "I've got a girlfriend. Don't mess with me."
Even now, that atmosphere still hung over us.
My office and his company were in the same building, just on different floors.
More often than not, when I went to see him, I'd find Maisy talking to him.
When she noticed me, her smile would slowly fade, and she'd head back to her desk,sometimes she'd sneak a glance at me.
I'd tug at Andrew's sleeve and ask if he wanted to grab lunch together.
He'd pause for a second and then ask Maisy if she wanted to join too.
Or sometimes he'd say his team already had plans and asked if I wanted to come along.
But when we ate together, they'd be talking about their work stuff, geeking out over things I didn't understand.
It was like there was this invisible wall between me and them.
But Andrew and Maisy? They just clicked, no barriers at all.
I sat off to the side, watching his profile. He'd smile every now and then, with that gentle look in his eyes, but I couldn't tell if that look was for me or for her.
The vibe was so awkward that I just had to make my exit early.
I thought getting engaged would fix everything.
His mom never really liked me, but she never gave me a hard time either.
They gave me the marriage payment, but I was still living at Vivienne's place.
Honestly, just having somewhere to stay felt lucky. There was nobody behind me, nobody to catch me if I fell.
And there was no one to give me a dowry.
I was working hard, trying to make a little extra cash on my own.
Every month, I'd set aside half my salary in a separate account.
I just wanted to have something to stand on when I finally married him, so I wouldn't feel so insecure in front of his family.
I could contribute to our little home too.
But I would never get the chance. There was always someone else willing to stand by his side when it rained.
My phone buzzed with a text from a friend. It was short and straight to the point. [Aleeza, your boyfriend brought another woman to a hotel room.]
She sent me the hotel address and told me to catch them red-handed.
I looked at the slippers Andrew had left by the door and then at the suitcase standing in the entryway.
It all felt unreal.
He'd just broken up with me, and now he was already with Maisy in a hotel room.
But they'd always been close.
Just like when we were together, breaking up probably didn't really affect Andrew at all.
It was still raining outside.
Feeling chilly, I slipped on a jacket and took a cab to the hotel.
Maybe my friend was mistaken.
It was room 1108.