Chapter 2
Looking at Christopher's entitled expression, my stomach churned violently.
Was this really the guy I loved for three years? The one who kept promising he'd marry me?
"Christopher," I said, my voice surprisingly calm. "Do you really think this is just a joke?"
He replied, "Of course. You think you're some kind of beauty? Please. If it weren't for me, nobody would even bother to notice you."
The room erupted in awkward, scattered laughter once again.
Alicia was laughing so hard she nearly fell out of her seat. "Christopher, you're brutal! But honestly... that's the truth."
I nodded at them, keeping my face blank.
"Fine. Just a joke," I said, my tone flat.
I didn't bother to apologize or leave. Instead, I found a corner and sat down.
I stayed because my backpack was still there, and my SAT admission ticket was inside.
Christopher thought I was backing down. He let out a mocking laugh and turned back to Alicia, starting up another round of drinking games.
"Cheers, buddy! Five in a row!"
The room was loud again, as if nothing had ever happened.
I sat in the shadows, staring at the date glowing on my phone screen.
*****
It was June 6th. The next day was the SAT.
And on the eve of the SAT, my boyfriend gave me a "welcome to adulthood" present I'll never forget.
The next morning, I was jolted awake by someone pounding on my door.
"Daphne! Open up! Now!" Christopher shouted from outside.
His voice was loud and angry, echoing through the hallway with every furious bang.
I glanced at the clock. It was 7:30 am.
There was still an hour and a half before the first SAT section started.
My apartment was only twenty minutes from the test center, so I had plenty of time.
I opened the door, and Christopher barged in, reeking of booze, with Alicia trailing behind him, looking anxious.
Christopher snapped, "What took you so long? Are you trying to screw me over?"
He went off on me, shoving me aside and storming straight to my desk.
"Where's my SAT admission ticket? Is it with you?" he demanded.
After the party broke up last night, he was so drunk that Alicia said she couldn't carry him, so she insisted I take him home.
Just to be safe, I picked up his SAT admission ticket and kept it for him, planning to hand it over this morning.
"It's on the desk," I said, pointing.
Christopher snatched it up without even glancing at me, then turned to leave.
"Christopher, wait!" Alicia called out suddenly.
She looked at me and asked, "I think my SAT admission ticket is missing... Did I leave it here with you last night?"
I didn't recall ever taking Alicia's SAT admission ticket.
"I didn't take yours," I replied coldly.
"How is that possible?" Alicia's eyes were red with anxiety. "It was just the three of us last night. Christopher was wasted, and I was out of it too. You must've grabbed it by accident! Are you still mad about yesterday? Did you hide it?"
That was a hell of an accusation.
Accusing me of hiding someone's SAT ticket on purpose? That was vicious.
Christopher stopped dead in his tracks, spun around, and shot me a glare that could kill.
"Daphne, hand over Alicia's SAT admission ticket," he demanded.
I said, "I already told you, I don't have it."
I wasn't about to waste any more time arguing with them, so I grabbed my pencil case and headed for the door.
Christopher grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he was trying to break my bones.
He snapped, "Stop pretending! You did this because you're jealous of Alicia and me. Would you really mess with something as serious as the SAT? Do you even understand how much this means to her?"
Was the SAT not important to me? I had to take the test too!
"Christopher, be reasonable. I only took yours last night because you're my boyfriend. What does Alicia have to do with me? Why would I take her stuff?" I shot back.
Christopher yelled, "Because you're so damn jealous! Because you're downright vicious!"
Christopher was screaming at me, spit flying everywhere and landing on my skin. "It was just a joke last night! Are you seriously still pissed about that? Give it up already, or don't blame me for what happens next!"
Alicia stood off to the side, her voice trembling with sobs as she kept egging Christopher on. "Christopher, just forget it... Maybe I lost it myself... I spent a whole year studying to retake the SAT. If I can't take it... I don't even want to go on anymore..."
Hearing her say she didn't want to go on anymore, Christopher completely lost it.
He snatched my pencil case and dumped everything out onto the floor with a clatter.
Ballpoint pens, No. 2 pencils, erasers, ruler... all scattered across the floor.
But Alicia's SAT admission ticket was nowhere to be found.
"What do you mean it's not here? How is that even possible?" Christopher demanded.
Not giving up, he barged into my bedroom and started ransacking every drawer and closet he could find.
He left books, clothes, and blankets strewn all over the floor, turning my room into a disaster zone.
"Christopher! Have you lost it? I need to take the SAT too!" I yelled, rushing over to stop him.
He shoved me away, not even caring how hard he pushed.