Chapter 3

While Rufus and I were locked in a silent standoff, Hazel suddenly sprang into action again.

Her eyes were red as she walked up to me, grabbed my arm hard, and kept bowing to me, acting all meek and pitiful.

She said, "I'm sorry, Sacha. It's all my fault. I know you're bothered by how close Rufus and I are, but there's really nothing between us except a sibling bond.

"Don't worry, I'll take the bus home. I won't ride with Rufus. I'll let you have his car.

"Please, don't fight with him because of me. I'll leave right now."

She tilted her head up, tears falling one by one, like she was the most pitiful victim in the world.

But everything about her, the way she acted, every word out of her mouth, made me want to puke. My stomach was turning over and over.

I yanked my hand away from her.

But Hazel exaggerated her reaction, swaying as if she might faint.

She staggered backward, lost her footing, and ended up toppling over.

In a flash, Rufus caught her from behind in time, keeping her from hitting the floor.

He looked at Hazel with concern. "Are you hurt, Hazel?"

Hazel shook her head.

He gave her another careful look, making sure she was really alright, then finally turned to me. His eyes were practically overflowing with disappointment.

Rufus snapped, "Sacha, it's just a seat. Hazel already apologized and offered it to you, and you still went so far as to push her.

"That's way out of line. Even if you want to make a scene, there's a limit."

Hazel spoke up from the side. "Rufus, don't blame Sacha. It's not her fault. I lost my footing."

"Hazel, stop defending her," Rufus cut in.

Rufus fixed his gaze on me for a moment before speaking in a cold, commanding tone.

He demanded, "Apologize.

"Say sorry to Hazel, and that's the end of it."

I stood there, my mouth opening and closing, but in the end, I swallowed everything I wanted to say.

There was no point in explaining.

Hazel would act all gracious, forgive me, and then we'd go back to pretending everything was fine and pretending Rufus actually loved me.

But love wasn't something a person could fake.

Just like now. I hadn't even done anything, but Rufus disregarded the truth and decided I was the one who pushed Hazel, demanding I apologize to her.

He only ever cared about Hazel. She was all he saw.

I was blind to it until now.

I kept my head down, my fingertips trembling so hard I could barely control them.

Rufus scooped Hazel up in his arms and carried her to the car.

He handled her like she was some priceless treasure, carefully placing her in the front seat before getting in himself.

The engine rumbled to life, and he lowered the window halfway, giving me a cold, unreadable look.

"Since you refuse to apologize, I'm leaving with Hazel. You can walk back on your own. It's a perfect chance for you to figure out where you went wrong," he said.

With that, he hit the gas and drove off.

The dust kicked up by his tires stung my eyes.

He left so fast that I didn't even have time to tell him.

I knew exactly where I went wrong.

I was wrong to believe he only saw Hazel as a sister.

I was wrong to fool myself into thinking he actually had feelings for me.

I was wrong to accept his proposal.

*****

I forced a bitter smile, my eyes swimming with tears.

Since I was wrong, I needed to make it right.