Chapter 2
Vivian noticed the spread on the table the moment she sat down.
As my friend for so many years, she knew exactly what I liked. Her face instantly went pale, clearly uncomfortable.
But she quickly shot me a sharp glare, as if I'd set her up on purpose with all these dishes just to embarrass her.
I couldn't help but find it ironic.
The Vivian I used to know wasn't like this.
Back in freshman year, during PE lesson, I got my period, and blood soaked through my pants.
A bunch of guys around me started laughing.
"Hey, look! Evelyn's butt is bleeding!"
"Eww, that's disgusting."
It was the first time I'd ever been laughed at in front of everyone. My back went rigid, and I just stood there, totally frozen.
Vivian suddenly rushed over, tied her jacket around my waist, and yelled at the guys.
She snapped, "What's so funny? It's totally normal for girls to bleed during their period.
"If you don't get it, go back to biology class and learn something. Stop making fun of things you don't understand!"
Everyone went quiet right away.
Afterward, I gave Vivian a box of fruity sweets to thank her.
She took them, thumped her chest confidently, and promised, "If those guys ever mess with you again, just come find me. I'll knock some sense into them!"
I figured she was just kidding around, but Vivian really meant it. She actually followed through.
Back then, Rex and I were childhood friends, always glued together.
So, a bunch of classmates started whispering and talking behind our backs.
Some even spread rumors that Rex and I had already hooked up.
At first, I tried to brush it off.
But I was still just a teenager, and honestly, it got to me way more than I wanted to admit.
After hearing it so many times, I couldn't help but feel hurt and wronged.
So, after another round of dirty jokes, I finally broke down.
I walked up to the front of the class, tears streaming down my face, and said Rex and I had never done anything inappropriate.
Rex stood up too, trying to explain.
But the more we tried to defend ourselves, the more excited they got.
They exchanged glances and started hooting and jeering.
"Wow, say a couple things about the girl, and the guy jumps right in. And you still claim you two aren't a thing?"
"They always go home together after school. Who knows what they're doing behind everyone's backs."
Another wave of laughter swept through the room.
I felt like I'd been struck by lightning, frozen in place.
Just then, Vivian slammed her hand on the desk, stood up, and walked straight over to those guys.
She sized them up one by one, then flashed a sleazy grin.
She sneered, "Oh, why do you three always go to the bathroom together? Who knows what you're up to behind closed doors!
"Heh, I heard true bros are the ones who step up as his girl when he needs one. So, tell me, have any of you ever played the girlfriend for your buddy?"
If straight drama was just chaos in the halls, then gay rumors were like blowing the roof off the whole school.
The guys went pale as sheets and hurried over to apologize to Rex and me.
After that, they never dared to spread rumors about us again.
And that was how Vivian and I ended up becoming close friends.
She used to be the kind of girl who was always cheerful, kind, and righteous to fault, never hesitating to stand up for me.
But look at her for the moment.
All it took was one guy, and she ditched all that righteousness and started badmouthing me without a second thought.
She said, "Eve, are you still holding a grudge because I ended up with Rex all those years ago? Is that why you didn't bother telling me you were coming back?"
I honestly didn't expect her to say that. I was just caught off guard.
She raised her voice on purpose, acting all hurt and dramatic. "You ignored me when I tried talking to you earlier. You just wanted to make me look bad, right?
"I know you're still hung up on Rex, but he's my husband now. Are you really trying to flirt with him right in front of me?"
The whole room burst into an uproar.
People kept glancing back and forth between me and Vivian, sizing us up.
But what really surprised me was Rex's reaction.
He didn't even try to stop Vivian from running her mouth. Instead, he just propped his chin up, watching me with this lazy, almost amused look.
It was like he was actually hoping I'd try to flirt with him.
How could he be looking at me like that?
Did he really forget all the awful things he said to me back then?
I didn't realize until the day Vivian tried to kill herself that the boyfriend she kept mentioning was actually Rex.
By then, Rex and I were already married, and I was five months pregnant.
Out of nowhere, she sent me a picture of her slashed wrist, covered in blood, apologized, and said she couldn't go on.
The sight of her wrist, all torn up and bloody, made my skin crawl. I didn't even think. I just grabbed my phone and called for an ambulance.
Once we got to the hospital, I was completely out of it. I just stood there, not having a clue what I was supposed to do next.