C24 Twenty four

"I wiped my hair clean and gave a modest smile as I glanced at my two friends sitting cross-legged on my bed.

"What?" I asked, smiling back at them.

Angel raised her brows. "How many minutes... or hours did you wait for Cyrus only to be caught in a heavy rain?"

Suddenly, a weight settled in my chest, and I let out a small cough. Why did we need to talk about this?

Surely Cyrus had a good reason why he didn't pick me up. Why he was with someone else. Why I waited for him. Why he didn't show up when I was waiting for him. I know he has a good reason.

I hope so...

I hope there is...

Because if not, I might start suspecting, just like my friends are.

"I didn't wait for long," I lied.

I waited for three hours for him while being enveloped in the cold.

While he, I didn't know what he was doing.

"Really?" Mawi said with obvious annoyance.

I sniffed and looked away. I had already changed into my pajamas and neatly returned the towel to its place.

I tried to avoid their piercing gaze because I didn't have the time to argue with them. My head was pounding, and I felt dizzy; I couldn't afford to think about anything else.

Right now, all I wanted was not to suspect him but to rest.

"I'm going to sleep," I said curtly.

They just sighed and nodded. I lay down wearily on the bed. It looks like I might be coming down with a fever! I hope not, or I might fail the exam next week because I didn't review properly.

Both of them stood up, and it seems Mawi isn't planning to sleep yet because she also left the room.

I straightened up and let out a long sigh. My eyes caught sight of my cellphone on the study table. It's as if my body had a mind of its own because I immediately stood up to reach for it.

I hope he answers my call.

"Hello?" I said cheerfully.

[Sorry, I didn't fetch you. My phone died, and there was an emergency," he said coolly.

I smiled.

I knew there had to be a reason why he didn't pick me up. Good thing I didn't jump to conclusions.

"It's okay. What emergency? Are you alright?"

I wanted to ask him if Akia was with him or who he was with that Mawi mentioned. I trust Mawi, but I also trust Cyrus.

The most?

[Are you alright? Your voice sounds dull. Are you okay?] He still said coolly.

Why didn't I hear any tenderness in his voice now or even a little concern? Why do I feel something strange? Even if I want to avoid suspicion, it's like there's a part of me that's experiencing it.

I shook my head.

"I'm fine," I lied.

It seems I might just get sick because of your no-show. My vision is just blurry for no apparent reason.

[Okay,] he replied briefly.

And silence enveloped us. I was about to speak when I heard another voice on the other end of the line.

[Can you please, Do it properly, huh? Alcohol stings, you know,] a sweet voice said.

A sweet voice.

A sweet voice that made me lose consciousness. Her soft voice! I remembered it! I couldn't be mistaken!

Why are they together? What's happening? Why didn't Cyrus tell me right away that he was with the woman he first loved more than me? Why does it feel like something's wrong?

I was momentarily stunned as I still heard the wails on the other end of the line.

[You need to endure the pain, Akia. Stop hurting yourself,] Cyrus said softly.

Don't they know I can hear what they're talking about?

I touched my forehead as a slight headache crept in.

Why are they together? Why did I immediately suspect? It can't be... Does Cyrus plan to leave me when Akia returns? Did he really not pick me up, call me, or show affection because he's with the woman he deeply loved the day I first met him? What if he's ready to take a chance on that woman? I choked back a sob. He said he loved me! But he didn't say he loved me more than his ex!

Maybe it's just right for me to think like this, right?

Because he loved her first. I shouldn't blame him if the result is him leaving me. I let him love me and love me. Maybe his love for me is not enough?

He stayed beside his ex, does that mean he chooses Akia now? That he loves her more?

I stood up and paced, ignoring the headache from earlier because I rushed into the rain earlier.

"Calm down," I whispered to myself.

I fanned myself with my hand and tried to calm myself down.

"Calm down, He's not a cheater, okay? Cyrus isn't like that. He has his reason," I convinced myself.

Something whispered to me that I didn't know where it came from.

He's not a cheater, isn't he? Cyrus isn't like that, right? He has his reason, does he?

I shook my head again."