The Proposal That Broke Me

What would you do if your crush proposed to your best friend right in front of you?

CLARA'S POV

"Would you be mine, Ivy?" Ethan's masculine voice pierced through my eardrums.

The big red rose in his hand shone like a bright light.

My blood ran cold. Ethan, my long-time crush, was asking Ivy, my best friend, out.

I struggled to blink back the tears that were threatening to fall.

I had had feelings for him for more than two years now.

Ivy's eyes widened. "Eth...an." She muttered amid gasps.

"I... I know you're stunned, Ivy, but the truth is, I've had a crush on you for a while now."

"I really like you, Ivy. I like you so much," he confessed, staring right into her face.

I swallowed hard, air caught in my throat.

"Clara." Ivy called out.

I raised my eyelids, looking at her.

Her brows lowered. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

I took a quick breath and shrugged.

She shifted her gaze back to him, looked at me for a second, and nodded her head.

"Yeah, I would," she said, her voice low and soft.

My eyes filled with tears as Ethan stretched the flower toward her. She took it from him.

And her lips curled into a smile. A genuine smile.

I stepped back without realizing it.

"Are you fine?" Ivy's voice echoed in my ears.

I looked at her. Her brows drew together.

"N-no... I'm fine," I stammered and turned to leave.

I couldn't face them for a second more.

"What's wrong, Clara?" Ethan asked.

My gaze met his. "No...thing," I said, the word bitten through my teeth.

My nostrils flared, heat crawling up my neck to my ears.

I paused as Ivy walked toward me.

"Clara..." she called out, her hand resting on my shoulder.

I blinked, sweat running down my spine.

"I would see you guys later," I quickly voiced out and turned to leave.

Silence followed, but I didn't dare look back at them.

My legs trembled as I headed into one of the female toilets.

I hurried into one of the stalls and shut the door behind me immediately.

I flung my handbag onto the water closet tank and leaned against the wall.

My face burned. I pressed my hand against my chest.

My eyes brimmed with tears as hot tears rolled down my cheeks.

"I... this... isn't supposed... shit... shit!" I screamed.

"I wish everything would just work out for me... I wish..."

My knees buckled, and I sank onto the floor.

I buried my head in my arms.

"What are you doing in there for so long?" I heard a tiny feminine voice from the other side of the toilet.

I raised my head and looked at the locked door.

"Almost done," I struggled to say.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and staggered up.

I pulled my short yellow gown downward.

My eyelids blinked rapidly as I walked toward the water closet tank.

My manuals slipped from my handbag the second I picked it up.

I quickly caught my phone before it slipped off too.

My gaze was sullen as I bent down to pick them up.

I flung the handbag over my shoulder and held the two manuals in my hand.

I took a deep breath, released it, and pushed open the door.

"What the hell were you doing in there for so long?" the lady asked again.

Her short hair bounced as she spoke.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize I spent that much time in there," I responded.

She nodded without uttering another word and walked into the toilet.

I moved away without looking back.

The hallway smelled of different colognes. Shoulders bumped into mine.

My head ached terribly as I hurried to the gate stand.

The same place Ivy and I were earlier.

My heart skipped a beat as my gaze landed on Ethan.

He wasn't with Ivy anymore. He was heading toward the field section.

His white top and blue jean trousers shone in my eyes with every step he took.

"God... why not me?" I murmured to myself. My eyes followed him until...

I gasped as I was suddenly hit by something hard.

I quickly stepped back, struggling to catch my balance, my manuals falling to the floor.

"Don't you watch where you're going?" I heard a sharp masculine voice.

I looked up to see who it was.

It was James Hunter, the popular celebrity singer.

I bent down and picked up the manuals.

"Maybe if celebrities stopped walking like they own the world, people wouldn't bump into them!" I fired back.

His brows drew together.

I took a step forward, intending to walk past him when I realized it.

Most people's gazes in the hallway were on me. Some were even filming.

Their looks reminded me of who he was.

He was one of the most feared guys in the school.

And his father was the owner of the biggest company in the city.

He was the same guy who did whatever he wanted, and nobody could say anything about it.

I had been so disturbed by Ethan that I didn't stop to think about who he was before I uttered a word.

I sniffed. "I..." I stammered, the words caught in my throat.

His friends suddenly burst out laughing.

"Bro, she doesn't know who you are," one of them said to James.

Quiet whispers from the other students circulated around my ears.

I took a quick breath and was about to walk past again when a hand pulled me back.

"Aren't you going to apologize to James Hunter?" one of them blurted out.

"Why should I?" I said without blinking.

Most people were filming. I couldn't embarrass myself.

They would surely mock me if they found out that I was scared of him after what I had already said.

The celebrity king's friend let out a little gasp.

They suddenly began walking toward me.

My face was damp with sweat with every step they took closer to me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

What did they want to do? This wasn't funny anymore.

I stepped back, clutching my manuals tightly.

"What do you want?" I yelled after finding my voice.

"Drop it, guys," James said, raising his hand.

I blinked repeatedly as they stopped at his words.

A smirk appeared on his face as he leaned close enough to me.

Close enough for me to feel his breath near my ear.

"When you walk," he started and chuckled slightly.

Words only I could hear.

"Make sure you watch your back."