Chapter 5: Tuna

The other day, I decided to meet Hailee. I sent her the location and slid my phone back inside my Hermés bag. I realized today was the perfect timing for it since everyone’s not at home. Mom and her beloved Trevor were in a date while my bastard of a stepbrother was nowhere to be found since I woke up and the hell I care with his whereabouts. He’s probably mad at his father’s decision that’s why he just left unnoticed.

Well, that’s extremely better. I still can’t forget how he blatantly threatened me yesterday. That moron!

Anyway, I need to remind myself not to make a big deal over things related to him if I want to keep stress away from me. It’s bad for my mental health so, I really must keep my cool. He doesn’t like me? Then, so be it! I don’t like a piece of jerk either.

If I want to live peacefully, I have to avoid an asshole like him. In that way, things will be easier for me. That’s right.

I was reciting it repeatedly in my head when my phone vibrated. Ugh, must be Hail. Can’t she wait? I just happened to get into my car. I accepted the call without looking at the screen and it shocked me when I heard a man’s voice instead. 

“Bev…” what the heck? Is this Duke?

I checked the screen and confirmed it’s really my good boyfriend who was calling and I wasn’t just assuming. My expression turned into a full sarcasm.

“Oh hi, Duke! What is it this time? Am I going to hear another of your excuses?” Damn. This must be important! He dared to disturb me from driving, this better be worth a sec.

“Let’s break up, Beverly.” He said and I was like, I can’t believe it! This thick-faced jerk!

“What? You know I can always accept if you break up with me wherever and whenever you want but not in a fucking call! You motherfucker cheating ass-“ before I could finish my sentence, he blatantly ended the line.

My jaw dropped as I stared at my phone screen. This is so ridiculous. I can’t believe he broke up with me through a phone call. I feel insulted! And remembering I used to love that scumbag makes me sick cuz that’s a more insult to take. I feel stupid!

Still pissed, I arrived at the cuisine I told to my best friend and there, I immediately saw her sitting next to the glass wall. She waved a hand at me. My annoyance was too obvious as I sat on the chair in front of her. It created a mad sound as I pulled it which caused some customers to glance at our way. Hail was looking intrigued with the way I acted in her eyes. 

I let her tell our orders to the waiter first before I started with my rants and she gladly listen to every word that would come out of my mouth, as always.

“Freaking really? That bastard! Just where did he get the guts to do that!?” she hissed after I told her about the damn phone call breakup. 

“Swear, it doesn’t feel right.” I rolled my eyes and sipped on my frappe. 

“Because it’s really not! Goodness!” I could tell she’s also pissed at my dickhead ex-boyfriend. “He could’ve just meet you in person! Why through a call? He’s definitely a scumbag, I already told you before.” She shook her head at me, as if her disappointment that time just came back right now to bother me.

Meh. Even me, I’m so disappointed in myself. The disappointment I have when it comes to every decision I have made in the past and recently… it’s unexplainable. You reap what you sow, huh.

“Well, I was stupid.” I shrugged, proceeding to my pasta.

“No. You were naïve, gullible and a fool.” She corrected harshly. I rolled my eyes. Yeah, that’s more like her. “But Duke’s the stupidest and the dumbest of all. He already got a diamond yet he chose to throw it away and picked a rock instead. What a numbskull.” She insulted my ex-boyfriend which she could do all day long and I won’t intervene. She probably saved all of her insults to him from the day we became official up to this very moment of betrayal.

“I just couldn’t agree more.” I smirked. She mirrored it. 

“Yeah? But why are you not so affected? Hmm, am I missing something here? Normally, you would cry a river-“

“What? Why would I cry river for that dumbass?” I chuckled. She grinned. “He doesn’t deserve any of my precious tears.” I rolled my eyes as I put some pasta in my mouth.

“That’s my Bev there,” she gave me a thumbs up. I shrugged proudly. “But I’m just curious though. Have you really moved on, that fast?”

“Um, yeah? I mean, it wasn’t a hard process cuz it’s him.” I giggled. Her lips parted but eventually, she mingled with my giggles. “Anyway, let’s quit talking about him, shall we? He’s not even worth our topic. I just really want to spill everything that’s happening in my life like a lifetime requirement to you.” I joked, but it’s actually true. 

“Aww, my sweetie bun! So, what do we talk about? Your hottie stepbro?” she grinned with a full tease. I almost choked while swallowing my pasta!

She panicked and handed me a glass of water which I quickly took to drink. When I slowly calmed down, I put the empty glass down and threw her a glare. She looked at me innocently.

“Don’t ever mention anything about that man to me again.” I warned. She raised a brow, as if it she became more interested. She was about to make her response but my eyes were quick to notice a familiar tall and muscular man who just entered the restaurant. “Wow, speaking of the devil…” and surprisingly, he’s with a tanned skin woman with a natural curly black hair.

My gaze followed them until he picked their table. The world is to small for us, huh. Ugh, how I hate to see him at a random time and place. But what are they doing here? Probably dating? He's dating that mexicana girl?

The hell I care.

“Whoa, whoa. Hold up! Is that… really him? Your stepbro?” Hail asked with an obvious shock. I looked away.

“Unfortunately.” I lazily rolled the fork in my pasta, put my palm on my chin and let out a dramatic sigh.

“Are you kidding me? That man is certainly a god! He could pass as Hades’ reincarnation for god’s sake! Look at those firm biceps and harsh jawline. Bev, you got the hottest stepbro, what the heck?!” Hail just couldn’t stop from it, she kept on glancing at their table from time to time and it was bothering me.

What if he sees us? 

“Stop it, Hail. Don’t be so obvious. Gosh!” This girl, really! 

“But who’s that girl? A fling? Flavor of the month? Or his girlfriend? Holy molly! Your beloved stepbro is taken? Do you know about this, Bev?” she really doesn’t know how to stop, eh? 

My face palmed. “Do I look like I know everything about him? And I’m not interested to know any.” I hissed. Her eyes squinted. Oh, here she goes again…

“You sounded like a jealous stepsister. Are you?” her annoying teasing grin was back. Jeez!

“Jealous, my ass!” 

Thankfully, the waiter arrived with the desserts Hail ordered for us so it distracted her from her nonsense assumptions. But the moment the waiter put my dessert, I immediately smelled something weird that my stomach reacted as well.

“What’s this?” I asked while scrunching my nose. They both gave me a confused look.

“Uh… that’s tuna fish cake for you, ma’am.” He said.

I nodded and tried to calm myself down but then, I realized I just really couldn’t contain it anymore. 

“I need a restroom. Excuse me.” I stood up and walked out in a rush, leaving them in shock. 

I hurriedly entered the women’s area, thankful that no one’s inside as I pushed myself to the sink and started throwing up.