Chereads / Yours, Until Needed / Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Only to Catch a Bomb

Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Only to Catch a Bomb

That was surprisingly effective. 

The whole room quieted down, afraid of destroying the atmosphere, even I felt like controlling my breathing.

As if the possibility never occurred to her, Alexa hesitantly asked, "You have someone else you like?" Frankly, I understand, for even I did not entertain the possibility. 

"Is this true Eliana?" Seemingly stumped, I slowly nod back at Grandpa.

"Before anybody gets the wrong idea, it hasn't gone anywhere yet so there's nothing concrete to show." I prepared in advance.

"You should introduce him soon, maybe it'll help assure Alexa." Goaded Aunt Ingrid. Why is it my job to fix her trust issues?

"Sure if something actually materializes." Sporting a half hearted smile, I managed to escape only to start mentally listing believable candidates.

——

"I think I fucked up?" Legs slumped over the exercise mat, partially regretting today's outburst.

"You don't say." Rina pushes out while in the middle of a plank.

"She's going to look for an actual person, you'll be able to hold it off for a while but not for long."

"I know." Leaning back, I couldn't help but remember how this all started.

Three and a half years ago, I was dragged into a room for a meet-up that turned into a marriage talk. It was with Jasper whom I didn't even know. I didn't mind, for I truly didn't care. I've long known that business partnerships sometimes entail marriages like this. 

The Orwells seemed to fit the bill so I went along with it. Maybe I was too idealistic, probably even naive. I did my part in holding up the relationship, kept a clean bill and even tried conforming to his preferences. I treated him like a legitimate partner, even helping with his scores. That bastard graduated with grades that he could only dream of, so he managed to crawl into the same school for Masters. 

I know for a fact that I exerted a lot of effort. Firmly hanging onto the principle that if I were to do something, I better do it to the best of my ability. So I went all in. For the love of all that is holy, I even fixed his investment portfolio!

Looking back, I should've taken precautions. But who would've guessed that Alexa would go this far. And what's more surprising is how the elders took it. She cried favoritism and all of a sudden, cheating with the fiancé of your cousin wasn't as scandalous.

"Knowing her, round two was imminent. I need someone reliable." 

"Reliable is much easier than believable. Your problem is much bigger than that. Where do we find someone that's good enough for you to admire?" With a look that says "you're the problem here", I sigh in agreement. 

"Everyone and their dogs know that you'd rather swallow poison than enter into another relationship, heck, even just a partnership" Rina proceeds to throw up her hands like she's had enough of it. 

"Can you blame me?" Scrunching up my face to ask for confirmation.

"No, if even that cretin can cheat with a face like that, I'm not surprised that you hate the idea." She looks at me while browsing on her phone, probably checking on candidates for consideration. 

"What about Richard?" I asked Rina.

"I could've agreed if your face didn't look half as dejected as it does now. You look like your stop-loss order got messed up." she grumbled back at my suggestion.

It wasn't a productive afternoon, if nothing we've only come to realize that we may need to import candidates.

"My standards aren't even that high." I complained, procrastinating instead of completing today's workout timely.

"Exactly where the problem lies, you realize that no one will believe that you're going for just character. And if we do find that golden Buddha, he may end up cracking under Alexa and Cruela if he's got potholes for other aspects."

"I'll check tomorrow, maybe actually look around. If my guess is right, Alexa wouldn't let me buy time."

____

Summit University was as crowded as usual, with students shuffling towards their classes just as the bell rang. Normally, I would be darting straight into the classroom, but I'm here literally scouting for a lifeline. I've never noticed, but now that I'm actively observing, I realize that the population was rather skewed towards actual college students or much older graduate students. 

I groaned inwardly at the realization, and was internally grateful that I left out the details of my made-up crush. Operations Management went by like a breeze but I wasn't any closer to getting anywhere in my scouting operation.

"Hey, did you hear? Jasper's fiancée got into an accident the other day?" Whispered a student near the door I was supposed to exit from.

"Yeah! I heard it was because she found evidence of Jasper and his ex meeting up." another girl chimed in.

"But isn't the ex our class rep?" 

As the conversation got more incredulous I figured I'd come out before a more dramatic scenario is conjured. So as I pulled the door open, nearly startling the souls of the students outside, I regretfully came into view of a rather proud-looking frog.

The girls crowding the door gladly separated, probably hoping that I'd ignore their earlier conversation, and I really would have, if not for Jasper blocking the way.

Objectively speaking, the guy in front of me wasn't ugly by modern beauty standards, but that doesn't mean that he was anything special. Maybe it'll help if he eases on the hair gel and the insoles. He could barely walk properly after all. We call him a frog not because of his looks, but because he marinates people to ease them into his crappy personality. He did it to me for three years, slowly getting worse and worse until the boiling point. And now I wonder what kind of spectacle he's brewing.

I cock an eyebrow at him, waiting to hear what he's got to say about all this.

"Hey Eli, sorry for getting you into hot water. I didn't think that they'd take your approach to heart." a hand in his trouser pocket, Jasper tried to play it cool, or so he thinks.

Wow. The audacity.

"Are you talking about the time I asked for your late paper? Sorry I didn't mean for everyone to know about your noncompliance." I looked at him regretfully, preventing my eyes from rolling as his face cracked.

Thinking that I've ended this conversation, I tried going my merry way, but he just won't let up.

"I heard the good news from Alexa, it seems like you've finally moved on. Who's the lucky guy?" He said through gritted teeth. 

No wonder you're doing this outside.

As I spun around to look at Jasper, I bumped into something solid and for a moment I wondered if my nose was broken. I winced at the pain only to realize that I was facing someone's chest. I looked up, and for a moment, I wish I hadn't, for in front of me was a disaster waiting to happen.

Tall, infuriatingly handsome, with hair carelessly styled and clear eyes that are now partially irritated. Maybe it's not him, I pray. He looked down, angling his head to the side, a slow smirk creeping in.

I closed my eyes because any more and they would bulge out. Maybe if I can't see anything, he won't be there. Denial.

My feet felt wobbly, staggering at how bad my luck must be to encounter two disasters simultaneously. How is this even possible?! Anger.

Behind the towering wall, came a familiar voice. Normally I would love to hear this, but this time, it just solidified my curse.

"Eli! I was looking for you, I was wondering why you weren't outside yet." Rina, my normally lovely best friend, chirped. I looked at her, eyes close to tears, wanting to ask why she'd do something like this.

She smiles, clearly understanding my predicament, but choosing to abandon me, her life long friend. Maybe this is my karma for lying about liking someone. I'll be good, please just cancel all of this out. Bargaining.

"Still need me to steady you?" Slight mirth noticeable in his tone, he asks with a hand steadying my waist.

To others, this would probably sound sweet, a perfect start to your standard rom-com, but considering who he's saying it to, it sounds like a verdict.  

It wasn't even long, a couple of seconds at best, but if not for his exaggerated throat clearing, I would have forgotten the existence of Jasper.

"Rina, long time no see!" Jasper hollered at Rina, clearly unaware that he had probably died several times in her head. To which, she graces him with an eye twitch and the fakest possible smile.

In reality, I would have been okay with any of this had they happened separately. But with Jasper's mouth, and this guy's selective hearing, I might as well crucify myself. What's the point of preserving my dignity when it's about to be trampled like this. Despair.

"Maybe you could enlighten us? Eli's being too tight-lipped." Flicking his head back, like his heavily gelled hair would respond, he tries to goad Rina.

"Enlighten you on what?" asked Rina nonchalantly, playing with her fingertips as if she had no idea where he was going with this.

"Oh you know, she told everyone she's got someone else. As her family, of course I'd be curious." How is he not choking on his own saliva right now?

Unable to help it, I glanced over at Rina who was partially blocked by broad shoulders. She's never liked Jasper, and she's never had much patience with such fake conversations.

"And?"

"Don't tell me, you don't know? Aren't you her best friend? Or maybe…it's because it's not true?" A perfect fit for Alexa, Jasper truly lives up to his identity as a scum.

Rina is uncharacteristically calm after being dragged around like this, which makes me even more worried about the situation.

"Sorry to break your bubble, but he's very real." Hands on her waist, like she's not making shit up, Rina looked confident.

"Oh?" On a very rare occasion, I even had the same reaction as Jasper. We didn't get anywhere last time we looked.

Similarly curious, I tilted my head closer to Rina and that's when I caught a glimpse of her face. Shit.

Time stood still and I felt like everything was in slow motion. I could feel every muscle as I almost clambered over to Rina in an attempt to shut her mouth, only to be held off by strong arms.

Just like thunder, Rina points beside her, not even using her mouth, but still effectively ending my life.

Seemingly aware that something nefarious was about to go down, the temporary prison cell looked at Rina, then at me. Not saying anything with his mouth but clearly mocking with his eyes.   

Gasps could be heard around us, just as my heart stopped cold for a moment. It didn't take long, since I wasn't even given the choice.

I pinched his waist before looking up at him, trying to convey as much in my glare that probably looked like someone intensely constipated.

 "Who?!" Jasper sounded astounded.

Powering through the pain, I finally manage a response. "Lucian."

Lucian fucking Sinclair.

Acceptance.