Charlotte left the room, troubled and sobbing. She had spoken words she couldn't take back, though they were the truth.
"Cedric, can you follow Charlotte?" Sarah asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I hastily stood up and followed Charlotte. On my way, I wrestled with understanding Sarah's intentions. Was it concern for her friend that made her send me after Charlotte, or was it to instill guilt in me?
As I followed Charlotte, I called out, "Hey Charlotte, wait up!" She stopped, turned around slowly, and said in her soft, soothing voice, now laced with emotion, "What?"
"You won't believe this, but I'm here because Sarah wanted me to check on you. Are you okay?" I asked. Charlotte wiped away her tears and suggested, "Let's go sit on those benches and talk."
We walked over to the empty benches in the hospital and sat down. I locked eyes with her, confused and trying to understand her actions. "But how could you suddenly kiss me? You know I'm with Sarah. Why? I want to understand your motivation."
Charlotte's expression turned nostalgic. "You can laugh or hurt me, but the truth is, I've fallen in love with you since the day of our presentation. Do you remember that day?"
"I mean, the day we presented our assignment, and Peter exuded confidence, setting the tone for our incredible performance. I vividly recall his impeccable attire, showcasing his keen sense of style."
She described Peter's outfit in detail, then shifted her focus to me.
"That day, when you stepped forward to present, the audience's laughter stung. But you stood tall, and that's when I began to admire you. I saw something in you that others didn't, besides Sarah."
She recalled my presentation, her voice filled with admiration. "You took a deep breath and began to speak, your voice steady and clear. The room fell silent, mesmerized by your words."
Charlotte's eyes sparkled as she remembered the applause. "They applauded only for you. Our group showcased excellent teamwork, and the lecturer smiled, clearly impressed."
She laughed, recalling the event. "That day changed the other students' perspective on us, especially on you. They began to be kind and wanted to work with us."
As Charlotte finished her story, her expression turned serious, and she gazed into my eyes.
As Charlotte finished her story, her expression turned serious, and she gazed into my eyes. "I've loved you since then Cedric. I tried to bury my feelings, but I failed today, and I hurt my friend because of it. I hate myself for what I did, but a part of me is happy I kissed you."
She looked down, her eyes welling up with tears, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry, Cedric. I never meant to hurt Sarah like this." Her shoulders slumped, weighed down by the guilt and remorse that filled her.
"No, no, no, you don't have to apologize," I said. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I feel guilty." Charlotte's face lit up, her eyes wide with surprise. She parted her lips, but no words came out. Her eyes sparkled, curiosity etched on her face.
"Look, I don't want to sound bad, and I don't think I'm a bad boyfriend. Truth be told, I'm the one to blame. When you kissed me, I didn't stop you because I loved it. I wanted you to kiss me more, but guilt washed over me."
I cleared my throat, then continued, "I have fallen for you, Charlotte. I mean, for weeks now, since the day we started working together on that project. You make me happy, and whenever I see you, my heart skips a beat. I love the way I feel when I'm around you, and I realized I'm in love with you."
Charlotte looked at me, leaned in, and whispered, "But why, when you knew I'm Sarah's friend?" She paused, her eyes searching mine. "I loved you too, for a long time now. So, what are we going to do? I feel terrible about this."
As soon as Charlotte asked, "what are we going to do?" I hastily stood up and headed back to Sarah's room. As I walked back, my mind replayed the events of the past hour, and my emotions shifted from confusion to guilt.
I loved Sarah deeply, and she was the reason behind my transformation. She had helped me improve my appearance, supporting me emotionally and sacrificing her own interests for my happiness.
As I thought about this, a wave of guilt washed over me. I sobbed, leaning against her bed. Sarah, sensing my distress, grabbed my hand tightly, her eyes filled with concern. Meanwhile, Charlotte stood by the door, a silent observer to the unfolding scene.
"It's okay, Cedric, don't worry too much about me. I'm getting better, and the doctor said I could be discharged today." Her voice trembled, filled with emotions and concern for me. However, what she didn't know was that I felt guilty for being the reason she was in the hospital, and that's what made me sob uncontrollably.
Charlotte, hesitant to come closer after Sarah had told her to walk out, took two steps forward and said, "Sarah, I want you to know I'm sorry, and I can't take back the words I said to you recently. How are you feeling now?" Before Sarah could respond, Charlotte continued, "I've called Chris and Peter; they'll be here any minute. "
As soon as Charlotte finished speaking, Peter and Chris burst into the room, flowers in hand. They hugged Charlotte, then approached the bed where I was leaning. "Hey Sarah, how are you feeling?" Chris asked, his voice filled with emotion and concern. He had heard from Charlotte and was genuinely worried about Sarah. Chris's concern was personal; he had feelings for Sarah, making his emotional investment in her well-being even stronger.
Charlotte finally gathered the courage to walk towards the bed. She leaned in, her face etched with concern for Sarah, and kissed her on the forehead. "I am sorry, friend," she whispered. Unaware, she grabbed my hand and held it. But Sarah noticed, and her face contorted in anger and frustration. "Charlotte, why?" she cried out, her voice shaking. "Please leave the room. Get out of here!" She sobbed uncontrollably...
To be continued...