Chapter 15 The Betrayal (1/2)

Because school was so taxing, Rena and Leena had decided to rent an apartment near the university, going home only on the weekends. After work, Leena headed straight to their apartment, excited to share with her friend about her dramatic encounter with the famed Alina. Part of the reason why she was so excited was because Rena admired Alina just as much as she did.

Rena was the sort of person who thought love was like a theoretical study. She often copied notes and short passages pertaining to love from the internet. Despite this, the only person she'd ever dated was Jimmy. They'd been together since high school. She would always talk about how stable their relationship was, and how deeply in love they were. Leena had always teased her about this.

Leena burst into their apartment, excited to share the news, only to be greeted by a sorry sight. Her friend lay curled up in her bed, weeping inconsolably. She was an absolute mess, shuddering from her sobs, tissues strewn all over the floor. Her heart ached at the sight. ”Hey, what's wrong?” Leena asked gently, genuinely concerned for her friend. ”Why are you crying?”

Rena just looked at her, then burst into tears again. ”Hey, you can talk to me about anything,” Leena whispered, scooting over to her side to rub her back comfortingly. ”What happened?” she asked again.

”I... thought that... I was the happiest person in the world,” she answered between sniffles. ”Now that I think about it, maybe it was because I am so stupid.”

”Why would you say that?” Leena asked, a sense of dread forming in her stomach.

Rena turned to face her and bit her trembling lips. ”It was so painful, Leena… I just found out that my boyfriend has been in love with someone else. This whole time!”

Leena's eyes widened at her friend's confession. She quickly took her hand and rubbed it gently. ”Hey, I'm here for you. What exactly happened?”

”We've been together for so long. I loved him so much, and I thought he felt the same for me. It turns out he isn't any different from other men!” she spat angrily. ”I don't understand how he could replace me so easily!”

”Wait!” Leena's mind was whirling. ”Can you tell me in a way that I can understand?” That sense of dread in Leena's stomach grew tenfold.

”He cheated on me!” Rena burst into loud sobs. ”He met some pretty woman somewhere and fell in love with her. He kept this from me this whole time! It was so stupid of me to have ignored all the red flags! I should've seen it, he was changing... And guess who the woman is!”

Leena was stunned. Honestly, she didn't take Jimmy for someone who'd cheat, especially on someone like Rena. Their relationship had been so stable all these years, and they'd always make amends after quarreling. Even though Rena tended to be a bit playful, she loved her boyfriend deeply. How could such a tragedy befall their relationship?

”Who's the woman?” Leena asked breathlessly.

Rena's eyes flashed with hatred as she gritted her teeth. ”It is Alina.”

”What?” Leena gasped in bewilderment. She was found herself at a loss for words. How could Alina do such a thing?