Chapter 11 - Betrayal

Aria's POV

I struggled to breathe, my chest tightening as panic consumed me. My mind spinning with what I had just witnessed. Tears streamed down my face as I ran, ran, and ran, not knowing where I was going. For the first time, the college felt suffocating—a place I desperately needed to escape.

“Long breaths, Aria. Long breaths,” I whispered to myself, trying to steady my shaking hands. I made my way to the ground behind the college building, a vast open space where I could feel the cool breeze against my skin. I needed fresh air, but even that didn’t seem to help.

I collapsed onto the ground, my knees giving way as sobs wracked my body. The feeling of emptiness overwhelmed me, a void created by the kind of betrayal I’d never imagined. The two persons that were one of the most precious people in my life had shattered my trust in a way I couldn’t fathom.

I was completely broken when I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. Startled, I turned to see Ivy standing there. Without a word, I flung myself into her arms, clinging to her as I cried like my heart was breaking—which it was. Ivy didn’t say anything; she just patted my back gently. And honestly, that silence, her quiet presence, was exactly what I needed at that moment.

After what felt like an eternity, I pulled myself together slightly, looked up at her, and then hugged her again.

“Tell me you won’t do the same,” I whispered, fear and anguish lacing my voice.

“First, tell me what happened. Only then can I answer,” Ivy replied, her voice calm and steady. She was right, as always.

“M-my best friend,” I stammered. “The one I thought was my best friend…betrayed me , evoked my trust issues all over again.” Tears started falling again as the weight of my words sank in.

“Aria,” Ivy said gently, “why are you using such a big word for this? Let’s hear his side too.”

“Wait—his side?” I frowned in confusion. “Ivy, this isn’t the time to joke. It’s not his side. It’s her side. Come on!” My voice cracked with disappointment.

Ivy’s expression shifted. “Aria, what exactly are you talking about?” she asked, concern in her voice.

I took a deep, shaky breath. “My school bestie… She betrayed me, Ivy. I wasn’t in touch with her because she never treated me right, but I never expected this. Look.” I showed her the picture I’d seen, tears threatening to spill again.

“She—she is my best friend. And he—he…” My voice broke as Ivy immediately understood. She hugged me tightly, holding me close as I sobbed into her shoulder.

In the background, Elio approached with a water bottle in hand. He stood silently, watching me break down, and after a while, he handed me the bottle. I drank a little, my throat parched from crying, and we all sat on a nearby bench.

Ivy finally spoke, her tone measured. “Aria, for how long you were together?"

“Almost half a year, I guess. But that’s not the point. I healed from it, Ivy. I moved on. I just never expected this…from her. Look at the caption—‘ Three years of togetherness.’ That means he was cheating on me with her the entire time? I knew he was cheating, which is why I broke up with him, but I didn’t know it was her! My best friend? My fucking BFF?”

My voice rose in frustration, and I covered my face with my hands. “Dad was right. I don’t know how to judge people.”

Ivy wrapped an arm around me and said softly, “You’ve been friends with me for over a month now. Do you really think I could stoop so low? Like your so-called best friend?”

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I shook my head. “I’m sorry, Ivy. It was just the heat of the moment. I trust you. I trust all four of us. This group…I’ve always needed a group like this, and now I have it.” I paused, realizing something. “But wait—where’s Ray? Why didn’t he come? I almost forgot about him with all this shit going on.”

Ivy and Elio exchanged a look, something unspoken passing between them.

“What happened? Is everything okay?” I asked, sensing something was off.

Before they could respond, Ray appeared. I smiled and waved at him, but his expression was…odd. Confused, even.

Elio suddenly ran toward him and hugged him, which was strange. They never did stuff like that.

Ray smiled faintly and said, “Class is starting soon. Are you guys even planning on coming, or…?”

“Yes, of course,” I replied, but Ivy cut in quickly. “Aria, you’re sitting with me today. Please. I’m asking nicely.”

Her insistence caught me off guard, but I nodded. She was just trying to look out for me. Even though it was still hurting, I didn’t want to show it anymore.

-

Elio’s POV

When Aria asked about Ray, it became painfully clear that she hadn’t seen what had happened in class earlier. Frankly, I didn’t want her to. Not now, at least.

The way she was breaking down over her past shocked me to my core. I was furious—ready to confront and even hurt the people responsible for making her cry like that. But I knew better. Bringing up her past would only make things worse. Yet here was Ray, doing exactly what he shouldn’t.

When I spotted him approaching, looking confused and a little out of it, I knew he was about to make things worse. To stop him, I ran toward him and hugged him, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do after what he’d done.

As I hugged him, I whispered in his ear, “Act like you just arrived. Say you didn’t see us in class and that the others told you we were here. You’re already thirty minutes late, so this story will work. I’ll deal with you later. For now, don’t mess this up. Behave normally, like nothing happened.”

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