6

ASHELY'S POV

I looked at my so called boyfriend, as I've been doing for a long time now, and it hurts to know of his betrayal.

I don't even know what to say, or how to answer him on how I found out, but can I still be with him? I love him really. How can he betray me?

I'm really hoping there is an excuse for it. I'm really hoping. I can't start throwing tantrums yet, right? Not at something I haven't seen just because my source was from Riele.

"Ashely. You've been quiet." He complained.

I sighed deeply. I have to ask. I really have to, even though Riele said I shouldn't.

I felt a slight lessening of nervous tension, and swallowed. "I heard something, and I wanna be sure." I paused. "Are you cheating on me with another girl?" I dropped.

He furrowed his brows. "What? W..who the hell gave you that lie?" He shook his head. "I didn't. I didn't cheat on you with any girl."

Is it a lie?

"You are not cheating on me?" I asked again.

He nodded. "Yeah. I'm not. I love you, so I can't."

I looked at him unsurely. He's lying. He feels unstable, and he's fast to deny. I need to be smart about this. I can't be a fool.

I equally nodded. "OK. I know it wasn't true, Joel. Sorry I brought it out."

He smiled. "It's fine. I wonder what stoked the fire, but it is really fine."

I smiled back. "I need to get to class. We'll see later."

"No kiss, or peck?" He pouted.

I smiled, and pecked him on the lips, and left.

I'm seriously going to unearth the truth, and then he'll see my other color. My bad side.

JOEL'S POV

Seeing Ashely retreat, I tilted my head to the side on how she found out. I didn't really mean to.

She can't find out of my infidelity. I can't lose her.

"Hey man, what's up." I felt a hand touched my shoulder, but I feel tensed right now.

He walked to my front. "Are you OK?"

I looked at him. "She found out."

He furrowed his brows. "Who found out? And what did they find out?"

I sighed. "Ashely. She found out what I did, Dennis."

"How?"

I shrugged. "I don't know."

"Did you lie to her?"

I nodded. "I had to, even though I hated it."

He sighed. "Joel, I think it's best to tell her the truth, and explain. Wherever she got the truth from, she can seek for more answers."

"But, it'll crush her."

"It's better you tell her the truth, 'cause she finding out on her own will crush her more, and be fast about it if you don't want to lose her." He warned.

I sighed. How will I do it? How can I do it?

The situation irked me. I was anxious to do something like lying to her to evade looking so squarely at the problem, but now there seem to be no choice. I have to vomit the whole truth to her.

Dennis patted my back. "Come on, man. It'll be OK, but you have to settle with her before Halloween, or you won't have a date."

"You think Jordan invited her?" I asked with furrowed brows.

"Of course. Don't forget she's got Riele as a friend."

I scowled. Riele. "Of course. I do have to."

To think of it, Riele could be the rat. A rat with the eyes of a hawk.

"Something just came to mind, Den."

Dennis furrowed his brows. "What?"

"I think, I mean, there is a huge possibility Riele knew, and ratted me out."

Dennis nodded. "I thought so too. Her eyes seems to be everywhere. Watching everyone like a hawk. It's like she holds everyone secret in the palm of her hands."

"I wonder how she finds time to do it." I said to myself.

"To me, I believe she just happens to be in the right place at the right time."

I looked at him like he was crazy. "And you think it is right?"

He shrugged. "Some people are like that. They happen to mistakenly come across a place where secrets are stocked."

I scoffed. "One day, she'll end up in the worst place, where she'll have to die for that secret not to be revealed." I said in annoyance.

"Or maybe one day, she'll be a reporter. Someone who comes across secrets, and air it out."

I furrowed my brows at him. "Are you supposed to be supporting her?"

He chuckled. "I don't get you, bro. Am I supposed to be scared of her? You only get scared when you have something to hide, and I don't. I also think that she has a good ability, it's just the way she uses it."

I kept looking at this guy. He's unbelievable. How can he be on Riele's side right now?

Ability? Who cares? She should stay out of my way. I do not want I, and Ashely to break up. I love her so much.

I have to tell her the truth. I need to before it is too late.

"Let's go to gym class." I told him, and he nodded.