The In-laws Regret

Chapter 23

Rachel was on her way to the cafeteria when she saw someone walking towards her. She thought that Mike was going to stop or at least give her a side way glance, but he did not do that. He just kept walking on like he did not see her at all. There was no way that she could put up with this indifference. How can he treat her like this? How can he treat her like she doesn't exist at all? She really wanted to know the answers. Just where did it all go wrong? They used to be good friends, the three of them used to have a good relationship, but now Nelson really hates her and Mike won't even look at her face. Just what did she do wrong?.

Perhaps Rachel already knew the answer but she did not want to accept it. She did not want to accept that she had done something wrong. She was under pressure too! There was nothing that she could do too! If the both of them were hurting, does it mean that she too wasn't hurting? Instead of being this way to her, why don't they consider the fact that she has a hard time too? Rachel gathered up all her courage and held on to Mike as he walked past her. "Do you really hate me this much?" She asked.

Without even bothering to turn back, he asked, "What do you think?" Mike felt like he was a complete idoit. He knew what this girl had done. How she hurt him two years ago without even thinking twice about it, he had not forgotten about it, it was still fresh in his mind. But why is it she can still make him such a mess? Even though he was acting completely indifferent to her, his mind was a complete mess.

Rachel looked around, anyone could pass by here. No matter what, she did not want to be embarrassed in front of the students at Viants High. She still wanted to save some face for herself. "Mike, I feel like the both of us have a lot to talk about. How did our relationship become like this? Won't you at least look at me? Please let's just try and talk this out. Let's talk in the classroom. I really want to find out just what it is that I did so wrong to you. Just why do you hate me so much?" She asked.

"I don't think that there's anything for us to talk about" Mike said. He was already done with her. Two years ago, she made her choice and she made it very clear to him. It won't be him. So why does she keep clinging on to him like this?

Rachel tightened her grip on his hand more. She was letting go of her pride and begging him now and he won't even give her a chance to talk with him? Just how deep does his hatred for her run? "I'm begging your right now. Just how much do you hate me? Can't you at least spare some minutes to talk with me?"she asked.

Maybe it was her pitiful face, or the fact that he has never seen her beg anyone like this before, Mike actually agreed to talk with her. She would only be the one talking anyway. He did not have anything that he wanted to say to her. He ended up going into the classroom with her. "What do you want to say to me? Make it quick. I really don't have the time to be here with you like this" he said. Mike could not help but be petty.

Rachel sighed. "What really happened to us Mike? Why did our relationship turn like this? I know that that happened but you should know more than anyone else that I don't have a choice. I have to do what's expected of me! Aren't you all the same? It's not as if there's something that we can do about it anyway!" Rachel said. She was using the fact that she could not say no, but deep down, she knew that she would have done it anyway. It was just convinient excuse for her. Unfortunately for Rachel, Mike wasn't buying it.

"What? There was nothing that you could do? Do you really think that I am stupid Rachel? Is that why you keep doing this to me? I really don't want to talk to you about this. You should know more than anyone else that we will never be able to go back to the way that we were. If I ask you to go back to the way that we were before, if I asked you to return things completely to how they were, before Nelson left, you definitely won't do that. Don't you already have your mother's company? At least you don't have to struggle for that. Why won't you let me go?" Mike asked. His words were quite harsh, but they were the truth.

Rachel felt like she was going to cry. All the words that she had kept bottled up inside her for two years, all the words that she wanted to say to the both of them, she felt like it was suffocating her and making it difficult for her to breath. "Alright, you and I, we can't completely return, but you really don't have to ignore me like this right? You know that there's a way to fix that. And you and Nelson, why are the both of you like this? You really don't have to go against each other! By any chance. . . is it because of me?" Rachel asked.

Mike could not help but laugh. She really is a peice of work. He could not believe that she thought that what happened then happened because of her. When did she become this concieted? "Nelson and I, the both of us basically have nothing to do with you! You don't need to think that anything that happened between us happened because of you because it isn't so at all!" Mike said.

Rachel looked at him. So it isn't because of her? Then what really happened to the both of them? What did they fall out with each other so badly? Two years ago, they did not keep any secrets from her, what happened? Is he really telling the truth? Does it have nothing to do with her?

"If you have nothing to say Rachel, then I'm going to leave. You don't have to do this again" he said.

"Do you really hate me this much Mike? Do you really not love me anymore?" Rachel asked.

It was this conversation that Bella walked in on. She only heard the last part. He does not love her anymore? Bella was confused. Just what type of relationship does she have with Mike? She wanted to know.

But Mike did not give her an answer. "don't you already have Nelson? Aren't the both of you are going to get engaged? Why does that matter to you?" He asked.

Bella who was standing outside was shocked. Engaged? She is going to get engaged to Nelson? Aren't they just 18? Really what kind of a school is this?

Rachel did not know what to say anymore. It was true that she was going to get engaged to Nelson. In fact, she was already in love with him. . . . . right? Mike is right. She did not need to know the answer to this. Perhaps, not knowing is the best way out for her. In the end, she choose to continue to remain ultimately selfish.

She did not say anything, she just walked out of the classroom.

Bella saw Rachel as she walked out. She immediately pretended like she was just walking past and that she had not been listening.

But Rachel did not fall for it. One look at her and she knew that this girl had heard something. But she did not want to bother with her right now. She still needed to clear her mind first. "Don't think that this is over. You had better not repeat whatever you think you heard today" Rachel said and walked past her.

Bella stared after her. What type of attitude is that? She won't talk about it anyway since it had nothing to do with her but how can she be so rude to her? It's up to her to decide!

She was just going to walk past when she caught sight of Mike. He was sitting inside the classroom. He had a distant look on his face, like he was thinking about something. Bella was sure that she could also see pain and regret on his face. Does he really love her? Is that it? Bella did not know what to think. She was going to walk past. It had nothing to do with her anyway. Whether he loves her or not, it's none of her business. Bella thought of what Lily said. She is right. She should not get involved with these people.

But when she took another look again and saw the pain that was on his face, she knew that she won't be able to ignore him. She really wanted to go over there and find out where was going on with him.

Subconsciously, Bella walked into the classroom. It was as if he did not even notice someone was there because he did not look up once. Bella found herself looking at his face again. He really is handsome. But right now, he did not have that warm smile that was always on his face. No, he looked like he was suffering, like he was in a lot of pain.

"Are. . . are you okay?" Bella found herself voicing out.

Mike looked up at her. It's this girl again. Why does he keep running into her? Sigh, he really did not want to see or talk to anyone right now.

After two years have passed, after he told himself constantly that he was already over it, she was still able to make him like this. What should he do? He really hated himself being all pitiful and miserable because of her but he really did not know what he should do.

Mike looked at the expression that was on Bella's face again and he sighed. Just how much of their conversation did she hear?

"You, did you hear it all? What part did your hear?" Mike asked. There was no need for them to beat around the bush. It was already clear enough that she heard him.

Bella wanted to lie and tell him that she did not hear anything but when she opened her mouth, she realized that she could not do it. She found herself telling him the truth.

"Well, I did not mean to eavesdrop on your conversation! I swear I wasn't doing it on purpose. I was just passing by when I heard you talking. You, you looked like you weren't okay so I came in! I really wasn't planning on listening in!" Bella said. She did not want him to think that she does not know how to respect the privacy of others. Creating a bad image of herself in his mind was the last thing that she wanted to do. She looked into his eyes trying to read the emotions that were there but the only thing that she could see was the endless pain in them.

"What and what part did you hear?" Mike asked. He had to know exactly how much she knew.

"If you loved her. I only heard her asking you if you still loved her!" Bella said. She did not even have the courage to lie to him.

Mike gave her an 'are you sure' look.

"I really did not hear more than that! That is the only thing I heard. I won't lie to you!" Bella said.

Mike sighed. Since she already heard, he can't just brush her off right? "Well, what do you want to know? Bella and I. . we. . " Mike was still talking when she cut him off.

"No, I don't want to hear it!" She said.