“You know when I heard Alex and Logan’s names I couldn’t help but remember the people in my school. They grew into a popular pair. After that, I thought it couldn’t possibly be them. But…” Courtney exhaled sharply, her nostrils flared out, “When I sneaked a peek through the door, imagine my surprise upon seeing Ms. Spy over here.”
She waved a hand towards Emily who stepped forward. Then, she glared at Alex, “Especially when she called you, Alexandra. Then, I. Heard. Everything. Else.”
Before Emily could pounce, Alex blocked her path. Her gaze hardened at every word Courtney spat out. From the beginning, Courtney had used a condescending tone. They were on the defense here. If they made one wrong move, it would be over for them.
“Courtney” Alex spoke gently, “Listen to me—”
“Listen to you?!” Courtney scoffed, “I probably would have five minutes ago but not anymore. You are a liar, Alexandra. Is Logan protecting you? Because that could never clean the dirt you live on.”
“Please. It’s not what you—”
“Oh? You’re not actually a girl? You’re not actually an heiress?” Courtney shot back. Alex winced, a lump forming in her throat, “You are deceiving everyone! Don’t think you can get away with something like that just because you have the money.”
Alex’s fears came rushing in her mind. All the talk she had with her parents about getting close to people and how it wouldn’t be okay to befriend them. The feeling of betrayal she would impose onto others when they find out the truth. The guilt she wouldn’t be able to bear.
Her chest squeezed, making it difficult to breathe. She opened her mouth but the air she inhaled came out just as quickly. They didn’t even reach her lungs, just her windpipe.
Seeing her cousin about to have an attack, Emily took over the conversation. She side-stepped around Alex, saying, “You have no idea what you are talking about.”
Courtney merely laughed without humor, “I’m sorry I’m not a brainless person you can brainwash with your words.”
Emily’s temple throbbed. She disliked this kind of people the most. They had their minds closed off to any possibilities other than their own assumptions and conclusions. They had no opening to hear reason because they thought they were above it all.
“I never had bad intentions, Courtney” Alex whispered meekly. She could already feel how this situation would end. Unless they threw Courtney in a locked room, she would find a way to expose Alex.
The eyes that used to gaze at her with admiration had become knives that could cut someone with one look, “Could have fooled me. Sounds to me that you have been selfish. If I remember right, people think that is a bad thing.”
Emily bared her teeth, “Don’t talk like you know what my cousin has been through.”
Her hands clenched into fists. How could someone be so shallow? Why did these people like to judge another based on a few words? Why couldn’t they take the time to think about things rationally?
“Ohoho, so I should be considerate then?” Courtney sneered, “Is that what you mean? What about what others went through from her lies?”
“You mean like you who had a crush on her?”
Courtney flipped her hair over her shoulder, “So my feelings are as little as ants now? If it’s not my feelings, it’s okay to play with it? Others don’t count? So wholesome of you.”
Every word that came out of Courtney’s mouth pierced Alex. She didn’t… she didn’t mean any of that. Her body began to shake—especially her hands and her feet. They also grew colder by the second. She focused on staying upright. If things became worse, she’d need to hold onto something.
“If you’d just shut up and give Alex a chanc—”
Courtney rolled her eyes, “Am I Logan? I don’t think so. No one deserves this kind of treatment. I’m gonna expose you for these lies! And neither of you can stop me!”
“Oh, I can” Emily smirked.
In one smooth motion, she snatched Courtney’s purse and checked her pockets. She soon found a phone from one of them.
Glancing at the screen, Emily’s eyes saw red. Her hand squeezed around the phone. She pursed her lips at Courtney, “You’ve been recording? Who are you trying to fool? What justice s*** speech have you been spouting?! If you want to expose my cousin, you would have done a live stream and not a recording that could be used for blackmail!”
She threw the phone on the floor. The screen cracked from the impact and she finished it off with the heel of her shoe.
“People like you make me sick!”
Emily lunged.
Courtney sidestepped to avoid her hands. The restroom didn’t have enough space to create a large distance between her and Emily. She relied on her reflex to avoid Emily’s attacks.
Once Courtney found a clear path towards the door, she kicked a mop bucket full of water. The dirty water spread all over the tiled floor. It bought her enough time to escape since Emily wouldn’t be able to run over the water without slipping.
Emily cursed. Forgetting about Courtney for a second, she checked on Alex. She didn’t look good. She had one hand placed over her chest. Her lips turned pale and her eyes stared at nothing.
Damn it, Emily thought. Why did that bitch have to talk about her cousin that way?
She held Alex’s trembling arms.
“Alex, it’s gonna be okay. Don’t think too much. This isn’t over yet” she coaxed. If Alex didn’t respond to her soon, she’d also panic. She rubbed her arms, trying to soothe her.
It took a while but soon, Alex blinked. Emily sighed in relief when her cousin’s eyes landed on her—even if it broke her heart to see the lifeless and dull gaze.
“Emily, she’s right, isn’t she?” Alex whispered.
Emily shook her head, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes, “No! That is not true!”
“I’ve lied to people.”
“Alex, please. Don’t let someone who doesn’t know you do this to you” Emily pleaded. Her cousin sounded so small. She could feel Alex was on the brink of despair.
Emily’s heart started to race. It took one person—only one person to push Alex towards the edge. Damn it. Emily really wanted to cry.
If she hadn’t talked too much then, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out this way. She just destroyed Alex’s freedom. Things had been going well so far, why did this have to happen?
Emily held her breath and looked up, fighting the tears. Someone needed to be strong right now. That person would have to be her.
Whatever the future held, Courtney better be prepared when they’d see each other next.
===
Outside of the restroom, Courtney had one ear pressed against the door. She could hear the two cousins talk. If only that little brat didn’t destroy her phone, she could have enough material to reveal their true colors to the world.
No matter. There was still time. She had been able to escape. There would be other ways to deliver karma against them.
She turned to leave and bumped into someone. The door to the men’s room had been on the opposite side of the ladies’. The moment she stepped away, a guy came out from the other door.
Courtney looked up to apologize but instead her eyes widened, “Jae?”
