Chapter 5 THE CHEATING DUO

Ava's POV:

I quickly looked away so that she wouldn't see or recognize me.

"This isn't the coffee I ordered," Lydia yelled at the lady at the counter.

"It is." The waiter countered and Lydia scoffed.

"I ordered an Iced caramel latte, double-drip almond milk, six pumps of sugar, extra ice, with honey and cinnamon powder," Lydia said with ease. Everyone, including myself, had to turn to look at her. I was stunned by how she said all that with ease.

"I also ordered a venti iced skinny hazelnut macchiato, three pumps of sugar-free toffee syrup, light ice, extra whip, and a blueberry muffin," she said and my heart sank once more.

I knew that order; it was Jackson's favourite drink. Now I see why they both fit: They have the weirdest taste in drinks.

I wondered if Jackson was there too.

I sighed heavily when I heard his voice a few moments later.

"Babe, what's the problem?" Jackson walked towards Lydia who was frowning deeply at the lady at the counter.

"These fools mixed up my order," Lydia said to Jackson giving the lady a bad eye.

"She gave me a different drink. Who drinks an iced Americano? That's sewage water, " she said to Jackson.

I sighed heavily, that was what I wanted to order.

I was too lost in thoughts that I forgot that I was trying to hide from Lydia and Jackson, the cheating duo.

"Ava," Jackson called my name.

My eyes widened because I had been caught, I tried to look away but Jackson approached me.

"Ava?" I heard Lydia say in shock as well.

"Here... drink your coffee," Lydia said to the lady at the counter, leaving the two cups by the counter and walking towards me.

I was embarrassed. I knew people were staring at me.

I'm sure they were wondering how I knew the two crazy people who were making a scene.

"Ava, I guess you didn't die after all," Lydia mumbled quietly but I heard her anyway. I wondered if they knew about the accident, or maybe she just expected me to jump off a bridge and die after I caught them together.

"Where have you been? My mom wanted to call the police to report that you were missing, but I discouraged her. I told her you were fine and would come home soon. I told her I saw you last at your boyfriend's place. So, why did you disappear like that? Even your line was unreachable." Lydia asked as she scrutinized me.

"I... uhm... I don't owe you any explanation. After what I saw, I needed to go somewhere to clear my head." I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't want anyone to pity me.

"You look good anyway. Where did you get that gown? That's not something you can pick up at Goodwill you know." I frowned. I knew I didn't have the best clothes but I felt bad listening to what she was saying.

I couldn't help but wonder if she was the same Lydia who used to treat me well before.

They didn't even look remorseful or care that I caught them having sex together a few weeks ago.

"Did you get a job or probably a boyfriend that would finally buy you good clothes?" Lydia mocked me.

I don't know where I got the confidence, but hearing her put me down in a cafe filled with people just made me blurt out whatever came to my mind. I avoided going back to their house because I didn't want the ill-treatment to continue, I wasn't going to let her disrespect me like that before people.

"Yes." I blurted out.

"You do? Wow!" Lydia seemed surprised and it made me a bit happy.

"A job or a boyfriend? Which one?" Jackson asked and I could tell he was displeased by the latter.

"Both," I said confidently.

And maybe I should have toned it down a little bit but I didn't.

That was because I wasn't expecting the next question that they asked me.

"Where do you work now?" Lydia asked with raised brows.

"Is he here?" Jackson asked as well and I was about to answer but I couldn't because Jackson interrupted me once more.

"He's here, isn't he?" Jackson said and began to look around, prompting Lydia to do the same.

I panicked. I didn't know what to say, so I did something crazy.

I pointed at the finest young man I could find in the cafe shop.

He was seated alone and reading a book.

Let's go say hi." Lydia said to Jackson.

I could have ignored them, walked away, or just not responded to any of their questions, but I was angry that they had the guts to mock me after all they did to me. I was driven by revenge. I wasn't troublesome so I couldn't match their energy, but maybe there was something else I could do or say to make them feel like the losers.

"No!" I said in half a yell.

"Why?" Lydia turned to face me.

"Is he truly your boyfriend?" Lydia asked with a smirk.

"Well, I'm sure that no one would ever want to date you," Jackson added and I frowned. I didn't expect him to join Lydia in mocking me, but then why was I expecting anything good from a liar and a cheat?

"He is my boyfriend." I continued with my little lie. I just couldn't bear the rubbish they were spewing.

They looked determined to ridicule me.

Did they think I was unlovable just because I was a poor orphan with no good educational background or job? I swallowed hard, trying not to be emotional.

"I can't just take you guys over to meet him, I have to tell him first, that's what I meant by no.

They seemed to believe me.

It was almost my turn to order my drink but that could wait, I had something else to attend to.

"Give me a minute, let me talk to him," I said and they nodded.

I walked towards the fine young man in expensive-looking clothes, thinking of what to say.

"Hi, please, can I sit with you?" I asked softly and he looked up from his book and raised his brows.

I turned to face Jackson and Lydia who were watching me, I was glad that they could only see what was going on but not hear our conversation.

"Erm... I lied that you are my boyfriend." I said immediately, not wanting to beat about the bush.

This stranger looked at me with raised brows and if not for the situation on the ground, I would have drooled at his handsome face.

"So?" He finally spoke up. I thought he would ignore me.

"I'm sorry I lied, but please can you pretend to be my boyfriend for about thirty minutes?" I asked him and he frowned.

"I'll pay you." I blurted out without thinking. I hoped that offering to pay him would make him give me a positive answer, but his frown deepened instead.

I scolded myself immediately. This man was dressed in designer clothes from head to toe and here I was proposing a deal with money inclusive. What if he mentioned an amount I didn't have?

"I don't want your money," he said.

"What do you want then?" I asked desperately.

I could see from the corner of my eyes that Lydia and Jackson were getting restless already.

"Will you be able to give me what I want?" He asked me and I nodded profusely. I was only desperate and didn't think before nodding. After all, he wouldn't harm me in such an open place.

"Yes, I'll do anything I can since you don't want my money, but just say yes first, and save me some embarrassment already," I said to him and he smiled mischievously.

"Alright."

"So, what do you want?" I asked.

"I'll tell you, but after the show," he said and I gestured to Lydia and Jackson to come over.

"Hi, I'm Lydia, Ava's sister," Lydia introduced herself in a soft voice and rubbed his hands gently, refusing to let go of it.

I was disgusted.

Was she trying to flirt with him?