Chapter 2 TO END IT ALL

"Poor Valerie, I told you-you can't get married before me. You thought I was joking. I also told you I could make your man mine, but you're too naive, Valerie. You underestimated me."

She smirked and flipped her hair dramatically.

"I'm too beautiful to be single. Babe, these curves ain't no joke."

She turned around to flaunt her figure.

"I... I don't understand. That's my fiancé," I said, my voice trembling as I chuckled bitterly.

Truly, I didn't understand.

What the hell was Kamsy saying?

She was like a sister to me. As an introvert who loves deeply, I trusted her completely. She's my only friend.

I loved Kamsy. I cared about her so much.

She was the sister I never had.

Then she held up her hand, showing off a diamond ring that glinted under the light.

"I'm engaged to your man-not your kind of engagement, sweetie. Ours is real. Oh, and we even brought a wedding invitation for you."

I stared at her in disbelief.

A wedding card? For me?

"Baby?" she said, turning to Luke.

Luke stepped forward, grinning then he handed her a card.

She tossed it to the floor at my feet, smiling smugly as she leaned against his shoulder.

I knelt down and picked it up, my hands trembling. I opened it, reading the names written on it.

It was real.

Yet I find it hard to believe.

This is crazy. I'm going insane.

Could this be a dream?

I laughed, a bitter sound that escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"You got me. This must be some kind of TikTok prank or surprise, right? You're joking. You two are getting married? A big joke. He's my fiancé, and you're..."

Kamsy cut me off, tilting her head and pouting mockingly.

"I'm your best friend, yes, I know, honey. Life is so sad, isn't it? When you can't keep your man, someone else does it for you."

I blinked, unable to digest her words.

"This isn't a movie, Kamsy. Stop joking about serious things like this. You joke too much. Luke, enough of this prank already. Someone, please, be serious. You if all people make me better, you know I love Luke...you know I will never hurt you...why this expensive prank?"

"How innocent".

She laughed.

I chuckled again, but this time it was hollow, painful.

That was just the beginning of my story.

The so-called surprise breakup wasn't a prank after all.

I hailed a cab and headed home, crying the entire way. The cab driver kept stealing glances at me in the rearview mirror, but I didn't care.

When I reached home, I paid him and went inside.

The moment I shut the door behind me, a dark thought crept into my mind.

Maybe I should end it. It's for the best. I deserve this.

The betrayal cut deeper than anything I'd ever experienced.

My best friend. The first man I'd ever loved. My first kiss.

And Kamsy-the one person I trusted with my life.

What was my crime?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing!

I was just loving and trusting with my heart, I ended up the victim.

I should have known.

Like she said I was naive and didn't see it coming.

I had a personality that made it easy for people to stomp on me, to take advantage of me. I wished I had even a shred of toughness, the strength to fight back. But my heart was too weak.

I should end my useless life. Otherwise, I'll just keep suffering. Keep getting hurt and mocked.

An orphan, what else is here for me.

Kamsy?

Like?

How could they have the heart to hurt me, I could literally give up my life for their sakes!

Why?

Why!

I roughly dried the flood of tears flowing down my face and grabbed my raincoat, rushed out into the pouring rain.

My phone rang incessantly in my pocket, but I ignored it. My destination was clear. I was focused.

I bought rat poison from the nearest store.

As I left, the salesgirl handed me the package.

"Those stubborn rats," I said, forcing a smile.

No one asked, I was nervous and thought it would be suspicious, so I had to play it cool.

In the queue, I heard a familiar voice call out my name.

"Valerie?"

I turned around and saw Daniel, my colleague from work.

His face was filled with concern.

"Hey, Daniel... um... what are you doing in my neighborhood?" I asked, faking a cheerful tone.

"I've been calling you all day, but you didn't pick up. I got worried, so I decided to check on you. Can I walk you home?"

"Not now, please!" I screamed in my head.

But if I refused, he'd suspect something.

"Sure, no problem at all," I replied, forcing a smile.

Daniel opened his umbrella and held it over me, shielding me from the rain.

He didn't seem to care that he was getting soaked. He had always been so good and nice towards me. Unfortunately, he is in a relationship so I guess he was just a nice guy.

At my place, I tried to brush him off.

"I'm expecting an important visitor. Thanks for the company and the umbrella," I said, turning to go inside.

"Can I stay for a while?" he asked, his eyes flicking to the package I was holding.

I froze.

"Alright," I said reluctantly.

He thanked me and followed me inside.

After changing into dry clothes, I tried to distract him by turning on the television. But he kept trailing me like a shadow.

"About what happened at the company..." he began.

"Oh, please don't start," I thought, though I smiled and nodded at him.

"Are you sure you're okay, Val?"

He suddenly asked, studying me intently.

I forced another smile.

"I'm fine. Absolutely fine."

I laughed awkwardly.

"Your eyes are red. You look exhausted. I can't believe you were with a jerk like Luke for three years."

He said softly.