Chapter 6
After I embarrassed Mia Lowell at the company, she gave me the cold shoulder for three whole days.
She probably wanted to show off later, having already hooked up with Liam Evans.
She came back to fish for information, asking how things were going between Liam and me lately.
Perfect timing.
I "kindly" reminded her about the class reunion on Saturday and told her not to forget.
She calculated the date and quickly shook her head.
"I have an important date that day. I won't be going."
"You have a good time with our old classmates."
I frowned appropriately and sighed.
"You're just like Liam. He originally promised to go with me, but he stood me up last minute too."
"He said he has to entertain some important client all night."
"Pfft. What client is more important than his girlfriend?"
Mia was utterly pleased.
She licked her lips.
"Men focusing on their careers is a good thing."
"Maybe his client is really a heavyweight."
"They probably have a lot to discuss, with some drinks, conversation, and maybe even some... sparring."
She was there daydreaming, her eyes glazed over.
She clearly didn't notice the location I mentioned for the class reunion was the exact same hotel they had agreed to meet at.
On the day of the reunion, the old classmates met and chatted animatedly.
I sat alone in a corner, chatting with Mia on a secondary account.
She said she had already arrived at the hotel and had prepared her "battle attire" for this meeting.
Just then, a few female classmates came over.
They exchanged glances and asked me why Mia wasn't here, since she was usually attached to my hip.
I was about to answer.
One of the female classmates suddenly spoke up.
"Olivia, I think you should stop hanging out with Mia Lowell."
"She might not genuinely want to be your friend."
My heart tightened.
Did they know something?
Starting from high school, I don't know exactly when, I was inexplicably isolated.
My classmates held a lot of hostility towards me.
No one would talk to me or hang out with me.
Only Mia stayed by my side.
So, deep down, no matter how far Mia went, I was willing to forgive her.
After all, during my teenage years, she was the only one who stayed with me.
It wasn't until she used despicable means to spread rumors about me and stole my boyfriend that I realized Mia never saw me as a friend.
She was just trampling on my friendship, treating me like a wishful-thinking fool.
Seeing my confusion, the female classmate laid it out plainly.
"Back in school, we all wanted to be friends with you."
"You were quiet, seemed nice, and had good grades."
"But Mia told us privately that in middle school, you bullied a female classmate so badly she became depressed and dropped out."
"That's why we stayed away from you and didn't want to get involved."
"Mia even cried to us, saying you were vicious and domineering."
"She said if she didn't stay by your side as your friend, you would bully her just like you did to that middle school classmate."
...
I clenched my fists tightly.
The flames of anger almost burned through my rationality.
It was because of this?
So this was the reason!
The colorful teenage years I should have had were cast in gray early on, all because of my best friend.
How much did she actually hate me?