SAVANNAH
After a few more minutes of meaningful conversations with Jocelyn, her husband called her to join them, so I finally got the chance to excuse myself to go to the restroom. Rafael only nodded when I whispered into his ear. It seemed their conversation wouldn’t end soon. Emilio was having a good time telling the guys about his journey to establishing his business. But I took it as a good sign.
I emptied my bladder, washed my hands, and retouched my makeup. As I combed my hair, someone called my name. It was Gina, another high school classmate.
“You’re here! I thought you weren’t coming! Riley said you have a work appointment.” Gina’s voice bounced throughout the four corners of the restroom.
I frowned. “What? I really wasn’t—Hold on. Is it here? In this restaurant?”
“Yes! Oh my God.” She briefly hugged me. “You’re still so beautiful, Savi.” She studied me under her long eyelashes. Gina was a few inches shorter than me but had become more sophisticated, given her designer olive green dress. “How long has it been?”
What a sick coincidence this was! Sofia was probably here because her parents were, and she was sponsoring the reunion. If only her mother had mentioned it, I wouldn’t have come out of the dining room. Gina wouldn’t have to see me.
Goddammit.
“Since graduation,” I answered Gina. “I heard about your wedding with Vince. Who would’ve thought?”
“Yes, and now we’re seven weeks.” She showed me her small baby bump under her cashmere cardigan.
“Wow. May I?”
She stuck out her belly. “Sure!”
“Aw.” I gently stroked her belly. “Congratulations! Is Vince with you?”
“Yes, he came. He doesn’t let me drive alone these days.”
“He’s very sweet.”
“Would you like to meet the rest? Riley’s just talking about you. Oh, only if you don’t mind. I heard about Sofia and Edward.”
“Are they here?”
She nodded. “I’m so sorry, Savi.”
“She’s with Edward?”
“Yes, I’m really sorry. But I heard you already have a new boyfriend. Congrats! Lana told us she saw you the other week.” She beamed at me, touching my arm. “And he’s a good catch. Rafael Sebastian, right? Dude, that man is a fine bachelor. No wonder you’ve already moved on. Is he here with you?”
“He is... But God, no. We were just having coffee that night.”
“Come on! Don’t deny it. Even if Edward can’t believe it, we know it’s you in the news we read recently. We’re just talking about it.”
“What? Edward said what?”
“He said he’s just your boss, and a bachelor won’t date a married woman, especially if he is a Sebastian.” Gina rolled her eyes. “But whatever. I still think he’s a jerk. I can’t believe Sofia chose him.”
Fuck them. Fuck him. Was this really going to be our lives now? Yes, Edward was right. Rafael Sebastian wouldn’t date a married woman like me. I knew my limitation, and I already refused to consider whether he’d actually date me despite the intense tension between us. I wasn’t stupid to give a false meaning to my new employer’s generosity. But of all people, it should be him to know I wasn’t that kind of woman.
My high blood pressure rose by the second.
Screw being civilized; I was going to meet them. Let’s just see who will win.
I hooked my arm on Gina. “You know what, Gina? I’ll think I’ll say hi to everyone. I don’t mind Edward and Sofia.”
“Really? That’s more like you now. How about your date?”
I chuckled. “I told you it’s not a date.”
Gina brought me to their table in the restaurant. Riley was the first to acknowledge my attendance, standing up as soon as she saw me. But my hyper-sensitive instinct was to find Edward and Sofia.
I saw them at one glance, sitting by the head of the table. Edward’s arm was on her shoulder, and she was giggling at whatever he was murmuring into her ear.
“Savannah!” the other girls squealed, diverting my attention. They greeted me delightfully, and the others even approached me for a brief hug. There were twelve of them here.
“Hey, guys...” I greeted back, wearing a forced smile. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to attend.”
Only then did the insensitive and thick-skinned cheating couple stop when they saw me. Edward’s hand automatically flew off his mistress’ shoulder and sprang up. Sofia glared at him at the abrupt gesture.
“God, look at you now,” Sandy complimented. “You rock that dress!”
“Of course. You know our Savi, right? She’s always been our class’ muse,” Riley said, sending Sofia and Edward a sharp look.
“We’re glad you came,” Ruth Matthews, our math genius in the class, said. “We were just talking about the program for our reunion next week. Would you like to join us?”
“Oh, I ran into Gina in the restroom, but I have a work meeting here.”
“So, where is your date? Rafael, is it?” Lana asked, smiling meaningfully.
I was going to answer Lana, but Sofia suddenly interrupted, marching toward me. “I think she’s in a meeting with my parents. Can we talk?”
I snickered. I couldn’t believe she really had the guts to face me right now. For all I knew, she was only probably going to ask me if I told her parents about Edward and me.
“I really don’t want to, Sofia.” I just wouldn’t give her the pleasure.
Suddenly everyone was silent and watching us, but I didn’t care. Sofia had every chance to talk to me. I waited for her to show up or even call me to explain, but I never heard from her. We never heard from her. She just disappeared, cut communication, and then came back to destroy my marriage.
What was the point of talking to her now? She got what she wanted. Edward chose her. I wouldn’t forget what she said to me when we met again. But she had a chance to tell me then.
But right now, who looked exhausted? Where were her big mouth and eyes that looked down on me that day? Even her face was flustered now.
“Please, I just want to talk.” She reached out a hand to touch me, but I stepped away from her.
“I said I don’t want to, Sofia!” I snapped, which shocked everyone.
“Savi!” Edward abruptly called out. He dashed in our direction and grabbed my arm. “Let’s not make a scene here.”
“Do what?” I tried to yank my hand from his grip, but he didn’t let me. “Me? I am making a scene?” I sneered. “I wasn’t doing anything.”
“Please, Savi.”
“Let me go if you really don’t want that,” I grunted in a low voice.
“No. Why are you even here? Riley said you’re not coming.”
“Why? Am I not invited here?” I looked at everyone’s faces who were now watching me.
“It’s not like that,” he whispered as though he was a saint, “but let’s not go any further and make this ugly. Can’t we show them we’re fine? We already talked about this. This will only make you sound desperate.”
Oh, my God. He was killing me. He was slowly killing me. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Edward? I’m not desperate! I’m not the one who’s wrong here.”
Two male restaurant attendants suddenly came to us. “Excuse me, ma’am, sir. We can’t do this here, please. This is a fine dining place,” one of them said politely.
Vince then swiftly went to Edward’s side and grabbed his shoulder. “Guys. Let’s just calm down, okay? Man, just let her go. You can all talk about this later.” He turned to the attendants. “We’re sorry about the sudden commotion. I’ll handle my friends.”
“Back off!” Edward shoved off his hand when the attendants walked away. “This doesn’t concern you. Come with me.” He gripped my wrist hard and tugged me to him at the restaurant’s exit.
“Where are you taking her?” Sofia questioned him, irritated.
“Edward, stop!” Riley rushed over to us. “God, Wesley should’ve been here,” she whispered. “They said we can’t do this here, so let her go now, Edward, because she’s just leaving. She’s in a meeting here, remember?”
“Hence, I’m taking her outside,” he said.
“How dare you do this to my friend? Isn’t it enough that you cheated on her? You’re embarrassing her.” Riley hissed, catching my other arm. “Stop this now, please?”
Edward straightened his back and tightened his grasp around my wrist. He continued on his way and brought me outside of the restaurant, whereas Riley still followed me. Sofia and three other high school friends also came with us, which aggravated Edward more. Only then did I get away from him.
“What are you doing?” Sofia questioned him. “My parents are here! I already told you.”
“I got angry because Savannah snapped at you! She needs to stop,” Edward retaliated.
“What?!” I yelled. “Did you just say to my face? No, you! It’s you who needs to stop. How is this my fault?”
But damn, are we really doing this here? This wasn’t even the reunion yet, but we were already in a boxing ring out here. I hated this. I didn’t want this. This was why I refused to see Sofia and Edward together. I knew this would be the outcome.
Dustin, one of Edward’s friends, stepped into the middle. “Guys, we’re not in the right place to do this, okay? Why don’t we finish our business here and go somewhere you can talk?”
“I’m sorry, Dustin, but I don’t really want to talk,” I whispered. I was so freaking tired of this. This was humiliating.
“But this isn’t going to stop until you can’t accept this,” Sofia said.
Was she serious? “You don’t have any right to tell me what to do. You are a homewrecker, Sofia. Don’t worry; I didn’t say anything to your parents. Say anything else, and I won’t hesitate to tell them.”
My former traitor friend lifted her face shamelessly. Her eyes were beginning to swell. “Don’t you dare!”
“Stop that.” Edward pushed me on the shoulder, forcing me to hit the wall, before hovering an arm on Sofia’s shoulder. “Savannah, that is not your call to make—”
My eyes widened when someone stronger and more powerful suddenly threw a direct hit on Edward’s jaw so hard that he stumbled onto the pavement with a sickening thud.
It was Rafael. His jaw were clenched, his fist still clamped, his eyes burning with rage, and his chest was breathing raggedly. He appeared as though he could kill Edward with just his stare.
“How about that call?” Rafael growled at him. “Touch her again; I’m going to fucking kill you!”
Edward looked up at him in horror with a bleeding mouth. Sofia and Dustin promptly attended to him, helping him stand, but none of them said anything while the others just watched.
Rafael swiftly approached me, took off his suit jacket then covered me with it. “You okay?”
I nodded, humming. “Yes, it’s just an accident.”
He grunted under his breath. “Don’t defend him now. Makes me want to break his hand. Come. We’re leaving,” he whispered, brushing his thumb on my cheek and searching for my eyes.
“How about the meeting?”
“We’re done here,” he murmured tightly. “Let’s just get you home.”
I was going to tell him I’d just Riley before we left, but my best friend gave me a nod and gestured for a ‘call her’ sign.