Chapter 5: A bitter past

It was Saturday and Nathaniel was on the set for the film. He didn't receive any message from his girlfriend, Olivia. He put his phone back in his pockets and continued with the scenes that he is part of. After shooting some scenes, Nathaniel's mind is occupied with Olivia. The last thing that they did is a fight over little things.

"Yeah?" is the reply that Nathaniel received as Olivia answered the call. A cold short reply, he shook his thought off and answered cheerily, "You haven't called me nor text today. Busy?"

Nathaniel heard a sighed from the other line, "Yeah. Can I cut this call now? Because seriously, I'm tired today's shoot and I'm busy."

"Okay, ta—" Nathaniel heard the sound of the call being ended. Sighed, he shoved his phone back.

"Maybe, she is stressed out." A smile tugs on Nathaniel's lips as he jumped on his car and drove off.

"Thank you. Please come again" the cashier said as she handed me the food that I bought. Olivia's favorite food, doughnuts. Nathaniel drove himself off to Olivia's apartment. Nathaniel parked his car in front of the two storey apartment. Looking up at Olivia's door, a smile tugs on his lips. He can't wait to surprise her, it's been a while since he surprised her. Ever since they got into the entertainment industry, they don't have time to spend together. He grabbed the donuts and went ahead to Olivia's apartment room.

"Hmm.. is Olivia even here?" Nathaniel asked himself as he knocks 3 times on Olivia's apartment door and haven't received any reply from Olivia. He looked at his watch it's already 9:40 in the evening, at this hour.. Olivia presumably went to sleep. The thought of Olivia, falling asleep made Nathaniel smile. He remembered how angelic Olivia looks when sleeping. He reached for the doorknob and surprisingly, its open.

"Maybe Olivia really wants me to come into her apartment or expect me to come in her apartment" Nathaniel remember how Olivia wants to be loved and give attention whenever she is tired from work. Nathaniel wandered his eyes around but there is no Olivia in present. The small living room is dark, his eyes landed on a room that has a glimpse of light, the door is a bit open. He walked towards the door and peak. His eyes widened in shock. The bed that he and Olivia where they made love is now...

It.. can't be.

"I love you more than that scumbag. " Olivia said and kissed the cheek of the guy... The guy that she replaced with Nathaniel, Isyck Brooks. Nathaniel's best friend. Nathaniel saw how Olivia let out a moan as his best friend kiss her girlfriend's neck. the donuts that he bought fell onto the floor.

Olivia and Isyck were alarmed by the noise. Olivia stood up with her half-naked body. She grabbed a towel, cover herself, and opened the door. She found Nathaniel standing with his eyes glancing down at the floor.

"U-uh.. Hey.. Natha—"

"So, this is.. this is your.." Nathaniel's voice wobbles, he couldn't find the words that he wants to describe at the moment. Olivia always excuses herself, saying that she is tired.. was this one of her excuses? Being in a relationship with his best friend? Nathaniel is fighting the tears that were forming from his eyes, Nathaniel looked up, his tears flowing out from his eyes. He looked at his best friend, Isyck, and looked back at Olivia.

"Is he…Is he one of your excuses? One of your excuses that you are tired and don't want to spend time with me?" Olivia took a deep breath and sighed, averting her gaze.

"can we talk about this in the—"

"Since when did you have a relationship with Olivia?" Nathaniel asked, without looking at his best friend. Isyck scoffs, "Since you both are busy. You told me to look after Olivia.."

"but that doesn't mean you have to take her away from me" Nathaniel cut Isyck's sentence off, looking at him.

Isyck scoffs, "And Olivia loves me.. She hates you for being busy. Surprise her? She wants more than that. She wants your time and I gave her that" Isyck said and laid his back against the bed's headboard. Tears didn't stop to flow, Nathaniel looked at Olivia.

"Is this what you want?" Nathaniel asked with a heavy heart, glancing down. He couldn't face Olivia, what he felt is too much for him to handle. As Olivia promised, she will not find someone else. He thought that Olivia would keep that promise, he thought that Olivia understands his schedules, replying to his text, sending cute pictures to him, messages saying... it's fine. He thought Olivia is the person who would love and understand him. Without hesitating, Olivia nods.

"Yes, this is what I want, Nathan."

Nathaniel took a deep sigh and slowly looked at Olivia, the girl that made him smile. the girl that smiles with him in the photos. the girl that holds his heart.

"I want you to be happy.. and by seeing it, you are happy with Isyck. I gave you all my love.. but it wasn't enough.." Nathaniel feels a lump on his throat, his heart is being squeezed as he continued, "I love you.."

Nathaniel should let go, the girl that holds her heart shot him a smile. An apologetic smile, "I'm sorry.."

"No, I'm sorry.. I'm sorry that my love for you isn't enough. I'm sorry that I thought I was giving you enough happiness, I'm sorry that sometimes you have to deal with my mood. No one can handle it better than you." Nathaniel looked at Isyck, "You should take care of her."

"She is the girl that loves me for what I am. Now, I would hand her.. to you and please.. take care of her. Give her, her favorites. Take her to the beach where she finds at peace. Call her and tell her you love her.." Nathaniel's tears couldn't stop from flowing as he said those words, "Make her happy as I failed to the job to make her happy"

Nathaniel took a deep breath and smiled at Olivia, despite the tears that kept flowing. "I wish you happiness. I wish you both happiness.." and Nathaniel slowly turned his back. Turned his back to the girl that she loved as he left his feelings in the apartment where he and Olivia spent together, the memories they had, the bed where they made love.. is now stained with someone new. Nathaniel left the apartment and drove off.

Nathaniel groaned and sits on his couch, he looked at the time. It's already 8:45 in the morning, he yawns as he reached for his phone on the table. Checking his social media, a lot of likes and comments flooded.

"These people already know that Olivia and I split up, the picture I had of Daphne obvious to let them think that we are in a relationship. A pretend-relationship" Nathaniel said, groaned as he saw his DM's, questioning him if he is in a relationship with Daphne. He put this phone back on the table and stared at the ceiling. Daphne Summer, the girl that he rejected in high school. He couldn't believe that he asked Daphne to be his pretend girlfriend, he scoffs and shakes his thought off. He stood up and started his routine.

"Hmm, it's already 12:00 in the afternoon. Her interview must be starting now" Nathaniel thought, with a toothbrush on his mouth. He rushed to the living room and grabbed the remote.

"Stunning as always, Miss Summer" A strawberry blonde girl with a bit of makeup smiling on the television screen, it was Daphne. She is wearing an off-shoulder mini-dress plaid black and white dress.

"A lot of comments on Twitter and Instagram talking about your relationship with Nathaniel. Is it true that you both are in a relationship?" a beautiful Daphne lets out a chuckle.

"yes, we are in a relationship" Daphne replied sweetly. "Since when you guys are dating and how did it click?'

Daphne paused for a moment, smiling. Obviously, thinking of an excuse.

"Well, he was my high school crush and I didn't expect him to meet at the industry. We spend a lot of time together as friends and eventually, we realized.. we love each other. More than friends"

"Aww, that message is so sweet" the host of the show replied with a smile. Daphne shot the host sweetly, "Do you have any message for him?"

Daphne looks at the camera with a smile. "Hi, I know you are watching this prince. I want to say that I love you and I hope we both grow in our careers. "

"Is that all? How sweet" the host said.

Nathaniel couldn't help but questioned why he blushed at what Daphne said. He smirks and grabbed his phone.

"Not bad, pretend girlfriend. I love you too"

Nathaniel kept smiling looking at Daphne on the television, not bad Daphne.. not bad.