Losing another friend

Oliver just mentioned Erika and she showed up from behind. Ava looked at Erika and felt she looked different. Erika was always warm with Ava so she had never seen her cold and indifferent attitude but at this moment she looked more like Oliver. Ava wondered if she has already found out about her and Sam's relation.

Ava looked at Erika with guilt in her eyes and said softly, "Hello Rika."

Oliver's back was toward Erika so he didn't notice she was there until Ava called out her name. Oliver turned but didn't say anything, he just stood there indifferently and let his sister talk.

"Miss Green!" Erika changed her way of addressing Ava intentionally to let her know that she knew about her deception.

Ava closed her eyes for a second to swallow the lump that was forming in her throat. So her lies were out, she had a feeling she was about to lose another friend. One night cost her everything, her love for Oliver, her friendship with Erika. She wondered now hiding everything from Oliver and Erika in order to protect her friendship with Sam, was worth it? Then again these two came into her life a few months ago but Sam has been her friend for years so how could she not protect that friendship?

"Why did you lie to me?" Erika asked Ava directly.

"Rika, I really didn't mean to," Ava said lightly unable to think how to explain it to her. Yes, she didn't mean to, she had a clear conscious about Sam and her relationship back then and she didn't need to lie to her but she still chose to lie.

"You didn't mean to?" Erika let out a mocking laugh. "So you just accidentally told me that you didn't know Sam? And like a fool I kept babbling about him in front of you telling you the things you already knew." Erika's eyes turned red in anger. She didn't let many people into her heart, Ava was one she trusted and loved wholeheartedly so her betrayal was more painful to Erika than Sam's.

Ava didn't know how to responds to that, she did wrong, Erika. Ava tried to think of a way to explain it to Erika and said, "Erika please believe me I really didn't mean to hurt you like that but at that moment I felt it will complicate our relationship if I told you the truth so in a panic I lied. I didn't want to lose you."

Erika snorted coldly and said: "Stop pretending Ava and that's the lamest excuse I have ever heard. Say something that is actually reasonable you know! You didn't want to hurt me so you lied, didn't you think that when I will find out the truth I would be even more hurt by your betrayal? Or you just never expected your lies will come to light?"

"Rika, I know I shouldn't have done it. I am really sorry." Ava bit her lips hard to stop the pain in her heart, she could see how hurt Erika was but she had nothing else to say except for apologizing to her.

"You are sorry? Is that supposed to make me feel better Ava? Guess what I don't accept your apology, we are done. Today I am breaking my friendship with you and from this moment onward we are just strangers." Erika said angrily.

Ava closed her eyes in pain, she expected this, still, she felt heartbroken. Ava opened her eyes, lowered her head to hide the tears that were about to come out then forcefully let out the word, "OK."

Oliver has been observing Ava the whole time and he felt Ava was even in more pain than he or Erika was, he knew her too well to know something was not right. But no matter how many times he tried to think about it or find a reason for her to act like this he couldn't and this stubborn women wouldn't even tell him anything. Oliver felt really helpless.

Erika took a last look at Ava and said coldly, "Don't ever appear in front of me again."

"Rika, let's go." Oliver hugged Erika with one hand and held her tightly in his arms. They turned and left Ava in the corridor alone.

After Oliver and Erika left, Ava fell down in the corner of the wall and broke into tears. Why was she so unfortunate? She loved people wholeheartedly yet they all seem to leave her at some point. First her best friend, Jacob, Oliver, and now Rika. Probably she was destined to be alone in this life.

Dr. Tyson wrapped up his work on the operation theatre and decided to go for lunch when he noticed Ava on the end of the corridor sitting on the floor. He was worried something happened to her so he rushed toward her to have a look.

"Director Green, are you alright?"

Ava quickly turned her head and wipe the tears, she smiled and said stiffly, "I'm ok, Dr. Tyson, thank you."

"Thank you for what? We are colleagues. Director Green, it's lunchtime let's go and have lunch together. " Dr. Tyson said lightly.

"Thanks but I need to see a patient right now, you go ahead. Don't worry. I'm really OK." Ava reassured him and walked out of there.

Dr. Tyson stared toward her leaving back and saw her getting into the elevator, he sighed and head toward the lounge.