CHAPTER 08: Friendship Over
KATE’s P.O.V.
Graduation practice. I don’t know how, but thankfully, I passed all the requirements needed without Claire’s help. Elijah is there, and he gave me a very useful hand in everything that needs to be done. And now, I can proudly say that I’m one of those graduating students ready to march at stage and get our diploma.
“Braganza, Claire,” the emcee announced and she climbed up to the stairs, shaking that hands of those who act as the honorable guest and teachers.
“Excited to be called? Remember, this is just a practice. Don’t be so emotional,” Elijah teased me.
“Ha, ha. Whatever, Elij. I just wanted to get this over with so that we can finally have the real graduation thing.”
“Well, that’s very enthusiastic. If only you asked for my help earlier than when we’ve met then maybe you could’ve also enter the top students in our batch.”
“That’s fine. I’m not even interested in becoming an honor student. Having a passing grade is just fine. As long as I did it, I’m already contented. And besides, my parents doesn’t even recognized my hard works so what’s the point, right?”
He pinched my cheeks playfully.
“Don’t be sad. And please stop pouting your lips. You looked so cute.”
“Psssh.”
“I’m sure your parents would be proud of your achievements someday.”
“Thanks, Elij. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“It’s nothing, really. I’m glad to help you, Ms. Frias.”
“Ms. Frias!” Our conversation was cut short by the loud sound coming from the emcee’s microphone. “I’m calling you! It’s your turn. Please come now and don’t waste our time. We still have a lot of works to do.”
“Sorry,” I muttered sheepishly. Elijah laughed at me.
“Damn it. I missed it again! I didn’t hear your name!” I heard him stated.
I stick out my tongue before I stood up to take my turn doing the fake graduating process on the stage. He chuckled, seeing my childish side for the very first time.
As I climbed up the stairs, I couldn’t help but to looked down to my fellow students who will graduate this year. A wide smile plastered upon their faces like it was the best day of their lives. I couldn’t argue, for thinking that our high school lives will be finally over soon. Who can blame them if they will be this happy right after knowing that all of their hard works paid off?
As my eyes landed on Gabriel beside Claire, I couldn’t help but to feel jealous. Claire got everything that she wanted. Gabriel is our class valedictorian, while she got the second place. Their parents must be so proud if them.
“Here, Ms. Frias. Please stay alert whenever we call your name.” One of the acting teachers and guest of speakers handed me the fake certificate.
I bowed down near at the end of the stage, before turning the tail of my graduation cap to the other side, indicating that I finally be able to graduate from high school. I saw how Claire stare at me, and I just gave her a cold shoulder. I walked towards Elijah who is now clapping his hands proudly while looking at me. It was as if we are now doing the real graduation thing, and not the fake one.
“Nice, Ms. Frias! You made it! I’m so proud at you!” he almost yelled.
I just laughed before covering his mouth for him to be quiet. He chuckled, and I sat down. The teachers continued the graduation routine before letting us pack our stuffs and leave.
“I’m just gonna go and take my books from the locker room. I’m going to bring them home now,” Elijah stated.
“Okay. I’ll wait for you in the parking lot.”
“Please don’t bother, Ms. Frias. I’m the one who’s gonna come for you here. Will that be alright?”
I smiled, before nodding. He waved me goodbye so I just sat down in here while waiting for him. Elijah is... He’s nice, and sometimes, sweet. He’s like my bestfriend except for the fact that he hasn’t betrayed me... Yet. Speaking of, as soon as Claire came into my mind, I also saw her walking towards my direction. I think she got the perfect timing seeing me alone without Elijah.
“Kate...”
I raised one of by brows towards her. I think it’s time for us to talk. Not as bestfriends, but as an enemy now. I can’t still forgive her for what she had done to me.
“What do you want?”
She sighed, not saying another word. She came closer and tried to reach for my hand, but I didn’t let her.
“I said, what do you want, Claire?” I firmly asked her.
“Kate... I’m sorry. I didn’t know that Gab feels that way about me... I thought...”
“You thought what, Claire? That he likes me? You know what? You’re the one who pushed me to him. You’re the one who feed my mind with all of those lies and silly thoughts that someday, maybe someday he will like be back. But it didn’t happened because of you. So technically, it was all your fault.”
“But Kate, I tried to avoid him... I promise... I gave you two some space together and I tried everything just to make him realized that you liked him but–”
“You what?! You told him I like him, didn’t you?” I asked furiously while clenching my fist.
“Kate... I’m really sorry...”
“Just answer my question, bitch!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
She looked down, feeling guilty. Or does she even feel guilty at all? Doesn’t she have some conscience? I already told him to stay away from Gab even before he slowly falls in love with her. But she’s a hard headed person. Maybe she really wanted our relationship to be over. She wanted to take me out of her life. Her pathetic, little bestfriend.
“You know what, Claire? I treated you as a sister! I relied on you! But you betrayed me!”
“No, Kate! I didn’t! That’s why I’m here! That’s why I’m apologizing! I want to fix what I’ve done to our friendship!” she explained, but I decided not to hear it.
I remember how Gabriel almost laughed at me when I confronted him. I remember how he enjoyed my stupidity and how he used me just to get close to my bestfriend. I couldn’t understand why me, and why does it need to hurt this much. Having my first heartbreak because of my bestfriend... The person I trusted the most.
“You’re just saying that to fool me again, Claire. But the truth is, you don’t care about me. All you care about is yourself...”
“What?! How can you say that, Kate? I did everything to save our friendship. That’s the only thing I’ve ever done! Do you think I’ll waste my time here if I didn’t want to apologize to you? Kate please... Don’t do this...”
I secretly wiped my tears away as she touched my arms, looking like she was about to beg in front of me. But I don’t want to see her doing that. Even after all that happened, I still got some respect for her. I don’t want to see her kneeling down and begging in front of me. I know that if ever she did that, I wouldn’t be able to resist her apology.
“Why did you tell him, Claire? Why? Do you know how much it hurts when Gab told me about it and look at me with nothing but hatred in his eyes? Am I that pathetic to you?”
“I’m sorry, Kate... I didn’t mean to make it look like that... I just... I really wanted you to be happy...”
“No! You don’t, Claire! If you really wanted me to he happy, then you shouldn’t have told Gab what I felt for him. You should have let me said it myself. Now I look desperate in front of him... It’s better if you didn’t do anything at all. Maybe... Just maybe, I would have forgive you...”
Our eyes were both filled with tears. She nearly kneel down, and because I didn’t want to see it, I pushed her away, causing her to fall in the ground. I instantly feel guilty, seeing my bestfriend sitting on the cold ground just because of me. I didn’t intend to pushed her that harsh.
“K-Kate...” she cried.
I wanted to help her... I wanted to tell her that I’m the most stupid person she’d ever met for doing that, and I wanted to apologize. But I couldn’t, because my pride had already gotten in the way of my conscience. Gabriel was right... I chose this. I chose to hurt Claire and I chose to end our friendship... Officially.
“We’re done. Forget about our friendship, Claire. It’s over now...”
I turned around, closed my eyes shut and bit my lower lip as I tried to suppress my sobs, miserably failing. I heard hers, and I ran as fast as I can to stop myself from coming back to her... To the person I treated as my bestfriend.