Chapter Twenty-Nine

It has been a month since Claire and I began our deal. We had already finished her Human Resource Management Project a week ago. She submitted the project the following day much to her professor's amazement.

She gave me a generous sum of money to help her. I tried to decline but I didn't win against her. She even told me that my contributions had quality. It's only right that she pays me. I was completely amazed that she praised me. She knows when to give praise when it is due.

Now, all that is left is our plan for Ryan and Diane to get back together. And we found the perfect opportunity, the Halloween Ball. This ball is one of the most highly anticipated university events. It is now a week away.

I always attend this event every year. I attend every school event that I can go to. However, that is not the case for Claire. She never attended a school event that involved partying. She told me she would rather go to the company and work.

But for this Halloween Ball, she decided to attend this one. After all, this will be her first and last Halloween Ball. This is good for me because this means that I won't be alone this year. In recent years, I used to go to these events with either my friends or girlfriend. Now, I don't have them with me anymore. Lucky for me, this time, I have Ryan, Diane, and that not-so-evil snake with me.

I just left the Student Board Council office. I got Ryan's and my tickets for the Halloween Ball. I tucked them in my wallet for safekeeping. As I walked my way in the hallway of the university's main building, I spotted a familiar person from afar. It was Patrick.

We were the only ones in the hallway. I felt my nerves rising as he drew closer to me. Why am I nervous? We aren't friends anymore. We're just strangers now. I decided to look down. Each step I took was agonizing. It felt like my heart was going to leap out when our paths met. But, we only passed each other. That's when I let out the breath that I didn't realize that I was holding.

"Justin, wait!"

Damn! Did he just call me?

I stopped dead in my tracks. In a very awkward manner, I turned to him. Patrick was standing there looking back at me. This was the first time we talked since that time at the front of the coffee shop.

"Yes?"

Instead of replying, Patrick walked closer to me. I instantly prepared myself in defense. What is he thinking? What is he going to do with me? But then, he stopped walking leaving a comfortable distance between us. At this point, I'm confused. What is going on?

Then he looks at me holding my gaze. And to my surprise, I didn't find any anger in his eyes. He lets out a sigh then he speaks.

"I'm sorry."

"What?" I replied in disbelief.

"I'm sorry for all the things I did and said to you in the past months. I had misjudged you. I failed to understand your side of the story."

"Oh? Uhm..." I honestly didn't know what to say. What do you even say when someone apologizes to you? Since I was out of words, Patrick continued to speak.

"I had been thinking a lot lately. I realized how dumb I was. You were never at fault. You just did what you had to do. On my part, I should have been more understanding."

This is the first time I saw Patrick in a humble state. It was very refreshing in my sight. He almost didn't look like Patrick at all.

"It's okay. I understand. And I'm sorry too." I managed to say.

"Thanks."

We were silent for a bit. We tried to process what was said. Then Patrick broke the silence.

"How about we hang out sometime?" he suggested.

I smiled at him and replied.

"Sure... but, not anytime soon. I just had a lot on my plate recently. But I'll find time in the future." I said.

In truth, I wasn't ready to hang out with them. I still have a bit of heartache and disappointment from what happened between us.

"Okay. Let me know when you're free." Patrick said with less of the awkwardness.

"Okay."

"Then... I should go now. Thank you, Justin. See you around."

"Yeah. See you around too."

And with that, Patrick left me alone in the hallway. I watched him as he went further away. I couldn't believe that just happened.

"You know? I don't think he's a good friend to keep around."

I almost jumped at the voice that suddenly spoke behind me. I turned to look at her. Claire emerged behind one of the large pillars of the main hall. Was she there the whole time?

"Oh? How can you say so?" I asked both in surprise and sarcasm.

"He's just too narrow-minded. He'll most likely start another fight with you," she said as she walked closer to me.

"You just said that because you don't like him." I retorted.

"Yeah. You're right," she said.

That took me off guard. When did she get this agreeable with me?

"I'll say it based on how I see it. But you can have it your way and I won't interfere. I'm just saying that he doesn't deserve you as a friend."

What?

"You deserve better friends."

WHAT???

Did she really say that? Did she say that I deserve better friends? But before I could ask more about why she said that, she switched the topic.

"Anyway, Diane told me that she'll go to the ball."

I lost the courage to continue our previous topic. So instead, I followed the topic switch.

"That's good. So both of them are confirmed to go."

"Yes, it seems like that. Looks like the Halloween Ball will be the final step of the plan."

"Yes, it is."

"Great! I need to get going now. Call me if there's a problem. Bye!" Claire said all of that in one go. Then she began to walk away.

"Okay. Bye!" I managed to say at her retreating form. She acknowledged me by waving her hand without turning back.

As I watched her go, I went back to thinking about what she said. I deserve better friends? Is she trying to console me? She had been nice to me recently, despite her aloof attitude. She had been a good companion too.

Who would have thought I'd consider that not-so-evil snake a companion? The same person who broke my relationship with my then-girlfriend. And the one who ruined my friendship with my group of friends. Come to think of it, it almost felt like years since then. It's no lie that a lot can happen in a few months.

In this last month, I grew to know who Justine Claire Solistre is. She may be an evil player but she can be nice too. At this point, I don't hate her anymore. Needless to say, I already secretly considered Claire a friend. Yes, she has her flaws but she has her good points too.

And the most surprising part, I enjoyed her company. Even if it was only a month, I grew accustomed to her and her subtle niceness. This was only supposed to be a fake reconciliation. But, it turned out to be a real one for me.

Maybe that's the reason why I'm feeling down lately. I already considered her as my friend. But after Ryan and Diane get back together, our deal is off. And we'll go back to being enemies. All of these nice moments we shared will end. Truth be told I didn't want this to end.

What will I do now after the Halloween Ball?

A week later...

Claire held my gaze while she made eye signals at me. She wanted me to start the conversation. I looked back at her while thinking of what to talk about. Due to my panic, my mind was a mess.

I made a subtle sign to Claire that I couldn't think of anything. She looked at me wide-eyed and annoyed. I can't blame her. After all, I'm ruining this perfect opportunity. Ryan and Diane are just beside us looking very awkward with this.

What should I do?