Chapter 2
My words hit like a bomb, and the whole table went dead silent.[]
In all our years together, I’d never embarrassed Lennon in front of people–no matter how pissed off I was inside, I’d just swallow it and sulk quietly.
They couldn’t believe it. Sweet, quiet Noa just went nuclear in public.[]
After a beat of pure awkwardness, someone scrambled to smooth things over:[]
“Whoa, hey, don’t read into it! Nina just doesn’t think before she talks! She totally didn’t mean anything by it! Right, Nina?“[]
Nina slapped her hands over her mouth, throwing up exaggerated surrender arms:
“Oh my god, Noa! I’m so sorry! I… I have verbal diarrhea! I just say whatever pops into my head! Please don’t take it personally!“[]
I just smiled. Said nothing.
When I didn’t respond, Lennon’s face darkened as he slammed down his beer, eyes boring into me:]
“Noa, what the hell? Everyone’s having a good time and you’re just… what, trying to kill the vibe?“]
“Nina’s just being herself–she’s straightforward, not all twisted up like you. Jesus, it’s one thoughtless comment. Are you seriously gonna make this a thing?“]
Twisted up.
So that’s how he saw me. I was the problem–oversensitive, dramatic. Meanwhile Nina’s “thoughtlessness” was just her being authentic and lovable.[]
My heart sank like a stone.
Fine. If I’m the buzzkill, might as well commit to it.]
I met Lennon’s furious stare head–on and pulled out my phone, opening Nina’s Instagram.[]
“Last month, the 12th. You guys rehearsed until 2 AM, way past campus curfew.“[]
There was Nina in an oversized men’s t–shirt, smugly hugging a pillow on a charcoal gray bed.]
Caption: [Hehe, successfully commandeered the master bedroom! Poor Lennon’s banished to the guest room~]
Right below it: another shot of Lennon’s face, half–visible on a cramped guest bed, flipping off the camera with obvious annoyance.[]
I didn’t stop. Kept scrolling.
“Last Wednesday. Band dinner.“[]
Nina holding a half–eaten matcha ice cream cone, one hand death–gripping Lennon’s arm while practically draped over him, mouth going straight for his cone to take a massive bite.[]
Caption: [Can’t decide what I want? This greedy pig wants both flavors! Lennon, lemme steal a bite~ Try and stop me!]]
Cenius Ex Girlfriend Fra Chore My Academiet
Chapter 2
Finally, my finger landed hard on the newest post.
Tonight. Posted just minutes ago. Lennon spinning her around after their Battle of the Bands win.]
Caption: [This moment belongs to us.]]
I looked up at Lennon, voice dripping with sarcasm:[]
“This is what you call ‘being herself?”
Lennon’s jaw tightened, his voice dropping to that dangerous register:[]
“Noa, are you seriously gonna dig through old shit right now?“]
“Yeah. Got a problem with that?“[]
I held his angry stare, refusing to back down.[]
“Any girl with half a brain knows to keep boundaries with a guy who has a girlfriend.“[]
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
Nina shot up from her seat, voice shaking with indignation:[]
“Lennon was literally right there! I got excited and hugged him–so what? It was just a hug! Are you seriously gonna make this into some conspiracy theory? You’re actually delusional!”
“Nina’s right!“]
Someone else jumped in, desperately trying to defuse the bomb:]
“Noa, she was just pumped! Hugging after a win is totally normal! There’s nothing else to it!“|[]
“Really?”
I locked eyes with Nina, every word sharp and deliberate:[]
“Funny how when you get ‘pumped,‘ you always seem to find your way to the guy with a girlfriend. What, everyone else invisible to you?”
“NOA!“]
Lennon exploded to his feet, face twisted with rage:[]
“Enough! Stop being a psycho! Everyone’s trying to celebrate and you’re just… If you wanna break up, just fucking say it!“]
Break up.
The whole room went dead quiet, like time itself had stopped.[]
