Chapter 1: The Cruel Truth
1668 Words
“Yes! I made it! I’m finally a graduate!” Jasmine squealed, her smile lighting up her face as she turned to Natalie, her best friend, who was seated beside her in the backseat.
“Yes, bestie, we made it.” Natalie laughed, squeezing Jasmine's hand tightly. They have been inseparable since their second year in college. They did almost everything together since they live in the same dorm. Although their majors are different, that doesn’t hinder the bonds between them.
“Let’s go.” Jasmine flung the car door open. “I can’t wait to see Ethan. It felt like a lifetime I’ve seen him.” Jasmine hurriedly stepped out of the car, while Natalie used the other door.
Dressed in a short, tight, black gown, paired with eight-inch stilettos, with a small clutch in hand, Jasmine walked elegantly towards the clubhouse, where her classmates had booked for the celebration of their graduation.
The moment she entered, the blast of the loud music playing in the room almost made her retreat.
Natalie’s hand caught her arm gently.
“Hey babe, where are you running to? Aren’t you eager to meet your boyfriend?”
Jasmine froze, her smile faltering for a second as she met Natalie’s blue eyes. There was something there. Something sharp behind the warmth, but she brushed it off.
Jasmine took a deep breath and walked into the booked private room, Natalie trailing behind her. What she didn’t see was the hatred that flashed across Natalie’s eyes the moment she turned away.
“Hey Jasmine, you are finally here.” Jasmine's blonde classmate walked up to her with a glass of wine in hand, her cheek rosy from drinking.
Jasmine nodded. She exchanged pleasantries with some of her classmates in the room, her eyes searching every corner to catch a glimpse of her boyfriend. However, he was nowhere to be found.
Jasmine’s brow knitted together. Where could he be? Didn’t he inform me earlier that he would be here? Just as her mind was running wild, one of Ethan's friends came out from another door inside the private room. It turns out that there is another private room in the room they are currently celebrating.
“Jasmine, you are finally here.” Donald sighted Jasmine immediately and walked up to her with a sloppy smile. His movements were somehow stiff. Jasmine turned around to see Donald walking towards her.
“Hey Natalie, you are here too.” Donald happily waved at Natalie, a sweet smile plastered on his face.
“Donald, where is Ethan? Have you seen him?” Before Jasmine could ask, Natalie had already rushed forward and held Donald’s hands, her eyes sparkling as she leaned forward.
None of them think that Natalie’s behavior was off. She had always been like that when it came to Ethan, making everyone think that she cared about Ethan because he was Jasmine’s boyfriend.
“You…you mean Ethan?” Donald stuttered while Natalie nodded. “He is in there with some friends. He had been waiting for you guys to arrive.” Donald pointed at the door he came out from earlier.
“Thank you, Donald.” Jasmine appreciated before she turned around and rushed towards the door, her heart pounding in anticipation. She can’t wait to see Ethan. It's been more than a day since she had seen him due to their graduation preparations.
Natalie dropped Donald’s hand and followed behind Jasmine. Her face twisted briefly with loathing before she quickly masked it, afraid that someone would see her loathful expression.
Jasmine paused for a few seconds to check herself out the moment she reached the door. Her gaze ran all over her body, trying to check if anything was out of place. By then, Natalie had caught up.
“Why aren’t you going in?” Natalie asked, leaning forward to peek through the small gap between the door.
“I was just trying to see if anything was out of place.” Jasmine said with her head bowed as she straightened the invisible crease on her dress.
“Come on babe, you are perfect. Let’s go in already.” Natalie said reassuringly, not even looking at Jasmine, eyes still fixed between the small opening of the door.
“Alright. Let’s go in.” Jasmine said as she pushed the door open. She entered first, while Natalie walked behind her.
The atmosphere in the room was different from that of the outside. A snooker table was surrounded by three handsome men. Two of them were holding the snooker cue in their hands, their eyes fixed on the balls on the table. The third man was standing not far away,
He was twirling with a glass of champagne in his hand, his eyes fixed on the snooker board. The room seemed to shrink around him as he stood there in a black pants and white shirt.
Jasmine’s gaze clung to him, unblinking, as if letting go might erase him from her sight. Her palm was slick with sweat. Four years of longing twisting in her chest with every heartbeat.
Natalie’s gaze also lingered on him, her lips pressing together as her eyes flickered with hesitation and something unspoken. The hit on a ball echoed all over the room, bringing everyone out of their reverie.
The men hadn’t noticed them yet. They were all immersed in the game as they continued their discussion.
“Ethan,” Josh called, dropping his snooker cue beside the table as he turned around.
“Hmm,” Ethan answered, his eyes still focused on the game as if in his own world.
“It's been four years already. When are you planning to tell Jasmine that you don’t love her? Or have you forgotten that you being with her was because of a bet we made four years ago?”
The room suddenly felt smaller, suffocating. Jasmine’s eyes widened, her mouth wide agape with her fists clenched tightly beside her.
No. Josh must be saying nonsense. Ethan loves me so much. He wouldn’t dare play with my feelings… Jasmine convinced herself in her heart as she stood rooted in place, waiting for Ethan’s reply as Josh’s words kept on ringing in her ears.
A bet…? Four years…?
Natalie and Williams, the third guy in the room, eyes widened, mouth parted as they took in what they just heard. Natalie looked between Ethan and Jasmine who were frozen in place just like herself.
Who didn’t know that Jasmine and Ethan are madly in love on campus? Josh’s revelation was like an eye opener. Who would have thought that Ethan was just playing Jasmine.
Jasmine’s sharp nails dug into her flesh, a tiny bead of blood drawn as she took in Ethan’s expression. He didn’t comment on what Josh just said. He just stood there, his expression unreadable.
The man she had loved with all her heart for the past four years was with her not because her love for him was reciprocated, but because he made a bet with his friend.
She felt stupid and played. She wanted to rush over and confronted Ethan, who was still silent, his face creased in a frown as if thinking about something, but was stopped by Josh’s next words.
“Don’t tell me you really fell in love with her, Ethan?” Josh walked towards Ethan and tapped him on his shoulder, seeing how lost he was. Josh’s lips curled up in triumph.
Jasmine’s heart felt like it was about to stop as she awaits Ethan’s response, her fists still clenched tightly around her clutch.
“I was just fooling around with Jasmine. Why would I fall in love with her? It’s just a game bro.” Ethan said with a small chuckle, but no one knew the pain he felt in his heart the moment he said that. His heart felt heavy.
His chuckle faded just as it came. He raised the champagne glass to his lips, pretending to take a sip, though the liquid burned his throat more than usual.
He said that just now in order to look exactly like the same Ethan his friends knew — cold, composed, and unfeeling. But deep down, he knew the truth.
He loved Jasmine. He had fallen for her long ago. The moment she gave him her sweetest, shy smile without any expectations. Her carefree, gentle, and sweet soul had long held a place in his heart.
The bet with his friend has started as a foolish game in their freshman year, a dare to win the heart of the quiet, unattainable cold-beauty. But what had started as a bet had turned into something real. Something that terrified him.
In his attempt to look strong and unfeeling in front of his friends, he had just spat out the biggest lie of his life. He had lied about the one thing that meant the world to him.
Ethan’s words were the deal breaker for Jasmine. The tears she had been holding in her eyes fell silently, her hand pressed on her aching chest.
If she hadn’t heard this from Ethan himself, she wouldn't have believed it if someone else had told her about it. Her eyes were still fixed on him as she cried silently, still in disbelief at the sudden heartbreak. The man in front of her was familiar, yet unfamiliar.
A few minutes ago, she dolled up and was happy to see him. And now? Her happiness was turned into heartbreak by the only person she thought cared about her the most in this world.
With no courage to confront Ethan, Jasmine turned around. Before she left, she turned back to look at him for the last time, as if waiting for him to refute all that was said just now, but nothing came out of his mouth.
With an aching heart, Jasmine dashed out of the room silently, just like the way she had entered, not calling attention to herself, tears streaming down her face.
- Writer
