Tempted by My Buddy after Getting Cheated On

Chapter 4 You Scumbag!

I was done with Ash's constant meddling.

He thought he could just win me back after everything. Where was he when he was busy cheating?

Did he really think I was so desperate that all it took was a snap of his fingers to drag me back to him?

'Ash Rothman, you are insulting me.'

My blood boiled, and every inch of me was consumed by an overwhelming rage.

Taking advantage of his distraction, I seized the opportunity, aimed for his groin, and kicked him hard!

"Get lost, you bastard!"

If it weren't for the fact that there were so many classmates and teachers around, and if I still cared about my image, I would have kicked him a few more times.

Especially down there, I'd make sure it never worked again.

Ash groaned in pain on the ground, his face twisted as he yelled, "Melissa!!"

I simply ignored him, calmly straightening my clothes and flashing a smile.

I walked away with grace as if I hadn't just kicked him where it hurt the most.

But as I stepped out of the dressing room, I saw Kiana. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear. She must've been eavesdropping on my conversation with Ash.

When she saw me, she took a few steps back.

I couldn't care less about her. With a sneer, I said, "If you want to listen, do it openly. Don't worry. I don't pick up trash. Once it's thrown away, it belongs in the landfill, and you? You're the landfill."

I turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm.

Her teeth clenched, her voice tight with frustration.

"Melissa, what is it about me that falls short? Is it because I'm not pretty enough? Or is it my body? Why is it that everything you want just falls into your lap? Your family's ordinary, so why are you with Ash, someone from such a powerful family? Why you? Why?!"

I didn't want to answer her.

Because Ash, the jerk, wasn't worth my time.

I pulled my arm free, ready to walk away, but then Kiana suddenly laughed.

"What am I supposed to do, Melissa? Seeing you like this, still so carefree. It drives me crazy. Why should I always be the one to swallow my pride while you get to move on so easily? It's not fair. You and Ash broke up. You should be crying, but here you are, smiling like nothing happened. How is that even possible?"

I couldn't help but scoff at how little she understood me.

There were so many men in this world, including Ash. He was nothing, just a worthless piece of jerk!

I was about to walk past her when she blocked my way again.

'I hated Ash, yes, but Kiana? She was just as bad.'

I couldn't stand the sight of either of them for another second.

"Move! Don't make me hurt you again."

I gritted my teeth and warned her, my hands clenched into fists tightly.

I just wanted to see Elrod as soon as possible. Only then would I feel like I could finally breathe easy, like my eyes could relax.

But Kiana, that b***h, just flashed a wicked smile. She didn't move. Instead, she grabbed my arm, pretending I was yanking her hair.

Before I could react, she screamed, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Help! Help! Melissa, I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have competed with you. I shouldn't have caused misunderstandings between you and Ash. Please, Melissa, I'm sorry..."

She cried, tears streaming down her face, her voice high-pitched and deliberately obnoxious, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

To them, it looked like I was pulling Kiana by the hair, ready to throw a punch.

As people rushed over to stop us, Kiana held onto my arm, deliberately pulling me into a fake struggle. She acted as if I was shoving her toward the wall.

She put on a look of sheer terror, her hand fluttering over her smooth forehead in feigned panic.

"Blood... blood..." she screamed.

She sounded like some helpless victim.

Her act twisted everything. The crowd, who should have been congratulating me for winning the competition, now turned on me.

One by one, people began accusing me.

"Melissa, you're teammates. You shouldn't treat your teammates like this."

"Melissa, why are you being so cruel?"

"Just because you won doesn't mean you can hit her!"

Faced with their accusations, I just smirked coldly.

But Kiana played the role of the concerned best friend perfectly, her voice sweet and pitiful, explaining, "Guys, don't blame Melissa. I know she was just upset."

"Being upset doesn't give her the right to hit you."

"Exactly! If she can lash out at teammates every time she's angry, who would ever want to team up with her?"

Her words only made people think I was even more dangerous to cross.

This was exactly what Kiana had hoped for. She'd managed to turn everyone against me.

In my mind, I couldn't help but applaud Kiana for her scheming. 'Wow, she really knows how to put on an act.'

I didn't say a word. I just watched her perform silently.

In the midst of the chaos, there was one person who, like me, remained calm, Elrod.

I spotted him instantly in the crowd.

His face, usually as cold as stone, softened when our eyes met. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as though he were silently cheering me on.

It was as if he was waiting for me to strike back, convinced I wouldn't let myself be defeated by this situation.

"Shut up, all of you! Enough with the yelling!"

Ash, who had just started recovering from the kick I gave him, stormed forward with a gloomy face. At the same moment, Kiana seized my hand and began her little act.

"Melissa, you've known Ash for so long. You should trust him. You can't be so petty, so controlling. Just because some other girl gets close to him doesn't mean she's after something. If you're angry, take it out on me, but leave him out of it, okay? He hasn't done anything wrong! He didn't betray you!"

Her pitiful, pleading tone made it seem like I was the one making a scene.

This was Kiana's game. She played the sympathy card to climb higher, to manipulate the situation to her advantage.

I stared at her in fury, not because of her words but because she had wasted what should've been my time celebrating with Elrod after the competition.

And at that moment, I saw Kiana throw me a sly, provoking glance.

It was like she was saying, "You won the competition, so what? You still lost."

'Lost? No.'

I simply didn't care to expose her affair in front of all these people.

But she wouldn't leave me any choice, would she? I pulled out a picture of Ash and Kiana kissing in the restaurant.

In the photo, Ash's hand was all the way down Kiana's pants.

I grabbed a microphone, my voice cutting through the air as I addressed the entire school, "Ash Rothman, Kiana Griffiths... you two have been sneaking around behind my back all the time. Well, I'm giving you both what you want. You..." I pointed coldly at Kiana, who was still crying, "my so-called friend, Kiana, will be the new cheerleader, and if you are here, then I'm out."

Then I turned to Ash, whose face had drained of color. "And you, Ash Rothman, get lost! Jerk! I'm done with you!"