I Lost My V-Card to a Stranger

Chapter 3: The Venue

Saphira's POV

"Deep breath."

Ever since we left the hotel to head to the chosen venue of our school reunion, those words have served as a mantra for me, providing some measure of peace during the stressful ride. But as we got closer to our destination, it got harder and harder for me to remain calm, with my heart beating faster and faster.

I was so focused on thinking about my inevitable reunion with my tormentors that I didn't notice Lorraine was looking at me the whole time.

I was startled when I felt Lorraine's hand resting on mine, and my eyes automatically shifted toward her. That's when I noticed the understanding and care that were mirrored in her eyes.

"Sorry." I didn't know why that word came out of my mouth, and she seemed to be confused about that as well.

"Why are you apologizing?" she asked.

I was at a loss for words, not sure how to react, and struggling with the fact that I didn't really know why I had apologized to her. Maybe it came from the deep-rooted habit I had of constantly having to apologize to everyone at school just for being in the same place as them.

There were times in my high school years when I genuinely thought I deserved the bullying I experienced. I forced myself into a school where I didn't belong and didn't feel welcome, and I felt like an outcast. Back then, I felt that my weight and perceived ugly appearance were my fault, especially since I didn't fit in with the society they lived in.

I had thought I was over that old habit, but now that I'm seeing my old classmates again, it seems like those memories are coming back, carrying with them the anguish and suffering I had experienced before.

She took a deep breath before speaking, and I could detect the concern in her voice.

"I may not fully know what you went through before transferring to our school, but I want you to understand that you've turned into someone outstanding. You're not the same person anymore; you're strong and capable of extraordinary feats. Remember your strength and take pride in all that you've achieved," she said.

I tried to smile, but I knew that it came out as forced after seeing Lorraine's reaction.

"Always keep in mind that you're not alone; I will always be with you, no matter what, and in case they start to bully you again, and you need help, you can always count on me," she continued.

I felt touched hearing her words, and at the same time, I couldn't help but feel ashamed for acting this way.

She is right! I was no longer the weakling they knew, and I should take pride in everything I accomplished. I will not let a bully or a dozen bullies make me cower in fear.

When I eventually composed myself, a genuine smile emerged on my face, and for the first time, I was eager to see them again and show them who I had grown into.

"Thank you," I said.

"Can you stop saying thank you? I feel like if I'm going to charge you for every thank you that you say, I will probably get rich," she added in a voice full of humor.

"But you are already rich!" I said, pointing out the obvious.

"I'm not rich; it's my parents who were rich," she said.

I thought about talking about it but decided against it when I noticed her growing irritation. I didn't want to upset her after she made me feel better about myself, but one thing is for sure: I will never stop being grateful for everything she has done for me.

It only took us ten minutes when we finally arrived at the hotel where the reunion would take place. It was a luncheon room that the organizer rented for this event, which is on the fourth floor of the building.

"Ready?" I heard Lorraine ask when we were just waiting for our rented car to be positioned at the hotel entrance.

My heart continued to pound no matter how hard I tried to calm myself down. Even though I'd told myself earlier that everything would work out, nervousness continued to creep in. However, knowing Lorraine was by my side gave me confidence that I could overcome whatever was ahead.

"Yes," I said, smiling.

"Don't worry, you can do this, and I wanted to say again that you look gorgeous," she said, sincerity in her voice.

When I heard that, I couldn't stop myself from looking at my reflection in the top mirror in front, and the image I saw gave me a boost in my confidence.

The stylist did a great job with my make-up, but the most impressive was, of course, the dress that Lorraine lent me.

It felt like somewhat of a safety net against my harasser, and once more, I was incredibly appreciative of Lorraine for giving me this kind of help.

"It's just because of the make-up and the dress you lent me," I answered, followed by awkward laughter.

"I'm not talking just tonight, Ira. You're always gorgeous, and you're the most beautiful person I have ever met, and I am lucky that I got to know and get close to someone like you," she said with so much sincerity that if I were not worried that it might ruin my makeup, I might cry.

Since I didn't know how to respond to that, I just gave her a warm smile to show her how much I appreciated her words.

When the car finally stopped, the driver opened the door for us. Lorraine was the first one who got out of the car, and as expected, almost everyone stared at her with so much admiration in their eyes.

"Calm down, Ira. It's just a reunion," I told myself, and then I saw the driver's hand waiting for me to accept. After taking one more long breath, I finally accepted his hand and got out of the car as well.

My mind froze like a deer in the dazzling headlights of an approaching car. I was completely stunned. My chest heaving from the intensity of it all, I returned to the car before I had time to gather my thoughts.

"What the hell, Ira?" I was awoken from my daze when I heard Lorraine's voice, and when I looked at her, I saw her left eyebrow arched while she was looking at me through the opened door.

"I..." I tried to speak, but couldn't even form a sensible sentence.

I noticed how she took a deep breath before getting back inside the car, and when she looked at me, there was an understanding look in her gaze.

"I may not have experienced nor felt what you're going through, but you should trust and believe in yourself, Ira," she said calmly.

She waited for me to talk, but I couldn't, so she decided to continue.

"Again, I am here for you no matter what, and if I feel that you need me, you can always count on me to help you, just like you always help me if I need help."

"When did I ever help you, and when did you ever need help?" I asked, confused.

She smiled before replying. "That's what I like about you; you didn't even realize that you were helping me even though you were doing it, and that's one of the things I liked about you, Ira."

"Ok," I finally answered.

"And do you promise that you won't be running again? Because, honestly, you're already starting to irritate me. Have some balls!" She yelled.

"But... I don't have any balls," I replied innocently, not really sure what she meant.

"You're so cute," she said, and before I could ask, she stepped out of the car once more.

I didn't think and just decided to follow her, and once again, I felt the gazes of the people around us, but decided just to ignore them.

In my mind, I knew some of them were comparing me with Lorraine, who is extremely beautiful, and how could I be compared to her?

"Can't you see that they are looking at you admiringly?" I heard Lorraine say, and when I glanced at her, I noticed that her gaze was still fixed in front.

"That's hardly ever going to happen," I replied.

"There you go again, doubting yourself, but never mind them; the most important part of the day is the time when our former classmates will finally see you," she said with excitement in her voice.

Hearing her talk about meeting our former classmates made my heart beat faster once more, but just as she kept telling me, I tried to prepare myself for that moment.

"They will definitely be shocked when they get to see you again," she said, oblivious to the turmoil inside me as we rode the elevator where the function room is.

I decided to keep my mouth shut for fear of puking due to nervousness, but when we were almost on our floor, I felt the need to finally speak.

"It's now or never," I thought to myself after finally taking a deep and long breath.

"Lorraine..." I called her name to stop her from talking, and after hearing my voice, she did that and looked at me with a questioning gaze.

"I need to ask you something," I said with a certain determination.

"Okay."