When I Knew The Truth, I Left Him

Chapter 2

Talia's POV:

My feet felt as heavy as lead. After a long pause, I pushed the door open.

My arrival seemed to thrill them. They were all waiting for a show.

"Talia Faulkerson, do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you?"

Ronan looked faintly irritated. "Is this how you pursue someone?"

In the past, I would have apologized over and over, my head bowed low. Now, I only looked at him calmly.

"There was an unexpected issue at the lab."

My response caught him off guard. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, though he quickly smoothed it away.

"I didn't ask you here for anything important. I just wanted to set you up with someone." He said idly.

"You know perfectly well we're not from the same world. I could never be with you. Lucky for you, I know someone. He's just as much of a bookworm as you are. You two would be perfect together."

As soon as he finished speaking, his friends burst into loud teasing cheers.

"Talia, you're so lucky! No one else has ever gotten Ronan to put this much effort into finding a date."

Lucky?

I bit back a cold scoff.

Ronan probably assumed that even if he offered to set me up, I would turn the guy down and insist I wanted no one but him.

He'd planned for every outcome... except that I already knew the truth behind every dream I'd had of him.

When I stayed silent, his tone turned mocking. "Talia, instead of waiting around for me to change my mind, you'd better face reality."

Just then, the private room door swung open from the outside. A young man in a plaid shirt and glasses stepped in.

"Well, well... here comes the leading man! Your leading lady has been waiting so long the flowers are practically wilting."

"Honestly, they do look good together. Ronan's got great taste."

"Ronan's treating everyone today, all to play matchmaker for you two! If things work out, don't forget who helped you meet."

They talked over one another, every word dripping with mockery.

"Enough," Ronan drawled. "Introduce yourselves properly. Get to know each other."

Our eyes met.

The young man said flatly, "Carl Reed, second-year biology major."

Before I could speak, Ronan cut in. "This is Talia Faulkerson. She's the one who's been chasing after me."

Anyone with eyes could see he'd said it on purpose.

Carl looked at me. "If you're already interested in someone else, I won't waste your time."

With that, he turned to leave.

Ronan's lips curled into a faint, amused smile, his tone lazy and self-assured.

"Do you really think I'd ever be with her? She's chased me for months, refused to give up no matter how many times I turned her down. Instead of rejecting her all over again, I thought it kinder to find her someone who actually matches her."

His words stole the breath from my chest.

Every soft, warm memory from my dreams flashed through my mind all at once. The dream world and the real world split apart completely, never to be mended.

Ronan turned his head to look at me, lifting an eyebrow. "Talia, I think Carl is far too good for you. What do you say?"

Was it fun to stand up there, treating people like fools?

Was he so desperate to see me turn down someone else just for his sake?

I met his gaze straight on. "I think he seems nice. I don't dislike him at all."

The room went dead silent.

I walked over to Carl, pulled out my phone, and gave him a small, calm smile.

"Let's add each other as contacts."

"Talia, are you doing this just to spite me?" Ronan frowned and scoffed. "That kind of petty trick doesn't work on me."

He was the one who offered to set me up, and now that I agreed, he was the one calling it spite.

I let out a quiet, bitter laugh, laughing at myself, and at him.

If not for those dreams every single night, I never would have gotten mixed up with him at all.