The Boy I said I Hated

The Choice

I didn't answer David.

I couldn't.

I just stood there, staring at him while a thousand thoughts ran through my mind.

He had kissed Maya.

He had hidden it from me.

And now I was supposed to decide whether I could still trust him.

"Railey," he whispered.

I looked away.

"I need time."

His expression fell.

"Okay."

"I don't want you following me."

He nodded.

"I won't."

I turned and walked away.

Every step felt heavier than the last.

---

I spent the rest of the day avoiding him.

I skipped lunch.

I left class before he could approach me.

And when my friends asked what was wrong, I smiled and said I was tired.

But the truth was simple.

I was hurt.

Not because David had a past.

Everyone had a past.

I was hurt because I had believed him when he promised there were no more secrets.

By the time I reached my apartment that evening, I was exhausted.

I dropped my bag onto the couch and took out my phone.

There was one message.

David: I know you're angry. You have every right to be.

I stared at it.

Another message appeared.

David: But please don't let Maya decide what happens between us.

My heart tightened.

I didn't reply.

Then my phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Maya.

Maya: You should know why he kissed me.

I frowned.

My fingers moved before I could stop them.

Why?

Her reply came quickly.

Maya: Because I asked him to choose.

I froze.

Choose what?

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Finally, her message came.

Maya: Me or you.

I stopped breathing.

Before I could respond, another message appeared.

Maya: And he chose you.

I stared at the screen.

For the first time all day, I didn't know what to feel.

Then another message arrived.

Maya: But he never told you what I offered him.

My stomach dropped.

I immediately called David.

He answered after one ring.

"Railey?"

"What did Maya offer you?"

Silence.

My heart sank.

"David?"

"Where are you?"

"Answer me."

He exhaled slowly.

"I didn't want you to know because I knew you'd misunderstand."

"Then explain it."

Another pause.

"She offered to leave."

I frowned.

"What?"

"She said she'd disappear from my life completely if I gave her one last chance."

My chest tightened.

"And you kissed her because of that?"

"No."

His voice became firm.

"I kissed her because I was confused. Because I thought maybe I still had feelings for her."

I closed my eyes.

That hurt.

"But then I realized something."

"What?"

"I didn't want her."

I said nothing.

"I wanted you."

My eyes filled with tears.

"David..."

"I know I messed up."

His voice softened.

"But losing you would hurt more than anything Maya could ever do."

I wiped my cheek.

"I don't know if I can trust you yet."

"I understand."

"I need you to give me time."

"I will."

There was a long silence.

Then he said quietly,

"But Railey?"

"Yeah?"

"I meant what I told you from the beginning."

"What?"

"I never hated you."

Despite everything, a tiny smile appeared on my face.

"You were pretty annoying."

He laughed softly.

"And you were impossible."

"I still am."

"I know."

For the first time that day, I felt like I could breathe.

But just as I was about to say goodbye, my phone buzzed with another message.

Not from David.

Not from Maya.

An unknown number.

I opened it.

My smile disappeared.

Unknown Number: You're asking the wrong person about that night.

I stared at the screen.

Then another message appeared.

Unknown Number: If you really want to know what happened between David and Maya... ask David about the other girl.

My heart stopped.

There was another girl.

To be continued…