love Sacrifice

chapter 4

:

"What the f**k? Are you saying that you have a boyfriend now?" she exclaims, unable to contain her surprise.

I sigh, trying to clarify, "Well, technically, he's a pretend boyfriend. There are no real feelings involved."

Her amusement shines through as she asks, "With that Jared?"

I nod reluctantly. "Yes, duh. Like I said, it's just a charade."

A mix of curiosity and concern flickers in Annika's eyes as she asks, "With that Jared Miller?"

I confirm her suspicions, realizing that the name alone is enough to convey the depth of the situation. "Yes, it's with Jared Miller."

Little did I know at that moment that this impulsive decision would lead me down a path filled with unexpected twists and turns, testing the limits of pretense and challenging the boundaries of my heart.

"Did Claudia know about this, Ellie?" Annika asked.

"I haven't told her yet, but I have plans to tell her. Maybe not now, as it doesn't feel like the right time," I replied. I didn't know how to break the news to Claudia. I couldn't fathom explaining everything that had happened in just a single moment, in a single evening, where I ended up with a boyfriend.

"You need to tell her as soon as possible, Ellie. I don't want you to end up heartbroken like Claudia," she said with a sad tone, persistently urging me to inform Claudia about what happened that night.

"Why, Annika?" I asked, confused.

"Duh, Ellie. Claudia's brother and Jared, who is now your pretend boyfriend, are close friends. And you know they're both playboys, right?" she said. For me, there was nothing wrong with it because Jared and I had already agreed that our relationship wouldn't involve any feelings.

"There's nothing to worry about, Annika. There are no feelings involved between us; our relationship is purely casual," I said confidently.

"I don't think so, Ellie," she said with a serious look and tone. "You will fall for him, period."

"Don't you trust me, Annika?" I asked.

"I do, but he's Jared. And by the way, your Jared is the cousin of Claudia's monster—the one who broke Claudia's heart," I gasped. I didn't know that. I knew Claudia's monster was a notorious playboy, but I wasn't aware of the connection between Jacob and that monster.

I didn't know how to explain to Claudia that her monster and Jared were cousins. Claudia despised that monster's cousin because they knew every cheating moment of that monster but kept it hidden from Claudia.

As Annika's words sank in, I felt a mixture of surprise, concern, and a tinge of resentment towards Jared. I had no idea that Jared was connected to Claudia's painful past through his association with her ex-boyfriend's cousins. The fact that they had concealed the cheating moments of Claudia's ex only deepened my friend's resentment towards them.

My brow furrowed as I contemplated Annika's advice. "You're saying that one of the cousins involved in hiding Claudia's ex-boyfriend's infidelity is Jared? That's just great," I muttered sarcastically.

Annika nodded sympathetically. "I'm afraid so, Ellie. It's understandable why Claudia despises that group of cousins. I can't help but worry that involving yourself with Jared, even in a pretend relationship, might trigger negative emotions for Claudia."

A wave of unease washed over me as I began to realize the potential implications of my decision. The charade that I had considered harmless suddenly took on a new dimension, intertwining my own life with Claudia's past pain.

"I didn't sign up for all this drama," I grumbled, frustration evident in my voice. "I just wanted a simple pretend relationship without any emotional entanglements. Now, it feels like I've stumbled into a minefield."

Annika placed a comforting hand on my arm. "I understand, Ellie, but you need to be aware of the impact this may have on Claudia. She's been hurt before, and knowing that one of those cousins is now involved with you might stir up a lot of complicated emotions. It's crucial to handle this situation with care and transparency."

Her words resonated with me, and I realized the importance of being honest not only with Claudia but also with myself. "You're right, Annika. I need to be upfront with Claudia about my connection to Jared. It wouldn't be fair to keep her in the dark, especially given her history with that group."

Annika smiled, relieved by my change in perspective. "I'm glad you see it that way, Ellie. It may not be easy, but open communication is essential. Your friendship with Claudia deserves that honesty and trust."

Nodding in agreement, I made a silent promise to myself to have a heartfelt conversation with Claudia, sharing the truth about my involvement with Jared.

Still here in my small apartment, sitting in my bedroom. It's not that small; my bedroom is not a single bedroom. Annika, Claudia, and I can sleep together in this bedroom, but it's not as big as a master bedroom.

I gasped, realizing I still don't know how to tell Claudia this. Yes, I already informed Annika that I would disclose everything to Claudia as soon as possible, but I'm still unsure how to approach it. I need to find a way to tell her that I'm dating someone she despises due to his cheating ex-boyfriend history.

My phone suddenly rang, and I saw that it was Claudia calling. I hurriedly answered the call.

"Hey, love, how is your aunt?" (Love is our term of endearment in our friendship.) I asked, feeling a tinge of worry.

"She's good. The doctor said she can leave the hospital today. By the way, I called not only to update you about my aunt but also because I want to celebrate Annika's achievement with you. I know you already celebrated without me, but I'd love to join in the celebration," she said. Her words brought joy to me, perhaps a sign that I should tell her everything face to face.

"Sure, you know Annika and I were just waiting for you to say yes. Annika had even planned to drag you to the hospital because she missed you," I said, hearing her laughter on the other end, which made me chuckle too.

I recalled Annika's crestfallen expression when she asked where Claudia was, and I informed her that Claudia was at the hospital with her aunt. Annika burst into tears as Claudia's absence affected her, though it was probably due to the alcohol she had consumed that evening.

"I'll tease her about that. I had no idea she cried that night. I truly wanted to go out with you, but my aunt needed me at that time. I'm sorry," Claudia said, her voice tinged with sadness.

"No, Claudia, there's no need to apologize. We understand how much you care for your aunt, and family always comes first, remember?" I reassured her, letting her know she made the right decision.

"Thank you, Ellie, for always understanding me," she said gratefully.

"You're welcome, Claudia. And I apologize in advance." Claudia, I'm sorry. I

didn't know about their connection. I want to explain everything to you, but I think it would be better to do it in person when we meet.

"For what, Ellie?" she asked, sounding puzzled.

"I'll explain when we see each other, Claudia," I replied.

I could sense her curiosity through the phone. "Okay, Ellie. I trust you, but I hope it's nothing serious."

"I promise you, Claudia, it's nothing serious. Just something that happened unexpectedly," I assured her, hoping to alleviate any worries she might have.

"Alright then, I'll see you soon," she said with a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Looking forward to it, Claudia," I said, feeling a mixture of anticipation and anxiety about our upcoming conversation.

As I hung up the phone, I realized that the path ahead wouldn't be easy. The revelation I had to share with Claudia had the potential to shake our friendship, and I couldn't predict how she would react. All I could do was prepare myself for an honest conversation and hope that our bond would withstand the challenges that lay ahead.