His embrace did nothing but cause trouble to her system.
Sage wants to keep it cool, but not that cool. Even though she could pretend, she couldn't handle the sickening feeling he made her feel.
"You should invite everyone you know," Sage said carelessly as she finally removed his arms around her.
Lucas looked at her with interesting eyes as his lips parted. "You sure? But you're not that comfortable around my friends."
"Well, I guess, now's the time for me to get to know them better," Sage uttered with full confidence.
It made Lucas raise an eyebrow; it was out of the amusement he was feeling. He could already feel that something was off, but he also couldn't deny that he liked this version of his girlfriend.
"You should also invite Gianna, I want to thank her personally for helping you arrange plans."
Sage licked her lower lip, she could feel the situation being profound. Acknowledging how close they were, she could actually smell the mixture of his natural musky scent and all the alcohol that he drank before she got here.
Feeling tense, she decided to look down to avoid his eyes, only to be pulled closer and kissed.
"Lucas... stop," Sage's hands were already on his chest. But in contrast to her, his hand caught her right hand while the other snaked on her waist.
"Lucas, stop this. Y-You're drunk."
He forced her to open her mouth, feeling weak, she just let him. Sage thought that only if she hadn't witnessed his illicit affair with Gianna earlier, she would've loved and enjoyed the kiss they were sharing right now.
But because of what happened, she failed to feel anything aside from anger and disappointment. He failed her.
It was fun to know on her side that Lucas still didn't know that she was already aware, Sage thought that maybe, she could still make use of him tonight. But still, that meant that she had to compromise herself every time for her not to throw up.
"I love you... so much, Sage," Lucas said while catching his breath. "You know that I'm ready to wait until you're ready to give it to me, right?"
Lucas went ahead and lifted her, she immediately clasped her legs around his waist as she went on kissing him deeper.
They were both catching their breath, Lucas found support on the wall as Sage leaned back against it.
"You could claim me now," Sage said in a seductive tone. Lucas looked down on her half-opened red lips before she playfully bit it's lower part.
He didn't say anything and just went ahead and kissed her again. Sage couldn't help but moan, especially when he started grinding against her. She covered her mouth to prevent her from creating any more inappropriate sounds. Lucas started massaging her right mound as he watched her reaction. A low moan escaped from her.
"Do you like it?"
Sage weakly nodded. She could swear that enjoys this, but the thought of him doing this to other women before ruined it all. I mean... he just f****d that damn exchange student earlier.
As she took in some deep breaths, she already had this idea of where she could have the courage to break free from the lust that he started.
Lucas was frowning as she caught his breath. Sage slapped away his hand as she fixed her shirt and started walking away from him.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't think I could do it right now."
Lucas scoffed. "But you said that I could claim you right now," irritation could be sensed in his voice.
Sage turned around and gave him a deadly stare. It immediately took him back. He doesn't know how to feel as she continuously swallows hard.
"I changed my mind, Lucas," Sage said with a serious tone. "And besides, I'm still seventeen. It would be much better if we'd do it once... I already welcomed my legality."
"You could always choose to break it if you want."
Sage couldn't help to roll her eyes. it immediately caught Lucas off guard. But she couldn't care less.
"Shut up."
Without wanting to hear any more words from her worthless cheater boyfriend, she decides to leave.
"You should just stay here. I'm going to breathe some fresh air in the meantime," she turned around to look at him one last time. "You should clean up."
Lucas smiled and agreed with bitterment. "Yeah, right."
The lump that Sage was feeling in her throat never left. It's still there and no matter how hard she tries to forget and numb it, there's no use. She could pretend all she wanted, but she still couldn't deny that the feeling of being cheated on by her partner whom she trusted the most hurt like hell. It was like some part of her died.
Sage couldn't understand how he could do such a thing. She never did anything wrong. He always showered her with love every day for years... so how could he cheat?
"Now, I would like to make this toast for the woman I love the most, Sage, my baby..." Lucas smiled genuinely as he held his glass high and looked at her. "Happy birthday, my love. I hope you'll enjoy this day as much as we do."
Sage couldn't feel anything, and yet, she chose to keep her head held up high and return the favor.
Cheerful cheers and soft handclaps echoed around the place. All of their friends came, including their close relatives just to join her for her special day.
As soon as Lucas sat down by her side, it became her turn to make the best out of the moment. It was hard to move with her thick purple gown, and yet, she managed.
Amid the moment, her eyes suddenly met a set of familiar piercing eyes staring at her from a distance. Asher Martin, Lucas's uncle, was looking at her with an unreadable expression.
'What is he doing here? Damn it, he's making me nervous.'
He never approved of her relationship with his nephew, so the presence of him being here just feels too odd.
Sage bit her lip before she released a heavy breath. She plastered a smile as she finally decided to make a toast.
"I'm very thankful to everyone who joined me here to make me feel loved..." she started. "And yes, as of the current moment, I'm having a good time. Thank you to my boyfriend who helped arrange everything just to make this day happen and be successful."
Sage took a deep breath.
"But as much as I want to continue this day with you guys, I'm afraid I can't anymore."
"Sage? What's the matter?" Lucas was worried as he held her hand, but she didn't pay him any attention.
"My boyfriend... " Sage's voice broke as tears rolled down her cheeks. "... cheated on me. He f****d that damn exchange student from our school. Gianna Florence! Why don't we give them a hand of applause, everybody?"
Sage carelessly dropped the glass she was holding, causing it to break into pieces.
Whispers filled the entire place as she just stood there, soulless.
"Sage! I'm telling you right now, take everything back you said! You're making a scene!"
Without any hesitation, she slapped him hard.
"Tell them how you f****d her yesterday, Lucas. Tell them how you moaned each other's name while doing it in my apartment! I couldn't get how you could tell me you love me but still cheat! You're nothing but a f*****g liar!"
Without saying any more words, Sage pushed him away.
Her vision was blurry as she decided to fly off the scene. With her heart beating so fast inside her chest, it already feels like she's going to have a heart attack and die.
Suddenly, her phone beeped, even if she was busy ugly crying, she opened it and saw a notification. It was a message from a strange number.
'Meet me by the gate,' she read.
Who the f**k is this?
She could swear that she wasn't interested, but when she found herself heading towards the gates, she was unstoppable.
"Who in the hell..."
Sage swallowed hard as she stared at the man leaning against his car, it was like he was waiting for her there for so long.
Asher Martin, the guy who hates her so much, and yet wants her at the same time.