P.S. This chapter is the continuation from where I left off in Chapter 8 (before all the flashbacks).

Victoria’s POV

It felt like everything that has happened was playing back in my mind the moment I saw Tiffany.

    I started to feel uncomfortable with seeing Tiffany again but she seemed oblivious to my awkwardness.

    “Common tell me. Are you going on a date tonight?” Tiffany prompted and Seohyun was nodding at her side. I just smiled and shook my head.

    “I’m not going on a date.” Well I was a few minutes ago, but I obliviously can’t now. Tiffany and Seohyun nodded but snickered.

    “Okay, whatever you say.” Seohyun teased and Tiffany giggled. I just smiled warily at them.

    “Seohyun-ah, we should better get going if we don’t want to be late.” Tiffany suddenly said. I looked at them with an eyebrow raised.

    “Where are you guys going?” I asked, just wanting to be polite.

    “We’re going to get some drinks with our members.” She explained and then added as she faced Tiffany, “Oh Unnie, I think I’ll go to the bathroom first before we go. Stay here kay?” Seohyun quickly darted towards the bathroom which was down the second hallway from where we stood. And then it was just me and Tiffany.

    Tiffany smiled at me, still in her cheery mood whereas I was still uncomfortable. I let my eyes wander on their own and they landed on the silver ring on my third finger. I traced the ring with my fingers and a small smile was on my lips.

    “So… Unnie,” Tiffany’s voice startled me and I realized what I was doing. I quickly hid my left hand behind my back. I looked back up at her with a smile. “How’s the promo going?”

    “It’s going really great. We’re getting positive views from the fans about our new album.” I nodded and then we were silent again. What should I do now?

    I glanced up at her and she was staring intently at her wrist. I felt my brows furrowing and my eyes spotted a silver bracelet with a small infinity pendant on it. It looked somewhat familiar but where…

    My heart sank when I remembered where I saw it—on Nichkhun’s wrist. I remembered he kept wearing it every time we meet. No wonder he was a bit uneasy every time I asked him about it—they were couple bracelets. I pulled my eyes away from the bracelet to Tiffany’s face. She was wearing a sad smile as she gently the pendant with her fingers.

    “Nichkhun…” I started, not knowing exactly what to say. Tiffany quickly averted her eyes from her bracelet back to me, but the sad smile was still on her face. “Are you two… still…” I trailed off, unsure how to put it. I knew they both had broken up and by how her face winced a bit at my question, I knew I was right. I suddenly felt guiltier. I  wondered when did they broke up. Was it because of me?

    Of course it was. I was the reason why Tiffany is left with a broken heart.

    “I don’t know.” She murmured and looked down on the floor. It was low but my ears managed to catch it. “I haven’t seen him in a while.” She looked back up at me and I almost yelped at the pain in my chest when I saw her eyes watering.

    “Tiffany…” I saw her shoulders trembling and I realized she was holding back the sobs. Oh my god, what did I do to her? She looked fragile and vulnerable and it’s my entire fault.

    “I’m… s-sorry.” She stuttered a bit but then laugh without any hint of humour. I could see her trying to blink back the tears and trying not to ruin her flawless make-up.

    “Tiffany, I have something to tell you.” I said, I need to tell her the truth. I know it may seem cruel to tell her what happened between me and Nichkhun but I can’t keep hiding the truth from her. I wanted her to know that I never intended for any of this to happen.

    She looked back at me and her eyes started to water again as if she knew what I was going to say. I felt my right hand playing with the ring behind my back. I was arguing with myself now.

    Half of my heart wants Tiffany to let Nichkhun go yet the other wants me to let him go. The last time I had the same decision to make, I chose to stay by Nichkhun’s side. And what did that decision led me to? It led me to a heartbroken Tiffany.

    I realized what I decided a few months ago was a mistake. I should’ve have left WGM like I planned and by this time I would’ve probably forgotten about Nichkhun but no, I was too selfish and greedy. I wanted Nichkhun all to myself and it was a mistake. Resultantly, I betrayed a friend who trusted me.

    I didn’t want to make the same mistake. I don’t want to hurt Tiffany anymore. I felt my right hand slowly pulling the silver ring off my finger and clenched it tight in my palm.

    “Tiffany,” I started again. Tiffany closed her eyes as if to brace herself from what I was about to say. “Nichkhun… he’s waiting for you.” I unknowingly said that without thinking it through but her eyes shot open and her jaw slightly dropped. She blinked a few times before saying anything.

    “W-what?” She stammered. Without even thinking I just started blurting things out.

    “He texted me and… asked me to tell you to meet him.” I told her the name of the restaurant he’s waiting in and continued, “He told me he misses you, like a lot.” I have always been a terrible liar, so when I’m forced to lie to someone, I tend to over exaggerate a bit but Tiffany doesn’t seem to notice it.

    “But why didn’t he just text me instead of texting you?” Busted! I racked my brain for an answer.

    “He lost his phone during the promo.” That wasn’t a lie. Nichkhun had texted me earlier and told me his phone went missing and that’s the reason why he couldn’t contact me. “But what’s important is that he really wants to see you right now.” I gave her a smile and slowly her lips grew into a wide smile.

    “I think I should go now.” Her face was now lit up with happiness and I couldn’t help but smile at her joy. “Unnie, can you tell Seohyun to go on without me?” I nodded and she turned around and headed towards the front entrance.

    “Tiffany, wait!” I called after her and she stopped to look at me. I walked towards her as I stared at the ring in my palm.

    “What is it?” She asked. I still kept my eyes on the beautiful silver ring and a small smile was on my lips.

    “This ring…” I looked back up and smiled at her as I handed her the ring. “Can you give it back to Nichkhun? I forgot to return it to him.” Tiffany hesitated at first but picked up the ring in my palm and stared at it. She looked back up at me with a smile as she shoved my—I mean, the ring in her coat’s pocket. She suddenly lunged towards me and gave me a tight hug.

    “Unnie… thank you.” She murmured against my shoulder and I gently patted her back. She turned around and started walking towards the entrance door.

    I waved goodbye at her as she darted off into the vacant streets, on her way to reunite with Nichkhun. The moment she left, a feeling of regret washed over me. I knew what I did was the best decision I had ever made during this whole situation but I couldn’t help but feel like I had made a huge mistake instead. I sighed and my eyes started to water. Huh, it felt so right a moment ago, now it just feels wrong.

Tiffany’s POV

Great, just freaking fantastic… Why is she here?

    I sighed and walked towards Seohyun and Victoria but kept my eyes only on Seohyun. I wanted to just grab Seohyun and leave but I can’t. If I do that than Victoria will think I’m ignoring her and then she’ll win. And I can’t let her win. She’s probably here to make me breakdown in front of her. I can’t believe I use to trust her and in the end she betrayed me. Fine, if she wants to play, then I’ll play and I’m going to kick her .

    I noticed she was wearing a gorgeous dress and it was obvious she was going on a date… probably with him. So I just plastered on the brightest smile I had to prove to Victoria that I don’t care anymore. I moved on. I greeted her cheerfully and gave her a hug. She looked confused. Probably disappointed at how well I’m doing. Hah!

    “Wow Unnie, you look beautiful, gorgeous!” I complimented but her face winced a bit. Okay, not the reaction I was looking for. I was expecting for her to smile her million dollar smile while she boast about her date with him. Not that she’s the type of person to do that but I’ve seen this sort of scene in movies all the time, and wincing is not the appropriate reaction. “Where are you going?” I asked, even though I knew the answer. Seohyun was nodding her head as she flashed a teasing smile at Victoria but Victoria kept looking at me, her eyes dark.

    Then a thought suddenly hit me as I looked at Victoria’s almost pained expression. Maybe she feels guilty? I shook my head. She should feel guilty. She deserves to feel guilty.

    “Common tell me. Are you going on a date tonight?” I prompted in an attempt to worsen her guilt. And it worked as her expression fell a bit.

    “I’m not going on a date.” She answered in a low voice, her eyes on the floor. Both me and Seohyun snickered because it was obvious she was lying. Her face was never good at hiding things. She’s like an open book. It’s pretty cute… What the hell am I saying?

    “Okay, whatever you say.” Seohyun teased and Victoria just smiled.

    “Seohyun-ah, we should better get going if we don’t want to be late.” I said, wanting to get out of here. I was mad, yet at the same time I felt bad when I saw that look in Victoria’s eyes. I don’t know, I just want to leave.

    “Where are you guys going?” She asked.

    “We’re going to get some drinks with our members.” Seohyun explained and then, thanks to her bladder, I was now left alone with Victoria.

    It was pretty awkward but I just kept smiling at her. Each time I flash her a smile, her eyes widened like I had insulted her or something. She looked away and I just shrugged.

    “So… Unnie,” I started and her body jumped a bit. I noticed she was a silver ring on her finger before hiding it behind her back. She looked at me with a small smile. “How’s the promo going?” I asked, my mind still wondering about the ring.

    “It’s going really great. We’re getting positive views from the fans about our new album.” I felt my mouth forming into an ‘O’ and then the silence fill the heavy air once again.

    I looked at Victoria and I have to admit, she really looked beautiful tonight. She wore a gorgeous dress in his favourite colour and I couldn’t resist the tug in my heart. I looked down at my wrist, at the couple bracelet me and him have. I traced the infinity pendant.

I’m yours for infinity, his warm voice echoed in my mind and my eyes started to water. All our memories that I’ve been burying at the back of my mind started to break free.

    He promised me he was mine for infinity… The sobs were scratching my throat now.     

    “Nichkhun…” His name broke my chain of thought. My eyes reluctantly pulled away from my bracelet. “Are you two… still…” Victoria trailed off and I winced when the memory of 10 months ago played itself in my mind in a loop. But why was she still asking? If she was dating him, then shouldn’t she know that by now? Or does she not know anything? Didn’t he say anything about what happened?

    “I don’t know.” I finally managed to murmur but I was lying. I looked down as my eyes started to sting. “I haven’t seen him in a while.” I admitted and Victoria eyes grew as she looked into my eyes. That proves that she doesn’t have a clue about that night.

    “Tiffany…” She started but her sentence was hung. She continued to look at me with a pained look. Probably apologetic.

    “I’m… s-sorry.” I apologized and let out a bleak laugh. I swallowed back the sobs and forced back the tears.

    “Tiffany, I have something to tell you.” She suddenly said and I already knew what she was going to say. I held my breath, waiting yet, at the same time I wanted to just run away. But I didn’t want to run away. For 10 months since that night, I’ve been telling myself that I’m strong and I should just move on but the truth is, I was actually running away. Denying everything and just pretending that everything was normal.

    Now, Victoria is going to say to me what I’ve been desperately running away from.  

    “Tiffany,” She started again. I closed my eyes and clenched my fingers together to brace myself. “Nichkhun…” My heart raced faster as I waited for her to finish her sentence. I already knew what she’s going to say though. Nichkhun… we’re both are in love with each other.

    “He’s waiting for you.” Heh? My eyes shot open and Victoria gave me a smile. Did I hear her correctly?

    “W-what?” I was choking at my own shock now.

    “He texted me and… asked me to tell you to meet him.” She told me the name of the restaurant he’s waiting in and continued, “He told me he misses you, like a lot.” It probably took a whole minute for my brain to work again and I started processing her words.

    “But why didn’t he just text me instead of texting you?” I asked when I understood her words. It didn’t make sense, if he wanted to see me why text Victoria?

    “He lost his phone during the promo.” She explained but it still doesn’t make sense. If he lost his phone then how come he can still be in contact with Victoria?

    I was still confused at Victoria’s words. It didn’t make sense because after what had happened that night with Nichkhun, I doubt that he would want to see me again and missing me is twice as impossible.

    “But what’s important is that he really wants to see you right now.” Victoria said convincingly before I could respond and then I understood.

    Victoria was lying to me, it was obvious, but I was happy because she was giving me a second chance. A second chance to make it right with Nichkhun. But it still didn’t make much sense. Why would she help me? I mean why now? But I didn’t want to know the reasons behind her actions.

    “I think I should go now.” I said quickly, afraid that she would change her mind and stop me. “Unnie, can you tell Seohyun to go on without me?” I said as I darted towards the front entrance.

    “Tiffany, wait!” She called behind me and I stopped. Oh no, did she change her mind?

    “What is it?” I asked shakily, still holding my breath I turned around and Victoria was staring at her palm with a smile on her face. I looked at her quizzically.

    “This ring…” She looked back up and smiled at me as she handed me a beautiful silver ring. It was the ring from earlier, but why was she giving me this? “Can you give it back to Nichkhun? I forgot to return it to him.” Then I finally understood. Nichkhun must have given her this ring. My chest was aching a bit as I stared at the ring but then a smile of relief grew on my lips. Victoria’s letting him go… I looked back up at her and she was smiling brightly. She’s letting him go for me…  I darted forward and wrapped my arms around Victoria tightly, my eyes watering and a smile on my face.

    “Unnie… thank you.” I cried but it was muffled against her shoulder. I heard a soft giggle from Victoria as she patted my back. I tore myself away from her and started running towards Nichkhun.

    As I ran out on the streets, I couldn’t help but feel how hard this must be for Victoria. But I was thankful. She was giving me another chance but I somehow felt like this is all unfair and messed up. I wanted to turn back but sometimes life is unfair. It’s a matter of how we’re going to handle it that counts.

    And Victoria already let him go for me, so there’s no turning back anymore.

~~~

Hi. So this is the sad part... I wanted to cry when I imagined this scene in my head. But since Victoria is a kind-hearted person, it make sense that she would give up a love for a friend. I know, I know... hating Tiffany so much right now but patience my sweets. I'll make sure Khuntoria gets their happy ending.

So, please comment&sub~~~