Chapter 48
1361words
"He's lying to me, he's lying and I don't know why."
"Kim," Nao places her hand on top of mine. "Are we you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes Nao, I want this whole mystery and lies to come to an end." I suck in a deep breath. "I think he's seeing someone," i finally say the words that burn my throat.
"Kim.." Nao shakes her head.
"If what I think is true, I don't know what will happen to me Nao, I won't be able to take it."
Tears slide down my cheeks, Naomi stands and comes to my side, holding me in a side hug, she leans the side of her head against mine.
"It's going to be okay."
* "Hours Later* *
After leaving campus, i meet up with Nao, we have lunch together and Sam later joins us.
"Hey, what took you so long?" Nao asks.
"I was handling a few things, whatsup?" She settles down and places her book on the table.
"I think Brandon is seeing someone."
She eyes Naomi, I frown and look between the two of them.
"We have to tell her Nao," Sam says.
"Tell me what?" I ask.
"Hello ladies," Jonathan sits next to Naomi and smiles.
I sigh, knowing exactly why he's here. Sam and Naomi were about to tell me something,which means they know something.
"Let's go."
* *The Guy's House* *
The backyard is spacious, it's so over exaggerated for a house to stay in just for college accommodation.
But these are the Blackwool rich kids, o er the top is not a word in their vocabulary or elites dictionary.
I move from one space to the other, explaining where each and what thing will be placed in the locations.
"Got it, I think this will turn out perfectly," Sam smiles.
The guys don't want anyone messing with the house, so the whole thing, from alcohol, music systems and the barbecuing or brai will be done from out here.
I excuse myself and start heading to the bathroom, Naomi's phone on the counter catches my attention. I look back outside and see her invested in a conversation with Sam and Jonathan. I unplug the charger and rush with it to the bathroom.
I open her conversation with Sam and quickly scroll through the chats.
Sam: I can't believe he's doing this to her, Nao.
Nao: I know right? I'm so mad right now but we can't be quick to judge, I mean, this is Bran we're talking about here, would he really cheat on Kim? maybe there's an explanation for all this.
Sam: I'm scared at even the thought of him cheating on her, I really pray to God that we are wrong or misread the situation.
Nao: I don't know where Bran's head is at right now, but there's definitely something between him and that girl, we both saw it.
Sam: We need to investigate more.
I scroll down again and find more chats about Bran and I.
These are from the day I thought he arrived from, "New York."
Sam: So we were right, it's the same girl from the restaurant.
The restaurant? Realisation sinks in when I remember how they dragged me out that day.
Sam: Do you think we should break it out to her?
Nao: I don't know, Sam, we don't even have proof. I'm getting on a cab, i'll meet you guys in a few minutes.
I stare at myself in the mirror and pat my cheeks, splashing some water on my face, I take deep breaths in.
I'm fine.
I smile at myself in the mirror, I'm completely fine.
On my way out, I bump into Lenny.
"Oh,my bad."
I move to the side and lean against the wall.
I look up at him and I can see his lips moving but I don't get a word he says.
"Kim?" A hand touches my shoulder. "I asked if you were okay," he looks at me with worry.
"Uhm, yes, I am."
He doesn't seem to believe me because even after I start to walk away, I can sense his eyes on me.
I place back her phone exactly where I found it and leave without saying goodbye.
My vision is blurry and I can feel my heart cracking inside my chest.
A hand pulls me back and I look up.
"Kimberly? Are you okay?"
Matt.
"I'm fine! Why does everyone keep asking me that!" I snatch my hand from his.
"Kim," he reaches for me again.
"Let me go!" I sob. "Please let me go."
He pulls me to him and runs a comforting hand on my back. I fist his shirt and cry.
"It's okay, shhh, it's okay."
He gives me a ride to the girl's apartment, he gets my phone and puts in his number.
"Here, call me if you need anything."
"Thank you," I whisper.
* *The Next Day* *
I open my eyes and they land on Sam, who's applying makeup on her face. I sit up and throw the covers off.
"Goodmorning," she eyes me through the mirror.
"Goodmorning."
"You know, we searched for you last night, you didn't say goodbye and weren't picking up your phone."
"There's was no need to search for me, I wasn't lost in the first place."
"Aren't you at least going to apologise for disappearing like that and making us worried?"
I don't speak, we just hold eye contact in the mirror.
"Jonathan said you seemed upset when he last saw you," she turns around on the stool. "What happened,Kim."
"Is there something you have to tell me?"
She blinks and knows that was her first mistake.
The door opens and Nao steps inside.
"Good, you're here too."
She looks between us and slowly closes the door.
"What's going on?" She asks cautiously.
"Do the two of you have something to tell me?"
"I don't understand..." she says.
"Very well, let me put it this way instead, who's the girl you guys have been texting about? The one Bran is seeing?"
Naomi sighs and looks at Sam.
"She deserves to know."
"When Sam and I went house shopping, we saw Brandon and a girl, she was hugging him. We thought she was a relative or something, but when we went for movie night at the guy's house, I accidentally saw messages on his phone, she texted him saying i love you."
I don't speak, I don't move, I just look at Naomi.
"Then he left the room, so I went after him and heard him on the phone, he sounded angry when asking her not to write him such messages or calling him any time she wanted. I told Sam about it but didn't know how to tell you, then we saw them together again at the restaurant, she was hugging him again, that's why we rushed you out."
"When you said he was leaving for New York, i heard him speaking on the phone and said he would be in San Diego."
"San Diego?"
"Yes."
"So that's where he was, I found out he never stepped in New York from Anna, Brent's cousin, but Brandon had the nerve to lie and say he was with both of them."
"Then when you got drunk at the bar, I saw him talking with the same girl."
"The night he came back?"
"Yes,i took a picture just to be sure, and when I showed it to Sam, she confirmed it was the same girl."
"He just got back and he was with her, that just confirmed our suspicion of them being in San Diego together," Sam says in a low sad voice.
I suck in a shaky breath.
"Do you still have the picture?"
"Yes," she pulls out her phone and hands it over to me. I frown, this is the weird girl from school, that's why she was looking at me like that, she knew who is was.
"Nao, what name did you hear Brandon call her?"
"Marisa," My hand shakes and so do my legs. "It was Marisa." I sit on the bed and tears blur my eyes.
