Glass Hearts [BL]-Chapter 249: We’re All Stupid for Trusting the Wrong People[June’s POV]
"What... what exactly do you want from me?" I whispered again, but this time my voice cracked.
Ren blinked at me,still confused. "I... what do I want from you?"
His voice was cautious. "June... I just... I just wanted you to talk to me. I don’t want anything from you."
I scoffed.
"No. No. Ren, I need to know what you want from me."
I pointed a finger at his chest.
"Because this is bullshit. All of it. You... acting kind and soft and gentle with your stupid calm voice and your stupid piano fingers. Acting sweet with...with some hidden motive. You and...." My voice cracked. "You and fucking Ian."
Ren stepped closer.
"Hey," he said, quietly. "You don’t get to talk for me."
He took a tiny breath. "Calm down, please. Just listen to me for one second. Take a breath."
My knees went weak. My hands shook, and before I could stop it...
I was crying. Again.
"Ren!" I sighed.
He raised his head to listen.
"I had a crush on you for over two years," I burst out.
Ren’s eyes widened.
"Two freaking years, Ren! I was obsessed with you. I wanted you to see me. I wanted you to notice me."
My voice cracked.
"Instead, you gave me mixed signals! All the time. And last summer..." I swallowed hard. "You ghosted me for three months. You disappeared, Ren. God knows how I cried. You hurt me."
He tried to speak.
I raised a hand to shut him up.
"No. Don’t talk yet. I’m not done."
His mouth closed obediently.
"And then you came back," I choked, "and I thought, maybe....maybe I had another chance. Until I saw you kissing Jackie in the pool that night and I felt so stupid, and pathetic, and invisible."
He exhaled.
"Ian knew," I continued. "He knew I had a crush on you. And he used... he used that. He used me. My vulnerability. All of it."
A tear rolled down my chin. "I can’t believe I fell for it. I’m so stupid."
Ren stood there, a few feet away, completely frozen.
The silence was loud.
My chest kept heaving.
This was it.
The moment everything blows up.
Was he going to tell me to leave?
Was I about to get humiliated twice in one day?
Why wasn’t he saying anything?
Omg, please say something.
I grabbed my bag, ready to bolt, when his voice finally broke through.
"June."
I froze.
"I’m sorry," he dropped his head down. "I’m so sorry."
His voice shook for the first time.
"I’m sorry for ghosting you for three months. I didn’t do that to hurt you. Something happened last summer and I wasn’t myself. I had to leave Estrella. I had to cut everyone off until I could breathe again."
My throat tightened.
I didn’t want excuses.
"I don’t care anymore," I whispered. "But this...this thing you’re doing, why are you acting like... like you want something from me? Why are you making moves when you know I’m with Ian?"
Ren stepped closer, and raised my chin.
"I didn’t make a move because of Ian," he said quietly. "I made a move because I can’t pretend anymore."
He exhaled slowly.
"June..."
His voice softened in a way that made my stomach flip.
"Since we’re already being honest with each other right now..."
He swallowed hard.
"I think I’m in love with you."
I froze.
Time itself stopped. Everything stopped, apart from the pulse in my heart.
Excuse me, what?
"In love... with me?" I whispered. "When? How? What do you even mean?"
Then I shook my head at home ridiculous that sounded. "You want what now? You think confessing would make me ditch Ian and date you? What the hell, Ren?"
He nodded his head.
"I’m saying this now cos Ian isn’t right for you," he whispered.
I froze. "Excuse me? He’s my boyfriend. Your best friend. Don’t act like you know him more than me."
Ren didn’t step back.
"Because I do. And I know he’s not right for you."
"And you are?" I fired back.
His jaw clenched, but his voice stayed soft.
"I didn’t say I’m right for you either. But I know one thing..." He stared deep into my eyes. "I won’t hurt you. I won’t cheat on you. I won’t lie to you."
"...Cheat on me?" I whispered.
Then my voice shot up.
"How do you even know that? Ren? How do you Know he cheated on me?"
He froze.
"You knew?" I screamed. "You knew about him cheating, and didn’t give me a heads up?"
My voice cracked. "I’m so stupid. I’m literally so stupid. I was out here thinking he’d change for me, begging for crumbs, and he was sleeping with her? And other girls?"
Ren shook his head. "June. No. You’re not stupid. We’re all stupid," he said softly.
"We’re stupid for trusting the wrong people. Stupid for giving too much. Stupid for believing love is supposed to hurt so much."
I sank back, trying to breathe. "So... I’m just supposed to what... move on?"
He exhaled shakily.
"Jackie cheated on me too. More times than I want to count."
His voice went low.
"People like them... they don’t learn. Not until they figure out how to love themselves first.
I sniffled. "And... you? You’re saying... what exactly?"
My throat tightened. My hands were shaking badly.
"When did you... find out?" I held my bag strap tighter. "When did you know Ian was cheating on me?"
Ren’s face changed, like he’d been expecting this question and dreading it too.
He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled slowly.
"The night we got the call Liam passed away."
My stomach twisted. "What?"
"The twins’ pool party," he continued. "After you and Ian told us you were... seeing each other."
He paused. "Not long after that... I saw him."
"You saw him what?"
Ren swallowed hard.
"I saw him being all intimate with Crystal upstairs. And I got really angry about it. Really, really angry that I confronted him. Because you didn’t deserve that."
I shook my head, stepping back.
"Wait, so you saw him cheating the same night I gave him my first kiss? That same night he confessed he likes me?"
My breath hitched.
"And what did he say?" I demanded. "What did Ian say when you confronted him?"
Ren hesitated.
His eyes flicked away, then back at me, then away again.
"Ren!!!"
I stepped closer. "What the fuck did Ian say?"
He shook his head slightly.
"I’m sorry, June," he whispered. "I... I can’t tell you."
The room went silent.
"Holy shit..." I sniffled. "Ren, what do you mean you can’t tell me?"
"If I tell you what he said that night... you’ll never look at him the same again." He quickly pulled away, to avoid eye contact.
"Ren. Look at me. Tell me the truth. Right now. I swear to God, if you lie to me too....."
