Game of Hearts

Chapter 1

"Misha!"

"Hey! Misha!"

"Girl, wait up!" Mandy forcefully pulled my arm and made me look at her.

"Can't you wait?" she asked while trying to catch her breath.

"I could ask you the same. I told you to wait for me in the cafeteria, but you didn't listen to me."

"Because—"

"Stop." I raised my right hand in front of her face. "I have no time to deal with you and your non-stop questions. If you can't respect me and the little time I asked you, then what are you calling yourself my best friend for?" I'm starting to get annoyed. I'm trying to catch August before he leaves the university, but this friend of mine can't just stop bugging me for a while.

"What?" she asked in disbelief at what she just heard.

"I'm in a rush and have no time to waste. If you can't understand that, then slam that head of yours against a wall. Your brain isn't functioning well." I turned my back on her and brisk-walked my way to the August college building.

I'll deal with the damage I did to Mandy later. For now, I must deal with August first. All my efforts to come as fast as possible to their building are worth it. I can see August walking out of the lobby just as I was about to enter.

His friends noticed me and immediately elbowed him, then pointed at me. August slowly turns in my direction. He was smiling brightly, but upon seeing me, it's like his face came to a halt. It took him a few seconds before he smiled again. Now that I know what he's doing behind my back, I can see right through his actions. He's not happy to see me. He was probably surprised by my sudden appearance and just forced himself to smile again.

I stop walking and just wait for his group to come close.

"Hey, Misha." His friends greeted me warmly, one by one. I answered each of them with a small smile. I can't help but think, Do they have an idea that their friend is cheating on me? If yes, then they're such two-faced people. If not, then August is such a d*ckhead.

"You surprise me. Do we have an agreement to meet today? I can't recall," August asked while smiling. Fake smile. Yes, I can see through him now.

I force myself to smile back at him. "I intentionally came here unannounced to surprise you. I don't want you to suddenly cancel our meeting due to your study group." I intentionally said the last part to see his friend's reaction. Their reaction will tell whether they're also aware of August's cheating.

"Study group?" I watch each of his friend's reactions. Most are confused, except for one. Marcus; he's a childhood friend.

I smirk. So, you know, huh?

"Ah..." I diverted my gaze back to August when he made that sound. He's obviously in panic over what I just said. "Excuse us. Go ahead, I'll just follow."

His friends obviously want to ask first, but Marcus has his back as he pushes their other friends. Yep, clearly an accomplice. I rolled my eyes when Marcus passed by.

"Misha?" August called out, and he seemed surprised. Oh, did he see what I just did to his friend? Well, not like I care.

I didn't say anything despite his question looking at me. Maybe he felt that I didn't plan to explain myself, so he just asked a different question. "So, why do you want to meet?"

"Why don't you want to meet?" I asked back his question, just a little different.

He laughs awkwardly. "What? Why won't I like to meet you?"

"Right?" I nodded my head. "Why wouldn't you want to meet your girlfriend?"

"Mi—"

"Because you want to meet your other girl?"

He froze. "Huh?"

"You know, that crop top girl from Just Dance yesterday. The one you wrapped your arms around and swiftly kissed. The one you looked at with full affection."

Sweat started rolling down his forehead. I notice how he started to turn pale and how his mouth hangs open.

"Tha—that..." He's lost it; he's not even sure what to say.

I slightly frown. Is this the guy I chose out of all my previous suitors? I must have been blinded back then.

"Let me explain..." He seems to have finally made up his mind and found his tongue. But I don't have time to listen to his lie, and I never intend to.

"I'm not here to listen to your explanations. I'm here to break up with you."

His eyes widen as he asks, "What?!"

I can't help but laugh at him, mockingly, "What? Do you expect me to be a martyr and stay in this relationship? No, thanks. Since you don't have a ball to end a relationship before flirting with another girl, I'm doing you the favor now."

"Wait, Misha, let's talk things out first." He tried to reach my hand, but I dodged it. He almost stumbles when another student passes by, and his bag hits August.

I was able to move, dodging his bag, and with that movement, I was able to see who's the student who almost knocks August. It's the five-minute guy from yesterday. He's also from this school?

Without thinking, I started to follow him. He's walking so fast that it's hard to keep up. I can't even run properly because I'm wearing a heeled shoe. I can't explain, but I want to talk to him. His words were the reason I'm this brave to initiate the breakup. I gave it a lot of thought when I got home yesterday, and he's right. I don't have to settle for this kind of relationship.

I was close to catching up with him when August stopped me by grabbing my arm. "Misha! Hold on."

I stared at the back of the five-minute guy who continued to walk away. I click my tongue and irritatingly look at August. "Mi—"

A loud sound was heard that made the students nearby stop what they were doing. All eyes are on August, lying down on the floor. I was so pissed at him about everything. From his cheating to his lies to his continued calling of my name—which sounded so gross—and now, he stopped me from my track on the following five-minute guy.

"Stop pestering me, you cheater! Go and be lovey-dovey with that crop top girl. I don't give a crap." I don't feel an ounce of guilt in hitting him so hard that it makes his cheek bruised.

I rolled my eyes at him and looked in the direction I was walking in earlier. I suddenly felt relaxed when I saw a five-minute guy looking at us. He smirked and then turned his back. He started to walk away now.

Wow! What was that? Why do I feel like this? It felt like a teacher praised me for doing a job well done. I can't help but grin.

"Misha?!" another voice called me out. I look in the direction where it comes from. It's Mandy. She really can't stay still? She even followed me here.

Her confusion while looking down at August almost made me laugh. "What the—"

"Let's go," I didn't let her finish her question and drag her by arm.

"Wait! Aren't you—"

"We broke up since he cheated on me."

"What?!" I almost lost my balance when she suddenly pulled out her arms from me. I immediately hugged her from behind when she was about to throw her bag at August.

"Don't! If you also hurt him, we might be called on the Dean's office." She's way stronger than me in these things. With how heavy her bag is and her strength, she might give August a crack on his skull. I don't want to go that far since I don't want to be sued.

"Let's go!" She didn't argue any further and just let me drag her out of that place.

"Is this why you're rushing earlier?" Mandy asked while we're walking arms in arms.

"Yes."

"Just what the hell happened? Oh, wait, can I ask questions now? You were so irritated with me earlier."

"Because you don't know when to shut up. It's fine now. I'll tell you the whole story while we're walking in our college building."

So, I did as I told her. I told her what happened yesterday. Every detail that I can recall. Even the part where I met that five-minute guy.

"The f*ck."

"Nice reaction," I said, full of sarcasm. After that long story that made me want to drink water, that's all she can say.

"I won't comment anymore about August since you already cut him off from your life."

"Thank you." I don't even want to talk about him anymore.

"I'm sorry," she said, which made me stop. As we are linking arms, my movement affects her, making her stop as well.

"I sure nag a lot, but I didn't know it would have that effect on you. I'm sorry."

"Shouldn't I be saying that? I'm sorry for feeling that way toward you."

She shakes her head. "You are entitled to feel however you want. I'm just glad you met that five-minute guy. He played a big role yesterday."

"He did." I agreed. "He listened to me attentively and then gave me pieces of advice that made me decide to break up with August."

"How are you feeling?" I look at Mandy and tug her arms a bit. We started walking again.

"Hurt. But tolerable."

"Misha, I surely nag you a lot. But when you need someone to talk to, feel free to tell me. If you just straightforwardly say to shut my mouth and listen to you, I'll do so."

"Is that bitterness I'm hearing from you?" I teasingly asked.

"Maybe?" Her answer made me laugh a bit. We continue our talk until we reach our college building.

"What time does your class end?" I asked Mandy. Even though we're on the same course, we have different majors. She's in broadcasting, while I'm in theater arts.

"My last subject is a three-hour class. You should go ahead first."

"Oh, I see. Okay. I'll just finish my last class today, then go home."

"By the way, do you think you can meet that five-minute guy again? I'm kind of curious about him."

"I actually met him earlier, when I knocked August down."

"You did?" Mandy stops walking up the stairs and looks at me.

"Yes, I want to follow him and talk to him for a bit. You know, to thank him properly for yesterday, but that August stopped me before I could even catch up with him." I pouted a bit, remembering it annoyed me. That damn August!

"I hope he doesn't think you're crazy for what you did in front of him."

"I don't think so. He even smirks after what I did, as if he's proud of what I did."

Mandy raised her brow at me. "How sure are you that it's you he's smirking at? Also, why would he be proud of you? Do you think he remembers you?"

I stare blankly at Mandy. She's starting to bombard me again with questions. This girl and her fast tongue. I sometimes just want to put a piece of paper in her mouth, hoping that will make her shut up.

When she reaches the second floor, she bids her goodbye. My last subject is on the fourth floor, so I still have a long way to go. While going up on my own, I can't help but remember Mandy's question. Why did I assume that he was smirking at me? But I felt his gaze on me. He was looking at me and us. Or, I just thought he did?

I lightly shake my head. Thinking about this won't give me an answer. I should just focus on my last class since our professor is quite a terror himself.