12 Not the same

Morgan was a passive person back in high school. Well, mostly passive. She doesn't instigate any kind of fight. But people were still afraid of her and respected her because aside from having a very powerful family, she tends to be very scary when provoked.

A senior back then made the mistake of bullying her and ended up in the hospital with a broken wrist and a swollen face. The girl's entire family moved to another continent for fear of the Vanderbilts.

There are still a few though who heckles her without really going overboard but Morgan just ignored them for most part. These few people include Celestine and Agatha.

Morgan wasn't afraid of them. Not one bit. But she doesn't have the energy to deal with them and treats them mainly as a nuisance, to the girls chagrin. She didn't engage them much back then so Agatha thought Morgan was still the same when she cornered the latter in the powder room.

"You tell me. You're the one lacking some friends, not me. Oh wait, I mean friend, not friends, who by the way is suffering now from poverty. Must be hard losing the person who can tolerate your irritating voice. Now move" Morgan said nonchalantly.

Agatha did not expect Morgan to talk back. She expected that Morgan will just ignore her like all the other times. Her plan was to create a scene and exclaim some false accusations while Morgan keeps quiet so that the impression of people around her will change. Her goal was to ruin Morgan's reputation. However, it didn't go according to plan.

"Your family is a big bully who only preys on the less powerful. Why don't you pick someone your own size huh? How great do you think you are? You're nothing without your family's background" Agatha angrily said.

"Please, you call that bullying? We didn't even exert the tiniest pressure. Tsk, such an insecure girl. Don't compare me to someone like you who only knows how to flirt and shop. You're not even that pretty." Morgan smirked. Does she take me for a fool who would follow her script? Well she has another thing coming.

"That's rich coming from someone who tucked her tail between legs and ran to Europe. You're just another socialite with a pretty face."

Agatha didn't know that her father shadowed her when the latter saw the former following Morgan to the powder room. The father had a strong feeling that his daughter would cause some trouble. The father become nervous hearing Agatha's words.

"Agatha!"

Morgan saw Agatha's father heading their way and said, "Mr. Rhodes, I suggest you restrain your daughter. She might offend people you people couldn't afford to offend. She's unbecoming of someone her status."

Agatha paled upon realizing that her father joined them.

"Rest assured I will discipline my daughter, Morgan. I apologize on her behalf. Please excuse us" father Rhodes calmly said while trying to drag Agatha away.

Morgan serenely smiled. The father-daughter duo suddenly became nervous. There was something in that smile that sent shivers down their spines.

"Oh but we're not yet done, Mr. Rhodes. You know, I only came back for my grandfather's birthday and your daughter suddenly cornered me and said some pretty vile things. What would my parents and grandparents think when they hear such atrocious occurrence..."

Farther Rhodes started to sweat. Agatha was beginning to tremble. She got a bad feeling about this.

"What would you want us to do then, Morgan?" father Rhodes quietly asked. Curse her daughter for being stupid.

"Slap your daughter" Morgan apathetically responded.

Agatha become terrified. What?!

"Dad, don-"

SLAP.

A resounding slap was heard. The force was so strong Agatha got dizzy. She can't believe her father slapped her for that bitch. She turned to snarl on Morgan but when she did, she was frozen in fear. Morgan's gaze was so cold it was frightening. This was not the same Morgan she naively thought.

Father Rhodes didn't want to slap her daughter. He didn't want to obey the demand of someone his junior by several decades as it was degrading. But something tells him that rejecting Morgan's request would result to a more terrifying consequences. He's unwilling to admit it, but the girl scares him.

"Now we're even. Enjoy the rest of the party, Mr. Rhodes." Morgan then proceeded to walk away as if nothing happened.

"You've become ruthless."

Hearing the voice, Morgan turned around.

"Happens to people who already experienced the ugly side of the world" Morgan shrugged. "Besides, she provoked me first. Like always."

Looking at Mason's handsome face, Morgan thought it was really a shame how their relationship ended.

"I'm sorry you know. So sorry" Mason whispered.

"What are you sorry for exactly? You did a lot of damage... I couldn't figure out which one you're sorry about."

Mason stared at Morgan's beautiful profile. He was missing her something fierce. "I'm sorry for accusing you wrongly and believing Celestine. I'm sorry for breaking up with you through text. I'm sorry for including Brienne in my recklessness. I'm sorry for ruining Alex and your relationship. I'm sorry for not being there for you when you needed me the most. I'm sorry for a lot of things but what I'm sorry the most is for breaking your heart. I know I did some unforgivable things. I'm not expecting you to forgive me. I just want to apologize" Mason sincerely said.

Morgan gently looked at Mason. "You did hurt me, Mason. The pain was almost unbearable especially that all the people I love took your side. Nobody was there for me. But I think I already have forgiven you guys, somehow. It's just that I think I won't be able to forget what you did. 3 years is too soon. But I know you did love me sincerely. That's why I'm letting you off. And you did avenge me..."

"Can we start over?" Mason hopefully said.

Morgan was silent for a while. Then, "I'm afraid that's not possible. We will never return to the way it was, Mase. What you did was something I can live by but perhaps never forget" Morgan softly said.

Morgan took a few steps forward, intent on leaving Mason.

"Can we still be friends though?" Mason said, grasping at straws.

Morgan stopped walking. But a few seconds later, she proceeded to walk without answering Mason.

Mason can only stare helplessly at Morgan's back. He wasn't sure what Morgan's response was. He knew it was a long shot to get her back. But he could accept being friends with her. Anything to make her still a part of his life. He learned from his mistakes 3 years ago. The events years ago made him deal with people more carefully this time. It was just woeful that this lesson was at the expense of one of the most important women in his life.