18 The Ex Girlfriend (2)

"You're only 17, Charlotte!" August scolded Charlotte. He tried his best not to let his emotions take over him. But he failed when he saw a girl who was once innocent and pure, behaved like some shameless girl.

"And so what? You're only 16 too. Why am I not allowed to drink?" Charlotte still remained calm. She looked like she didn't care about August words at all. She filled her wine glass again.

August was full of rage. But he tried to maintain his composure. He sighed. "You're better than this. Where is the girl I used to know? That perfect girl, who never disgraced herself; who always lived with dignity. Are you still the same girl?" He asked, lowering his voice.

Charlotte paused as she heard August's question. She stared at the wine glass for a while. "You're right. I'm not that girl anymore. She's already dead." She smiled. But the smile was not convincing.

Once again, she raised the wine glass. August took it from her hand, just like before. This time, he threw it to the floor rather than drinking. "Stop it. Will you?" He stood up with fierce, staring down at Charlotte, who was still sitting as nothing happened.

"Please. Don't behave like this because of a jerk like me." He added. His voice softened than before.

Charlotte suddenly stood up. "What did you expect me to do? You know me well. Didn't you?" She asked August, raising her voice this time as she lose her composure.

The sentence 'you know me well' aroused August mind which was filled with questions and amazement. Charlotte was right. August was the only one who know her well in this whole world!

Charlotte mother died when Charlotte was only 5. Her father was always busy with business. He was rarely home because of all the business trips, meetings and all. Charlotte was raised by a nanny and looked after by the maids. She didn't have any friends. In her childhood, there were several times when her father was not home for more than a month. She grew up with loneliness.

Her father doesn't know that all his daughter wanted from him was his time and love, not countless gifts and money.

Though many guys chased after her, the only guy she had ever set her eyes upon was August. She knew August behaviour well but she still like him. Though she knew she would be surely hurt by him, she still risked everything for him. She was abandoned by him but her feelings cannot changed.

As August was not beside her anymore, she lose her only companion. He was the only one she ever wanted; the only one who can comfort her. After he left her, she was always so lonely like before and that's the reason why she started drinking. She tried to rely on alcohol and forget about her loneliness and her pathetic condition.

August knew all this facts clearly. For the first time, he felt guilty for his past actions. He had already hurt many girls. He toyed with their feelings and disposed them when he grew tired of them. Before this time, he never felt guilty because the girls he used to date were the shameless and disgraceful ones. Just like him, they played with the feelings of many guys. So they are equal to him.

Charlotte was not like them. She was just an innocent and simple girl who fell for him, unluckily. Though she was wrong for chasing him with knowing all his ways, he was also at fault. He should ignore her from the very beginning. He should know that she was different from the other. She had an innocent and fragile heart.

August stared at Charlotte for a while. Tears were coming out from her beautiful eyes, rolling down at her face. Charlotte wiped away her tears in a hurry, looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." She said as she turned her face away from August.

"I'm the one at fault. I'm sorry for making you like this. I should never started at the first place." August said, sitting back to his seat.

Charlotte also returned to her seat. She sighed and raise her wine glass again. She looked at August and noticed that he was staring at her with a fierce eyes. "Just let me. I won't drink much." She forced a smile and finally drank the wine.

"You're still as stubborn as before." August said with a cold voice as he took the other wine glass and drank the wine.

There was no answer from Charlotte, other than a small smile. Her hopes for making him hers again was gone. She knew that he wouldn't changed his mind. August words 'I should never started at the first place' already made it clear to her.

"Why did you apologize to me? Am I that pathetic?" She asked with a low voice.

"No, you made me realized my mistakes. That's the reason I apologize." August looked at her straight in the eyes. But she turned her face right away. "If you want, we can be friends. I know you didn't have any friends." August added.

Charlotte looked at August as soon as she heard his words. She was so surprised by his suggestion. " A friend?" She asked confusedly.

"Yeah. A friend. I'll be your only friend." August said with a warm smile.

A little smile can be seen at Charlotte's face. This time, it's a smile due to happiness. "Really?" She asked again looking excited. She want a confirmation.

"Yes. You can talk to me when you're lonely and bored. We can also meet and have a chat. But only as friends." August answered, drawing a clear line.

Charlotte was happy enough to have him as a friend. She was grinning cheerfully like a little child. August smiled as he saw her reaction. Though she looked childish, he saw her real self again and that made him happy for her.

"But I have one condition." August added.

Charlotte looked at him curiously. "You should forget me and find a nice guy who will love you more than anything else in the world." August said, nervously looking at her, wondering how she will react.

Much to his surprise, Charlotte nodded. "I'll meet a guy, 100 times better than you. Don't regret when that time comes." She teased him.

August laughed as he heard her answer. He finally sighed with relief.

As he stared at Charlotte who was back to her old self - innocent and simple; he was reminded of Isla. His face was darkened, not wanting to repeat the same mistakes again...