Chapter 25
Edward pretended he didn't hear him. For that question, that accusation was something he didn't have an answer to. He sneered, "Just, shut up. I'm so done trying to help you. You..." Every inch of being screamed not to say it, but he still continued, "You make me sick. I'm just so done with you."
Tears streaming down his face, he cried desperately, " ...What? That's the reason?" Almost immediately, he started to apologize desperately, "I'm sorry!" He repeated, "I'm sorry, it's my fault, I'm sorry-"
He stammered, "I-I'll change! Edward, I'll change for you…" August promised, "I-I'll not be crazy anymore! I'll get my mind in the right place! Please, it's my fault, I know it's my fault I'm crazy like this...But I swear I can change! I'll do anything and everything it takes!"
He joined his hands together and begged, "Please, give me one...one last chance. I'll get myself together! Please- Please...forgive me.."
Edward harshly pinched his hand to stop his eyes from watering. He dug his nails in his hands, trying to focus on the pain and not cry. With the most indifferent voice he can manage without bursting into tears midway, he stated, "Sorry doesn't fix everything. Some things are irreparable, August Castellan."
August wasn't sobbing anymore. He was just staring into Edward's eyes, silent tears streaming down his face. His eyes seemed to search for a wisp of affection, a flicker of hope in the man before him, but found nothing.
His leg suddenly felt like it weighed a million tons. Even taking one step away from there seemed to require tremendous effort as Edward tried to walk away. His own heart wept in agony to see August in such a daze like state, not even responding, just standing there. As much as he wanted to wipe his tears now, he knew doing that will probably make him cry a hundred times more later, when he'll no longer be by his side. Giving him hope now...might be the cruelest thing Edward ever did to him.
He drove away, trying not to look back at August, not to look back at all they had.
August didn't know for how long he stood there. He didn't even care to move when it started pouring, allowing the rain to soak him. Other pedestrians ran for shelter while a single lone figure stood in the rain, as if frozen in time.
"Ugh," The girl scowled, but still went to him. She walked up to him, letting him in the umbrella. August took no notice of her, lost in his own world.
Kaitlyn scratched her head awkwardly and said, "You know, this whole good deed thing feels so weird. I mean, I don't even know why I'm doing this. You're supposed to be my enemy, yet I…"
She scoffed, "Yet I felt pity and wanted to comfort you. Like, what the heck? I'm like, literally never doing this again."
Aughts didn't reply, but Kaitlyn didn't seem to mind. "I liked Edward. Why am I telling you this?" She was almost talking to herself at this point, not caring about his lack of participation. "Well, I don't know. You probably already knew this anyway, because I really wasn't what you would call 'subtle'."
"If you are even listening, you must be wondering, why did I come up to you, right? I'll be honest, I'm not an angel who thinks of everybody's well-being like a certain girl, okay? And I know we're supposed to be, y'know, enemies and stuff since I liked your boyfriend and all, but I kind of don't hate you now."
She laughed awkwardly, "-Like, I'd be lying if I say I didn't in the beginning, but that was kind of it. I even said some awful things to you and, uh, sorry about that."
Apologizing was a new experience for Kaitlyn. Sure, she made enemies, but they were for life. There had not been one time she apologized to make amends.
"I don't have any bad feelings for you now, alright? I'm also grateful to you that I didn't get it on with him. For real, like, that man was trash. Why was I even crushing on him? Who leaves like that?"
"You know what, he asked me to get the two girls to talk about me and him at that time. So don't misunderstand, okay? At that time, I was confused why he wanted to spread the rumor but it all became clear as shit when he called me today, asking to 'pretend' to be his fake girlfriend."
"At that time, I was like, no shit. This made me see just how trash he was, like, going so far? And though I don't know what's happening between you two, he was just trying really hard to end things. I mean, it's obvious by his expressions and all that he still likes you, because that was not the face of someone who's fallen out of love. But why did he want to end it, then?"
She glanced around before confessing with a somewhat guilty expression, "Okay, I actually eavesdropped on him. I didn't mean to, but yeah. He was talking with Clary and said something about 'reasons beyond mentioning'. Though I think he was just making an excuse, I think you should still know."
Comforting someone too was a first for her. She awkwardly patted his shoulder, "So, um, don't be sad, okay? Just..." She trailed off, trying to think of something appropriate before weakly saying, "Treat it as stepping on poop, okay? Sucks, but nothing you can do about it."
"..."
Kaitlyn didn't know what to say. At last, she sighed, "...Well, since I kind of already started this whole comfort shit, I'm gonna see the end of it. So..." She glanced at him, "What's the plan? Standing here till morning?"
August didn't reply and Kaitlyn took his silence as a silent affirmation. "Whatever. Just remember I'm so going to curse you tomorrow if my legs are sore. And god forbid if I get a cold, you're so getting a taste of the voodoo I learnt a few years ago from youtube, okay?"
Two people stood under a single umbrella as it poured down around them, just standing there without a regard for anything.