Chapter 20: Truth

Hanji's POV

"We'll have 2 orders of chicken quesadillas, tomatillo glazed baby back ribs, red chile short ribs tacos, churros in coconut sauce and......." My pregnant bestfriend turned her body towards me "What would you like for you and Levi?" She asked.

My eyes widened. "I thought that we are already included in that?"

Nanaba shook her head. "Nope. That was for Mike and me only" She said. I looked at her husband exasperatingly.

"Nanaba" Her husband tapped her shoulder "I think that we already ordered enough" He said but her wife just frowned facing the cashier once again.

"Add an order of Mexican flan for dessert please" She said and the cashier nodded. I looked at her in disbelief.

Do pregnant women realky eat this much? Or is it just Nanaba who does?

I turned my body, unaware of the person in front of me holding a tray of food. We accidentally bumped to each other, his food spoiling the bottom part of my shirt. Nanaba gasped while I just flinced in shock.

"I-I'm sorry" the boy who seemed to be on his teens said as tried to wipe the soiled part of my shirt.

"No it is fine" I said laughing. "I'll just clean it myself. Sorry for your food tho"

The guy shook his head. "It is fine also. I can just buy you a shirt miss" He suggested.

"You don't have to" I said. Behind him I saw a girl, who seemed to be the same age as the guy, looking at us worriedly. My lips curled into a small smile.

"I don't have much but I think it will be enough for a shirt. I am really sorry" He said, handing a few bills towards me. His palms were open, exhibiting the bills above it but I just held his hand, closing it along with the money inside

"I told you that you don't have to. Go back to your date tho. She seems worried" I said winking afterwards. He flinched and looked behind him where the girl has been observing us for a while. The guy then turned his head towards me again, blushing a little.

"A-alright. Sorry again ma'am" He said running off towards the girl. When he arrived at her, the girl immediately extended her hand on his arms while asking a question to him. He just smiled and shook his head a little as they settled in their seats. A waiter then approached them, holding a new tray of food which they both started eating.

It is funny to see young people nowadays going on dates like them cause when I was their age, I never had a chance to do that. It was always my books and research papers that got me busy.

"Hey" A hand tapped my shoulder. I looked behind, seeing Nanaba's worried expression. "You sure that you are okay? Your shirt looks like a mess" She asked me. I replied a huge grin.

"Yep! I'll just go find a bathroom to clean this up" I said running off from the food hall.

I went at the bathroom near the lobby but a sign saying "under maintenance" was posted on its door thus, I continued my walk till I reached the other wing of the aquarium. I reached the bathroom after a few more steps and to my relief, it isn't as crowded as I expected. I moved towards the sink, opening the faucet to fetch some water that I will use to clean my shirt. Once I have made my shirt damp, I grabbed a paper towel from the side of the sink which I used to wipe the stain. The sight made me groan when the stain didn't even fade a bit.

"What is up with this shirt?" I said in annoyance as I continued to scrub it. But no matter how much I did, the stain didn't go away so I just gave up and went out of the bathroom.

I'll just go buy a new shirt and if I remember it clearly, the stalls for merchandise are on the second floor.

I took the elevator towards the second floor. Once I have arrived, I immediately went to one of the stalls, looking for a shirt of my size. I meticulously checked the rack. Luckily, I found a blue hoodie with a fishbone print in front. I grabbed and walking towards the counter, I bumped into another man.

Why do I frequently crash on people today?

"Sorry" I said while laughing a bit. I looked at the man and was surprised to see who he was. He look as surprised as I am.

"You were at Mike's party right?" He asked pointing a finger at me.

"Yeah. And you were also in there right? Cause I definitely remember drinking with you and the other guys" I smirked. He nodded.

"Next!" We heard the lady at the counter said thus we immediately went towards it in order to pay for my hoodie and the bracelet that he also bought.

~*~

"It really is a small world huh?" I chuckled putting my hands in the pockets of my hoodie. By the way, I already put it over my shirt as soon as I paid for it. And now Oluo, which I met in the merchandise store, and me are currently walking on the second floor towards the shortcut to the food hall.

"You're right. I didn't expect to see you here. Who are you with by the way?" He asked as we turned a corner towards the stairs leading to the hall.

"Nanaba, Mike, and a friend of mine" I answered. "How about you?"

Oluo smirked before he reached for his pocket to grab the bracelet which he bought earlier.

"I am with my date" He said looking at the pocket. "I was really happy to be honest because this is the first time that she agreed on going out with me" Oluo chuckled, putting the bracelet back to his pocket.

My mind drifted back to Mike's colleagues. If my memory serves me right, it was Petra who he always wanted to date. So does it mean that they are together now?

I looked at him smiling. "Is it Petra? Did she finally said yes on you?" I asked in excitement. Oluo's eyes widened at my sudden question.

A sad smile appeared on his face. "No. She just agreed today but I don't think that she'll really say yes on me. I mean, she hasn't moved on from her ex boyfriend yet" He said. I immediately regretted asking the question.

"Sorry" I said, my head low. We walked in silence till we reached the food hall. Oluo waved his hand in goodbye while I nodded, looking for Nanaba and Mike. I found them at once of the tables talking with one another. Levi is nowhere to be found.

Nanaba noticed me when I am just a few feet away from them. "Hanji!" She called my name, waving her hand in the process. "Come here! The food will be served soon"

I sat in an empty seat looking around the place. "Where's Levi?" I asked.

"Oh him? He went to look for you" Nanaba said laughing a bit. "We were worried that you'll get lost again after all"

I frowned at her. "I am not a kid you know? And I just got lost by accident earlier" I said fishing my phone out of my pocket. I tried reopening it and fortunately it went alive, tho the battery is still very low. I immediately dialed Levi's number and it was just a few rings when he answered.

"Where are you?" He asked as soon as the call started.

"I should be asking that. Where are you? I am already back in the food hall and Nanaba said that you went off to look for me" I answered and I heard Levi huffed in annoyance on the other line. My lips curled in a small smile as I imagine the face he made as he did that.

"Alright" He said "I'll go in the-"

Levi was cut off and I immediately became curious. I heard a few stumbling on the other line and a woman's voice.

"Hey" I said "Levi. You okay? What happened?" I asked, worried of him for he never said anything after that. "Hey!" I yelled on the phone but then only the beeping answered me as he ended the call.

"What happened?" Nanaba asked. I bit my lower lip and stood up from my chair.

"I'll go find Levi. You can eat without us" I told her running off the place. Nanaba called for me but I ignored her and immediately went to the lobby. My heart was racing but I don't know if it is because of my running or the anxiousness that is building up inside me. Nevertheless, i continued my sprint and when I arrived at the lobby, the scene that I saw made my whole body freeze. My breathing halted and chest suddenly tightened.

What the hell is this?

Levi is currently being embraced by a woman who is crying at his shoulders. What made me even more hurt is the fact that Levi did nothing to push nor get the woman away from him. He only has his head low and his hands at his side.

"Levi?" I called for him. His whole body flinched and from the side of the woman's head, he looked towards me. His eyes wide and his mouth opened slightly. The woman loosened her arms at Levi's body and I became more surprised to see the person who is with him. It was Petra.

She looked at me in confusion, her eyes still watery while her nose and cheeks were a bit red. I pointed my shaking finger towards her.

"You... You are Mike's colleague" I said. Petra's eyes widened as she recognized me.

"You are Nanaba's best friend, right?" Petra asked in almost a whisper. My breathing fastened and my chest felt even more tight. I think that I would pass out anytime from shock and pain that is building up in my chest but I fought it. Thousands of questions are running inside my head but ironically, only one slipped out of my mouth.

"What is happening in here?" I asked, voice slightly shaking. Levi looked at me with fear, an expression that I never saw in him.

My eyes shifted on both of them as they didn't bother to answer the question. Petra was just standing in there, her expression confused while Levi was frozen in place. From behind me, a man ran forward, grabbing Petra's hand. It was Oluo.

"Lets go Petra" He said in a low voice throwing Levi a look. Petra opened her mouth to protest but was cut off by Levi.

"Take her away from here Oluo" He said. Petra became more devastated as her head fell down in defeat. She followed Oluo as they walked out of the place.

My eyes followed their disappearing figure before it darted towards Levi. He is looking at me with a straight face again. My heart started beating fast and my mind then wandered back to the things that he said before.

His previous lover was also a university professor who is in the Art's department. He referred that person as 'Peter'. Levi ended their relationship because he was betrayed.

Petra who is from the arts department once said that she had a boyfriend who broke up with her because of her mistake.

Why didn't I noticed it before? The answers was always in front of me? Why did I believe all those lies?

"Hanji" Levi called my name. I looked at him with an obvious betrayal in my eyes.

"Why did you lie to me?" I asked but then I immediately laughed bitterly as I realized the answer. "Oh yeah. For the house. You completely forgot about what I might feel after this because you only care for your wellbeing. Am I right?"

"No" He protested. "I always wanted to tell you the truth Hanji" Levi said taking a step towards me. I took a step back in response.

"But you didn't do it and just chose to let me know the truth in this manner" I bit my lower lip to prevent myself to say more. Levi clearly look like he regretted. But he can't blame me if I feel this way. He made me believe on lies and who knows how many more secrets are hidden deep within him.

"Just let me explain please" Levi told me. I shook my head and took a few more steps back.

"Don't" I said. "You might tell me another lie after all"

I turned my back at him and ran out of the place. I don't know why I feel this way. I should be happy right? Cause I just confirmed that he is not a gay yet why I am feeling so miserable? Is it because I discovered that it was Petra who is his previous lover or is it because I can't accept the fact that everything I know about him is a lie? Heck. Maybe even the feelings that I have for him is a fake.

My feet stopped as I felt my chest tightened so much that I can't breath. I clutched my hand over my chest and looked up to prevent the tears which are threatening to fall.

"You're so unfair Levi" I whispered, a sad smile on my face. "My feelings towards you are all real yet everything that you had for me was a fake"

I closed my eyes and walked away. Far from all the hurt and betrayal.