Destroy Me Gently:Ex-Enemy Becomes My Lover!
Chapter 43: Eavesdropping and shame

Chapter 43: Eavesdropping and shame

Chapter FORTY THREE

**Oliver West**

The whispers and stares directed my way as we walked past made me tense and uncomfortable, some just stared at me in open curiosity while others even threw smiles in my direction.

Scary.

This was the only word I could use to describe the sweet looks thrown my way by some of my schoolmates.

The news of Kieran ’kissing’ me had no doubt circulated the whole school. I was even more surprised when some students who usually ignored me started nodding in my direction in acknowledgement.

Dumbfounded wasn’t even close to how I felt, I used to always be just another face in the crowd, so how the heck did I turn noteworthy overnight?

It was downright scary to know the influence Kieran had on almost all of them, they could hate me just because he had openly disliked me and they could suddenly like me because he announced that I was his boyfriend?

Sick.

I was lost in my own thoughts, near absent minded to the rambles of William as we walked through the school’s long passage.

Kieran had ignored me all day, I wondered if it was because I had asked him to, or if he had another reason behind it.

It was weird to have such a "Kieran-free day", it had always been the other way around, I had always been the one to go into hiding whenever I sighted him from a distance.

After William’s words during lunch break, for the rest of the entire day, I had kept stealing secretive glances at him to find out if he was staring after me as William had spoken, but never once did I catch him staring.

If anything, he had seemed to have a great time chatting and laughing with his friends, being the whole center of attraction as usual.

William must have seen wrong.

A quiet sigh escaped my mouth as the feeling of disappointment settled deep in the pit of my stomach.

NO!!

Disappointed?!

What was wrong with me?

I think William’s silly conclusion about both of us liking each other was getting into my head, I shook my head as though it would clear up my thoughts, I decided not to think any more about it, today was almost over.

I just couldn’t wait to go home and sprawl over my pillows in a sound evening sleep.

That thought would have to hold on for a while longer, because the moment I turned around, I sighted trouble coming our way in the form of Amanda, Hailey, and the rest of their nameless minions.

I had been expecting to be confronted by them all day, I didn’t even expect her to wait this long before coming for me.

Now, she and her friends blocked our paths like some kind of mean girl roadblock.

Her eyes were somewhat red, the tip of her nostrils blotted, it made me think if she had been crying. Or maybe she was just allergic to not being the center of attention.

I didn’t ask to be driven in Kieran’s car, nor did I want him to kiss me. I also did not wish to be cornered by his girlfriend, but here was I .

"This is becoming too familiar, isn’t it? You boyfriend stealer!" Her tone was accusing, her eyes glaring daggers at me, she and her best friend were regarding me as though I was nothing more than a cockroach they wanted to smash to death with their six inch heels.

"Just for the slightest chance to gain fame, you fling yourself at my man like the deceitful little fag that you are," she spat angrily.

I was tired of people using that slur against me. Moreover, shouldn’t she be confronting her ’man’?

"First of all," I said, finding my voice and standing straighter, "I didn’t fling myself at anyone. If anything, he flung himself at me. Maybe check your facts before you start throwing around accusations."

Amanda’s mouth dropped open like she couldn’t believe I was actually talking back.

"And second," I continued, feeling angrier by the second, "I have standards. Unlike some people who chase after guys who clearly don’t want them."

"How dare you, you desperate little..." Amanda started, but William interrupted smoothly.

"Oh honey, the only desperate one here is you," William said with a sweet smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "I mean, imagine calling someone else pathetic when your own ’boyfriend’ publicly kissed another guy in front of the entire school. That’s gotta sting, right?"

Hailey gasped dramatically. "He’s got a point, Amanda. That was pretty humiliating."

"Shut up, Hailey!" Amanda snapped, her face turning an interesting shade of red.

"I’m just saying," Hailey continued, clearly enjoying the chaos, "if my boyfriend kissed another guy, I’d probably consider getting my eyes checked. Maybe I missed some obvious signs."

So, the rumours were true then, the bestfriends could be each other’s enemy most of the time.

Poor Hailey

She was not as smart about her own boyfriend as she thought.

Amanda looked like she was about to explode, her cheeks staining brightly either due to embarrassment or anger, but since people like her could never feel ashamed, I would go with the latter.

"You know what?" Amanda said, her eyes still spitting venom at me "You think you’re so special now, don’t you?"

"Not really," I replied honestly. "I just think you’re particularly unspecial, how much did it hurt that you even ruined your makeup?"

William snorted with laughter and even some of Amanda’s own minions were trying to hide their smirks.

"His boyfriend? Is that what he told you?" Amanda continued, her voice getting shriller by the second. "Sorry to break your little heart darling, but that isn’t what he told me last week."

She paused dramatically, her eyes lighting with disdain and cruelty "What did he say... Uh...He told me that you were his next little plaything, and he was only having his fun with you, we had such a good laugh you know, how about that?"

I tried not to let my hurt expression show, even though her words stung more than I wanted to admit.

"Wow," William said slowly. "So you’re admitting that you and Kieran sit around talking about other guys together? That’s... kind of weird, Amanda. Like, really weird."

"That’s not—I didn’t mean—" Amanda stammered.

"I mean, most girlfriends don’t usually enjoy hearing about their boyfriends’ ’playthings,’" William continued with mock concern. "Are you okay? Do you need to talk to someone about your relationship issues?"

"My relationship is fine!" Amanda shrieked.

"Is it though?" I found myself asking. "Because from where I’m standing, it looks like your ’boyfriend’ spends more time thinking about me than you."

Amanda’s eye twitched. Actually twitched.

" Don’t be full of yourself fag, that kiss didn’t mean anything, I should tell you that he only did it because I told him to, he only likes me and will do whatever I want, even if it is to toy with you for me, so don’t you even dream!"

There was a moment of silence before William burst out laughing.

"Wait, wait, wait," he said, wiping tears from his eyes. "Let me get this straight. You’re claiming that you told your boyfriend to kiss another guy? In public? In front of the entire school?"

"Yes!" Amanda said triumphantly, perhaps not realizing how ridiculous she sounded.

"So, why are you even here? you’re lying," William said thoughtfully, "or you have the weirdest kink I’ve ever heard of. Either way, that’s not the flex you think it is."

With a final frustrated scream and a look that said this wasn’t over yet, Amanda stomped away, dragging her confused minions behind her.

"Well," William said cheerfully, "that was entertaining."

I fought back a wave of hurt and a sudden surge of anger toward Kieran, how could he do this to me? Putting me in the spot like this.

"She’s lying, you only have to take a good look at her to know that she’s pained, and she just wanted to hurt you," William spoke, staring after them in open hostility.

Even if the rest of her words were lies, what about the part where Kieran had told her that I was his little plaything?

"Don’t allow her words to affect you, she’s scared and jealous of the thought that you are a threat to her, everyone knows Kieran and she are nothing to each other but a mere fling."

I knew William meant to comfort me, but all his words did was make me both sad and angry and... jealous?

No way!

I had never and would never be jealous of them, he could get back with her and do whatever they wanted, and it wouldn’t be any of my business!!!

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William had gone to the bathroom and I was walking alone toward the school entrance when I heard familiar voices coming from around the corner near the basketball gym.

I recognized Kieran’s voice immediately, along with Claude and Heath.

Something made me stop and instead of walking past, I found myself hiding behind the corner, pressing my back against the wall to listen.

"So what’s the deal with you and Oliver?" Heath’s voice carried clearly.

My heart started pounding, they were talking about me.

"What do you mean?" Kieran’s voice sounded casual but there was an edge to it which I didn’t miss.

"Come on, man," Claude said with a laugh. "You’ve been acting weird all day, ignoring him completely when usually you’re all over the guy, and don’t even get me started on that kiss this morning. Do you like him or something?"

There was a pause, then Kieran’s voice again, but I couldn’t make out what he said clearly.

"Dude, that’s pretty intense," Heath said, but his voice was muffled.

Damn it. Could they not speak a bit louder? Help a boy here.

I strained to hear more but their voices had gotten lower, I could only catch fragments of words here and there.

Something about "plan" and "different approach" but nothing clear enough to understand.

"You’re really not going to let it go, are you?" Heath asked, his voice clearer again.

"Never," Kieran said firmly, and that single word came through crystal clear that sent my blood racing.

What was he never letting go?

I couldn’t listen anymore, I turned with a pounding heart only to nearly crash into an approaching figure.

Vince.

His expression was blank as usual, but knowing that he’d been watching me eavesdrop the whole time.

As I ran away like a coward, I could still feel the second hand embarrassment he was having on my behalf chasing after me.

The shame caught up with me. Kieran was making me go crazy, what the hell was that conversation even all about?

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