historical

Evangeline puffed a giggle. "Before you boys talk money with me, I suggest you buy modesty and virtues first since you all lack in those parts. Better yet, undergo surgeries to have your dicks transplant in your brains for it's the one thinking the most."

"What did you say?!"

Flabbergasted, the men were wordless. They forgotten that Evangeline had a sharp tongue that even the most shameful guys cowered before her.

Not paying the boys any mind, Evangeline's gaze locked on Jen while the latter jolt in creeping fear.

"Firstly, how will you explain me, knowing about your feelings towards Asher when even your BFF Sisley didn't know until now? We're not even close. In fact, this is the first time we interacted," Evangeline said.

The boys quieted, something like a light bulb appeared above their heads. Their attention flickered on the sobbing woman in Sisley's embrace.

Yeah, how did Evangeline know your feelings when even your best friend didn't know about it? Everyone thought.

Jen paled before anger surged within her brought by embarrassment and agitation.

"How do I know?! You tell me!" Jen spat. "Someone called me to come here and when I did, you started to threaten me!" She then sobbed against Sisley's shoulder once more.

Evangeline stifled a snort. "It's all too fishy don't you think? We don't have any interaction. But after the inter-school sports fest, you came to me demanding the whereabouts of Asher Cole."

The boys glanced at each other. They knew what happened on that day. It was the day that the school was shocked that Asher Cole knew Evangeline Heart. Then out of the blue, Jen and Evangeline were in dispute because of the man.

It's too much of a coincidence, they thought.

If Evangeline did threatened Jen, why only now after the whole school saw that Evangeline and Asher knew each other? Why not in the past or before the inter-school fest?

Shooting a weird look at Jen, the boys faces turned wary. Without evidence of what really transpired, their stance turned neutral.

Jen was proclaiming that Evangeline threatened her. While Evangeline was proclaiming that it was Jen who approached her, demanding the whereabouts of Asher Cole because Jen knew after the inter-school fest that she had connections with Asher.

Feeling the situation was turning against her, Jen said, "I don't know why you kept on lying. I can find that person who called for me to meet you here and testify."

Evangeline scoffed. "No need. How will I know if that person is secretly working for you or not? If that's what you call evidence, I too will grab someone and testify that you stormed here to chase after a man who doesn't even know you existed."

"Y-you . . . you . . ." Jen's face changed from pale to red to pale again and again. She ran out of ideas and contended to cry on Sisley's shoulders, screaming, "I swear I'm not lying!"

Glancing at each other on what to do, the boys remained tight lip. Some wanted to go home, didn't want to be implicated in the drama anymore while some didn't know who to believe. Without evidence, they remained at a standstill.

Evangeline had a point, but with her reputation, Jen's words could also be the truth.

Jen was distressed and she was crying so hard when no one believed her. This stress Sisley out and she comforted Jen with all her might. "Shhh . . . I believe you."

Sisley rubbed Jen's back before throwing a sharp glare at Evangeline. "You could have somehow found out about it from others. Though Jen is my best friend, it doesn't mean that I am the only person she is friends with. She might have told it to someone else."

Once again, the tables have turned and everyone curved to what Sisley said, and they scrutinized Evangeline once more.

But Sisley didn't like conflict, so she added, "However, since grabbing someone to testify as evidence is faulty, and there are no others who saw what happened, we cannot prove anything." Breathing deeply, she met Evangeline's intimidating gaze. "We can forget about this whole thing ever happen if you apologize to Jen."

Evangeline cocked her head to the side, looking at Sisley like she had grown horns. "Why should I apologize to her?"

Frowning, Sisley answered, "Because you made her cry."

Evangeline laughed like it was the funniest thing she ever heard. "Miss Lacroft, are you saying that everyone should apologize because someone started crying out of the blue? Even from you, isn't it a bit . . . ridiculous?"

Sisley's cheeks burned red in embarrassment as she defended herself. "That's not what I meant. I only wanted you to apologize because you made her cry."

Evangeline's lips quirked at the side. "Where's your evidence that it is I who made her cry? She started crying by herself. It's not my fault that she's such a crybaby."

She then threw a lazy half smile at Sisley. "And since we're in this topic of apologizing for hurting someone else's feelings, I think you're the one who is more experience in this kind of topic since you covet someone else's boyfriend behind someone else's back and that beautiful woman hasn't received one bit of an apology from you."

Sisley and Daniel's face were drained of colors while the others glanced at one another before looking at Daniel and Sisley in disbelief.

There was no way that Captain cheated, right? It was because he could no longer stand Evangeline that was why they broke up!

But . . . Why did Captain and Sisley started dating after only a month? Wasn't it a little too . . . fast?

Because both Daniel and Sisley have clean reputations in school, and everyone knew that Sisley was a kindhearted woman and Daniel was an example of a perfect gentleman, no one suspected why they had gotten together only a month after Daniel and Evangeline broke up.

But now that Evangeline mentioned it . . .

The boys' attention flicked to Sisley, looking at her funny.

At a loss for words, Sisley didn't know what to say as her mind draw a blank. "I-I . . . I . . ."

Seeing her troubled expression, Max couldn't stand it and marched her way to Evangeline with the intention of grabbing her hand.

"Enough! You should just apologize!" Max said, reaching an arm to grab Evangeline's hand.

Wide palm extended to Evangeline and before it landed on her skin, a hand grabbed Max's wrist and shoved it away. Max staggered backwards from the strength and he gaped in disbelief at the man who overpowered him.

"Please, back off."

Evangeline's eyes shone and her sight was filled with nothing but him. "Eric . . ."

Eric's wide and sturdy back, towering in front of her, brimmed her with a sense of comfort and . . . protection.

Eric briefly glanced at her, and smiled. "Sorry, I'm late. I'm kind of curious how you're going to salvage yourself from this situation."

Evangeline didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his honesty. She scoffed and smirked. "So that's why you've taken your precious time to come to your master's aide." She crossed her arms and tilted her hips. "So tell me, how should I punish you for your insubordination?"

Eric faced the group of men, replying, "I'll treat you to dinner?"

Evangeline's smile widened, a plush rosy red blossomed on her cheeks.

At the sight of this, Daniel frowned. A complicated feeling rose in his heart. She never smiles like that to me, and never blushes whenever we're together.

While everyone was surprised at the sudden intrusion of Eric, Max sized him up and down.

"Well, look who's here to the rescue, the boy toy." Max snorted.

Eric's expressionless face didn't budge as he calmly urged everyone to leave. "I don't see any logic to this confrontation, so I suggest both parties leave."

Eric heard the entire conversation between Evangeline and Jen. He was at a corner after all, hidden by the bushes and towering trees, doing his usual cleaning business. But who would believe him if he retold the entire scene? Since he was already one of Evangeline's people, his voice would appear subjective. So why bother to explain?

Evangeline knew this too that was why she didn't say anything and decided to leave it to Eric to handle.

Max and Jen frowned, wanting to retort, but at this moment, Daniel finally stepped in.

"Eric is right. Any more bickering than this will only lead to meaningless dispute. I also suggest that everyone leave and forget the whole thing ever happen."

Since Daniel was already the one who suggested it, the case was considered close.

Turning to his friends and teammates, Daniel's smile was a bit forced. "Everyone, I have something to discuss with Evangeline, you go on ahead."

His eyes then slid to Max. "Please escort Jen back to her home."

Max hesitated, subtly taking a peek at Sisley. But Sisley's wholehearted focus was on Daniel, not even a spare for him, and his heart yearn in pain. "Alright, Jen let's go."

Jen looked at Sisley, and when the latter nodded, she took Max's hand. But not before shooting Evangeline a one last glare before walking towards the Academy's gate with Max beside her.

As everyone left one after another, Evangeline, Eric, Daniel, and Sisley were left alone.

Biting her lips, Sisley lowered her head. She was annoyed and angry and confused as to why Daniel wanted to speak with Evangeline. This question dominated her entire mind. The thing with Jen was even pushed in the back of her head, no longer a care for it. As far as she was concerned, Daniel and Evangeline –– were over.

"Let's go, Eric," Evangeline said. "You still owe me that dinner." She was about to leave when Daniel called her.

"Evangeline."

Flinching, Sisley closed her eyes. She hated it. Hated it if Daniel called another girls name especially his ex. But what could she do? She could only play the understanding girlfriend in front of him, else she wanted him to hate her for being jealous and unreasonable for no reason. She didn't want that the first time they argued was because of Evangeline.

Evangeline flashed her usual smile reserved for people she didn't like.

"Yes, Daniel?"