“Oh you would be surprised there Adrian, you can even ask Lorenzo how my parents are and he can tell you.”
Adrian took a deep breath. She was still going on with that? He dug his nails deeper into his palms. He didn’t know how much longer he could go on with the conversation. Yet, those words replayed in his head. It must be so nice to have someone to rely on. To be able to open up to them about their struggles. He kept thinking, if he had someone like that, he wouldn’t be telling everything to some random, cheating stranger. Chloe was so lucky. So, so lucky. How could she complain, he thought, when he didn’t have half the things she did? He tightened his lips, breathing deeply. Jealousy was a powerful thing, and unfortunately, Adrian wasn’t capable enough to repel it. Not in this state. He felt his palms go numb from the pain, as his fists began to shake. Clenching his jaw, he glared at her in disbelief.
He had enough.
Why did he care enough to hold it in? He’d already gone far enough.
He took a deep breath, speaking, “You get on my ne—”
And suddenly, something cold hit him across he face. He gasped, his eyes widening. But before he could process anything, he felt a slap. His head tilted to the side involuntarily. He stood frozen for a moment, jaw hanging open, struggling to grasp what had happened. His breathing was heavy, yet the tension in his hands had disappeared. His head was empty, aside from the sound of his heartbeat and ringing ears drowning out the music. He felt liquid drip down his face and seep into his clothes, shivering as it hit his bare skin. A wave of realization washed over him. The only thought he had was, What the hell am I doing? He slowly turned to face Chloe, looking directly into her eyes.
Her expression, it sent a shiver down his spine. She was shaking in anger. Her tone was completely different from earlier. Adrian continued to stay in place, having no choice but to listen. Her words rang in his head, letting each one sink in. The more she spoke, the more his blood went cold. He thought, How did things get this bad?
And some of her words hit way too close to home. It stung to be reminded of everything he tried to forget at the party. All the stress he felt with his parents, their expectations, their judgement and unfair beliefs. It was all in her words, the angry tone in which she spoke. He could tell, she was just as frustrated as him. Things like, “When they notice you it is always because you didn’t do something that they like or you didn’t reach their expectations.” Or maybe, “They have actually called me a disappointment many times even if I did what they expected.” It all felt too real. He turned his head to the ground, his hands shaking. His cheek hurt, his clothes began to stick to his body. But he could barely notice it over the sound of her voice. The more she went on, the worse it got. Kicking her out of home? Calling her names? Even going as far to hit her?
Adrian’s eyes widened in disbelief, slowly rising his head. He felt a lump in his throat, his limbs going heavy. His parents were never so cruel to him. Or, were they? His thoughts were racing through his head.
I’m awful. How could I say that to her? Ungrateful? Ungrateful? He took a deep, shaky breath.
He wanted to say something, but instead remained silent. His eyes darted across the room, unsure of what to do. Adrian’s gaze landed on the table, where the drinks lied. He was about to reach for one, but his hand was frozen beside his body. He was glad he wasn’t facing Chloe, because his vision began to blur. As he blinked, a tear fell down his cheek.
And that’s when he snapped back to reality. Quickly, he wiped his face with one of his sleeves, pretending to clean the drink she’d spilled over him. His head remained turned towards the ground. The sound of the music filled the silence, but it still felt awkward. He could feel her eyes on him. He had to say something.
After a few more moments, he hesitantly looked up at her again. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. He took a deep breath. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” He glanced away. “You were right,” he added even quieter. That was all he had the strength to say.
@Kate {✧} Chloe Yang This is super long 
but I felt like I had to drag out the reaction for a better effect
Outfit
Yes, with the sunglasses
