Another Wrong Turn?

Chapter Twenty: Mending Another Broken Heart

            He sighed and walked in front of me so I could face him. But I just looked away to avoid his gaze. Unfortunately, he cupped my face with both of his hands and motioned me to look at him. Reluctantly, I looked back at his regretful face.

            “What did you mean Evan warned you?” he asked softly.

            “He warned me that you might be using me. And he’s right! You’re using me,” I spat angrily.

            Ian sighed again and shook his head. “I might be using you in the past, Victoria, but trust me, I don’t now. Ever since… ever since the play, I started to have true feelings for you…”

            “So you really were using me?”

            “At the past,” he replied, his expression pained and hurt as he watched my expression.

            His grip on my hands loosened and I took this as my advantage. I pushed his chest but nothing happened. I looked at him, my stomach filled with rage. I never felt so angry and hurt before. Not even when Lance cheated on me.

            “You keep this,” I growled angrily as I pulled the necklace out of my neck. I threw it at him and he caught it easily. “I don’t need any men who want to play with me in my life, Ian. I’m tired and I had enough! I don’t want anyone to hurt me again! One pain is enough but another? How could I’ve been so stupid to fall for you? How could I’ve been so gullible to fall for your stupid charm and looks?”

            Ian suddenly grabbed both of my hands and pinned me to the door. I squirmed and squirmed but I can’t manage to push him off of me. “Ian, let me go!”

            “I told you, Victoria, I can’t let you go,” he said, looking at me pleadingly. “Please. I’m sorry that I might have used you but it was on the past! I never wanted to use you but you just looked like her… and God, you even smile like her. But I suddenly realized that you’re somehow different than her. The way you talk, the way you walk, the way you dress casually, the way you laugh, the way you look at me… And most importantly, the way you kiss.”

            My heart suddenly raced. No. I’m not falling for this again. Not anymore. There’s no way I’m going to fall for this trap. “Ian, there’s no point of talking to me about this! There’s no way I’m going to believe you again. After what you did to me? You think I have the right mind to trust you? I may have been stupid at first, but I vow I will never be ever again!”

            “Just listen to me! Please, Victoria, just listen,” he pleaded. “You might look like Patricia or even smile like Patricia, but to me you are Victoria Strauss and not Patricia Mercer. You’re different. You’re different because you’re the one I have fallen truly in love with.”

             And with that, my heart throbbed quickly. No, he’s lying… He can’t be possibly in love with me! “Oh yeah? Then why did you say her name when we were making out? Is that really how you love someone else?” I sneered.

            “That’s because for a moment there, I kind of remembered Patricia. It’s our first time to make out that I’m sober, Victoria… And Patricia was the only girl I’ve ever been with… So when we made out, I remembered her,” he said, looking at me in the eyes.

            I don’t know if he’s saying the truth or not, but I know I can’t be falling for this—not again. “Then why didn’t you tell me that you’re in love with me? Why tell me that you’re not sure with your feelings?” I asked with a sigh. “Just admit that you’re lying, Ian. Or better yet, let me go so the both of us can be happy.”