My Childhood Friend Chose Her Virginity Over My Future Chapter 04

My Childhood Friend Chose Her Virginity Over My Future Chapter 04

That evening, I received a message from Michael.

He had already boarded his flight back from London.

The next morning, I gathered myself and went to school.

But before I even reached the front gate, two rough-looking girls grabbed my arms from both sides.

”What are you doing? Let go of me.”

One of them pulled out a dirty rag and pressed it over my face.

Not long after that, everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, noise filled my ears.

Ethan burst in alone.

The moment he saw Chloe and me tied to chairs, panic crossed his face.

”What are you doing?”

Tyler Reed, the bleached-blond burnout who had once bragged about making Chloe his girlfriend, draped an arm over my shoulder.

”Nothing much. I heard you set Avery up because you were scared Chloe would have to go out with me if she lost the qualifier.”

”I just want a girlfriend. You ruined my plan, so pick one of them. You save one, and I keep the other.”

Ethan’s face went pale.

He walked toward us, trembling. ”Don’t. We can talk this out. I’ll trade myself for them. Let them go.”

Tyler sneered and pressed a knife near Chloe’s neck.

”Stop right there. Take one more step, and I’ll mess up that pretty face of hers.”

Chloe sobbed.

”Ethan, don’t. This is my fault. I took Avery’s spot and got too close to you. Don’t leave the person who matters most to you because of me. I accept it. This should have been me all along.”

In the next second, Ethan’s eyes turned hard.

He pointed at Chloe. ”I choose her.”

My body went weak.

I trembled as I looked at him. ”Ethan, you…”

He glanced at me while rushing to untie Chloe.

”Still pretending? You think I can’t tell? They’re acting so familiar with you. You must have hired them to put on this show.”

”You were jealous because I treated Chloe well. I never thought you could be this vicious.”

My lips parted.

I stared at him, unable to believe it. ”I didn’t.”

He snorted. ”Enough. Stop lying.”

Then he carried Chloe out without looking back at me once.

My chair was kicked over, and my back slammed against the floor.

Pain shot through my stomach and spine.

”What do you want? Let me go. My uncle won’t let you get away with this.”

Tyler laughed like he couldn’t believe me. ”Still lying at a time like this? Your uncle is overseas. He gave up on you a long time ago.”

”Stop struggling. We’ll take a few pictures and leave. If you don’t cooperate, I can’t promise what might happen.”

The girls started grabbing at my clothes.

I bit one of them hard on the arm.

She cried out and kicked me against the wall.

Suddenly, a sharp dragging pain tore through my lower abdomen.

Warm blood rushed out of me like water.

By the time they realized what was happening, blood had already spread across the tile floor.

Their faces turned pale.

”How is there so much blood? What do we do?”

Tyler’s legs nearly gave out. ”Damn it. We were paid to scare her. Who knew someone might die? Run. Why are you still standing there?”

They fled in a panic.

I dragged my blood-soaked body toward my backpack one inch at a time.

With the last of my strength, I pulled out my phone and called Michael.

When I woke again, I was in a quiet ward.

Michael sat beside my bed with a folder in his hand.

When he saw me awake, he handed me the study-abroad paperwork.

”I’ve handled everything. You just need to sign the enrollment confirmation, and the process will be complete.”

”As for the people who kidnapped you, they ran. The police are doing everything they can to find them. We’ll be notified as soon as there’s news.”

I nodded numbly and rested.

Three days later, I was finally discharged.

After signing the paperwork in the guidance office, I came out and saw Ethan and his friends laughing around Chloe.

When Ethan saw me hunched over and supported by someone, he froze.

For one brief second, concern flashed through his eyes.

Then it vanished.

He gave a cold laugh. ”Still acting.”

His voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for me to hear.

The heart that once would have trembled and ached because of him stayed still.

I turned and walked away, heading in the opposite direction.

…

Back in the classroom, Ethan kept glancing toward the door long after the bell rang.

Avery still had not appeared.

Unease crept over him.

Then our teacher Ms. Carter walked in with a folder.

The students groaned, complaining that it was supposed to be a study period and that she was taking over the class again.

Ms. Carter clicked her tongue and tapped the board.

”You make it sound like I want your study hall. Relax. I’m just here to announce something, and then I’ll leave.”

The class cheered.

Only Ethan felt the unease inside him grow.

Ms. Carter looked around and cleared her throat.

”Avery Whitman has decided to study abroad after missing the athletic qualifier.”

”If anyone else is planning to study overseas, start preparing now. Don’t miss your deadlines.”

Ethan’s hand froze around his water bottle.

The matching bottle he had bought with Avery slipped from his hand and crashed to the floor.