My Childhood Friend Pretended to Love Me, Not Knowing I Could Hear His Thoughts Chapter 05

My Childhood Friend Pretended to Love Me, Not Knowing I Could Hear His Thoughts Chapter 05

The color drained from Jacob’s face. Skylar’s eyes went wide. The pitiful mask she always wore cracked to reveal pure shock.

“That… that’s not possible,” Jacob stammered. “I swear I…”

“Swear you shredded my real ones?” My voice was calm, deadly. The noise of the crowd faded.

Other students were filing into the building. Parents were giving last minute advice. But between the three of us, the air had turned to ice.

I pulled my real admission ticket from the folder and held it up for him to see. “The ones you shredded were fakes. I made them myself.”

“Elena, let me explain…” He reached for my wrist. I stepped aside.

“Explain what? Explain how you and Skylar plotted to destroy my future? Explain how you acted like you cared about me while planning to make sure I never succeeded?”

I turned to Skylar. She was pale, backing away.

People were starting to murmur. I ignored them and walked straight to the police officers keeping order by the entrance.

A young officer saw me coming. “Miss, the test is about to start. Do you have your materials ready?”

“Yes, I do.”

I handed him the clear plastic folder and then, separately, a sealed bag containing the shredded pieces of my fake ticket.

“Officer, I’d like to report a crime.”

My voice rang out, clear and sharp, cutting through the chaos.

I turned and pointed at Jacob. “This person has committed criminal mischief and destruction of personal property. This is my evidence.”

Jacob went white. He lunged for the bag. “Elena, have you lost your mind? It was a misunderstanding! I was just trying to help!”

The young officer stepped between us. “Sir, please step back.” The older officer took the bag and examined the pieces. Then he looked at the real documents in my hand. His brow furrowed.

Jacob was yelling now. “Elena, how could you do this to me? I love you so much!”

I laughed, but tears were spilling down my cheeks. “You never loved me, Jacob. You always loved Skylar.”

“That’s insane!” His voice cracked.

“Whether I’m insane is for the police to decide.” I wiped my face and turned back to the officers.

“I also have a voice recording. And I believe there are messages on his phone discussing the fake complaint that was filed to revoke my early admission.”

The older officer signaled to his colleague. The younger one stepped up to Jacob. “Sir, I’m going to need you to hand over your phone.”

Jacob clutched his bag strap, his knuckles white. He stared at me. His eyes went from pleading to hateful in the span of a heartbeat.

“Elena Martinez,” he hissed, every word dripping with venom. “You’re going to regret this.”

“I already regret knowing you,” I said. “But not this.”

The officer gently but firmly took Jacob by the arm. “Sir, please come with us.”

Jacob was led away. He looked back at me once. I’ll never forget that expression. Shock. Rage. Betrayal. And a deep, terrified panic.

Skylar tried to slip away. I blocked her.

“Where are you going? The show isn’t over.”

She bit her lip. Tears appeared instantly. “Elena, why are you doing this to Jacob?”

I leaned in, close enough that only she could hear. “Skylar, when your mom switched my mother’s medication and you filmed it, did you ever think this day would come?”

Her pupils shrank. She stumbled back.

I ignored her. “Officer, am I clear to go inside?”

“Yes, go.” The older officer looked at me with complicated sympathy. “Good luck on your test.”

I nodded, gripped my folder, and turned toward the test center entrance.

Behind me, Skylar’s fake crying and Jacob’s angry shouts faded into the distance.

Before I walked inside, I looked back one last time.

Jacob was being put into a police car, looking pathetic. Skylar was stomping her foot and wailing. People were filming everything with their phones.

This farce had finally begun, exactly as I wanted it to.

The proctor checked my documents and gave me a small smile.
“Good luck.”

“Thank you.”

I found my seat and sat down. I uncapped my pencil.

The moment the tip touched the bubble sheet, I saw a flash of my past life.

Myself, crouched on the ground outside this very building, shaking, crying. Jacob pulling out the shredded pieces of paper with that careless look on his face.

It’s over.

This time, I’m writing my own ending.