Chapter 4

“Think about it, alright?” Danny said, before heading back to Bella and the others.

“Oh, and remember to book the restaurant for dinner later,” he added as if it were nothing.

I didn’t move. I watched as Danny pulled out a bag of drinks and handed Bella the only one in unique packaging.

Everyone else got the same kind.

Bella blushed, and the group burst into playful teasing.

Suddenly, I was reminded of playing house when we were children. Danny had done the same thing back then. He bought a load of lollipops and gave the prettiest girl the only special one, asking her to play his wife. The rest of us got the regular ones.

He won our loyalty and achieved what he wanted.

All the kids ate theirs straight away, but I held onto mine, tucking it away because it was the first treat I’d ever been given just for me.

Later, when Danny found out, he bought me a few more, but never that special one.

I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

I always knew he was using the simplest tactics to manipulate people, and I was his most successful target, quietly playing along.

I was never the special one. I was just another fish caught in his wide net.

On the way to dinner, as usual, I carried everyone’s bags and lagged behind.

By the time I reached the private room, Danny had already texted me, saying he’d ordered food.

I was still halfway there.

It’s funny, I’ve always trailed behind Danny, so used to him walking ahead while I followed.

When I reached the door, I overheard Bella talking.

“Danny, how did you manage to get Ellie to apologise to me? She’s famous for being an ice queen, never talks to anyone.”

“Don’t worry,” Danny replied, “you saw how I made her carry all our bags. Apologising is nothing compared to that.”

“She’s been like a dog following me around since we were kids. Give her a scrap of attention, and she’ll follow you anywhere. Besides me, she’s got no one else to rely on.”

A few of the boys chuckled, chiming in to flatter him and tear me down.

I paused, hand raised to knock, then slowly let it fall back down.

Instead, I quietly set the bags by the door and stood there, listening.

“Danny, you’re the man! What did you say to Ellie to make her so loyal?”

“Yeah, Danny, you’re so lucky. Ellie on one side, Bella on the other.”

I heard Danny laugh lightly.

“It’s nothing, really. She’s just starved for affection. Give her a little kindness, and she’ll go to the ends of the earth for you. But don’t get me wrong, I’m only into Bella. Ellie’s… well, she’s just a bit pathetic, to be honest.”

The room filled with laughter.

Strangely, I didn’t feel anything. No anger, no sadness. Just a vague sense of boredom.

Like sitting in a room, waiting for it to collapse into dust.

And slowly, I began to see the light again.

I left the bags at the door and went to grab a bowl of noodles. I bought myself some cakes too and felt warm all over as I ate.

Later, I found someone from the university’s delivery service and had them return all of Danny’s things to him, including that bracelet.

It wasn’t real silver, and definitely not gold. The moment I put it on, I could tell.

I’m not stupid. I’d just been playing along, deceiving myself.