Glass Hearts [BL] Chapter 249: We’re All Stupid for Trusting the Wrong People[

"What... what exactly do you want from ?" I whispered again, but this ti my voice cracked.

Ren blinked at ,still confused. "I... what do I want from you?"

His voice was cautious. "June... I just... I just wanted you to talk to . I don’t want anything from you."

I scoffed.

"No. No. Ren, I need to know what you want from ."

I pointed a finger at his chest.

"Because this is bullshit. All of it. You... acting kind and soft and gentle with your stupid calm voice and your stupid piano fingers. Acting sweet with...with so hidden motive. You and...." My voice cracked. "You and fucking Ian."

Ren stepped closer.

"Hey," he said, quietly. "You don’t get to talk for ."

He took a tiny breath. "Calm down, please. Just listen to for one second. Take a breath."

My knees went weak. My hands shook, and before I could stop it...

I was crying. Again.

"Ren!" I sighed.

He raised his head to listen.

"I had a crush on you for over two years," I burst out.

Ren’s eyes widened.

"Two freaking years, Ren! I was obsessed with you. I wanted you to see . I wanted you to notice ."

My voice cracked.

"Instead, you gave mixed signals! All the ti. And last sumr..." I swallowed hard. "You ghosted for three months. You disappeared, Ren. God knows how I cried. You hurt ."

He tried to speak.

I raised a hand to shut him up.

"No. Don’t talk yet. I’m not done."

His mouth closed obediently.

"And then you ca back," I choked, "and I thought, maybe....maybe I had another chance. Until I saw you kissing Jackie in the pool that night and I felt so stupid, and pathetic, and invisible."

He exhaled.

"Ian knew," I continued. "He knew I had a crush on you. And he used... he used that. He used . My vulnerability. All of it."

A tear rolled down my chin. "I can’t believe I fell for it. I’m so stupid."

Ren stood there, a few feet away, completely frozen.

The silence was loud.

My chest kept heaving.

This was it.

The mont everything blows up.

Was he going to tell to leave?

Was I about to get humiliated twice in one day?

Why wasn’t he saying anything?

Omg, please say sothing.

I grabbed my bag, ready to bolt, when his voice finally broke through.

"June."

I froze.

"I’m sorry," he dropped his head down. "I’m so sorry."

His voice shook for the first ti.

"I’m sorry for ghosting you for three months. I didn’t do that to hurt you. Sothing happened last sumr and I wasn’t myself. I had to leave Estrella. I had to cut everyone off until I could breathe again."

My throat tightened.

I didn’t want excuses.

"I don’t care anymore," I whispered. "But this...this thing you’re doing, why are you acting like... like you want sothing from ? Why are you making moves when you know I’m with Ian?"

Ren stepped closer, and raised my chin.

"I didn’t make a move because of Ian," he said quietly. "I made a move because I can’t pretend anymore."

He exhaled slowly.

"June..."

His voice softened in a way that made my stomach flip.

"Since we’re already being honest with each other right now..."

He swallowed hard.

"I think I’m in love with you."

I froze.

Ti itself stopped. Everything stopped, apart from the pulse in my heart.

Excuse , what?

"In love... with ?" I whispered. "When? How? What do you even an?"

Then I shook my head at ho ridiculous that sounded. "You want what now? You think confessing would make ditch Ian and date you? What the hell, Ren?"

He nodded his head.

"I’m saying this now cos Ian isn’t right for you," he whispered.

I froze. "Excuse ? He’s my boyfriend. Your best friend. Don’t act like you know him more than ."

Ren didn’t step back.

"Because I do. And I know he’s not right for you."

"And you are?" I fired back.

His jaw clenched, but his voice stayed soft.

"I didn’t say I’m right for you either. But I know one thing..." He stared deep into my eyes. "I won’t hurt you. I won’t cheat on you. I won’t lie to you."

"...Cheat on ?" I whispered.

Then my voice shot up.

"How do you even know that? Ren? How do you Know he cheated on ?"

He froze.

"You knew?" I scread. "You knew about him cheating, and didn’t give a heads up?"

My voice cracked. "I’m so stupid. I’m literally so stupid. I was out here thinking he’d change for , begging for crumbs, and he was sleeping with her? And other girls?"

Ren shook his head. "June. No. You’re not stupid. We’re all stupid," he said softly.

"We’re stupid for trusting the wrong people. Stupid for giving too much. Stupid for believing love is supposed to hurt so much."

I sank back, trying to breathe. "So... I’m just supposed to what... move on?"

He exhaled shakily.

"Jackie cheated on too. More tis than I want to count."

His voice went low.

"People like them... they don’t learn. Not until they figure out how to love themselves first.

I sniffled. "And... you? You’re saying... what exactly?"

My throat tightened. My hands were shaking badly.

"When did you... find out?" I held my bag strap tighter. "When did you know Ian was cheating on ?"

Ren’s face changed, like he’d been expecting this question and dreading it too.

He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled slowly.

"The night we got the call Liam passed away."

My stomach twisted. "What?"

"The twins’ pool party," he continued. "After you and Ian told us you were... seeing each other."

He paused. "Not long after that... I saw him."

"You saw him what?"

Ren swallowed hard.

"I saw him being all intimate with Crystal upstairs. And I got really angry about it. Really, really angry that I confronted him. Because you didn’t deserve that."

I shook my head, stepping back.

"Wait, so you saw him cheating the sa night I gave him my first kiss? That sa night he confessed he likes ?"

My breath hitched.

"And what did he say?" I demanded. "What did Ian say when you confronted him?"

Ren hesitated.

His eyes flicked away, then back at , then away again.

"Ren!!!"

I stepped closer. "What the fuck did Ian say?"

He shook his head slightly.

"I’m sorry, June," he whispered. "I... I can’t tell you."

The room went silent.

"Holy shit..." I sniffled. "Ren, what do you an you can’t tell ?"

"If I tell you what he said that night... you’ll never look at him the sa again." He quickly pulled away, to avoid eye contact.

"Ren. Look at . Tell the truth. Right now. I swear to God, if you lie to too....."