CHAPTER 3: BROKEN TRUST

Cecilia walked back to the car where Veronica was waiting. "How did it go?" Veronica asked, "You're out so soon." Veronica added as soon as Cecilia got into the car. "Well, I wasn't invited. Let's leave here," Cecilia said as she sobbed silently. Veronica turned on the car's ignition as she drove out of the parking lot. "You want to talk about what happened back there?" Veronica asked, her hands holding steady to the steering wheel. "Not like this. Let's find some eatery. Then we can talk. I'm more than overwhelmed right now," Cecilia said as she dabbed her face with a napkin, tears flowing seamlessly from her eyes. "You'll be fine, okay?" Veronica said, patting Cecilia on her back. "Yeah, thank you," Cecilia said, her hands held to her jaw as she looked out the window. However, Veronica increased her speed until they reached a particular eatery. She took the next turn as they drove into the eatery's parking space. "This should be okay, right?" Veronica inquired from Cecilia. "Yeah, will do." Veronica found a spot to park the car. As soon as she parked it, Cecilia got down and walked towards the building. Veronica trailed from behind after she turned the car engine off. "This place is nice," Veronica said, settling into the chair Cecilia had kept for her. "Yeah, I guess. But what does it matter?" "I'm just saying it's decent enough." "Look, that's not why we are here. The thing is, Terry called off our engagement. I don't know how to feel about this." "That can't be true," Veronica said, dropping her bag on the table. "I mean, what could have led to that?" "Honestly, I don't even know. He did hit me once he got into the house. Everyone was surprised till he played some doctored video of me having sex with another man. I mean, why would I do such a thing? I can't even imagine that." "That's crazy, but before we continue, let's make a quick order," Veronica said, searching her bag for some spare change. "An order, really? I just told you my fiancé called off our engagement, and all you could think of was to make an order. I can't believe you." "You need to cool it down; we are here to talk as well as eat. You're stressed out already. So just get something to eat. I know it'll go a long way." "You're just so unbelievable," Cecilia said with raised hands. While Cecilia was expressing her frustration, a waiter approached their table to take their order. "I'll have a bottle of coke with a hamburger. What about you, Ceci?" Veronica said, referring to both the waiter and Cecilia. "Just get me the same thing," Cecilia said, waving the waiter off. After he had marked out their order, the waiter walked off to get their orders. "So, what were you saying? Do you know who could have done this?" Veronica inquired. "I don't know. Terry won't hear my own side of the story." "What's your side of the story? Tell me" "You can't be serious right now. Like really?" "Look," Veronica said, holding onto Cecilia's hand. " I'm not fighting you here." "Then how can you ask that? Isn't it obvious that the video must've been doctored? I have always been faithful to Terry. You're my friend, and you know this," Cecilia said, releasing her hand from Veronica. At that moment, the waiter returned with their orders. The waiter gently placed the tray on the table and gave Veronica and Cecilia their bottles of Coke and hamburgers, respectively. "You know, the funny thing is that you're not as careful as you should be," Veronica said as she took a bite from her burger. "What does that even mean?" Cecilia asked, taking a bite from her hamburger, too. "That video is as real as it gets." "There is no way it is. I have never been with another man. Don't say that; this is clearly the work of an expert." "Ha-ha… an expert, you say?" Veronica asked while uncorking her bottle of coke. "Yes, who could have done so?" Veronica quickly gulped some of the coke before dropping it on the table. " Well, that expert is me… ha-ha, surprised?" Veronica said as she pointed at herself and laughed. "What?! You're what?" Cecilia exclaimed, with her mouth wide open. "I'm the expert; why is it so hard to believe? You gave me the chance to do so." "How? You're my bosom friend. How could you do this to me? Here you are acting all nice; no wonder you've been making light of this whole issue." "Ha-ha… don't take it so personally." "How did you get such a video? I haven't had anything with any man. I'm sure of this." "Well, you've because I actually made sure you did by drugging you." "Drugged me? When? How?" "At the party last week, remember? I gave you a drink, which you took and passed off seconds later." "You bitch!. I knew it; I felt totally off after the party." "The same goes for the man that laid with you. I drugged you both and got my video as evidence." "So, you've been the one behind all this? You're the reason why I got kicked out today?" Cecilia said as she stood to her feet. She paced around a bit before rushing back to her table. "But what did I ever do to deserve such treatment from you? Why would you go to this extent? I can't even believe you right now. You're my friend; why will you betray me in such a manner?" "You call it betrayal; I call it taking what's rightfully mine," Veronica said with a smirk. "How's my fiancé yours?" Cecilia asked as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I have always had an eye on Terry. We had a common past, and I'm not ready to let it slip off. That's what I could do to salvage the situation." "You went way too low; you decided to hurt me this way? Oh, my goodness!" Cecilia said, her hands clamped over her face. "Get over it; there is no need to cry over spilled milk." "Like I said, you're so unbelievable," Cecilia said. She quickly stood to her feet, grabbed her bag, and walked out of the eatery, dabbing her eyes from the tears pouring out.