Chapter 3

Lindsey stood in front of the mirror, draping the silk scarf Jonathan had given her around her neck, laughing as she teased me. The scarf was bright red, garish to the point of embarrassment. Against her leather jacket, it was a complete disaster. Yet, she treated it like a treasure. "Me? Jealous of him?" I laughed coldly. "I'm worried you can't see him for what he is." … A week later, I overheard Jonathan bragging to his buddies in a pool hall. The place was thick with smoke. Jonathan lounged back with one leg crossed over the other, not a trace of that gentleness left on his face. "Lindsey? She's just a dumb tough young lady." He flicked ash from his cigarette, full of contempt. "I bet you guys. In one month, I'll have her pull out all those thorns and stay home washing my clothes and cooking." "Damn, John. That's the vocational school queen bee you're talking about." "So what? Women like her are desperate for affection. Show them a little kindness, and they lose their heads," Jonathan said. My whole body shook with rage. I pulled out the recorder I had prepared in advance, a secondhand one I had bought with every penny I had. I recorded everything. Then, I ran to Lindsey with my heart pounding. She was in the field, waiting for Johnathan to bring her lunch. "Lindsey, listen to this. Just listen to what that bastard said." I shoved the recorder into her hand and hit play. The recorder buzzed. It was nothing but electrical noise. Damn it. Of all times, the stupid recorder broke. I was drenched in sweat, frantically slapping the recorder. "It was working. He said he was playing you. He called you dumb." Lindsey's expression darkened. That was when Johnathan arrived. He carried a thermal lunch box and looked at me innocently. "Yelena, why are you trying to make a scene again?" "I'm not trying to make a scene. Do you dare to deny what you said in the pool hall?" I shouted, pointing at his face. He sighed and walked over to Lindsey, gently taking her hand. "Lindy, I know Yelena doesn't like me. Maybe because I'm from another school, and she's afraid I'll take you away from her. My feelings for you are true. But if my presence is hurting your friendship, then I'll leave." He turned as if to leave, his back lonely and resigned. Lindsey grabbed him. Then, she turned to me with disappointment in her eyes. "Yelena, have you had enough? Jonathan has never done anything to you. Why are you targeting him? Is something wrong with you? Do you really hate seeing me happy?" Those words cut straight into my chest. I opened my mouth, staring at that familiar face. I wanted to tell her I was her daughter. That 20 years from now, she would be shoved over a toilet because she couldn't afford to buy him alcohol. However, I couldn't say it. The helplessness crushed me until I could barely breathe. … The vocational school inter-school dance was the night Johnathan planned to close the deal. The lights were dim. The music was deafening. Lindsey didn't wear her leather jacket that night. She put on a floral dress instead, the kind Johnathan liked. She tugged awkwardly at the hem, her makeup toned down to look gentle. It made her look almost ridiculous. Johnathan wore a crisp suit and extended his hand like a gentleman. "Lindy, may I have this dance?" The crowd cheered. Blushing, Lindsey reached out. Just as their hands were about to touch, I rushed forward with a glass of red wine. The wine splashed all over Johnathan, running down his fake, composed face. The room fell into dead silence. The music cut off abruptly. "Johnathan, you're trash in a suit." I smashed the empty glass onto the floor. "You only wanted her money and her body. You never loved her."