After hearing ra''s words, Hera was so shocked that she couldn''t speak or think anything. Suddenly she seemed unaware of thenguage the other girl spoke because her words sounded alien to Hera. It took her time to process the actual meaning behind ra''s question.


    A few secondster, Hera lifted hershes to look at ra. A smug smile gleamed on ra''s face as if she won the war against the world. "Wow, Hera! I waited for so long to see this look on your face. Now I am at peace," ra admitted with a satisfied smirk. She touched the undersides of her eyes, and her fingers brushed aside the tears. The moisture in her eyes vanished as if she never cried in front of Hera.


    ra''s pain and difort also disappeared along with her tears as the earlier hatred, anger, and disgust returned to her eyes.


    "Now you know your boyfriend''s true face," ra spat out the words through her clenched teeth..


    Hera couldn''t believe ra, her once best friend, would stoop so low and lie to her face. The passion for revenge was so high on her head that she didn''t even once feel hesitant before making such a big false usation. The lie slipped through her teeth so quickly with such ease.


    Whatever Hunter did with Nathan was wrong, and Hera would never deny that. Despite everything, she knew her Hunter better. He would never do such a heinous and hideous thing to any girl. She trusted him with her whole heart.


    "Hate him all you want, ra. I agree he deserves it for hurting Nate, but please don''t let yourself sink so low. You''re so blind with rage and revenge that you didn''t even flinch before using him of rape," Hera said, sounding disappointed. Shaking her head in ridicule, Hera moved her feet to walk away only to get shoved back. ra blocked her way and red at her, chest heaving in anger.


    "Did you lie about Andrew, Hera? Did you stoop so low to use one of our best friends of rape?" ra asked. The tone of her voice mocked Hera. "That''s a low blow, ra. You know I didn''t lie," Hera replied, gritting her teeth. ra nodded and genuinely smiled at that as if she believed Hera.


    "I know, Hera, and I believe you because I know my best friend like the back of my hand. You would never use Andrew unless it''s the truth," ra stated, her voice full of trust and support. "Just because you couldn''t prove him wrong, it doesn''t mean you lied," she said, and Hera watched her in silence when ra''s hand reached up and wiped Hera''s tears.


    Hera wasn''t aware of her tears. She was beyond shocked to respond. ra''s admission made her speechless and vulnerable. She never thought ra would believe her over Andrew. Hera was jolted out of her thoughts when ra opened her mouth to speak again.


    "But you don''t know me enough to trust me," ra said usingly and her voice sounded so hurt that Hera felt a sliver of guilt prickling on her skin.


    <em>''How can I trust you, ra? If I do, it would mean I don''t trust Hunter.''</em>


    Hera didn''t say that out loud. She knew it would only add more fuel to ra''s anger. "Hunter sent you away, ra. He asked Eric to take you back to the dormitory in front of me," Hera spoke in Hunter''s defence. She would defend Hunter till the end because she knew he was innocent.


    "Yes, he did, and after that, you left. You don''t know what happened next. He killed Nate in front of my eyes. I kept begging him to spare his life, but that monster didn''t listen. Eric forced himself on me and vited my pride and dignity while his other friends watched in amusement,ughing and enjoying the free show," ra said. Her voice was almost inaudible as though speaking itself drained all her energy out.


    Tears rolled down her cheeks, but she wiped them instantly with the back of her hands as if crying in front of Hera would wound her pride. She seemed too tired all of a sudden and sat on her bed with a defeated slouch to her shoulders while Hera watched in helpless stillness.


    "Ace said my voice annoyed him while I screamed for Nate''s life, and it lessened his joy because he couldn''t hear Nate''s cry over mine," ra kept speaking as if on autopilot. Her eyes appeared to be empty, face void of any emotion. Her fingers clutching the bedspread at the edges tightened around them, her knuckles turning pale.


    Not knowing what to do, Hera slumped down on the bed next to ra''s.


    <em>''Could someone lie with such perfection?''</em>


    Doubt started lurking around Hera''s thoughts, and she didn''t know what to believe anymore. She couldn''t decide whom to trust and whom not to.


    ra spoke with such determination and confidence, Hera almost believed her.


    "So he asked Eric to shut my mouth, and he did by shoving me into the back seat of Ace''s car," ra revealed. "He raped me, Hera," the girl huped while trying to control her sob. When she looked at Hera, making eye contact, she seemed surprised at Hera''s reaction.


    Hera was ring daggers at her. Venomous look stered on her face, Hera clenched her teeth so hard to the point where it hurt her jaw, and ra flinched at the anger rushing out of her gaze. "You don''t trust me," ra noted. It was a statement, not a question. Hera nodded her affirmation.


    "You''re right. I don''t," Hera agreed. "Because I don''t think I know you enough anymore," she admitted. Scoffing at her once best friend, Hera eyed the girl in disgust. "Out of all the people you could choose to me, you chose Eric?" Hera asked, unimpressed. She leaned forward in her ce to look at ra closely.


    "Firstly, Eric would never do it," Hera said in a firm tone. "And secondly, he doesn''t need to force himself on you, and you know it, ra. You would''ve willingly done it because we both know how desperate you have been all your life to get attention," Hera said, hitting ra with the harsh reality. ra had been crushing over Eric ever since sheid eyes on him. It was the secret she shared only with Hera.


    Though Hera knew it was a low blow to use it against ra, she couldn''t find herself regretting it. The anger, the frustration forced her to say it because she couldn''t digest ra''s usation. Eric was a known yboy of their school. In Hera''s own words, he was a manslut, but he never had to force himself on anyone.


    Every girl in their school would willingly do anything to please him as much as they would do it for Hunter.


    ra tilted her head, returning Hera''s heated gaze.


    "But not after what they did to my brother," ra snapped, words leaving her mouth in a harsh tone. "I''m not a slut as you think, Hera. Yes, I would''ve slept with him willingly on any other day but not when they were killing my brother and raping me in front of him," she said and spat at Hera''s feet literally.