"... and now the moment we are all waiting for, the college prom night King and Queen" when the emcee said those words, the applause from the students and the guests who came one after the other.

We are here at the back of the stage with the organizers of the program. They all had smiles on their lips and the other students were constantly taking pictures of Mark and me. I'm just showing a fake smile.

I'll admit the truth, I feel awkward about everything. Mark holding my hand, his smiles when he talks to me, and our closeness to each other now. It's like what's happening, he's just bringing back the past. He just brings back the past when I was about to get hurt.

"Are you excited?" Mark asked causing the silence between the two of us to break. I immediately turned to him.

"Huh?"

Before he repeated his question, I saw him smile and laugh a little. I also felt him hold my hand which shocked me.

"Clare, are you excited for tonight?" he asked while staring into his eyes. I was so shocked by what was happening that I let go of his hold on my hand and walked away from him.

I feel like I'm cheating on AJ with what's happening now. I feel like I've become a worthless girlfriend because of what's happening now. Honestly, even though we are not really boyfriend and girlfriend, I have respect for him.

And even though AJ's behavior is like that, the slave written in the contract seems like he doesn't follow it because he doesn't torture me anymore like clean this, fix that, buy this, get that. No longer.

But since he was not chosen for the college prom night king. He seems to have suddenly changed. He didn't pay attention to me after the audition. He is also avoiding me. He treats me like I didn't exist in the world. He treats me like air and I hate it.

I did everything to talk to him, to get close to him because there were many people blocking the way. Something needs to be taken care of, it needs you because of the college prom night program and a lot more. Honestly, I really don't want a question that makes me angry. I don't want that.

"Guys, you're on" I was immediately brought back to the present when I heard our prof's voice. I also saw Mark approaching me. So there is no choice if I just go with him.

We went out and then we saw the happy faces of the students who were happy and saw us. Along with a slow love song, we started dancing. I can't look at him but he keeps looking at me. I was lost in his eyes.

Even though we have a past, I want to forget everything. I don't want to stay in the past. I want to leave the pain of the past.

"Do you still love me?" It was as if my heart and my world suddenly stopped at the words spoken by his lips.

"M-mark?" I stammered. Honestly, I don't know what to say, if only I could run and leave him here, I did the same as Cinderella did at midnight, it's not even midnight, it's only 11:30 pm, and I still have 30 minutes, but now I really need it to leave this situation.

"Clare..." she looked at me sincerely and at the same time the music suddenly stopped and we also stopped dancing.

"Mark, please don't bring the past up" I bit my lower lip trying to fight the tears. Why is he like this? Does he not know that he is hurting me with what he is saying?

"Sorry Clare, I can't help it" and what I didn't expect, he suddenly put his lips on mine while my eyes are wide open. Next, I heard the whispers of people.

"Gosh! They are so sweet. I wish they would be alone"

"Ayy. They're back together? That's sweet."

"That's great. Destiny really"

Along with compliments come hurtful words from people. They say I'm flirtatious, PDA and whatnot. What do they think of me? Created to say hurtful words.

I closed my eyes and was about to part his lips, but I suddenly felt his lips move, causing me to wake up. And what I didn't expect, AJ looked at me badly, with anger and frustration in his eyes.

Because of the nervousness and guilt I feel, I suddenly pushed Mark and left him. And followed AJ who immediately left after seeing that I kissed Mark.

I ran to catch him even though I didn't know where he went. I'm still running, I feel like I have to explain to AJ what he saw. I don't want him to think that I'm a bad girl. So even if others think that I shouldn't do this, I will still do it for everyone's clarity.

"AJ..." I finally saw him here in the garden even though only the light of the moon gave light. He stayed with his back and even though I was panting because of running, I stepped a little bit closer but he stopped me.

"Don't go near me" I was stunned by what he said.

"AJ, you didn't see everything. I didn't like what happened..." I explained.

"I didn't ask you to explain such nonsense" I took another step and was about to hold his arm when he spoke again which made me cry.

"Why are you still here? Leave now, I don't need your presence here. Just get lost or better yet don't show that pathetic face of yours again"

I quietly sobbed and violently wiped the tears that kept falling from my eyes. I bit my lower lip before speaking.

"Do you really hate me that much? AJ, tell me what I did wrong and I promise I will do everything I can just to laugh at my mistakes" I heard him laugh sarcastically while what I could see remained behind him.

"You can't correct the wrongs because from the beginning, all you women are all cheaters, you are all exploiters. And everything we have men you want to destroy so that the day comes when you will be higher than us..." saw I faced him and he came closer to me and firmly placed his hands on both of my shoulders.

"Oh, AJ, I'm hurting. What? Let me go!" I protest.

"Tell me Clare, is that what you want? Do you also want me to step by step in the end?" he said scary while his eyes were fixed on me. His eyes are like sharp knives, the way he looks is stabbing you little by little.

"AJ, what's wrong with you? Are you okay?" I asked him worriedly but he just ignored what I said because he suddenly choked me. My eyes widened at what he did and I also started to struggle but he was too strong so nothing was happening.

My tears started to fall and I could barely breathe. "AJ, what's wrong with you?"

Despite the fact that I feel like I'm going to die because of his tight stranglehold on me, I still manage to ask him that question. Because somehow I'm still worried about him.

"Do you really want to know?" he clenched his fist and was about to punch me when suddenly my vision darkened. The last thing I knew was that I was on the ground and I heard the footsteps of people going to my place and a male voice that I knew was shouting at AJ.