"It's hurt!! It was incredibly painful to hear those words from Victor and Helena.
The pain felt like it was shattering her heart, and her tears continued to stream from her eyes.
However, their conversation didn't end there.
They transitioned into another topic, reminiscing about their joyful moments back in college, a time when Erwin was no longer friends with her.
Erwin's college friends weren't particularly close to her, especially because they disapproved of her friend Denise's behavior.
She remembered that Erwin had introduced both her and Denise to his friend just once during college.
However, Victor's friends inexplicably started avoiding them.
Additionally, during that time, Helena had already become close to them because Erwin had already introduced her to his friends before introducing the two of them, who had been his childhood friends.
She could hear the three of them sharing cheerful stories about their college days with Erwin's other friends.
As she listened and silently endured her pain on the sidelines, she didn't know how to alleviate the pain that continued to well up in her chest.
Their ongoing conversation only intensified her anguish.
Ever since Victor and Rina became a couple, he had never officially introduced her as his wife to his friends.
The thought that his friends had already assumed Victor was exclusively for Helena, with no room for another girl even on the sidelines, made the situation even more painful for her.
She turned away from Erwin's direction, she discreetly wiped away her tears.
But no matter how much she wiped, it seemed her face wouldn't dry up due to the deluge of tears.
She reached into her pockets and bag in search of a handkerchief to wipe her face, but unfortunately, she didn't have one.
Feeling weak, she rested against her seat and opted to use a table napkin from the table to wipe away her tears.
She felt a twinge of regret for the food.
Its warmth had dissipated, and it seemed even the food had grown cold to her.
As she stared at the food, her stomach growled.
Despite the pain, and with her hunger now being replaced by the overwhelming heartache, she still made an effort to hold the spoon and the slightly bent fork from her earlier grip to eat her food.
"I need to eat because I'm not the only one in control of my body anymore. I need to be strong for my child, as the only good thing Erwin left me. I need to love the child inside of me wholeheartedly," she thought sadly to herself while gently caressing her small belly.
Rina continued to eat.
Her tears still flowed, even though Erwin and the others had left a while ago.
She had been wiping her face with her arms and the sleeves of her shirt while eating. Her vision remained blurred from crying.
Suddenly, she noticed a hand extending towards her, holding a handkerchief.
She looked at it and attempted to identify the person offering it, but she couldn't discern the person due to her blurry vision.
"Miss, you should take it. I feel sorry about the sleeves of your shirt. Next time, remember to carry a handkerchief," the person said.
She stopped and continued to try to focus on the person's face, but she still couldn't recognize him.
The person's neat clothes and respectable appearance suggested that he might be the odd guy who had been looking at her earlier.
Perhaps he was disgusted by her...
"Sorry, but some dirt just got into my eyes, that's why I'm like this," she said.
The man arched an eyebrow. "Certainly, who are you trying to deceive? Is it me or yourself, trying to be unaffected? You've been sniffling since earlier. It's disconcerting," he said coldly.
"I'm sorry, but I don't like to talk to strangers," she replied, feeling offended by his words, and then she turned away from him.
"Look, miss, I'm just trying to lend you a handkerchief, not to engage in any conversation with you...."
"But now It seems like I already know why you're hurting and been cheated on by a guy.." he said emphatically.
"So, next time don't choose a man who will make you cry,.. crying doesn't even suit you, as it makes you look ugly" he added before placing the handkerchief on the table and walking away from her.
'What was that? Is he trying to comfort me or insult me? He's rude!' she thought as she glanced back at the man leaving the restaurant.
She couldn't help but look at the handkerchief he gave her.
'He's considerate but still rude,' she thought as she took the handkerchief and wiped her tear-streaked face.
Thanks to the man who offered her the handkerchief, she momentarily forgot the reason for her tears.
'Baby, what will I do if your daddy doesn't need me anymore?' she thought to herself as she soon calmed down.
++++
Victor, Helana, and Dave had just finished dinner, and Dave had already departed in his Ferrari.
Helena still clung to Victor, not wanting to leave his side even though he had informed her that he needed to meet someone important.
His meeting with Rina wasn't particularly significant to him..
He was doing it out of gratitude and because he had made a promise to her.
As Helena hesitated to leave Victor's side, she was torn, especially now that she had received some reassurance that once everything was settled with his company and maybe when he could finally end things with Rina, they would get married.
"Baby, who is this important person you're going to meet?" she said softly to Victor as she rested on his arm.
"Helena, I've already informed you that I merely have to meet an acquaintance as I had promised to meet with her right after our dinner...Besides, it's not as if you're acquainted with her," Victor stated, purposely avoiding mentioning Rina's name, fully aware of her disapproval.
"Then why don't you want to take me with you?"
"No, you cannot meet her. It will likely be a brief encounter, and she may have been waiting for me for quite some time. I fear she might have already left," Victor replied.
"Her? So, it's a woman after all," Helena said suspiciously.
"Yes, she's a woman, but she's just an old acquaintance and she's not particularly important to me," Victor lied to Helena.
"It's already late, maybe she's already gone," Helena said, even though she still had doubts.
"No, our meeting is really important so there's a chance she hasn't left yet" Victor explained.
Despite Helena's doubts, she felt helpless.
If she persisted in pursuing him not to come, Victor might become upset.
She wanted him to continue to perceive her as kind and understanding.
"Okay, it seems like your meeting is important. Just take care and make sure to come home safely. I love you," she said, hugging Victor tightly and giving him a passionate kiss.
Although Victor was surprised, he quickly reciprocated Helena's kiss.
She smiled at him before turning away, but before she left, she blew a flying kiss to Victor.
As Victor took a deep breath and glanced at his watch, he couldn't help but slap his forehead in realization.
His dinner with Dave and Helena had stretched beyond an hour and a half.
It was almost certain that Rina had been waiting for him for quite some time.
And now he hesitated, torn about heading to the café where they were supposed to meet.
There was a possibility that Rina had already left due to his prolonged absence.