Annika reached out to pat my shoulder, but I flinched away, panic rushing through me.
"Don't touch me."
Annika jumped back, startled, and then looked at Bernard with an expression of hurt.
"Bernard, I was just trying to be kind to Joy. I didn't expect her to react like that."
Bernard immediately shielded her, glaring at me.
"Joy, what's gotten into you?"
Tears blurred my vision as I looked up, fixing my gaze on Bernard. "Why are you with her? You know what she did to me. Why did you choose her?"
A flicker of impatience crossed Bernard's face.
"High school was a long time ago. It's normal that kids fool around. Why are you still holding onto that? You're being so petty."
Annika clung to Bernard's sleeve, wearing an innocent expression.
"Bernard, I was just joking with Joy back then. I didn't know it would affect her so much. If it bothers her, I'll apologize."
She stepped forward, preparing to bow in apology.
Bernard quickly grabbed her hand.
"You don't need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong, so why should you say sorry?"
Then he turned back to me.
"Joy, why have you become so bitter? Annika hasn't been feeling well, and now you're making a scene just to upset her?"
I clenched my fists, staring at the man I once loved so deeply.
He was telling me that the person who hurt me had done nothing wrong.
"She's bleeding."
Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted. I looked down to see a large stain of blood soaking through my pants.
Bernard's face twisted in disgust.
"How can you still be so embarrassed, just like in high school? You didn't even prepare for your period?"
Then, as if realizing something, he turned pale and looked at me in horror.
"Aren't you pregnant? Why are you bleeding?"
