Chapter 166: The scariest times
"I loved the dress you brought from Elarion," Katelyn said, her eyes lighting up with a spark of excitement. "I’m going to wear it when I go out next time."
"You should save it for a date with Karmen," Amelie teased with a warm smile.
But as soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed Katelyn’s smile falter. The brightness in her eyes dimmed, and her smile vanished. Amelie’s brows furrowed with concern. "What happened?" she asked gently.
Katelyn hesitated for a moment before finally admitting, "Amelie... Karmen rejected me."
"What?" Amelie’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if she’d misheard. "Why?"
Katelyn looked down, her fingers nervously fidgeting in her lap. "He said I’m not his type," she murmured. "I invited him to the musical my friend was performing in. He accepted, and I thought... I assumed it meant he was interested in me too." She let out a bitter breath. "But I was wrong. A few days later, he made it clear he didn’t see me that way. He’s just a beta and a close friend of my brother. He asked me not to see him that way."
Amelie was quite bewildered to learn it. However, a part of her knew Karmen could be blunt. He had been that way with her too in the beginning, but she hadn’t expected him to turn Katelyn down so harshly. Katelyn, who rarely opened her heart, had gathered the courage to try, and been hurt.
"Did you try asking him what could it possibly mean a close friend to Gabriel?" Amelie asked softly.
Katelyn shook her head, the hurt still visible in her eyes. "There was nothing left to ask further. It was too awkward after that night. And honestly, it would’ve felt wrong to keep pursuing someone who already told me I wasn’t what he was looking for."