Chapter 7: Confrontation and Confession

I can't help but feel neglected. I feel like Delly played with me. And also Peeta. It wasn't long when the cab stop by the gate, I quickly go inside and make my way to my room. Since I never unpacked my luggage, I just grabbed it and make my way to the main door.

"Katniss?" I turn and see Cato standing behind me. "Are you leaving? Where are you going?" He captured my hand and stare at me, confused. Before I answer him, Delly came in and hugged me.

"Please Katniss! Don't do this!" I slightly shove her and Cato hold her arms to steady her.

"What the hell is going on?" Cato still look confused about this sudden turn of event.

"Please Katniss. I know you might think that I played your emotion but I didn't! I tried to tell you when you first got here but never got the chance to because Peeta arrived. I kept on acting normal for the sake of Peeta and Cato." Delly is now trembling and crying so hard. It's a good thing that Cato's holding her or she'll wind up on the floor.

"Can somebody please tell me what's going on?" I see Delly look at Cato and shake her head at him, "Not now Cato". Her tone cracks as she escaped Cato's grip and walk closely to me. "But when I saw how Peeta's reaction towards you, I felt like I did the right thing. I thought that he doesn't have feelings for you anymore. I made him talk to you at the beach so that I can truly know if he still loves you or not."

"So you have no problem on jeopardizing our friendship if it means Peeta stays with you?!" I feel my gaze, cold and keen as I strain myself from giving away any ounce of emotion. Delly looks like a wreck, her eyes are now slightly swollen and red. But I don't feel any pity towards her.

"It's not like that Kat!"

"Then what is it?!" my tone, harsh and firm made Delly to step back and hold onto Cato.

"I just…" She put her head in her hands and start sobbing frantically. "I just love him so much."

"You know what Delly. I trying not to be judgmental. I want to analyze our situation and think of every possible reason you could have from refraining to tell me. Yes, I'm shocked. But I thought that since Peeta is being rude to me you did me a favor. Hell! I thought you don't know what you're doing. Apparently you do. Oh! And there's more! I even felt guilty for nothing!"

Delly raise her head from her hands and look at me, "Wha- What are you saying Kat?"

"You knew?" We all turn our attention towards the door and see Peeta. He's looking at Delly hard, jaw clenched.

"Pete", Delly's voice came as a whisper and make her way towards Peeta.

"Don't!" Peeta's tone is hard and loud that it made me and Delly jump. Peeta make his way up his room completely bypassing the three of us. Delly followed him, her eyes completely red and swollen. Leaving me and Cato standing in front of each other.

"Come 'on. I'll take you to the airport." Cato reach and grabbed my luggage at one hand and hold my hand at the other. He gently led our way outside to his car. Feeling his hand holding mine is quite comforting. He open the passenger door for me and I hop in. He quickly get on the other side and start the car.

We stayed silent, the music coming from the radio is the only thing that fill the gap of silence the car. "That's a lovely voice, never thought you have it in you." I look at Cato who's smirking at me.

"What?"

"You're singing."

I look at him and he's smiling widely. "I didn't realize. Am I bothering you?"

"No! No. You really have a lovely voice. I could just listen to you sing all day long." His smile, still not vanishing like it's been plastered to his face. I return my gaze to the road and can't help the curving of my lips. "You know, I meant what I said to you since the first day."

"Which part?"

"All of it." I glance at Cato and see his face serious. His hands are slightly gripping the steering wheel. I reach and touch his shoulder and he sigh.

"Thank you Cato."

We arrive at the airport and head straight for the ticket office to book my flight back to Boston. I'm about a feet away from the booth when I felt Cato's hands grabbed my arms. "Katniss, wait."

We halt and Cato turn me to face him. "Don't leave." His gaze is deep that I can't help but focused on his eyes. "Please." His tone matches his stare that is both pleading and sad.

"I'm sorry Cato. But I can't stay here."

"Why? Because of Peeta?!" I feel his grip getting tighter.

"Easy Cato," I eyed his hands gripping my arms and he acknowledge it immediately. He soften his grip but doesn't let go, "Sorry." He close his eyes, breathe deeply, and open them up directly to me. "Do you still love him?"

"Do you know anything?" I ask him and he slightly nod. "Tell me."

He let go of my arm and we look for a spot to seat. We sat in front of each other, Cato keep his head down and scratches his hair. I keep staring at him figuring out why he's shy all of a sudden. "So?"

"Well, um, you see. Peeta told me everything." He let out a small laugh and shake his head.

I furrowed my eyebrows at him and he cleared his throat. "It, um, back when I first met him, he and Delly are already dating and I figured I need to know him better. We got drunk. I, uh, invited him to a bar. It turns out that he doesn't know how to drink." I can't help but smile at this. All those years and he still doesn't know how to hold his liquor. When we started going out officially, I told him that I don't like guys who drinks too much that's why he never attempted to even drink a single bottle of beer.

"He got drunk really fast and he started to become so chatty that I can't make him shut up." Cato continued, "Then he started telling me about an ex-girlfriend. He told me that she's his first love. And that he keeps on trying to work things with Delly so that he can forget about her completely. He kept on repeating the words 'I love you' that I get started to feel annoyed. Until he said your name." He raise his head and look at my eyes directly.

I furrowed my eyebrows and stare at him questioningly, "And?"

"He said, 'I'll always and forever love you… Katniss'. I didn't know what to react then. I was completely shocked to know about the both of you." His cheeks begin to turn red and he avert my gaze to steady his attention to his hands, "He of course, doesn't remember all of it."

"Is that the reason you're mad at him? Because you think he's not being true to Delly?" I keep my attention to him as I try to see his expression. He's cheeks are still flushed and eyes still on his hands.

"I know this might be horrible but no. I love Delly but I'm not mad at him because of her. Sure, I can see how he's not being all inlove with her as she is with him, I just thought that whatever his reason is, it doesn't really concern me. Until I found out that it's you."

"What do you mean?"

"It's, um, because…" Cato cleared his throat but his voice still came out as a whisper. "I love you Katniss." He raise his head, cheeks flushed, and eyes staring directly at me again. "From the first time I saw you on one of Delly's photos. I know it may sound impossible, but it's true. That's why I can't help but feel annoyed every time Peeta talks to you or about you. I just… I instantly felt threatened that I might not get a chance."

I reach for his hands but he avoid the contact, I sigh and stop my attempt, "Cato…"

"Katniss!" I get off my seat and look for the voice that said my name. Cato is also up on his feet and already beside me. I turn around and see Peeta standing a few feet away from me. He's panting and trying to catch his breath.