After a brief escape to the beach, the heaviness in her chest hadn't lifted.
That night, in the quiet of her bedroom, Zara curled into herself beneath the covers, her pillow already soaked with tears. Her fingers trembled as she held her phone, willing it to light up with a message, a missed call—anything. But still, nothing from Adrian.
Not even a single word.
She had tried reaching out again, hoping maybe he had an explanation. Maybe she had misunderstood. But silence was all he offered her, and the silence hurt more than any lie ever could.
Zara stared at the ceiling, the ache in her chest growing heavier by the second. Her body felt weak, her head throbbed from crying, and her heart—her foolish, hopeful heart—was unraveling.
She had skipped both her hospital appointment and her classes that day. She didn't have the energy, not even the will. What was the point? Adrian didn't care. He didn't ask where she was. He didn't even notice her absence.
Maybe it was over.
Maybe he had lied all along.
Maybe he didn't want her anymore.
A sob caught in her throat as memories came flooding in—sweet, stubborn memories she tried so hard to forget.
She remembered the first time she confessed her feelings to Adrian. She had been so sure of her heart, so shameless in her affection. Again and again, she told him she liked him—no, that she loved him. She never kept it a secret. She wore her heart on her sleeve, even when he turned her down every single time.
She wrote him love letters, gave him all sorts of gifts without hesitation. She would visit his university just to catch a glimpse of him—cheering from the bleachers during his basketball and baseball games, hoping he'd notice. But in the end, he never did. Or maybe… he just chose to ignore her.
She could still picture that one rainy afternoon. She had waited for him outside the gym, drenched but hopeful, holding a small paper bag with his favorite snacks inside. He walked past her with his teammates, barely sparing her a glance.
"You're still here?" he said, eyebrows raised. Not unkind, but not warm either.
Zara had forced a smile. "I just wanted to see you."
He nodded, then kept walking. Just like that.
That was the day she realized love wasn't always enough.
Still, she kept trying. Like a fool in love, she kept choosing him—even when he never chose her back.
Then came the day she found out Adrian was finally in a relationship—with a classmate from his university. He brought her to her parents' anniversary party.
She was sixteen then.
She cried all night, devastated in a way only a heartbroken teenage girl could be.
Over the years, Adrian had so many girlfriends that Zara lost count. There was even a time she accidentally caught him making out with one of them in his car. She hadn't meant to see it—it just happened. But the image burned itself into her memory and never really left.
There was also an occasion when Adrian came to the mansion. Zara was happy, hopeful even.
But he was furious.
His 'girlfriend' had broken up with him—because of her. Because of her constant messages, her uninvited visits, her shameless love.
"I told you to stop," he snapped, his voice sharp with anger. "Don't cross the line again."
Zara remembered standing there, stunned, her heart cracking open all over again. She hadn't wanted to cause trouble. She just wanted to be close to him.
But maybe that was the problem—she wanted too much.
God knew she wanted to stop—wanted to let go—because the ache in her chest was becoming unbearable.
Simone had always told her, "You need to forget him. Start noticing the other guys."
And she wasn't wrong. Zara had been pursued by more than a few—men who were charming, successful, even powerful.
So one day, she thought, Why not?
Why not try something new? Why not give someone else a chance, even if her heart hadn't caught up yet?
So, she let herself start dating—if only to quiet the part of her that still ached for someone who never chose her.