My girlfriend of several years broke up with me in a single text. My world tilted on its axis. Panicked, I listened to my best friend, who told me to fly home immediately and win her back. But the moment I landed, I saw her. Locked in a passionate, breathless kiss with that same best friend on a busy street corner. When I confronted them, my friend played the victim, while my now ex-girlfriend was completely unfazed. “Ethan’s been down lately, so I’ve been cheering him up. Why do you have to be so selfish?” In that instant, my heart didn’t just break; it was torn to shreds. Later, she came back, crying and begging for a second chance. But by then, I was holding my fiancée’s hand. “Our wedding is tomorrow,” I told her. “You’re welcome to come.” 1. I stood on the street corner, clutching a bouquet of flowers, and watched the couple kissing at the intersection. The August sun was a blinding, brutal thing, but a chill crept deep into my bones. I glanced down at the roses in my arms, their petals still jeweled with drops of water. I’d taken time off work and caught the earliest flight back, all to surprise her. And here she was, my girlfriend, Sophia, kissing my best friend, Ethan, like the world was ending. “Aww, look at them! They’re so cute!” a passerby cooed. “They look so perfect together. When will it be my turn to find a love like that?” I was frozen to the spot, the bouquet in my hands growing heavier by the second. The thorns of the roses bit into my palm, but I couldn’t feel a thing. “Leo!” Ethan’s voice suddenly called out from behind me. I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm. “It’s not what it looks like…” he panted, out of breath. I shook him off and stared at him, my eyes cold. The collar of his shirt was smeared with Sophia’s lipstick, but his face was a perfect mask of innocence. “So this was your plan all along?” I asked, my voice flat. “You tell me to fly back to get her back, just so I can watch you two make out?” Just then, Sophia sauntered over, linking her arm through Ethan’s. She raised an eyebrow at me. “Who asked you to be here? We broke up, remember?” She’d sent the text last night. I’d flown back in a desperate rush, needing to know why. I never imagined this would be the answer. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Suddenly, a cool, crisp voice cut through the tension. “I asked him to be here. Is that a problem?” My head snapped up. Cristine was striding toward us on sharp heels, wearing a dress the color of moonlight that made her seem ethereal and untouchable. “Cristine?” Sophia’s expression soured instantly. Cristine came to my side and slipped her arm through mine as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Weren’t we supposed to meet up today? What are you doing here?” She glanced at the roses in my arms and let out a light laugh. “And you brought flowers? I told you not to go to so much trouble.” I was speechless. Sophia’s face grew even darker. “You two are…” “What? Are you the only one allowed to be with Ethan?” Cristine tilted her head, a deceptively innocent smile playing on her lips. 2. Ethan’s expression froze. I looked down at Cristine. She glanced up at me and winked, her long lashes fluttering like a butterfly’s wings. I never thought I’d see her again. She, Ethan, and I had grown up together. The woman before me was tall and stunningly beautiful, a world away from the skinny girl I remembered. The last time I’d seen her was the day my family went bankrupt. She had clung to me, crying, before her parents pulled her away. Five years had changed everything. Sophia glared at Cristine. “Why did you tell him to come here?” Cristine ignored her completely. She took the flowers and the cake box I was holding, linked her arm more firmly in mine, and said in a voice of pure ice, “He’s my boyfriend. It’s none of your business why I called him.” And just like that, I found myself attending Cristine’s party as her “boyfriend.” The restaurant was cast in a dim, yellow light, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension. I hadn’t eaten since I got on the plane, and the hunger was starting to overpower the heartbreak. I just wanted to fill the gnawing emptiness in my stomach. Ethan sat across from me, picking at his food, his eyes constantly darting in my direction. Sophia impatiently placed a piece of sushi on his plate. “Why do you keep staring at Leo? It’s not like he’s on the menu.” When Ethan still didn’t move, she frowned, her voice rising. “Relax. No one’s going to attack you here.” Her words were like a lit match dropped on the gasoline of my suppressed anger. I slammed my fork down on the table with a sharp crack, my eyes locked on hers. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Sophia flinched, her lips parting, but no words came out. She just glowered, her knuckles white around her chopsticks. I turned my furious gaze on Ethan. “Am I the one bullying you? Or did you do something you should be ashamed of? You know the answer to that.” He shook his head frantically, his eyes shifting away as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. The tension was suffocating. Unfazed, Cristine calmly peeled a shrimp, placed it on my plate, her movements as graceful as a performance. “Your boyfriend seems a bit… timid,” she remarked to Sophia, her voice casual. “Maybe don’t bring him out in public next time.” Ethan’s face flushed a deep crimson. He shot up from his seat. “I need to use the restroom,” he mumbled, before hurrying away. The lively chatter of the party resumed, but the sounds felt distant, muffled by the frantic pounding of my own heart. 3. After the meal, exhaustion washed over me. I decided to leave early. Cristine had gone to pay the bill, so I got up to follow her, wanting to thank her properly. The hallway was dimly lit, her silhouette sharp and lonely against the far wall. The sound of my footsteps echoed. She must have heard me, because she stopped and turned, her expression softening. “What’s wrong?” “Thank you,” I said, “for today.” I looked at her, and it felt like looking at her across a lifetime. Her eyes were still as clear as I remembered, but now they held a new, complex depth. Cristine leaned gently against the wall. “Leo, do you remember the promise you made me, the day before you left?” My mind flashed back to that sweltering summer. The day before my family moved, I had promised to take her to the amusement park. A promise I never kept. “The amusement park?” “When can we go?” Her eyes were full of hope. Seeing that look, the dam of resentment I’d been holding back all day finally broke. My throat felt tight, clogged with unspoken words. I looked down, my voice hoarse. “Some other time. I promise I’ll take you.” Cristine watched me, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. Just when I thought she wouldn’t say anything more, she whispered, “Okay, fiancé.” The word sent a jolt of warmth through me, chasing away the last of the pain. When we were kids, our parents used to joke that we’d get engaged when we grew up. I always protested loudly back then. I never imagined she’d bring it up again after all these years. Looking at her, a strange sense of comfort settled over me, as if her presence alone could heal all my wounds. 4. Cristine had to leave early for another engagement. I planned to use the restroom before heading back to a hotel. But as I approached, I saw Ethan. He was standing by the door, clearly waiting for me. I noticed the faint, reddish marks on his neck. As soon as I stepped out, he rushed forward and grabbed my hand. “I’m so sorry, Leo. I really am. I don’t know how this happened. Please, forgive me,” he pleaded, his face a caricature of remorse. Disgust curdled in my stomach. I yanked my hand away and pulled out my phone. “You said you booked me a hotel at the usual spot,” I said, my voice cold. “How much was it? I’ll transfer you the money.” Ethan froze, the apology on his face deepening. “I’m sorry, man. I’ve been so swamped lately, I… I forgot.” My thumb hovered over the screen. I looked at him, really looked at him. We’d been inseparable for three years in high school. He was the one who encouraged me to fly back, who told me he’d booked a hotel so all I had to do was show up. And now this. I put my phone away, my gaze turning to ice. “You did this on purpose.” “No, Leo, I swear I didn’t! All the hotels around here are booked solid, and Sophia has been… so clingy. Look, why don’t you just stay at my place tonight?” he offered, his face a mask of earnest concern. Looking at him, I felt sick. I turned to walk away, but he blocked my path again. “Leo, I forgot to tell you,” he said urgently. “Cristine… she has a boyfriend. What she did earlier… she was just trying to help you out. Don’t get the wrong idea.” I let out a cold laugh. His performance was truly masterful. I ignored him and pushed past. He tried to follow, but his foot caught on the doorstep, and he went sprawling to the ground. His head and wrist hit the tile with a sickening crack, and blood immediately started to well up. “What do you think you’re doing?” Sophia’s voice shrieked. She had appeared from nowhere and was now helping Ethan up. “Why did you push him? I’m the one who wanted to break up! I’m the one who likes him! What right do you have to hurt him? Leo, you’re a monster!” I stared, stunned, from her to Ethan, who was now leaning against her. His eyes were brimming with a universe of unspoken hurt, but he didn’t say a single word to defend me. Ethan was rushed to the hospital, and because I was involved, Sophia dragged me along. The doctor examined Ethan’s wounds and sighed. “This looks nasty. How did he lose so much blood?” Sophia’s face hardened as she glared at me. “There. Are you happy now, Leo? Ethan’s bleeding all over the place. I hope you’re satisfied!” I looked at Ethan, who still refused to speak. I took a deep breath. “He tripped and fell. It has nothing to do with me. Is he going to blame the floor for being in his way?” Sophia’s expression grew even colder. “Stop pretending, Leo. Don’t think I don’t know why you came back. You saw us together and you couldn’t stand it, so you had to push him, to hurt him! You’re pathetic!” I looked at the disgust in her eyes and felt like our four years together had been a complete waste. After my family went bankrupt, we moved next door to her. My grades plummeted from the stress of it all. But Sophia had a crush on me. She stayed after school every day to tutor me. Even now, I could remember the words she’d said when she confessed her feelings. I never doubted the sincerity of that moment. But sincerity, I was learning, has a short shelf life. Looking at the person in front of me, I was filled with a single, overwhelming thought: I regret everything. A wave of exhaustion so profound it felt like it might drown me washed over my body. But I forced myself to stand straight, pulled my phone from my pocket, and dialed 911. The moment the words, “911, what’s your emergency?” came through the speaker, Sophia lunged, snatched the phone from my hand, and smashed it on the floor. “Enough!” she screamed. “How long are you going to keep this up? I don’t want to see you! Get out!” I looked at the shattered remains of my phone on the tile. I bent down, picked up the largest piece, and with a sudden, violent motion, I threw it straight at her face. A shard of the screen grazed her cheek, leaving a thin, red line. I came back to win her back, not to be her punching bag. She froze, staring at me in shock. I turned to a nurse who was watching the whole scene unfold. “Could you please call the police for me? That phone she just destroyed was worth a thousand dollars.” I saw the nurse start to make the call. And then, the world started to spin. My body gave out, and I crumpled to the floor.
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