~Neeral~After my heartfelt conversation with Taylor, I returned home. He had expressed his love for me with such joy, but Matt’s reaction to my proposal left me astounded. Why did he act like such a jerk? He had never seen me as anything more than a friend, so why did it seem like he was unhappy?With a stack of files in my hands, I struggled to open the door to my house. It was already 8 o’clock, and Matt wasn’t home. I called him, but he didn’t answer. I sent him a message, and I saw the three dots indicating that he was typing, but no reply came.Feeling a mix of worry and frustration, I decided to take a quick shower, prepare dinner, and keep myself busy with work. I waited for him at the dinner table for a long time, but he never showed up.My eyes wandered to the ring Taylor had given me. It was beautiful, and it brought a faint smile to my face. Perhaps one day, I would be able to love Taylor as deeply as I had loved Matt.Lost in my thoughts, my phone chimed. It was Taylor on
~Matt~Mending a broken heart felt like an impossible task, akin to building a sandcastle in a perpetually wet place. No matter how hard I tried, a wave would inevitably crash upon me, obliterating everything I had painstakingly constructed. How foolish was I to find myself in the same situation again?I had developed a special connection with Neeral, only to witness her accepting Taylor’s ring. Falling in love once more required effort, but I failed to nurture it. Our story seemed to leap to its climax before it even had a chance to begin.When Taylor proposed to her, I struggled to understand how I should react. Should I direct my anger toward him or at myself? I didn’t dare express my feelings to her, and she didn’t wait for me either. We shared a bond, but my confusion persisted. Was it friendship or something more? An unsettling fear crawled beneath my skin.What if I told her how I felt, and she left me like Aoife did? What if I asked her to wait, allowing me to discern if my em
~Neeral~Despite having crushed Taylor’s heart, he selflessly requested that I stay and help him finish the work in Seattle before I left for Austin. I agreed, feeling a sense of responsibility towards him. He didn’t complain or question me about the person responsible for his heartbreak. His kindness and understanding only intensified my guilt.Taylor had planned a farewell dinner for me, but he had to leave abruptly due to his father’s illness. He apologized and asked me to stay in Seattle for another week to assist him. As he departed, I found myself alone in the chilly city, fully engrossed in completing the pending work before my departure.Returning to my cottage, I was greeted by John and his wife, who had been taking care of the place. They had prepared a delicious meal for me, and I thanked them with a smile. However, the atmosphere took a sudden turn when John informed me that someone had come looking for me earlier but refused to provide his name.Confused, I frowned and ca
~Neeral~Eight Months Later…It had been eight long months since I last laid eyes on Matt, yet my heart still ached from the moment I left him. When he unexpectedly showed up in Seattle, seeking my forgiveness, I foolishly allowed a glimmer of hope to flicker within me. But I soon realized that it was nothing more than a gesture of a gentleman asking for forgiveness, devoid of any deeper feelings. In an attempt to distance myself, I cut off all social contacts and disappeared from social media, keeping a low profile.I didn’t know if I was hiding from Matt or simply afraid of what might transpire if he discovered I was now residing in Austin. I had started a new job at a local publication house, which paid enough for me to survive. I rented a house with new friends, and everything seemed to be going well. However, every weekend served as a reminder of my solitude, as my friends would retreat to their families’ or boyfriends’ houses. To fool my longing heart, I sometimes found myself s
~Aoife~My eyes welled up with tears as I listened to Matt and Neeral’s story, realizing the depth of their love and the challenges they had faced. Even Xander, sitting beside me, seemed lost in his thoughts, his gaze fixed on them. Matt, seated next to Neeral, gently caressed her belly and planted a tender kiss on her head, a gesture filled with love and anticipation.“This is our story,” he said, a smile gracing his face as he glanced towards us, his friends. The room fell into an awkward silence as the weight of their emotional journey settled upon us. Unable to contain my emotions, I stood up and embraced Neeral tightly, feeling gratitude for the strength and love she had shown even when Matt was filled with hatred.“Thank you for loving him when he hated you,” I whispered, my voice choking with emotion. Then I turned to Matt and hugged him as well. “And thank you for loving her when she lost all hope in you.”Xander nodded in agreement, silently acknowledging the profound impact
~Aoife~I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as I prepared for my wedding day. The room was filled with love and happiness, and Neeral was helping fix my perfect bun, adjusting my veil. I finally looked at myself in the mirror, and tears welled up in my eyes.“It feels like I’m dreaming,” I breathed, my voice filled with emotion.“No, you’re not. This is what you’ve always wanted,” a familiar voice came from the corner of the room. I turned and saw Gabriel and Angel walking towards me.“Congratulations,” Angel said, hugging me tightly.“Thank you.” Gabriel cupped my face and gently kissed the top of my head. “I can’t help but wonder what’s going to happen now.” “What do you mean?” “You’re pregnant.” Confusion furrowed my brow. “That means Xander should be prepared to get his ass kicked by you.” He chuckled. We all laughed, enjoying the lighthearted moment.“No, I’ve done this before, and I know how to compose myself.” “No, you don’t know how to comp
~Xander~The deep bass reverberating from my Aventador's subwoofers was enough to dissuade others. The adventure lay cocooned behind those tinted, blacked-out windows, cloaking it from prying eyes as moans transformed into hushed whispers. No one dared to intrude by peering inside. After all, I savored my morning feast as the uncrowned king of this college—I am a bully.As the glass slid open, fresh air rushed in, dispersing the warmth inside. Listening to the sound of my partner's exhausted breath, a sense of contentment washed over me. A grin crept across my face as I glanced at the rearview mirror, pondering the moment. The girl stuttered my name in a shaky voice, "X... X… Xander." With a firm grip on her hair, I pulled her close, my intent clear. "Remember, it's sir, not Xander," She gasped when my fingers closed around her jaw with a single, firm grip. Intimidation, my strong suit. "Sir, may I go?" she asked, averting her gaze."I trust you've understood the lesson well," I rep
~XANDER~Outside the classroom, our group of seniors gathered, sharing knowing glances as we awaited the dean's exit. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, while inside, the freshmen sat unaware of the storm brewing just beyond the doors. Their world seemed serene, untouched by the reality waiting to crash in on them. Finally, the doors swung open, and the dean emerged, his smile giving the freshmen a false sense of security. Little did they know, their first taste of college life was about to get a lot more interesting, thanks to our planned intervention.Our group strode into the room, commanding attention. "Sit down, all of you," Victor's voice rang out, firm and authoritative, halting the students' departure. With a swift motion, we took our places. Victor continued, his tone measured yet commanding, "Good afternoon, everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful day. But now, it’s time for the real college announcements."Everyone looked at each other with confusion as they reluctan