I didn’t answer. Instead, I glanced down at my phone again, at that stupid message still sitting there, unread and unanswered, and while my heart stung, before I could stop myself, I turned the phone face down on the desk with a little more force than necessary.
Sasha stared at me. “Anna, you’re worrying me.”
“It’s fine, really.” My voice cracked a little, betraying me. I wanted to scream, to ask why Ryan was ignoring me, why he hadn’t said a single word. But I just bit the inside of my cheek and stayed quiet.
By Wednesday, he still hadn’t replied. Not a single word. I was going insane, so I finally broke and sent another message.
‘Do you still want to be my date for the Freshers’ Night Gala?’
I watched the little tick mark show that it was delivered. I waited. Minutes. Hours. But nothing.
With tears stinging my eyes, I threw my phone onto my bed and pressed my palms over my face, trying to force the thoughts away.
Sasha, who was sprawled out on her own bed, groaned loudly. “Ugh, I swear, I still can’t find the perfect dress for tonight! Everything I’ve seen online either looks too old-fashioned or too cheap. This is supposed to be a gala, not a dorm party.”
I peeked at her through my fingers, my voice weak. “Then maybe we should just go look for one.”
She sat up so fast, her eyes wide. “Wait-you mean shopping? As in dress shopping?”
“Yeah.” I didn’t even know when I had said what I said. The word just slipped out. Maybe because I wanted to do anything that was making me stop from staring at that phone again.
“Finally!” Sasha jumped to her feet, grabbing her purse. “Let’s go. Maybe if we find something nice for you too, you’ll stop looking like someone stole your puppy,
I rolled my eyes but followed her out anyway.
We left the dorm, called a taxi, and slid into the backseat. The driver asked where we were headed, and Sasha quickly gave him the address of a boutique she had heard about, the kind of place that sold expensive gowns fit for a gold. I leaned against the window, barely listening, my mind still drowning in thoughts of Ryan. I couldn’t stop wondering what I had done wrong. Why he was ignoring me like this.
When the car pulled up in front of the boutique, Sasha handed the river the cash while I stepped out, stretching my legs. I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder, waiting for her to join me.
And then, just as Sasha was finishing up with the driver, I froze.
Because across the street, a sleek black car had just pulled up. A couple stepped out. The man looked tall, serious, young, his shoulders broad and confident as he walked beside the beautiful woman at his side. She was smiling up at him, her arm hooked through his as if they belonged together.
Something in my stomach twisted painfully, because the way he moved… the way his head tilted slightly… it was familiar. Too familiar. My chest was already tightening before he even turned.
And then he did.
He turned his face just enough, and my heart stopped.
It was Ryan.
I gasped, stumbling back a little as the world around me blurred. My throat went dry, my pulse hammering so loud I could hear it in my ears. The phone in my hand slipped, almost falling, as I stared in shock at the man I had been waiting on for days, the man who hadn’t replied to me even once, walking into a restaurant with another woman on his arm.ANNA’S POV
“Anna, come on, let’s go inside. What are you looking at?” Sasha’ voice broke me out of my thoughts, and f blinked hard before finally tearing my eyes away from the glass windows of that restaurant. My chest was still tight, my whole body buzzing, with unease, but I forced myself to move and followed Sasha into the building.
She was excited, talking non-stop about the racks of gowns and how tonight was going to be unforgettable, but my mind wasn’t here at all. It was still outside, on Ryan and that lady as they stepped into that restaurant. How she held him so close as if she owned him. My throat ached just reng it. Could that be Sophie? The Sophie? The name that had lingered in my head ever since I first heard it?
Sasha pulled one gown after another, asking me questions. “What about this? Should I go with something bold? Something sparkly so every guy in the gala hall turns his head?” She twirled dress in front of me, her eyes sparkling like she was living for this moment.
I didn’t even hear half of what she was saying. I nodded vaguely, my hands brushing against fabrics but not really seeing them. My chest kept getting heavier, because Ryan hadn’t replied to my text, not even after I sent him a picture of ray neck, asking him directly what the hell this was supposed to mean. And now, instead of an answer, I got the image of him with another woman burned into my head.
My eyes stung. My vision blurred. I blinked quickly but the tears wouldn’t stop building until one slipped down my cheek. I tried to swipe it away fast, but Sasha noticed.
“Anna?” Her voice was sharp, almost annoyed. “Seriously, what is it now? You’ve been spacing out all day, and now you’re crying in the middle of a boutique. What’s wrong with you?” She set the dress down with a sigh, folding her arms.
“It’s nothing,” I muttered quickly, trying to force a smile that felt pathetic. “Maybe it’s just random tears or something, I don’t know. Hormones or stress-
“Don’t lie to me, Anna,” Sasha cut me off, stepping closer. “Talk to me. What’s really going on?”
I shook my head hard, my throat tightening. How could I tell her that the reason I was crying was because the man whose name was literally carved into my skin was sitting in a restaurant with another woman like I didn’t exist? How could I tell her that Ryan had marked me, claimed me in a way that was supposed to be permanent, and now he was ignoring me as if it meant nothing? Sasha would think I was pathetic. She would tell me I was a fool for letting him get to me this much.
“It’s nothing,” I whispered again, wiping at my cheeks, but the tears wouldn’t stop. My chest hurt too much. My whole heart felt like it was splitting in two.
Sasha sighed, looking frustrated and worried all at once. She grabbed my arm and shook me gently. “Is this about him?” Her voice was softer now. “The so-called childhood crush? The one you met at the club? The one you… you know… slept with? The one whose name you tattooed on your neck? Is he the reason you’re crying like this?”
My lips trembled. And then I gave the smallest nod.
Sasha’s eyes softened instantly, and she pulled me into a hug. “Oh my baby,” she whispered, stroking my back. “I knew it. knew it had to be about him.”
I couldn’t stop the sob that escaped me. I cried harder, burying my face against her shoulder, my whole body shaking as I le out. She didn’t even know the half of it, but she held me anyway, letting me get it out.
“Anna,” she murmured after a while, pulling back just enough to look at me. “You’ve got to try to forget him. At least for now. I know it feels impossible, but you can’t let him tear you apart like this. You can’t give him that power.”
Her words made my chest ache even more, but she wasn’t done. I could see the frustration in her eyes now, the way she was holding back but couldn’t anymore.
“And I need to ask you something,” she said, her voice sharper. “Why did you act so rashly? Why did you tattoo his name on your neck? You don’t even know his true colors yet, Anna. He isn’t even your boyfriend. Yet you went ahead and did something so extreme. Do you realize how crazy that looks? Ever since that totoo, you haven’t been yourself. You’ve been sad, withdrawn, broken. What has he done to you?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I didn’t know how to explain something I didn’t even understand myself.
Sasha shook her head, her tone softening again. “Well… it’s one of those mistakes we make as young adults. It happens. It doesn’t mean your life is ruined. It doesn’t mean this is the end. You just have to learn from it.”
I bit down hard on my lip, my tears spilling again. Sasha wiped them away with her thumb and smiled gently.
“Come on,” she said, looping her arm through mine. “Let’s forget about him for now. Let’s focus on tonight. Let’s shop for our gowns and get ready to own that gala hall. You’re gorgeous, Anna Any man would want you. Don’t waste your tears on one guy who doesn’t even know how lucky he is.”
“I can’t just forget him,” I whispered.
“You can try,” Sasha said firmly. “And I’ll help you. Tonight is our night. A celebration. We just got into university. Don’t let him spoil this for you. Please, Anna. Let’s make this about us, not him.”
I sniffed.
“And don’t worry,” Sasha added, grinning suddenly, though I could still see the frustration in her eyes. “I’ll call my friends. I’ll set you up with one of the hot guys who’s been eyeing you since day one. He’s gorgeous, funny, and trust me, he’s been dying to meet you. He’ll be the perfect distraction. You’ll see. I’ll make you forget all about that guy tonight.”
“Sasha…” I started, shaking my head.
“No arguments,” she said quickly. “Tonight is ours. Okay?”
Her words almost made me laugh through the tears because she was so serious, like she was already planning out my rebound. And even though I was still breaking inside, I felt a little lighter, a little comforted, like making myself believe she might be right.
So I nodded, smiling weakly. “Okay. I’ll try. Let’s shop.”
“That’s my girl,” Sasha said, smiling big now, clapping her hands together as she dragged me toward the dresses again. “Now, let’s find the perfect gown for you because tonight, baby, we’re going to own that gala.”
And for a while, I let myself get lost in it, in the laughter, in Sasha’s chatter as she pulled gown after gown for me to try, making silly faces in the mirror, cheering me up without even trying too hard.
Finally, after what felt like forever, we found our perfect dresses. I held mine against me, smiling at Sasha as she twirled in hers both of us laughing now as we walked to the counter to pay.
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