Victoria and Xavier had always been the couple everyone envied. Three years together, a shared house—gifted by his parents no less—and a love story that seemed too perfect to break. It felt like nothing could go wrong.
Right?
But something did go wrong. Something terrible.
After summer break, rumors started swirling. Xavier had cheated on her. And not with just anyone—Amber, the second most popular girl in school. Victoria and Amber were acquaintances, not quite strangers but definitely not friends. Amber, notorious for her flings, was someone who never stayed tied to anyone. Except, apparently, Xavier.
Amber had always been drawn to Xavier, but it was Ethan, her best friend, who had once helped her pick up the pieces when her heart was shattered by another guy, Joshua. Ethan never told her what to do, fearing she'd think he was interfering in her life. But no matter how much he helped, Amber had never moved on from Joshua.
Victoria had no idea that Amber and Xavier had been sneaking around behind her back for months, maybe even a year. She thought their relationship was strong—until she saw it with her own eyes.
It happened one sunny afternoon when Victoria was supposed to have a date with Xavier. At the last minute, he canceled, saying he was busy. Feeling a bit down, she decided to go for a walk with her friend Melanie to clear her head.
They strolled through the park, and as they reached a large tree, Victoria sat down, closing her eyes for a moment of peace. But that peace was shattered when she heard a familiar voice.
"Yeah, I know."
Xavier? Her eyes snapped open, scanning the park.
"Xavier, let's go to the amusement park," a girl's voice chimed in. It was Amber.
Victoria's heart stopped. She stood and crept toward the sound, peeking behind the tree. Her stomach churned at the sight before her. Xavier and Amber stood close together, laughing—his arm around her waist.
"Okay, but give me a kiss first," Xavier teased, pointing to his cheek.
Amber didn't hesitate. She leaned in, but instead of kissing his cheek, she kissed him on the lips.
Victoria's heart shattered. She stumbled back behind the tree, dropping to the ground as silent tears streamed down her face. Her knees buckled, weak from the betrayal. He promised me. He fucking promised me.
She could still hear his voice in her mind, echoing like a cruel reminder of her foolishness.
"I promise I'll never cheat on you."
"How can I believe you?"
"Trust me, I won't."
"Okay, I believe you."
She had trusted him, and now here she was, sobbing behind a tree, watching the man she loved kiss another girl.
"Victoria, why are you crying?" Melanie's voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. She glanced up to see her friend looking at her with deep concern. Melanie's eyes followed Victoria's gaze and landed on Xavier and Amber. "XAV—" Melanie started to yell, but Victoria grabbed her hand and yanked her down beside her.
"Don't... just... don't," Victoria choked out, unable to form the words properly. Her body shook with silent sobs.
Melanie bit her lip, unsure of what to say. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Victoria, pulling her into a comforting hug. This is one of the worst things a girl can experience, Melanie thought to herself.
"C-can I stay at your place tonight?" Victoria whispered through her tears.
"Of course, Vic. You don't have to ask," Melanie replied, gently stroking her hair as Victoria continued to cry into her shoulder.
That night, Victoria slept over at Melanie's. She didn't confront Xavier. She didn't even break up with him. Instead, she chose to live with the betrayal, hoping somehow things would go back to normal. But deep down, she knew they never would.
Everyone knew—her friends, her parents, even Xavier's parents. But no one could understand why she stayed. Maybe she didn't even understand it herself. Every night, she wondered what she had done wrong. She gave Xavier everything, always said yes, always made time for him, even when she was busy working part-time at her dad's company.
Still, the affair dragged on, and every time Victoria saw the glances Xavier and Amber exchanged at school, it cut her deeper. At night, he'd still tell her, "I love you, Victoria."
And she'd always reply, "I love you too."
But inside, she was screaming. If you loved me, why did you cheat on me?
One evening, Victoria came home from work, assuming Xavier wasn't there. But as she walked upstairs, she heard sounds coming from the guest bedroom. Her heart pounded in her chest. Slowly, she approached the door, peeking through the crack.
What she saw was enough to finally break her.
Xavier and Amber, together. Intimately. It wasn't just a fling; it was a full-blown affair.
Victoria didn't wait any longer. She packed her bags and went straight to her parents' house. They suggested she leave and start fresh, perhaps in Australia, where her dad had connections for work. She didn't hesitate to agree. The next morning, she was on a plane, leaving everything behind.
Three years passed. Victoria hadn't dated anyone since Xavier. No one seemed to compare, despite the pain he caused her. But one day, while walking through the streets of Sydney, she stumbled upon a florist. She went inside, picking out a single rose.
As she walked toward the register, she froze.
The rose slipped from her hand and hit the floor.
Xavier?
It couldn't be. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her. She rubbed her eyes, willing the figure to disappear. But when she looked up again, the man was staring back at her.
"Vic—"
Before he could finish, Victoria bolted out of the shop, her heart racing. She darted into an alley, pressing herself against the wall.
"No, no, no. It's just my imagination," she whispered, trying to calm herself. But it didn't feel like a hallucination.
She sank to the ground, her knees weak. Then, she heard footsteps approaching. Slowly, she looked up.
It was him. Xavier. The man she could never truly forget.
"I've found you," he said softly.
