𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙧. 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙞𝙙

4. First Heartbreak

Standing there in that red dress, holding a bouquet of roses that matched the color, I felt my hands tremble with nerves. It was my first time wearing a dress, and it felt strange, almost too much, but I wanted to look a bit different tonight. Tonight was supposed to be special—I was finally going to tell Zayne how I felt.

My hair was loose, my makeup was light, and I still wore my glasses. Zayne never minded them; he’d always seen me this way. He knew the real me, and tonight, I hoped he’d see just how much he meant to me.

Five minutes before the play ended, I slipped into the theater and found a spot near the stage. My heart raced, both from nerves and excitement. I joined the crowd in applause as the show concluded, eagerly waiting for my moment.

Zayne climbed the stairs on the other side of the stage, looking breathtaking. His silver hair shimmered under the lights, making him look like a K-pop idol. I felt my heart pound even harder, imagining his surprise when I confessed my feelings.

He took the mic, standing confidently at the center of the stage. "Good evening, my fellow students, faculty, and staff. To our dear professors and dean, thank you for joining us tonight," he started, his voice tinged with nervousness. He chuckled, and the audience laughed along, even me.

Then, someone else came onto the stage, carrying balloons and flowers.

The crowd let out an "Aww."

I felt my stomach twist. Something felt… off.

"This night is very special to me," Zayne continued, his voice carrying a mix of excitement and nerves. "Tonight, I finally have the courage to ask someone to be my girlfriend."

The audience erupted in cheers.

But my heart started to sink, a heavy, sick feeling spreading through me as he looked at someone else in the crowd and spoke her name.

"Hailey."

I could barely breathe. Everything blurred and faded, except the words he was saying.

"Hail, I know you’re not expecting this, but this is the perfect moment for me to ask you something," he said, walking over to her, holding the same bouquet of red roses that I clutched in my hands.

My mind struggled to grasp what was happening, as though my heart was fighting to deny it. But it was all too real. Right before my eyes, Zayne was bending down on one knee, offering the flowers to Hailey with the words I thought were meant for me.

"Hail, I’ve liked you since high school. Even now, you’re still the one I want. Will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?"

My heart shattered in that moment. I felt the grip on my bouquet tighten, my knuckles turning white as the thorns pressed into my skin. But the pain in my hands was nothing compared to the raw, aching pain in my chest.

Every shy glance, every sweet smile, every whispered "hello" that I thought was meant for me—was really for her. The realization crashed over me, sweeping away the fantasies I had foolishly believed in.

I felt tears slide down my cheeks, unstoppable. I wanted to turn, to run, to disappear before anyone saw. But all I could do was stand there, watching as Hailey said "Yes" and Zayne swept her into a hug.