Never Meant To Be

Unveiling Shadows

third person :

The night at the Moonlight Club lingered in their minds, an ethereal dance echoing through the corridors of their thoughts. Gio and Christine, now back in the mundane reality of daylight, couldn't escape the aftermath of their unexpected reunion.

Days passed in a blur for Gio, each moment laden with the weight of what transpired at the club. His engagement loomed over him like a storm on the horizon. Linda, the girl entangled in the web of his family's expectations, seemed oblivious to the tempest brewing within him.

Linda: "Gio, you seem distant. Is everything okay?"

Gio, offering a forced smile: "Yeah, just busy with family stuff. Don't worry about it."

In truth, Gio's mind was a battleground. The image of Christine's eyes haunted him, their accusatory gaze etched into his soul. The engagement, a decision made in the absence of true choice, now felt like chains tightening around him.

Meanwhile, Linda, unknowingly caught in the crossfire of his internal struggle, grew increasingly concerned.

Christine navigated her days with a forced normalcy. The vivid echoes of the club danced in her memory, a bittersweet melody she couldn't shake. School, family, and the gym became her refuge, a shield against the encroaching reality.

Calvino: "Chris, you've been distant. Everything okay?"

Christine, feigning a smile: "Just adjusting, Cal. It's been a while."

Yet, beneath the façade, a tempest brewed. The engagement announcement gnawed at her, an unwelcome guest at the table of her emotions. The specter of Giovanni and Linda's union cast a shadow over her every thought.

one fine morning,

Their paths collided on the campus, a collision of worlds that sent shockwaves through their carefully constructed facades.

Gio, his eyes locking onto Christine's, halted involuntarily. The air thickened with unresolved tension as they stood, silent witnesses to the unspoken.

Gio, voice strained: "Chris."

Christine, avoiding his gaze: "Gio."

Their fleeting encounter, a mere punctuation in the narrative of their intertwined destinies, left them both grappling with the emotions left unspoken.

Veronica, fueled by a cocktail of pride and insecurity, orchestrated a grand display of her engagement. She paraded through the college halls, a dazzling ring on her finger, flaunting her conquest to anyone who cared to look.

Veronica, with a smirk: "Giovanni and I are engaged. You know, the perfect couple."

Her words, a deliberate taunt, echoed in Christine's ears. The weight of Giovanni's engagement, a fact Christine tried to ignore, now pressed upon her with unwavering force.

Gio, aware of Christine's inner turmoil, approached her with a calculated nonchalance.

Gio, smirking: "Chris, did you hear the news? Veronica and I are taking the plunge. Engaged."

Christine, a flicker of pain in her eyes: "Congratulations, Gio. I hope you find happiness."

Gio, an undertone of regret in his voice: "You know where to find me if you ever want to talk."

evening on the way home 

As Christine grappled with her inner turmoil, she found herself in a jewelry store, staring at engagement rings that seemed to mock her. The polished diamonds, symbols of commitment, reflected the uncertainty in her eyes.

Sales Assistant: "Looking for something special?"

Christine, with a forced smile: "Just browsing."

The rings, silent witnesses to her inner conflict, held a weight far beyond their physical form.

The final year of college, a backdrop to their intricate dance, unfolded with a symphony of emotions, leaving Gio and Christine entangled in a web of choices that could redefine their futures. The looming engagement, a shadow they couldn't escape, cast its influence over their every step.