Games Of Hearts

39. The Boxing Match

I sat in the university canteen, lost in thought, nursing a cup of coffee. It had been a week since the breakup, and I hadn't heard a word from Joshua. I was trying to move on, but the wound still felt fresh.

Just as I was starting to drift into my own world, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a friendly face, a senior from our university, smiling at me.

"Hey, I'm your senior, and I don't really have a dance partner for the fest. So, would you become my dance partner?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with hope.

I was taken aback by the sudden request, but something about his warm smile put me at ease. "Yeah!" I accepted his proposal without hesitation.

"I just need to explain something," I added, feeling a bit vulnerable. "I had surgery last month, so we won't be doing anything that would hurt my health."

He nodded understandingly, his expression softening. "Sure, then we'll choose something soft and romantic to dance to, okay!"

He held out his fist, and I tapped mine against it, sealing the deal. "Sure," I said, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness.

As we exchanged numbers and started discussing our dance routine. "Hey, would you like to go for watching a boxing match tomorrow?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Boxing match?" I repeated, trying to process the sudden invitation.

"Yeah! It's our university vs some other university match, it'll be fun. You should join," he said passionately, his enthusiasm infectious.

I hesitated for a moment, but something about his energy put me at ease. "Okay! I'll come tomorrow," I agreed, thinking to myself that maybe this was the perfect opportunity to move on from Joshua and start a new chapter of my life.

"And there's a new player from our university," he continued, "apparently, the coach said he's the best one." He ordered a sandwich and turned to me with a smile.

I awkwardly smiled back, feeling a sense of nervousness. Was I really ready to move on? But as I looked into his eyes, I saw a genuine friendliness that put me at ease. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something special.

As we chatted and laughed, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for the boxing match and the possibility of new beginnings. Little did I know, tomorrow would bring more than just a sporting event...

🌼🌼🌼🌼

As the cab dropped me off outside the boxing club, I saw my senior waiting for me, looking even more handsome and tall than I remembered. He flashed a warm smile and walked towards me, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, as he approached me.

I nodded, feeling a heaviness in my chest. "Ready," I replied, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in my stomach.

He guided me inside the club, his hand lightly touching the small of my back, sending a shiver down my spine something uncomfortable.

As we entered the packed club, the crowd was electric, cheering and chanting their university's name. But then, suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A deafening roar erupted, and I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

"JOSHUA...Joshua...JOSHUA!" The crowd chanted in unison, their voices echoing off the walls.

I froze, my feet rooted to the spot, as I turned to look towards the ring. And then, I saw him. Joshua, standing confidently, his eyes fixed on the crowd, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.