Romantic Revenge - R.R

A Promise: You Once Made

---                                                                
In an unknown place, and a time forgotten. Where the worlds aligned, and the words spoke;

"It's a promise right?"
"Yes— it's a promise"                                 

The promise you once made,
was the promise I've been longing for.

---
Present Day...
Alan's Perspective

I woke up the next morning to the insistent blare of my alarm clock. In a sleepy haze, I fumbled to turn it off, cursing under my breath as I stumbled out of bed. That clunky old thing had become a daily nuisance; replacing it was long overdue.

After a quick shower and breakfast, I headed out the door. The cool breeze greeted me as I walked to school, the wind carrying a refreshing chill that felt oddly reassuring. Today was different. Today, I was finally going to ask her out.

With the long weekend break at an end, the excitement of seeing her again filled me with nervousness. I arrived at school earlier than usual, knowing she preferred to arrive early too. She had a habit of taking a solitary walk around campus, making it a bit challenging for me to find her. But after scanning the area for what felt like an eternity, I finally spotted her—Akira—taking a leisurely stroll near the school's main entrance.

As I called out her name, a ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd, and soon enough, the area was packed with curious onlookers. Whispers floated around me, each one a little needle prick of doubt.

"Isn't that Alan from 2C?"
"Yeah, and did he just call out Akazari?"
"Wait, is he actually going to ask her out?"
"I mean, he's cute, but is that enough?"
"No way. Miss Akazari is known for turning down anyone who asks her out."
"Yeah, doesn't matter if they're hot, smart, cool, or cute—she's never interested."
"That's why they call her the 'Atrocious Princess,' right?"
"Who came up with that?"
"Probably one of the guys she rejected."

The voices of gossiping students swirled around me, increasing the pressure with each passing second. My courage wavered as I saw her approaching, her expression unreadable but undeniably serious. My heart pounded, and I could feel the tremors in my hands.

But I was already in too deep. I had to go through with it.

Taking a deep breath, I extended the bouquet of flowers towards her, my voice trembling as I spoke.

"A-Akazari, would you... please go out with me?" Calling her by her family name, knowing our relationship wasn't close

She accepted the bouquet, her lips curling into a smile that was warm, yet distant. For a moment, hope flickered in my chest—until she spoke.

"Not interested."

The word struck like a hammer. Before I could fully register the rejection, she let the bouquet slip from her fingers, dropping it to the ground. Then, with a casual indifference, she stepped on it, crushing the flowers beneath her heel. Without another glance, she began to walk away, leaving me standing there, my heart in pieces.

The crowd's attention shifted away as quickly as it had gathered, leaving me alone in the aftermath. I knelt down and picked up the ruined bouquet, my hands shaking with a mixture of realization and humiliation. I found the nearest trash bin and tossed the flowers inside, feeling the weight of the entire scene pressing down on me.

"You should save your money and buy yourself a mirror," she called out over her shoulder, her voice sharp with disdain. "It's obvious that you don't see you're way out of my league."