WINNING HIS HEART AGAIN

Chapter 16: Broken Heart

Avery POV.

A month had passed since I witnessed Ashkent with that mystery girl, the one who had quickly become his girlfriend. It felt like a punch to the gut, knowing he had moved on so quickly. The memory of that night, the commotion in the girls' dorm, replayed in my mind, a constant reminder of my own heartbreak.

[FLASHBACK]

The hallway buzzed with excitement. I saw the same woman Ashkent had been flirting with for weeks, surrounded by other girls, all giggling and teasing her about something. Curiosity piqued, I pushed my way through the crowd, trying to figure out what was going on.

Then I saw it. A man with a microphone was serenading the girl, his voice echoing from the ground floor, outside the dorm. We were on the third floor, and the crowd made it difficult to see him clearly.

I squeezed through the throng, my heart pounding. As I finally got a closer look, I realized who it was. Ashkent, dressed differently, with a heart-shaped arrangement of flowers scattered around him. My heart ached as I blinked, wishing I was hallucinating. But no, it was him, serenading the girl just a few steps away from me.

What was happening? When had they developed feelings for each other? When did he even know her? It had only been two months since he broke up with Sandara. How could he move on so fast? Or was there something I didn't know? Had they known each other for years?

I gulped, my eyes darting back and forth between them. He was declaring his feelings for everyone to hear, oblivious to the onlookers. They looked so in love. My intuition had been right. He was courting her.

I couldn't bear to watch anymore. I ran back to my dorm, feeling betrayed and stabbed anew.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

When had he become so bold, so open about his feelings? But then again, I remembered that he had confessed his feelings for me before, too, when everyone dared him to say who had captured his heart.

He was clearly drifting away from me, and every day, he reminded me of how much he had changed, how I no longer knew him.

I remembered how stunned I had been when I first saw him at SU. I couldn't believe he was here, in this prestigious private university.

After stalking him online, I discovered he had aced the entrance exam for the SU scholarship. I couldn't have been prouder. He had gotten in because of his intelligence. I had no idea he was hiding his intellect. He had always been nonchalant, a regular student. And his family, they were ordinary people. That's why I was so shocked to see him at SU. I knew his family couldn't afford to send him here.

But then again, I had underestimated him. He had promised me we would go to the same university for college, and he never broke a promise. Yet, I had still doubted him.

He aced his entrance exam. Then, shockingly, he knew basketball too. He never pursued it professionally, but he played on the court occasionally, as a backup team member for Darren.

Since then, he had been drawing a lot of attention at SU.  And now this, his extravagant gesture to court a woman.

Seriously, where did he get the money for all that? And when did he learn to spend so much on a woman? Didn't he say he wasn't interested in any woman before, that he didn't want a girlfriend because he wasn't into relationships? So why?

I bitterly smirked, grabbing my guitar. When was the last time I played?

I felt so down, so broken, betrayed, awful. I missed the old days we shared. I regretted not cherishing those moments. If I had known I would fall for him, I would have said yes instead of contemplating and ignoring my confused feelings. I should have given him a chance to court me. I was so stupid. I let him go without thinking.

I strummed my guitar, pouring my emotions into music.

"I never knew what I had
Until it was gone
I pushed you away,
Thinking I was strong
But now I see, I was so wrong
I should have listened
To my heart all along"

I smirked bitterly, crafting lyrics from my broken heart.

"It’s about regrets,
It’s about realizing
What I lost when
I turned you away
I wish I could turn back time
And accept your love
Without delay"

My eyes started to sting as I continued to sing, random lyrics spilling from my heart.

"I see now the
Love you had for me
I was blind, but now I see
I want to make it right,
I want to be the one
Who makes you happy,
Just wait and see"

My voice cracked, but I continued to sing.

"It’s about regrets,
It’s about realizing
What I lost when
I turned you away
I wish I could turn back time
And accept your love
Without delay"

I sniffed, trying to compose myself. My heart ached so badly.

"I know it may be too late
But I’m willing to wait
For another chance,
For a new start
To show you the love
That’s in my heart

It’s about regrets,
It’s about realizing
What I lost when
I turned you away
I wish I could turn back time
And accept your love
Without delay

I hope there’s still
A chance for us
To make new memories
To build trust
I’m asking for another chance
To win your heart
To have a new romance"

The moment I finished singing,
I broke down. This was too much.
Why did I feel so broken?
Never naman naging kami,
but why did it hurt so much?

I am doomed. I am falling in love with him. And I couldn't hold myself back anymore. I was losing control.