Champagne Problems // English's Version

Chapter 11: Promises and Illusions

The last few months of college were a mixture of excitement and nostalgia for Agatha and Kyle. With only a few exams left before graduation, they both felt the pressure of the imminent transition from student life to adult life, where they would have to face new challenges and responsibilities.

Kyle couldn't wait to get started. A light of hope and determination shone in his eyes: he would finally be able to build the life he had always dreamed of, and in his plans there was always Agatha, his love.

Whenever they talked about the future, Kyle imagined a house full of laughter, a family, a stable job. «One day I will marry you, Agatha.» he said one evening, sitting on the bed in her room. «You will be the mother of my children, I already know it.» His words were full of sweetness and certainty. Agatha looked at him with a smile, trying to savor that moment of serenity.

But inside her, a shadow of sadness and anxiety continued to grow.

Agatha also thought about the future, and like Kyle, she imagined a life with him. But her dreams were always obscured by that malaise that constantly accompanied her. Despite the love she felt for Kyle, she couldn't escape the feeling that something inside her was irreparably broken. The weight of her insecurities and her addiction to alcohol oppressed her, even in those moments of apparent happiness.

The most surprising thing was that, even though years had passed, Kyle still hadn't noticed anything. He continued to see in Agatha the bright and strong girl he had fallen in love with in his first days of college, unaware of the fact that she was sinking deeper and deeper into darkness.

The only visible change was Agatha's weight loss. In the last few months, she had started to lose weight visibly, so much so that even their friends had commented on it. But Agatha joked that it was the stress of her final exams that was eating away at her, and Kyle believed her. He had no reason to doubt her, especially since Agatha was always smiling and seemed happy when they were together.

In reality, every day was a battle for Agatha. She drank more often than she cared to admit, and she had learned to hide her habits well. Her canteen was always full of vodka, and no one, not even Kyle, suspected a thing.

She knew she was playing with fire, but she couldn't stop. Alcohol had become her refuge, her anesthetic for the pain and pressure she constantly felt.

Finally, after months of intense studying and sleepless nights, the long-awaited day of graduation arrived. The campus was an explosion of emotion and celebration. Students, professors, and families gathered to celebrate that milestone that marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

Kyle and Agatha, dressed in their graduation caps and gowns, walked side by side, hand in hand, with a smile that seemed to light up the entire world. It was the day they had waited and dreamed of for years, and finally here they were, ready to conquer the future.

Kyle was beaming. He hugged his teammates, his friends from campus, and he never stopped holding Agatha.

He was happier than ever, sure that this was just the beginning of a perfect life together. Agatha was smiling too, but her smile hid something deeper. As she stood in the midst of that cheering crowd, she couldn't help but feel an emptiness inside her. She had achieved one of the most important milestones of her life, and yet she felt like she couldn't truly appreciate it.

When it was finally time to receive their degrees, Agatha and Kyle exchanged an emotional look. They had both overcome challenges, made sacrifices, and experienced unforgettable moments together. The future was there, in front of them, and yet, as they walked toward the stage, Agatha felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. She wondered if she would ever be able to free herself from her hidden pain, if she would ever be able to build the happy life Kyle imagined for them.

At the end of the ceremony, as they threw their hats into the air, Kyle took Agatha in his arms and kissed her as their friends cheered and cheered. In that moment, everything seemed perfect, but Agatha knew that her secret continued to grow inside her, threatening to destroy everything they had built.
And as the evening closed in on them, Agatha wondered how much longer she could pretend, how much longer she could maintain that facade of happiness while everything inside her seemed to be crumbling. But for that night, she decided to let go, to enjoy at least for a little while the happiness Kyle gave her.

Maybe, she thought, one day she would be able to truly be as happy as he thought she was.