Reaching You, My Reneo

Chapter 13 - Shadows of Rejection

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Thora’s days turned into a cycle of quiet pursuit, clinging to every small moment she could spend near Reneo, even as he subtly tried to keep his distance. She noticed it in the way he responded to her messages a little slower, the way he avoided making plans, always offering polite excuses that sounded emptier each time.

Yet, her heart wasn’t ready to give up, stubbornly hoping that one of these encounters would bring him back to her.

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One afternoon, she caught sight of him leaving the library. Her heart leapt, and without thinking, she called out to him. He stopped, turning with a faint smile, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—a hesitation that twisted her stomach.

"Reneo!" she greeted, trying to sound casual. "I was wondering if you wanted to grab some coffee?"

For a moment, he seemed to consider it, and she held her breath, willing him to say yes. But then he shook his head, his smile apologetic. "Sorry, Thora. I already have plans."

"With Mila?" The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she instantly regretted it, seeing the way his expression shifted, his shoulders tensing.

"Yeah… with Mila," he replied, his voice cautious, as if wary of where this conversation might lead.

The sting of rejection was sharp, but she forced herself to smile, nodding as if it didn’t matter. "Of course. No worries," she said, trying to keep her tone light, though her heart was heavy.

As he walked away, she felt the familiar ache settle over her, the same hollow feeling that had become her constant companion. She wanted so desperately for him to look back, to see her standing there, waiting for some sign that he still cared. But he didn’t.

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The weeks that followed were filled with more attempts, each one met with the same polite, distant response. She asked him to study together, to go out for lunch, to meet up after class, but every invitation was gently declined. And with each rejection, her hope dimmed a little more.

One evening, she decided to confront him directly, tired of the unspoken tension that hung between them. She waited outside his class, her nerves frayed but her heart resolute. When he finally walked out, she stepped forward, blocking his path.

"Reneo," she began, her voice wavering but determined. "Can we talk? Really talk?"

He paused, his expression guarded, as if he knew what was coming and wanted to avoid it. But he nodded, gesturing for her to follow him to a quieter spot on campus.

They sat down on a bench under the soft glow of the streetlights, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Thora took a shaky breath, gathering the courage to say what had been weighing on her heart.

"Reneo, I need to know… is there any chance for us? Or am I just… wasting my time?" Her voice broke, and she looked away, unable to face the answer she feared.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, his expression pained. "Thora… I care about you. I always will. But… I don’t feel the same way." His words were soft but final, each one hitting her like a punch.

She felt tears sting her eyes, but she blinked them back, forcing herself to stay composed. "So… there’s really no chance? Not even as friends?"

He hesitated, looking down. "Maybe… someday. But not right now, Thora. It’s too complicated."

The finality in his voice shattered the last remnants of hope she had been clinging to. She had chased after him, holding onto every small sign, every fleeting look, but now she saw it clearly—the line he had drawn between them, the distance he had carefully maintained.

She stood up, feeling the weight of his rejection settle over her like a shadow. "I understand," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Without waiting for his response, she walked away, her footsteps echoing in the empty campus. The realization sank in with every step: she had given him her heart, laid it bare, and in return, he had turned her away.

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That night, Thora sat alone in her room, the silence pressing down on her like a heavy blanket. She had pursued him with everything she had, hoping that her love would be enough to bridge the gap between them. But now, she understood that sometimes love wasn’t enough, that no amount of chasing could make someone feel something they didn’t.

And as painful as it was, she knew it was time to let go.

With a heavy heart, she picked up her phone, scrolling through their old messages, the conversations that had once brought her so much joy. One by one, she deleted them, each message a small piece of the past she was trying to leave behind.

It hurt, more than she had ever imagined, but she knew that moving on was the only way forward. She couldn’t keep holding onto someone who didn’t want to be held.

And as she lay in bed that night, her heart raw and aching, she made a silent promise to herself: she would find a way to let go, to heal, and to open herself to a future where her love was reciprocated. Because even though her heart was broken, she knew it was still capable of hope, of healing, and, someday, of loving again.

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