Stuck In Love (COMPLETED)

Chapter-1

Raymond Reynolds's POV

Looking back at my life now, I realised that life was a heap of moments and memories. Some were happy, filled with laughter and warmth. Others were full of sorrow, tainted by loss and regret. But most were empty, lost in the blur of daily routine. We didn't realize what we were missing in those moments, distracted by the relentless pursuit of our goals and ambitions, and the pressure to fit in. We stop living in the present, our minds always busy with to-do lists and what-ifs . All the worries about career, the pressure to succeed, and the strain of  responsibilities consumed our thoughts. And in the rush, we forgot to savor the now, the fleeting seconds that could never be reclaimed.

When I close my eyes and drift back to that time in high school, I think about her. In those times, I had her by my side. Her presence turned the mundane into something special, making even the emptiest moments worthwhile. Her presence lingering in my thoughts like a gentle whisper in the corner of a classroom. She was my anchor, willing me to live in the present that is 'Now'. Her laughter was my lifeline, sweeping away the worries of life. In those moments, all I wanted was to keep that smile on her face forever, mostly because it made me feel like I belonged. I did not merely exist in the world but belonged. That I belong to her.

I didn't realize what I had, what she meant to me, until she was gone and I was too late. Then, in the quiet moments of reflection, I always reminded myself of all that I had missed. It was the smallest of moments, the ones that seemed insignificant to most, but to me, they were everything.

I missed our late-night talks, the kind that stretched into the early hours, where every word felt like a caress. I missed our study dates, the comfort of her presence beside me, the way her hand would brush against mine, igniting sparks that lit up my soul. I missed walking down the hallway, our fingers entwined, the world fading away, leaving just us. I missed the heat of her body next to mine, the rhythm of our hearts beating in unison. I missed her teaching me, her voice gentle and patient, her laughter filling the silence of the library. I missed her sarcastic comebacks, the sharp edge of her wit that always caught me off guard. I missed everything we did, every stolen moment, every shared dream.

I missed the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about her dreams, a light that had the power to brighten even my darkest days. And most of all, I missed the taste of her lips on mine, a kiss that had the power to transport me to a place where time stood still and we were the only thing that mattered.

When I was with her, I was me. I didn't care about my bad-boy reputation. I didn't care about disobeying my father. I didn't give two shits about anything in the world. I had no worries.

And now, here she was. In front of me, and I couldn't even move. It felt like I was glued to the ground. I wanted to talk to her, apologize for all that went down between us. But most of all I wanted to feel the comfort of her arms around me.

Yeah, she probably wouldn't want that from YOU. Idiot.

I was trying to summon the courage to go talk to her. Just say hi, maybe. Isn't that what ex-lovers do, after all? Exchange a few pleasantries and move on with life. But fear gripped me—fear of rejection, especially from her. I knew deep down that no matter how much I might still want her, she didn't feel the same.

She was still oblivious to what had happened seven years ago. She still thought I had left her on purpose.

After taking a deep breath, I finally made up my mind and forced my legs to move. As the distance between us closed, my heartbeat raced. With every step, I had to take a deep breath to steady myself. My steps halted as I stood two feet from her. She soon realized my presence and looked up. Her light brown eyes gazed at me.

One glance, and those beautiful brown eyes knocked the air from my lungs. My heart started doing some crazy dance, and a lump formed in my throat. Her eyes widened with realization, and pure shock painted her face.

" Hey," those words slipped from my lips as her gaze locked onto mine.

"Hi," she replied, her eyes holding me captive.

"How ar-" My words were abruptly interrupted by someone else.

"There you are!" We both turned to the sound of the voice.

"Hey, sweetheart," a guy walked towards us and then his arms encircled Sophie's waist, his lips pressing gently against her temple.

"Uh, hey, Justin," she responded, her eyes darting everywhere but towards me. An uneasy tension settled between us.

A pang of jealousy twisted in my chest. I clenched my jaw, gritting my teeth.

Of course she had moved on. Why would someone like Sophie wait for me? She deserved so much better than me. I was the one who had left her and I knew the consequences of my choice back then. I couldn't bear the sight before me. It was the last thing on earth I wanted to see—my girl in someone else's arms. Anger surged inside me, and before I could act on it, I made the decision to leave.

" Hey Soaf, we should catch up sometime. See you around? " I managed to ask, the pain in my chest unbearable.

"I hope not," she said with a tight lipped smile. Her words cut through me as she turned away, the other guy's arm still around her waist, and they left the library together.

I stood there, my expression blank, unable to process the flood of emotions crashing over me. As I watched her disappear into the bustling lobby, a sinking realization settled in.

She hates me. The thought cut deep, a knife twisting in my chest.

It hurt like hell.

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