What We Almost Were

A tall, charming, and flirtatious young man named Jace fell for a girl called Rose back in high school. Rose had feelings for him too, but she avoided committing to a relationship with anyone-while still keeping him close at all times. Over time, Jace's feelings deepened, and he began dropping subtle hints about how he felt. She noticed but consistently rejected him anyway. Eventually, Jace let go of his emotional attachment and instead set out to win her over, get her to admit her feelings, and then walk away from her. After graduation, the group went off to different universities, staying connected through texts, calls, and video chats. Jace's friend Jayden brought him along to hang out with another friend, Chris, for some games and relaxation. Chris, being level-headed, picked up on the fact that Rose's behavior toward Jace was manipulative-she showed no genuine interest in actually being with him. So, Chris and Jayden stepped in to convince Jace to cut ties with her. Once they succeeded, Jace shifted his focus inward and started living life on his own terms. He eventually achieved his dream of becoming an engineer and found wealth alongside his friends-Jayden, who built a business empire, and Chris, who launched the world's biggest tech company. Later, during a trip to the Netherlands with his friends, Jace met a new woman named Isabella. The two grew close, dated for several years, eventually married, and went on to build a happy life together.