~Xander~Aoife, Aoife, Aoife. Her name and her words didn’t leave me for a second. How could she say Matt and she became sex friends? All the things my mother tried to tell me, I could feel it was becoming a reality.But how could I forget her? Did she really mean what she said?Luckily, Zareena took the stand for me. She saw how vulnerable I felt without Aoife. It was her birthday, and she wanted her to join her party. She wants to clear everything between Aoife and me.“Xander, I know Aoife doesn’t like me, but I want to talk to her about us. I will tell her we are just friends, and you love her only. I am going to invite her whether you like it or not. I want you two to clear everything up.” She hugged me.“I hope she understands our friendship. Like I understood Matt and her,” I murmured to myself.Although I don’t know what happened to me, after her confession, I started seeing things with doubts and knew it was wrong. My heart didn’t want to accept it. It’s hard to find peace bet
~Aoife~I prepared myself for the evening ahead. It was Zareena’s birthday, but my heart was pounding to meet Xander. I feel like I haven’t seen him in years, imagining the scene tonight a thousand times in my head. I will run into his arms, kiss him, and tell him how much I love him, or should I wait for him?I wanted to wear something beautiful to catch his attention, and I know how much he appreciates the simplicity. On that note, I took out my baby pink dress. It’s a long-sleeved, off-shoulder dress that shows some skin. It came all the way down to my knees as the delicate lace flower enhanced the beauty of my body. After putting on my pendant to highlight my dress, I pulled my hair into a perfect bun and wore light makeup. I wanted to remind him of everything we had on the Island.I love you, Xander. And today, I want every awful thing between us to go away. I reached the place and undoubtedly, Zareena’s house was enormous. She’s a rich girl, and her parents seem to be very close
~Aoife~I felt like my heart was howling alone. Zareena gave the truth that hit me hard. I never expected those words would pierce like a knife in my heart and create a vacuum I could not handle alone. I looked at Xander and sensed he regretted that moment of truth.He acted like he knew nothing. Seriously?It was a war zone between my feelings and a twisted lie in my mind. Xander tried to tell me something, but my anger and hurt were blinding. All I wanted was to disappear from there. I sat in a taxi and told the driver to drive.The driver kept asking me about my destination and I told him to drive wherever he wanted. My heart and mind were casting different channels of emotions for Xander. My heart wanted to trust him, but my mind was battling with the facts. How did Zareena know about the moments we spent on that Island? How does she know every detail between Xander and me unless someone told her? And how could I forget no one was there except Xander and me?“Why did you break my
~Matt~I brought Aoife to my place. It was hard for her to walk, so I had to pick her up to bring her to the couch.“Aoife, are you okay?” She looked bad. Her swollen eyes and makeup were all over her face. “No. I am not, Matt,” she replied while walking towards the bathroom.I tensed from seeing her like this and called Neeral.“Hey, thank you so much. But can I ask why you allowed her to drink this much?” Neeral sighed. “Matt, I came here with Victor. He is my cousin. I found her drunk and tried to stop her, but she wasn’t listening. I think something's bothering her. She was saying something about Xander. I didn’t understand, but I am sure something happened between them. She was upset, and Victor tried to take advantage of her. I am sorry.”I could hear her voice was filled with pain. Rejection from me was still fresh in her heart. She told me Victor slapped her also for calling me. He left her alone in the pub.I looked toward the bathroom and heard a thud from inside.“Thank y
~Matt~Aoife was sleeping while I looked at her, assuring her protection from Xander. My eyes become wet while caressing her cheeks. She feared Xander, and somehow, I knew it was my fault to let Aoife get close to the man who would never understand a pure heart like hers.“It’s all my fault, Aoife. Because of me, you are enduring this pain.”I remembered the day I saw her for the first time. The way she lied to me that she fell on the stairs. I knew Zareena had hurt her.Her simplicity made me fall in love with her instantly.Later, when she opened up with me, I found myself lucky to find a pure girl like her. I was about to open my heart when I saw Xander’s attitude change in Aoife’s presence. Aoife was changing Xander, and it was a good sign, so I sacrificed my love for Xander. All to give him a chance to find true love. Xander deserved that chance.I was okay to stay in that friend zone only for Xander to become a better person and let him explore his feelings.I suppressed my feeli
~Xander~I opened the door of her room and quietly waited for her to come home. I followed her from her dinner and listened to everything they talked about while sitting at the bar.I was two bottles down, drowned in the sorrows.How easily she forgets me. Yesterday she ran from my place and didn’t give me a chance to explain myself. I felt horrible when I saw her crying, but she was behaving as if nothing had happened. Does that mean whatever happened yesterday was nothing to her? My love was nothing for her. The most painful moment I remember that pulled at my heart when I saw her hiding behind Matt. When the hell did Matt come in between us? Why are there so many misunderstandings, Aoife?I waited for her to come to her room, because I wanted us to be alone.I could hear her approach with careful steps.“Hello?” She turned on the light and entered the room. “Xander, what are you doing here?” I came to get my answers, Aoife.“So, how was your dinner with Taylor?”I thought to keep
~Aoife~Heartbreak comes in waves. Slowly, it will pull you into the sea, and you will never know when the ground under your feet is swept away. They come at such random moments, replacing a feeling of normalcy with familiar tears. Yet, in time, those waves lessen and let the good memories flood back in.Sitting on the floor, I cried and smiled for the moments we spent together after Matt left this place.It was understood he would never see me again. How could I expect him to? He was hurt, and I was the reason. From the beginning of our relationship, he carried this burden in his heart. It was difficult for him to let Xander pursue his love for me. Today, when he poured out his heart, I crushed it into small pieces.At this moment, I wish death upon myself. I am not a good person, and I hurt people who loved me. I didn’t know when my sobbing turned into a slumber before a familiar voice woke me up.“Aoife, wake up, dear,” Aunt Agnes lightly shook me.Her husband brought water for me
~Aoife~I stood there, baffled, and confused. I fluttered my eyes a few times to clear my vision because I didn’t believe what I was seeing. Zareena and Xander were exchanging rings with each other.I came to my senses when people around me started clapping.“Congratulations!”“Yeah, Zarenna,” they cheered.People who started to gather around them pushed me aside. My body’s senses were dead. Everyone shouts, and the thunder of clapping suppressed my sobs. He lip-locked her in front of me and my heart dropped. I lost him. I lost my love. That was the only thing I felt at that moment.“Xander,” I whispered as I grabbed my chest.Suddenly Neeral ran up behind me and grabbed my numb body, and I lost my energy to stand appropriately.“Aoife... Oh my gosh,” she cried for me while looking at him.She wanted to go to talk to him, but I grabbed her hand.“No,” I whispered.“But Aoife—”“First, I lost my friend, and today… I lost my love.” Tears blurred my eyesight, straightening myself. “L