Watching the refund notification pop up on my screen, I felt that familiar ache returning.
I’d loved her for so many years, and this was how it ended – a complete separation. Pretending it didn’t hurt would’ve been a lie.
She was my first love, the one who’d caught my eye with her sweet smile back when we were teens.
Since then, I’d been head over heels, my love so blinding that I even left my studies, proud as I’d been of my achievements, just to follow her to another city to find work.
It took seeing her with someone else for me to finally understand. I’d been nothing but a convenience.
She accepted my love simply because she could enjoy what I gave her.
And it wasn’t even the first time she’d gotten close to another guy.
Back in school, it was easy to pass off as innocent flirtations, but this time – well, they’d moved those “innocent flirtations” all the way into a hotel room.
We used to argue about her inability to keep boundaries, but I was so in love with her that, after just a few hours, I’d always be the one apologizing.
Sometimes, after one of her stunts, I’d actually think about breaking up. But then, she’d cry, and I’d soften up.
Looking back, it’s ridiculous how easily I was swayed.
After what happened, I figured we’d go our separate ways and never cross paths again.
She was always so stubborn, so proud; I doubted she’d reach out.
And as for me? I’d given up any thought of going back to her. My heart was broken beyond repair, and I’d finally had enough of apologizing for things that weren’t my fault.
But that afternoon, I received a text from her, asking me to come over.
It was the first time she’d ever reached out to me like this.
I couldn’t help but wonder why. Just last night, she’d told me to get lost. Had she really forgotten already?
Ignoring her message, I simply blocked her number.
Yes, I’d loved her, but that didn’t mean I’d sacrifice my self-respect. I wasn’t some puppet she could tug back whenever she felt like it.
But just as I blocked her, she called me, using another phone number, and by pure reflex, I picked up.
“You actually blocked me, Brian?” Her voice was dripping with anger, as if my blocking her had wounded her pride.
“We broke up. What’s the point of staying in contact?” I replied, my voice calm and unaffected.
“We can still be friends, right? Why make things so bitter?”