Requiem of a Broken Heart

Chapter 28

Chapter 28:

Under the dappled summer sunlight, Brian’s voice carried a warmth that made Rachel’s chest tighten.

“Tracy, we’ll be in the same university soon. Once we’re in college, be my girlfriend, okay? I promise…”

Rachel never heard the rest. If she hadn’t been crouched behind the thick trunk of a tree, she never would have overheard his tender words.

She realized that Brian hadn’t failed his exams after all. Every choice he had made—all his sacrifices, all his compromises—had been for someone else. He had someone he liked. And he loved that woman deeply. Rachel couldn’t even begin to put her feelings into words.

It felt as if something inside her had been torn apart, the raw edges burning as though rubbed with salt.

She spun around and ran. Faster. Farther.

She had no idea how long she kept running—only that, by the time she finally stopped, the ice cream in her hand had completely melted.

The pink liquid dripped onto her white dress, splattering like drops of blood from a wounded heart.

That day, she had spent every cent of her pocket money on the prettiest dress she could find, just in case she ran into him. And in the end, she felt like the biggest fool.

As she sprinted uphill, her foot caught on an uneven patch of ground. She stumbled, and the ice cream smeared across her face as she crashed onto the rough pavement. Jagged stones bit into her skin, but she felt nothing.

The only thing that mattered was that the boy she loved already had someone else in his heart. And to him, she was nothing more than a stranger—someone without a name.

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When her senior year began, she buried herself in her studies. She stayed up until one in the morning, then dragged herself out of bed at five—running on only four hours of sleep.

In the sweltering summer, whenever exhaustion crept in, she ran laps on the track until sweat drenched her clothes. Then she’d go right back to her books.

In the biting winter, when drowsiness clouded her mind, Rachel splashed ice-cold water on her face and plunged her hands into a freezing basin. The pain jolted her awake. That sharp sting fueled her determination.

And she endured. For an entire year, she never once tried to see Brian again. Then, just days before her college entrance exams, she did something reckless—something completely out of character. She requested a leave of absence.

and a night, her legs swelling and her feet going numb, before transferring from one bus to another. Finally, she arrived at

do was wait and

constant flow of students, until her eyes ached

bulletin boards, her heart pounding with

photo beside it, Brian wore a crisp white shirt. His features had grown

had passed—365 days,

in that time, he

looked older, sharper, more

boyish innocence in his gaze had faded, replaced by the quiet maturity

on the picture, tears welled up. Before

by noticed her crying and handed her a tissue. “Miss, are you okay? Why

and forced a smile,

I’m happy.”

Brian’s

purpose, she quickly made

door. She held her breath, heart racing with every person who

then did she step away, her shoulders slumping

bulletin board information had to be accurate. Brian was

she rushed forward, grabbing the arm of a passing student. “Excuse me,” she blurted out, struggling to steady her breath. “I need to

he left for a competition.

Tomorrow? Her stomach dropped.

the train back tonight, right after seeing him. If she stayed another day, she wouldn’t even have enough for

was she supposed

she paced back and forth, her hands clenching

hesitation, she made her way to the train station, rescheduled her ticket, and used her last bit of cash

conditioning was freezing. By the second half of the night, she was curled

night finally gave

the sky, she got up and headed straight for

Brian was the first

white pants, his outfit exuded an effortless