Chapter 08 - He only has a protective side for her

Her eyes were filled with tears, and her heart was broken like a stone smashed into pieces.

She was watching the two of them fighting, but why? Did she mean anything to them? On one side, it was her new boss, while on the other, her toxic ex.

Shawn pushed him away when he punched him in the face, causing a wound near his lips. Frightened, Selena didn't know what to do? Thus, she pulled Shawn by her side and came between them.

"Stop, you two." Her voice cracked in between her weeps. "Mark, I have nothing to do with you. Let me live my life peacefully. Whatever we had is now a dark past. I don't want to jump in it again." Turning her head, she glanced at Shawn as a few glares exchanged with Mark before he left with Selena.

............................................

The sound of the water was giving peace to her ears and mind. Winds blew her hair back as she closed her eyes, letting all the pain go along with the shores of the sea.

Her back was resting against the car when Shawn approached her with a water bottle in his hand. "Here you go." 

He handed it to her as she thanked him before gulping a few sips.

The concern was all over his face, showing he was worried about her for real. His hand followed with a trembled smile on his face, touching her cheeks. His eyes searched for bruises on her face. "Did he hurt you anywhere?"

In a soft tone, she refused. "No. You came on time." Her head automatically turned towards him, staring straight into his eyes and making him scoff. "Is something written on my face?" 

A tiny grin appeared on her lips. "I just want to thank you for saving me this time. Thank you, Shawn."

"If I was you, I might never date such a rascal."

Her lowered gaze was telling that she had suffered no less. She, herself, adorned the pain in life by letting him torched her. No matter what, she smiled and let it go, believing their love for each other was true.

But what did she get in the end? He left her so easily without even a proper breakup. While she suffered claiming it as a misunderstanding. But little did she know, it was one-sided from the start?

"He was gentle when he held my hand in high school. We were deskmates, and he was the popular guy on campus. Years passed, and we became one, just with one heart trying to survive in this sabotage relationship. We were together even in the university, but then, his true colors started showing..."

*Flashback*

Walking down towards the basketball ground while holding a box filled with handmade cookies, Selena shyly smiled at his co-players.

People called Mark fortunate for having a caring girlfriend. Although he never really cared about her. 

Putting the box on the bench, Selena joyously called his name out. 

"MARK!"

Everyone in the court stared at her as among them was Mark, who felt annoyed by her once again.

Sneering, he walked and came to her. 

"Why are you here again? I told you I'm busy in practice." He asked in a scolding tone, making her feel sorrowful. "A-Am I disturbing you?"

"Say now! Why did you come here?"

"I came because I miss you so much." With a smile on her face, she gave him the box of cookies. "I made cookies for you. Hope you like it."

He roughly took the box from her hands and walked away. "I'm busy. You should go now."

Stupid Selena still didn't understand his rude reactions. She just let everything go with the flow and grieved in her feelings.

*Flashback ended*

"After that, he went abroad while I stupidly thought of waiting for him here. The following week, he called me and... we-"

The pain she held in her heart burst, recalling those hurtful memories. Her tears didn't stop and kept coming out, making Shawn worried about her.

"And then... He b-broke up with me."

*Flashback*

Sitting in her room, she had just got up after studying and her phone started ringing aloud.

Her lips curved a bit, reading the name of the caller. Without wasting time, she picked the call and called his name. "Mark, I'm missing you."

"Selena, I have something to tell you." 

There was excitement running a marathon along with her blood. Her heart skipped a beat, waiting for him to continue. 

Is he coming back? Will we be together again?

She was imagining them together again when his words broke every dream into pieces.

"Let's break up. I fell for someone else here."

There was pin-drop silence in the room. Even the sound of the fan was soundless at that moment. 

Her glowing face in a moment turned pale. The colors of her life shattered around, making it colorless.

"W-What did you say? ARE YOU KIDDING ME, MARK? PLEASE, DON'T JOKE ABOUT IT."

"I'm not joking. Let's not contact each other anymore." Saying, he cut the call, leaving her in a total mess. She tried calling on his number but till then, he blocked her number already, leaving no choice for her but to accept this sudden shock.

He just abandoned her. Without any words. Without any explanation. No warning. No answers. One day she eagerly planned a future with Mark as his husband. The next day he's just gone. Cut all contact. 

The knees crackled, and she fell to the ground. 

The clenched heart by his words "I love someone else", left her in a dilemma.

In just a few words, her entire world crashed down, and she left with nothing but tears to shed, frustration about their memories, and just being depressed about loving the wrong guy.

*Flashback ended*