Chapter 002

Alina’s legs felt like they would give out beneath her, but somehow, she kept standing. The soft thud of Kelvin’s footsteps pulling on clothes, the rustle of the sheets as Jennifer adjusted herself on the bed, it all blurred into a dull roar in her ears.

With the little strength she had left, Alina finally forced herself to speak.

"Kelvin…" Her voice cracked, filled with disbelief. "What… what’s happening? When...when did this start?"

"Oh, Lina," Jennifer said with a slow, smug smile. "Why do you sound so surprised? You’re not stupid. You should’ve seen this coming."

Jennifer laughed, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "But since you're asking… let’s just say it's been going on long enough."

Alina’s eyes darted to Jennifer, the person she had trusted, shared her childhood with, laughed with. Her chest tightened painfully, and she took a shaky step forward, her eyes filled with hurt. "You...how could you..."

But before she could say more, a rough hand grabbed her arm and yanked her backward.

She stumbled, nearly falling, but caught herself just in time. Wide eyes flew up to meet Kelvin’s face. His face was hard, cold. The look he gave her; full of anger and irritation, made her legs go weak.

“Kelvin…” she whispered, tears now falling down her face. “Kelvin, how…”

"I didn’t want you to find out this way," he muttered. "But since you have, there’s no point pretending anymore."

Alina shook her head, her vision swimming as she desperately held his hand, "No... Just tell me it's a lie. That I'm...."

"I’ve been dating Jennifer." Kelvin said flatly. "Since two weeks after I started seeing you."

Alina felt like the air had been knocked out of her. She stumbled, grabbing the doorframe to stay upright. “No... that can’t be true…”

But Kelvin kept talking, his voice cold and uncaring.

"I've never loved you." His words were sharp, final. "Jennifer is the woman I’ve loved all along. You were just..." He hesitated, the faintest look of guilt crossing his face before hardening again. "...you were just a way to get close to her. I never..."

Alina couldn’t even hear the rest. One sentence echoed in her head:

“I only dated you to get close to her.”

Meanwhile, Jennifer rose from the bed, lazily pulling on a robe, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. "You should thank me, really. At least now you know where you stand, now you know you were just… something to pass the time."

Alina felt the room spin. Her chest was tight, her head was light, and her heart...her heart felt like it was breaking into tiny, sharp pieces.

All these years of loving him. All the times she had waited for him, stayed by him, cared for him, all the promises. All the moments she had believed in their love. It had all been a lie? They had used her, she was never his first option, not even his second. Her lips quivered as a shiver ran down her spine.

She looked up at Kelvin one last time with tears filled eyes, hoping...praying...for even a hint of regret in his face. But there was nothing. Just the cold, distant man she no longer recognized.

And as Alina stood there, her tears falling silently, she realized this was the end of everything she had worked so hard to hold together.

Without saying a word, she turned and slowly walked out of the room. Her steps were shaky, like her legs might give out at any moment.

She barely made it into the hallway when the sound of laughter drifted toward her. Familiar voices; Kelvin’s friends, Donovan and Noeul. Their conversation rang out casually, carelessly, unaware, or unconcerned, that she could hear them.

"She really thought Kelvin liked her?"Donovan snickered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Man, she’s such a fool. I bet she's out there thinking they're gonna have some perfect anniversary tonight."

Noeul laughed, "If only poor girl knew Kelvin’s been f*cking her sister behind her back this whole time."

Donovan chuckled louder. “She was a genius in school, top of her class, all those honors.... but in real life? Totally clueless. All that brain power, and she couldn’t even see what was happening right in front of her.”

Alina froze for a second, then took a deep breath and forced herself to keep walking. She passed them without saying a word, without even looking at them.

"Lina?" she heard one of them call, almost playfully, but she didn’t turn back. She didn’t stop walking.

She had hoped, just for a second, that maybe… maybe they’d come after her.

But the sound of their laughter behind her crushed that hope in an instant.

"Did she finally find out?" Donovan said, the sound following her.

"Shouldn't we stop her before she tries to kill herself?” Noeul laughed.

Alina didn’t listen. She kept walking until she was out of the house.

Outside, the air was cold, brushing against her damp cheeks.

She didn’t bother with the car, didn’t even look toward it. What was the point? it wasn't hers. None of this was hers anymore.

She just walked, faster and faster, until her legs broke into a run.

From inside the car, Lorraine spotted her through the window.

" Alina?" She called after her in confusion, but Alina didn’t stop.

Everything was falling apart, and all Alina could do was run; tears blinding her, her breathing sharp and ragged.

Lorraine’s eyes widened. Something was wrong. She jumped out of the car and started chasing her.

"Alina! Wait!" Lorraine shouted, but Alina didn’t hear her, or maybe she just didn’t want to.

Her feet pounded the pavement, the sound of her sobs filling her own ears as the world blurred past her.

And then....A blaring horn.

Alina looked up, wide-eyed, and froze.

A car was speeding toward her, the headlights glaring, the driver slamming on the brakes.

For a moment, she didn’t move, didn’t care, her heart aching so much it felt like it might just stop on its own.

The car screeched to a halt just inches away from her.

The driver stepped out, slamming the door shut. He was tall, wearing a dark mask.

"Do you have a death wish?!" his deep voice roared.

Lorraine caught up just then, grabbing Alina’s arm and pulling her back in panic.

"Alina!” she cried, hugging her tightly, heart racing. Then she quickly bowed, her voice trembling. "I—I’m sorry! We’re sorry!" She didn’t look up, didn’t even notice who it was.

Alina raised her head slightly, her lips parting, her voice soft, broken. "I'll be careful next time"

And then everything tilted. Memory of what she just witnessed flooded her head.

The world spun around her, her knees gave way, and then... Blackness.

"Alina!" Lorraine screamed, catching her just as her friend collapsed, trembling and unconscious in her arms.