My Only Love

Rebecca's POV

“Babe, good morning. I miss you.”

It was a sweet good morning text from Carlos—my boyfriend, my best friend, my first love. I smiled as I read it, my heart warming with familiarity and affection. We had been together for what felt like forever. Ours was a love story that began in childhood. We grew up in the same neighborhood, shared the same playgrounds, and attended the same primary school. The only time we were ever apart was during high school, when we went to different schools, but even then, we reunited during holidays. It had been hard, but we survived.

What we shared was the purest form of love I had ever known. He wasn't just my boyfriend—he was the one person I had always known would be in my life. I truly believed that Carlos would be both my first and last love. Nothing and no one could ever come between us.

Feeling a flutter of joy, I texted back: “I miss you more, Hun. When are you coming to see me?”

Right now, I was in my first year at university, and Carlos was in his third. Just one more year and he’d be done. Sometimes, I worried. I imagined the pretty, mature girls in his class trying to get close to him. But Carlos always assured me that I was the only woman he saw. His words, though simple, were always enough to calm my fears.

He replied almost instantly: “I’ll come soon, babe. I just have to finish my exams here first. We’re going for a long holiday soon.”

I sighed in relief. Soon, I’d see him. My Carlos. The man who held my heart. I missed him terribly—his voice, his smell, the warmth of his touch. I missed running my fingers through his hair and kissing those soft, sweet lips. I just wanted to hold him, feel his arms around me, and know that everything was okay. I wanted him here, right now.

Just as I was lost in thoughts about him, I heard a knock followed by a voice at the door.

“Rebecca, are you in there?” It was Veronica, my best friend.

“I’m coming, darling!” I called out, laughing. She had probably been knocking for a while, but I’d been too absorbed in my thoughts about Carlos to notice. Poor girl. I quickly jumped out of bed to let her in.

As soon as the door opened, she stepped inside with her usual sass. “You silly girl,” she teased. “I’ve been standing out there forever! Who are you hiding in here, huh? Is it Carlos? Don’t tell me he’s back—I’m dying to finally see that handsome guy you never shut up about.”

I burst into laughter. “Oh, Nica, it’s just me in here. No hidden lovers,” I said with a grin. “I didn’t hear you knock, I swear. Sorry for keeping you waiting. And about Carlos, don’t worry—you’ll meet him very soon.”

I loved calling her Nica—a cute, short nickname that just rolled off the tongue better than Veronica. She loved it, and I loved her. She was my sister in everything but blood. From the first day I set foot on campus, Nica had been there for me—showing me around, introducing me to people, making me feel at home. We were inseparable.

She was breathtakingly beautiful. Her tall, slender figure carried curves in all the right places. Her large, expressive eyes sparkled with confidence. People often mistook her for a model, and honestly, I didn’t blame them. She was studying fashion and design—an absolutely perfect fit for someone with her style and flair.

In our first semester, we had lived in the same hostel, but it had become too expensive for me to sustain. So I moved out and rented a small bedsitter outside campus. It wasn’t much, but it was cozy and all mine. Nica had also moved out, though her place was much nicer—she valued her privacy and could afford it. I never envied her though. I was happy for her.

Still, money was tight on my side, and I knew I had to help my parents. That’s when I got a job at a nearby hotel as a waitress. It didn’t pay much, but it was something—and I was grateful.

“I’m starving!” Nica announced dramatically, plopping onto my bed. “Luckily, I brought snacks and coffee for breakfast. Want some?”

I lit up. “Do you even have to ask? I’m so hungry I could eat the plate too!”

We giggled and sat down together, munching on the snacks she had brought. Nica often came over in the mornings to pick me up so we could walk to school together. I appreciated her kindness more than she knew. Sometimes, I felt like I was burdening her, so I made it a point to pick her up occasionally, just to return the gesture.

After finishing breakfast, we hurried off to campus. I had a packed schedule—my classes ran until one in the afternoon, and then I had work at two. It was always a rush.

“I’ll see you later, Rebecca,” Nica called out as we parted ways on campus.

Today, she looked stunning in a tight jeans skirt and a neatly tucked-in blue shirt. Her long, brown hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, bouncing as she walked. She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before rushing to her class.

I sighed. It was too bad we weren’t in the same course—it would’ve been amazing to share a class with her.

My course was challenging and small. There were only about 20 of us. People often avoided it because of how hard it was, but I genuinely loved it. And we were lucky to have a fantastic lecturer—brilliant, engaging, and passionate about teaching. He made even the most complex topics understandable.

Most of us did well in his class. But the top student, without fail, was Mike. Slim and quiet, he had a mind like a computer. He was always ahead of everyone and never hesitated to help struggling classmates.

“Did you understand today’s lecture, Rebecca?” he asked as we left class, the same way he always did.

Mike had made it a habit to walk me out of the gate after class. People often whispered that he liked me but was too shy to say it. Maybe they were right, but I didn’t dwell on it. Mike was nice, yes—but to me, he was a friend. I was already in love with someone else—deeply. There was no room in my heart for anyone else.

“I’ll see you Monday, Mike. I have to rush. Something urgent came up,” I said with a quick smile, already picking up my pace.

In truth, I was nearly late for work. Our supervisor at the hotel was strict—and that’s putting it kindly. Everyone feared him. He was short and heavyset with a bulging belly and perpetually red eyes that made him look like he hadn’t slept in days. His scowl alone could send someone running.

As soon as I stepped into the hotel, his voice boomed: “Well, I thought you’d be late today!”

It sounded more like a wish than a concern.

I sighed inwardly. It was as if he was waiting for any excuse to unleash his frustrations. But I wasn’t going to give him one.

“No, sir. I made it on time,” I replied calmly and quickly hurried to the staff room to change into my waitress uniform.