All Chapters of Once Our Love Shone No More: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

"Girlfriend," I murmured. My heart was aching.I had a crush on Zac for two years. Finally, during the summer of my sophomore year, I gathered enough courage to confess to him.He smiled at me and said, "I thought you'd wait until after the college entrance exam."I was too nervous to pick up on the undertone and answered, "I won't interfere with your studies. My parents got together when they were seniors in high school, and they've always had a really good relationship."He reached out and ruffled my hair. "Why are you so adorable?"My heart raced then.That summer, Keira, who had grown up with me, transferred back from another city to take the college entrance exam.I introduced the two of them to each other. That was when I learned that Zac had a younger sister who had died unexpectedly, and her name had also been Keira.Keira laughed at the coincidence and said jokingly, "Does that make you my future sister-in-law?"Gradually, the two of them became close like actual sibl

Keira grabbed my hand anxiously."It's my fault. I didn't know how to respect boundaries. From now on, I won't join you when you're on dates, and I definitely won't meet Zac alone."She looked deeply wronged. Her eyes welled up with tears."We've been friends since we were seven. We're like family. I really don't want to lose you."At that moment, I felt even more disgusted than I had in the cab.There was a crudely made silver ring on her finger.She had posted a photo of herself on Instagram wearing the ring while holding Zac's hand. Their fingers were intertwined.There was a caption below the photo.[I asked him what he was thinking about when he had the ring made. He didn't say anything when he looked at me, but I already knew the answer.]I smiled sarcastically before shaking her hand off."Stop pretending."Her expression turned horrid. Zac frowned too."Jocelyn."Right then, his phone rang."Zac, Jocelyn sent me a long post and asked me to put it on the school con

The day after Irene's funeral, Zac and Keira's college acceptance letters arrived.They had both been accepted to Aberton College.Keira deliberately came to my house to show hers to me."Jocelyn, the things Zac said at the hospital were just to comfort you because you were so devastated."We'll be at the same college and in the same major. We'll spend so much time together. He likes me too. We're definitely going to end up together."I sneered."If you're so confident, why did you go to such lengths to frame me? You were willing to hurt yourself just to hurt me."She shrugged."I don't think I lost anything. Let people say whatever they want. Who's going to remember it a month or a year from now?"So what if everyone thinks I was the other woman and had an abortion? As long as Zac feels sorry for me, that's all that matters."I asked her, "Why do you hate me so much? Was our friendship of more than ten years all fake?"She gently rubbed her acceptance letter."Because you'

After college started, I found out my roommates and classmates were all very kind.I sent Irene messages about everything that happened every day.I often dreamed that she was replying to my messages from another world while frantically asking me why I couldn't see them.There was a woman at Annex Cafeteria who sold casseroles. Her silhouette often reminded me of Irene.I ate there for an entire week.The woman eventually remembered my face.Whenever it wasn't too busy, she'd chat with me."Jocelyn, will you have the usual today?"I nodded.She retrieved a chocolate bar from her pocket and sneakily handed it to me."I won it in a bet. I don't like sweet stuff. You can have it."My eyes instantly welled up with tears.I couldn't even get the words 'thank you' out properly.The woman noticed and nervously asked whether someone had mistreated me or whether I was homesick.I nodded. "I miss my mom."She ruffled my hair and silently comforted me.Halfway through my meal, I r