Walking back to the dorm as she zipped up her navy blue jacket, Adeline unexpectedly felt a large hand on her shoulder. When she tried turning around to see who it was, the man swiftly covered her eyes and kissed her neck, but as soon as the man noticed that Adeline started trembling in fear, he turned her around and decided to let go.
"Don't be afraid. It's me, Julian." The man cupped her face.
"Weren't you the one who confessed to me last year? Didn't I already tell you to stay away from me?" Adeline flinched back. "Don't tell me that you're here to give me another confession."
"Be my girlfriend. Nicholas and Ella had already made their relationship public. You don't stand a chance now."
"Don't you think that you deserve someone better?"
Julian reached inside of his shirt and pulled out a round cut engagement ring. "Marry me after we graduate. I've loved you since freshman year. Give me a chance to fix your heart."
"Marry you?" Adeline looked at him from head to toe. "We aren't even engaged."
"I want to treat you better than anyone else has. I want to be the reason you smile. I want to be all you need."
"Stop this, Julian. You already know my answer."
"He's been hurting you and yet you still love him?"
"He doesn't know how I feel."
Julian pulled her into a hug as he put his hand on her head. "You can give him another chance, you can continue to love or let go, but give yourself a better chance, Adele."
Adeline tilted her head. "No one can fix me, Julian. I'll always be forever broken inside."
"Look, I might not be able to be the one that'll be able to put all those broken pieces back together, but please do take care of yourself. Don't let your emotions take control of you."
"I'm not upset about it. I'm in the process of letting go."
"Seeing him hurt you is unbearable. If I try to—"
"I appreciate your concern, but we're no more than strangers." Adeline pushed him away.
"Me? A stranger?" Julian grabbed her wrist. "Is that who I am to you?"
"Save that exquisite ring for someone else. I don't deserve nor want it."
"Among all the men that have expressed their feelings to you, I was the only one who repeatedly came back asking for a chance, am I right?"
"Do you always have nothing to do which is why you're doing is? Nothing will change no matter how hard you try. I'll always be the same."
"Are you just gonna wait for him to tell you that he felt the same way?" Julian tightened his grip. "That will never happen! Get back to reality!"
"You don't need to keep reminding me of how much of a fool I am." Adeline glared.
"Don't try to push away the people who truly love and care for you, because they might not come back one day."
"That doesn't include you, so stop telling me what to do. I'm old enough to make my own decisions."
"Please take the marriage into consideration. I can give you happiness, Adele."
"Happiness?" Adeline bursted into laughter. "I've never found happiness in life."
"Are you—"
"I tried loving you didn't I? Well it didn't work out."
"I'll do anything. My feelings for you are genuine."
"Anything? Then leave me alone. I don't need to be comforted by you."
As they both stood in the school, the large clouds were moved towards them. Then the people walking then ran for cover outside and umbrellas were opened as the clouds spat out their beads of water. Puddles began plinking as the rainfall became heavier.
Julian kneeled down. "I'm always here when you need someone to lean on, so don't try and act like you're all right."
"I'm sorry." Adeline gave him a piece of tissue. "I can't learn to love someone else."