"You know, love alone isn't enough to make a person happy," Raogi's voice trembled, but her gaze was firm as she faced Handa.
Handa, 25 years old, stood frozen, trying to make sense of her words. For over three years, they had been together—partners in life, sharing dreams and struggles. But now, everything he thought was eternal was crumbling.
She didn't offer any more explanation, didn't stay long enough to see his heart break. She left, just like that, walking out of his life with nothing more than those words that would haunt him for months to come.
---
Two months passed.
Handa tried to heal. He told himself over and over again that perhaps he wasn't enough—perhaps his love, his efforts, his dreams weren't sufficient to keep her happy. He blamed himself, questioning every decision he made during their time together. When self-blame wasn't enough, he turned to other reasons: maybe his modest lifestyle, his inability to shower her with riches, had driven her away.
Still, the pain lingered. Every corner of the town reminded him of her—her laughter at the park, their late-night conversations under the stars, the scent of her favorite flowers in the market.
---
One evening, as he wandered the aisles of the local supermarket, trying to distract himself, something caught his eye—a sleek black car parked outside. Its glossy surface gleamed under the fading sunlight, and for some reason, Handa felt drawn to it.
He stepped closer, the hum of the engine still faintly audible. Before he could comprehend why, the car door opened, and two people stepped out.
His breath hitched.
It was Raogi, her hair flowing gracefully as she smiled at the man beside her. Handa's heart dropped when he recognized the man: Antano.
Antano was one of the wealthiest men in town, owning several businesses overseas. His charm and affluence were well-known, and now, standing beside Raogi, he looked every bit the part of the man Handa could never be.
Handa froze, his legs trembling. His chest tightened as memories flooded back—her words, her departure, the love he thought they shared.
In that moment, the truth hit him like a storm. It was never about love. It was money all along.
She left because he couldn't give her the life she wanted. The woman he had poured his heart and soul into had traded him for riches, for luxury, for someone who could provide her with everything he couldn't.
Handa staggered back, his world spinning. He turned away, unable to watch them any longer.
---
That night, he sat alone in his dimly lit room, staring at the cracked ceiling. His heart felt heavier than ever. The ache, the emptiness, the betrayal—it was unbearable.
He replayed their last conversation in his head. The way she said those words. The way she looked at him as if he was nothing.
For hours, he grappled with his thoughts, his mind a battlefield of emotions. What was the point of living when everything he held dear had been taken away?
At midnight, Handa left his home for the last time.
---
The next morning, the news spread like wildfire.
"A man, around 25 years old, was found dead at the base of Arnachlad Tower, owned by Antano and now transferred to his partner, Raogi.
Eyewitnesses claim it was suicide, though the reasons remain unknown. The victim has been identified as Handa, a former local shopkeeper. More updates to follow."
---
Raogi watched the news in silence, the brightness of her luxurious apartment contrasting the heaviness in her chest. She didn't cry, didn't speak. She simply turned off the TV and stared at her reflection in the darkened screen.
For the first time in months, she felt a pang of something she had long buried—guilt. But even that faded quickly, replaced by the hollow satisfaction of the life she had chosen.
And somewhere in the streets of the town, whispers spread:
"Love may not be enough to make a person happy, but greed can destroy everything it touches."