I gritted my teeth, summoning every ounce of strength to push him away. "I found somebody else. He's richer and more fun to play with."
His face fell as he sank to his knees, tears pouring down his cheeks. The sight nearly shattered me. I longed to tell him I was only joking, that I hadn't meant those cruel words.
"N-no tell me you're j-joking. Who else is richer than me?"
I looked away from him, "That's none of your business."
D-did you... Did you ever love me?" He said trying to wipe his eyes.
"No." Yes, I love you.
"N-not even once?"
"Not once, so break up with me." I love you ever since the day we first met.
"T-that's okay." His voice broke, cracking my heart. "I'm okay with that. I can give you what you want if you marry me." He looked deep into my eyes, a mix of love and pain evident. "Rafaela, will you m-marry me? I don't have a ring right now, but I'll soon buy whatever you like. Just stay with me, even if you don't love me." His tears cascaded like a waterfall while smiling at me.
My eyes were getting misty from seeing him in a miserable state. My heart ached for him. I wanted nothing more than to say yes, to wrap my arms around him and kiss him deeply, to apologize for all the harsh words that tumbled from my lips.
But before he could see my tears, I turned and walked away. I had made a deal I intended to fulfill.
"Rafaela!" he called, desperation lacing his voice.
I halted in my tracks, tension coursing through me.
"If you take one more step, I swear I'll forget you!"
Tears streamed down my cheeks. It felt better for him to forget me than to endure the aching memories of the cruel words I had uttered.
I walked again but stopped when I heard him shout.
With a heavy heart, I continued walking, even as I heard him shout behind me. "Rafaela, don't leave me! Don't you remember our promise together?!"
Never. I never once forgotten our promise to each other. But in this situation, promises were meant to be broken. I didn't want this but I continued to walk away from him, my everything.
You must be thinking that I'm a gold digger right now. But no, I did that to survive this harsh world. I don't want to be a hindrance to his success, I know that he'll soar higher than tying him down with me. It hurts, but what can I do? The poor always get stepped down on.
We didn't meet each other again even after three years have passed.