It had been two years since Eva had broken things off with Philian, but the thought of encountering him again after the holiday made it feel like it was just yesterday. The memories of their toxic relationship still haunted her, and she had assured herself she'd not dwell on her past. While she was walking back to her hostel room after class, she spotted Philian leaning against the staircase, and his presence sent a jolt of anxiety through her.
"Eva!" Philian called out. He moved away from the stairs and approached her, with a desperate look in his eyes. "Can we talk?"
Her heart raced, but she steadied herself.
"No, Philian, we've talked enough. I have nothing to say to you."
"Come on, just hear me out, please. I've changed, I promise." He pleaded, moving closer, "I miss you, Eva." He added while invading her space. The smell of his cologne, which was once comforting, was now suffocating to her.
"I don't want to hear it." she replied, although her hands trembled slightly. "You've made your choices. I'm not interested in being a part of your mess anymore."
His expression suddenly shifted from desperation to anger.
"You think you can just walk away from me? You think you're better than me now, huh?"
Before she could respond, a voice came into the mix.
"Wow, Philian, you really know how to pick them, don't you?"
She turned to see a tall girl with striking red hair. It was Mabel. Eva felt her stomach churn. The last person she wanted to see was the embodiment of her betrayal.
"Stay out of this, Mabel!" Philian warned, with a face filled with irritation.
"Oh, I'm just here to witness the show." Mabel replied with a smirk on her lips. "It's not every day you get to see a girl cling to her past like this. Eva, sweetie, you really should move on. You look desperate."
Eva's heart pounded, not just from the confrontation, but from the anger raging inside her.
"Desperate? You're the one who had to sneak around behind my back and sleep with my boyfriend. What does that say about you?"
Mabel's smile widened.
"At least I'm not wasting my time on a loser who can't see what's right in front of her. You're just scared to admit you were never good enough for him."
Eva felt a rush of adrenaline. She knew she had to stop herself from stooping low.
"You think you can come here and belittle me? You're the reason I had to walk away from this toxic relationship. You're the one who should be ashamed."
Mabel stepped closer, wearing an unwavering confidence.
"Oh, please. You think you're the victim here? Philian was bored with you. I gave him what he needed. Maybe you should take a look in the mirror and figure out why he left you for me."
Eva's fists clenched at her sides.
"You think this is about him? This is about getting my life back. Something you should at least try doing, rather than being a distraction. I won't let you pull me back into your drama."
Philian moved uncomfortably, clearly caught in the middle of the heated confrontation.
"Can we all please just calm down? This isn't helping anyone."
"Shut up, Philian," Eva snapped, whilst maintaining eye contact with Mabel.
"You don't get to play the peacemaker. You created this mess."
Mabel laughed, releasing a sharp, mocking sound.
"You're really going to stand there and pretend you're better than me? You're just a sad little girl who can't let go. Philian deserves someone who can keep up with him, someone who can make him happy."
Eva took a deep breath, feeling the force of the moment. She felt Mabel was unbelievable for thinking she wanted Philian back, when it was the total opposite.
"You know what, Mabel? You're right about one thing— I do deserve someone who makes me happy, and it's neither you nor Philian. It's time for me to move on, and I'm not looking back."
Mabel's expression faltered for a moment, with surprise gleaming in her eyes.
"You think you can just walk away from this?"
"I already did." Eva replied, "You're not worth my time, and neither is he. I'm done being a pawn in your games."
Philian stepped forward.
"Eva, don't act like you're better than me! You were the one who couldn't handle the truth!"
She turned to him, her heart racing fiercely this time.
"The truth? The truth is that I deserve respect, and you never gave that to me. You chose to cheat, and you chose to lie. I'm not going to let you manipulate me into feeling guilty for wanting better."
"You'll always be the girl who got dumped for someone better." Mabel scoffed
"You're a fool if you think being a homewrecker makes you better? You're nothing but a temporary fix for someone who couldn't handle a real relationship. I'm not defined by what you think of me." Eva asserted.
Mabel's eyes narrowed, her facade cracking.
"You're pathetic, Eva. You'll always be second best."
"I'm not competing with you. You can keep your petty insults, they don't affect me anymore. I'm moving forward, and I suggest you do the same."
With that, she turned on her heel, ready to leave the chaos behind. But Philian's voice stopped her.
"Eva, wait!"
She paused.
"What more could you possibly say that would change anything?"
"I'm sorry," he said, almost pleading. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just—"
"Save it!" Eva interrupted, "You had your chance, and you blew it. I'm done with you."
As she walked away, she felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. The confrontation had been intense, but she had stood her ground. She could finally see the path ahead, free from her painful past.
Days turned into weeks, and she focused on herself, rediscovering passions she had put aside. She took up painting, filling her apartment with vibrant colors that reflected her newfound freedom.
One evening, while sipping coffee at her favorite café, she spotted a familiar face across the room. It was Dunsin. He was sitting with a group of friends. She felt a little nervous and tried to avoid being seen, but she could see that one of his friends had already caught her gaze.
She heard him talk quietly about her, and she immediately became restless.