The mansion stood tall in the golden twilight, its newly painted walls reflecting the hues of a fading sun. Zai leaned against the balcony railing, sipping a lukewarm cup of coffee as he gazed into the distance. The laughter from inside—the familiar bickering of Yuna and Luna, the clinking of dishes as Hina and Sierra cleaned up—should have made him smile. But tonight, the past had its claws in him. He closed his eyes, and suddenly, he was 16 again. A Lifetime Ago – The Academy Days.....
Zai had never been the type to follow the traditional path. While others buried their noses in textbooks, he found his lessons in the world outside. Every skill he possessed was earned through trial and error, long nights of practice, and an unshakable drive to be better. He wasn't just naturally talented—he worked harder than anyone, turning every setback into a stepping stone.
Despite his unorthodox approach, Zai thrived. He was brilliant, effortlessly navigating both academics and life, yet never too serious to enjoy the freedom of youth. While others struggled to keep up, he breezed through with an almost reckless ease .
And that was what made Renji furious (His Classmate). Renji had everything money could buy—a powerful family name, wealth, influence. But none of it mattered because, no matter how hard he tried, he could never surpass Zai. Where Renji relied on his family's resources, Zai relied on his sheer determination. And it showed.
Zai was quick-witted, a natural leader, admired by both students and teachers. He was good at everything he touched, but it wasn't because he was handed success. It was because he had fought for it, carving his own path through sweat and persistence. But what Renji hated most wasn't just Zai's talent—it was the fact that Zai didn't care about his own popularity. He lived life on his own terms, unfazed by competition.
But there was one thing that tied them together. "Ani."
She had been Zai's world, the one person who truly understood him. She had stood by him, believed in him when no one else did. To everyone else, Zai was untouchable, larger than life. But to Ani, he was just himself.
They met in their first year at the academy. She had always been drawn to him, fascinated by his relentless ambition and easygoing nature. They spent hours together, whispering dreams under the cherry blossom trees, stealing moments in between classes, riding through the city on his beloved Sport Bike.
She would tease him about skipping class, and he would smirk, dragging her along on his spontaneous adventures. "You're going to get us both in trouble," she had laughed once as they sat on a rooftop, looking over the city.
Zai grinned. "Nah, I'll just talk my way out of it." And he always did. Their love was effortless, unbreakable—or so he thought. By the time Zai turned 21, everything had changed.
The boy who once spent his days carefree was now drowning in responsibility. The markets consumed him, the pressure of building a future weighed heavily on his shoulders. He worked tirelessly, trading through sleepless nights, pushing himself to the limit. He had to succeed. Not just for himself, but for Ani.
He had provided everything he could—modern house, nice meals, and everything a girl could ask for. But that was never enough for her. She wanted more than just a life built with love and hard work. She wanted the luxury, the glamour, the effortless wealth that Renji had.
Before, Ani never cared for such things. She used to laugh at the idea of a shallow life, of love built on status rather than sincerity. But as they grew, as they explored the world beyond their small academy days, she began to see things differently. She started noticing the finer details—the designer bags, the exclusive clubs, the effortless ease with which money opened doors.
At first, it was just curiosity. A passing thought. But curiosity turned into longing. Longing turned into comparison. And comparison turned into dissatisfaction.
Zai's love had always been steady, unwavering. He had worked harder than anyone, not because he was naturally gifted but because he fought for everything he had. Every victory, every comfort they shared, had been built with his own two hands. But to Ani, that struggle—once something she admired—became something she resented.
She wanted the shortcut. The life where she didn't have to wait, where everything was instant, effortless. And Renji, with his inherited wealth and charm, offered just that.
It started with small things—staying out later, missing their usual dates, pulling away when Zai tried to hold her hand. She had changed, and deep down, he knew. He just didn't want to admit it.
By the time she confessed, it wasn't a moment of weakness. It was a decision. A choice she had already made. And no matter how much he had given, how much he had built for her, it was never going to be enough.
But Ani grew distant. The warmth in her eyes faded, replaced by something colder, something he didn't recognize. One night, he came home late, exhausted but excited. He had secured another major win in the market, another step toward their future. He wanted to tell her, to celebrate with her.
Instead, he found her waiting at the dinner table, untouched food in front of her. The look in her eyes sent a chill down his spine.
"Zai… we need to talk." His heart clenched.
"About what?" She wouldn't meet his gaze. "Us."
He sat down slowly, a gnawing dread settling in his stomach. "What about us?"
Ani took a deep breath. "I can't do this anymore."
The world went still. He felt the floor drop beneath him. "What…?" S
he looked at him then, and for the first time, there was no love in her eyes. "I need more than this, Zai. I need stability. Security. A future I can see, not just one you promise."
His breath hitched. "Ani, I am building us a future." She shook her head. "You're building your dream. And I… I'm tired of waiting." T
hen, as if the words weren't enough, she delivered the final blow. "I'm with someone else."
Zai felt like he had been punched in the gut. He gripped the edge of the table. "Who?"
She hesitated. Then she whispered a name that made his blood run cold. Renji. Of course. The rival who had always been looking for a way to beat him, who had spent years in Zai's shadow. And now, he had found his opening.
Zai wanted to be angry. He wanted to scream, to demand why. But he didn't. Instead, he just stared at her, searching for something—anything that told him this was a nothing but a "Joke". But it wasn't.
His voice was barely above a whisper. "After everything… this is how it ends?"
Ani turned away. "I never wanted to hurt you, Zai." He let out a bitter chuckle, running a hand through his hair. "Well, congrats. You did."
She stood, hesitating only for a moment before heading to the door. "Wait."
She stopped, her back to him. Zai's mind raced, desperate to say something, anything to make her stay. But he knew it was too late. His voice cracked. "Was any of it real?"
Ani didn't turn around. But she whispered, "It was."
And then she walked away. --- As she Left Zai Went Straight to his home garage where his Sport bike is Usually Parked Zai sat beside his Sport Bike, his fingers tracing the cold, wet surface of the gas tank as rain dripped from his hair onto his jacket. The garage felt suffocatingly empty, its silence only broken by the rhythmic tapping of rain against the metal door. The space beside him—where she used to stand, laughing as she playfully nudged him while they planned their next ride—was now just that. Empty.
"Guess it's just us now," he murmured to the bike, his voice hollow, barely audible over the storm outside.
A deep, painful ache settled in his chest, the kind that refused to fade no matter how much he tried to suppress it. His mind played cruel tricks on him, making him hear the echo of her voice, the way she used to call his name, the way she clung to him tightly when they sped through the city, trusting him completely. But that trust was gone now.
Without thinking, he gripped the handlebars, twisting the key. His Bike roared to life, Loud enough to Shake his surroundings , the deep growl of the engine vibrating through his bones. It was the only thing that still felt real.
He pulled out of the garage, the rain swallowing him whole as he sped through the empty streets. Water splashed beneath his tires, streetlights casting long, wavering reflections on the slick pavement. The city, once full of promise and dreams, now felt distant, foreign.
Every street he turned onto had a memory tied to her. The park where they had spent lazy afternoons, her head resting against his shoulder. The café where she had taken his hand for the first time, their fingers awkwardly intertwining. The bridge where they had once stopped, watching the city lights flicker against the dark water, talking about the future they'd build together.
All of it was gone now. He wasn't riding to clear his mind. He was running, trying to outrun the pain that threatened to consume him whole. Faster. He twisted the throttle. The rain pelted against his helmet, his vision blurred by a mix of water and unshed tears. He leaned into the next curve, gripping the handlebars as tightly as he had clung to the hope that she would stay. But just like that hope, he let go.
The bike wobbled. His pulse spiked. The rear wheel slipped for just a fraction of a second before he regained control, his heart hammering wildly in his chest. He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus.
He wasn't ready to crash—not yet. mumble "we're not going down that easily" holding his bike tightly
After what felt like hours, the engine sputtered, the bike slowing down. Zai glanced at the fuel gauge. Empty. Of course.
He coasted to a stop near a dimly lit fuel station, rain pooling in the cracks of the pavement. With a frustrated sigh, he dismounted, pulling off his soaked gloves before leaning heavily against the bike. His breath came in short, uneven bursts, his head tilted up toward the rain, letting the cold drops mix with the heat of his grief. This wasn't just about her leaving.
It was about everything. The years he had given. The sacrifices he had made. The dreams they had woven together, now unraveled into nothing but memories.
A deep, bitter chuckle escaped him. "All that work… for nothing."The sound of tires rolling up to the station barely registered in his mind. Haru didn't care. He was drowning in thoughts, in the weight of it all. And for the first time in years, he had no idea what came next.
to be Continue.............
Zai's Message to the Readers
"People don't always leave because you weren't enough. Sometimes, they leave because they were never meant to stay." "I spent years believing that love was about sacrifice—about giving everything I had, even when it left me with nothing. But the truth is, love isn't measured by how much you give. It's measured by whether or not someone values what you offer." "I had provided everything I could—a home, comfort, and a future built with my own hands. But for some people, 'enough' is never enough. They will always chase more, even at the cost of those who truly cared for them. That's not your failure—it's theirs." "If you ever find yourself standing where I stood, watching someone walk away after all you've built together, don't beg them to stay. Let them go. Because someone who truly loves you wouldn't need to be convinced."
"Pain changes you. Betrayal teaches you. But don't let it make you bitter. Let it make you stronger."
"I lost Ani. I lost the dream I built for us. But I didn't lose myself. And that's why I'm still standing."