I wanted to gather my strength. I didn’t want my best friend, Skylar, to worry about me. And I certainly didn’t want her to feel humiliated by begging Oscar again. So, I put on a brave face in front of her. I forced myself to eat and drink and even tried to laugh.

But my emotions were like a ship I couldn't control, swaying and drifting in the depths, pulling me toward an endless darkness. It wasn't until one day when Skylar knocked the knife from my wrist that I snapped back to reality. Tears streamed down her face as she slapped me hard across the cheek.

I collapsed to the floor, feeling the sting of her hand on my skin.

"I didn’t tell you because I was afraid of how much it would hurt you," she cried. "But less than a week after you two broke up, he announced his new girlfriend on Instagram! While you're here hurting yourself, he's posting about her peanut allergies!"

"Arianna, you can't let yourself fall apart over a guy like him! Snap out of it!"

I sat in the corner, listening in stunned silence. Then, suddenly, I laughed. It was as if I’d heard the funniest joke in the world. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I laughed.

My best friend, Skylar, used her incredible knack for networking to gather stories about Oscar from our shared school days. She managed to piece together his story with that new girl, painting a vivid picture like a forgotten play brought back to life.

The girl's name was Melina Walker, an exchange student at his school. During gym class, when she ran out of energy, she fainted right at Oscar's feet. Without hesitation, he picked her up and carried her to the nurse’s office.

After that incident, Melina was undeniably drawn to him, even though Oscar initially brushed her off as he often did with others. But everything changed one afternoon on the basketball court. She had brought a sports drink for another guy, and Oscar’s face darkened immediately. In that game, he made sure the guy lost badly, his competitive spirit ruthless and sharp.

When the game was over, Oscar took her hand in front of everyone, his voice brooking no argument as he declared, "From now on, you’re not allowed to bring drinks to anyone else."

The rest of their story unfolded predictably, a romance that blazed bright and intense. Meanwhile, I was left to drown in that sea of passion, just another casualty in their newfound love.

Luckily, my best friend noticed it early on, and there was only a shallow cut on my wrist. Nevertheless, she was so worried that she insisted on dragging me to the hospital to get it bandaged. While she went to fetch the medication, I wandered past the dermatology department, looking around absentmindedly.

And there he was.

Oscar Munoz, with a girl beside him, emerged hand in hand from one of the consultation rooms. I felt like a stalker, hiding behind a pillar, unable to tear my eyes away from them.

The girl’s skin was smooth and flawless, and her light blue dress highlighted her fresh and ethereal charm. So, that was Melina Walker. Oscar gently rubbed the back of her red hand, a concerned look on his face. "Next time you buy new hand cream, let me try it first. My skin's tougher," he said softly. "If there's any reaction, I'll take it for you."

Her delicate, pale hand clung to his arm as she looked up and smiled sweetly. "It's just an allergy, after all. A few pills will do the trick. You're so worried, driving all the way to this hospital just for this." He raised his hand and affectionately tousled her hair. "This dermatology department is one of the best in the country. If you won't take care of yourself, I will."

Somehow, it had started to rain outside. He took off his jacket and placed it over her head. The arms that had held me countless times were now wrapped tightly around her waist. My hands began to shake uncontrollably. My phone slipped from my grasp, clattering onto the floor. Tears streamed down my face in large droplets.

I stood by the second-floor window, watching them huddle close as they hurried to the parking lot. The rain drummed relentlessly against the windowpane. The person I had longed for became a vague silhouette in the curtain of rain.