Alice (POV)
We were sitting there, sharing snacks, talking about small things that suddenly felt important. Adam looked different—quieter, thoughtful. I could tell he wanted to say something. His fingers tapped lightly against the table, his eyes meeting mine and then looking away, as if he was rehearsing words he wasn't ready to speak yet.
I knew what it might be.
And that scared me more than I expected.
Before I could gather my thoughts, before he could say anything, my eyes caught something—or rather, someone—across the café.
My heart skipped.
Sam.
I could recognize him anywhere. Even in my sleep.
For a moment, everything else faded—the café, the noise, the warmth between Adam and me. Questions I thought I had buried clawed their way back to the surface. What was he doing here? Was this coincidence? Was he here to apologize… or to hurt me again?
My chest tightened.
I didn't think.
I stood up abruptly.
I needed answers. Real ones. Ones I never got when my heart was shattered in front of everyone. And this time, I wasn't the same girl anymore. Adam's presence—his quiet support, his belief in me—had changed something inside me.
I was stronger now.
I could face Sam.
As I approached him, I saw the shock on his face. He clearly hadn't expected to see me here, of all places. His eyes widened, his body stiffened, as if he wasn't sure whether to run or stay.
"Alice?" he said uncertainly.
Hearing my name from him again felt strange. Not painful. Just distant.
"I didn't expect to see you here," I said calmly, surprising myself with my own steady voice.
He swallowed. "I—I didn't know you were here. I mean… I came for the meeting."
Silence stretched between us.
Then, slowly, his expression changed. The confidence he once wore so easily was gone. In its place was something raw. Nervous. Regretful.
"I've wanted to talk to you," he said. "About… everything."
I crossed my arms, bracing myself. "Then talk."
He took a deep breath. "What I did to you—it was cruel. I know that now. It wasn't just a joke or a bet. It was wrong. I humiliated you, and I can't undo that. But I'm truly sorry."
I searched his eyes.
I didn't want to forgive him. I didn't owe him that. Forgiveness wasn't something he deserved easily after what he did to me. But something in his gaze stopped me—there was no mockery there. No arrogance. Just honesty. Guilt.
For the first time, I saw him clearly—not as the boy I once loved, but as a flawed human who had made a terrible mistake.
"I won't forget what you did," I said softly. "But I don't want to carry hatred anymore."
His shoulders relaxed, relief washing over his face.
"Thank you," he whispered. "That means more than you know."
We stood there for a moment, unsure of what came next. Then he spoke again, hesitant. "Could I… hug you? Just once. As a goodbye."
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
The hug was brief. Neutral. Empty of emotion. It felt like closing a chapter I had kept open for too long. When we stepped back, I felt lighter—like something unresolved had finally settled.
We were even now.
No love. No hatred.
Just closure.
I turned to walk back.
That's when I saw Adam.
Standing at a distance.
Watching.
His face was unreadable—cold, distant, closed off in a way I had never seen before. And suddenly, it hit me.
He had seen everything.
The realization crashed into me like a wave. He knew now. Sam wasn't just a stranger from my past. He was the person—the one I once loved, the one who had broken me. And what Adam saw wasn't closure.
He saw me hugging another man.
Before I could explain, before I could even call his name, Adam turned around and walked away.
No words.
No questions.
Just indifference.
That hurt more than anything Sam had ever done.
Pain tightened around my chest, stealing my breath. My eyes burned, tears blurring my vision. I called out his name, my voice breaking, and ran after him.
"Adam—please wait!"
He didn't stop.
Each step he took away from me felt like losing something precious—something I didn't even realize I had fully claimed yet. By the time I reached him, tears were already spilling down my cheeks.
"Please," I said, standing in front of him. "Let me explain."
He looked at me then.
But the warmth in his eyes was gone.
In the days that followed, I had time to think. Too much time.
And that's when the truth became painfully clear.
Adam was what I needed.
Not Sam. Not the idea of first love. Adam.
He gave me strength when I felt small. He gave me courage when I wanted to hide. The way he looked at me—like I mattered, like I was enough—made me believe something I had forgotten.
That I am beautiful.
Not because of how I look.
But because of who I am.
He gave me wings when I didn't even know I was capable of flying.
And the thought of losing him—because of a misunderstanding, because I didn't speak fast enough—terrifies me more than any humiliation ever could.
I wipe my tears, my heart pounding with resolve.
I won't let him walk away like this.
Not without knowing the truth.
Not without knowing that Alice chooses him.