Chapter 3

Chelsea POV:

The next morning, the administrative office at the university was a blur of paperwork and polite, yet distant, smiles. The secretary, a kind-faced woman with tired eyes, stamped my withdrawal form with a definitive thud. The sound echoed in the quiet office, a finality I both welcomed and dreaded. For a fleeting second, a pang of emptiness shot through me. It wasn't for Aaron, not really, but for the ghost of a shared future that no longer existed.

I stared at the crimson ink of the university seal, a symbol of a dream I had once held dear, until a shadow fell across the document.

"Chelsea."

Aaron. His voice, rougher than I remembered, pulled me back to the present. I looked up, my expression unreadable. He stood there, his eyes a little bloodshot, his clothes rumpled. He looked like he hadn't slept.

"Why did you change the code?" he demanded, his voice a low growl. "I tried to come back last night. To talk."

"I changed it because I needed privacy," I stated, my voice calm, almost detached. "And you weren't invited."

He flinched, but quickly recovered. "Chelsea, don't be like this. Give me the new code. We need to talk." He tried to infuse his voice with the old warmth, the familiar concern that used to melt my resolve. It did nothing now. It just sounded hollow.

"There is no 'we,' Aaron," I said, my gaze steady. "And there's no new code for you." I gestured to the stamped form in my hand. "I've officially withdrawn. I'm leaving."

His eyes widened, darting from the form to my face. "Withdrawn? But... but the transfer? Our transfer? I was going to handle my papers today. I promise." He reached for my hand, his fingers brushing mine. A shiver of revulsion ran through me.

I pulled my hand back sharply. "My plans have changed. My future no longer involves yours."

He stumbled back, his face paling. "But... but we agreed! We had a plan!"

"You had a plan, Aaron," I corrected, my voice devoid of emotion. "You just forgot to tell me the real one."

We walked in silence towards the exit, his presence a heavy weight beside me. For a moment, a fleeting, almost imperceptible moment, it felt like the old days. Walking side-by-side, sharing the burden of campus life, the unspoken comfort of a decade-long friendship. But the illusion shattered almost immediately. Kassandra' s shadow loomed between us, a stark reminder that such simple, genuine companionship had been irrevocably tainted.

I closed my eyes, allowing myself one last, agonizing dip into the murky waters of nostalgia. One last memory of a friendship that had once meant everything. Then, I pushed it away. It was a lie. All of it.

"Aaron," I said, my voice barely a whisper, turning to face him. "Will you... will you still care about me? Once I'm gone?" I knew the answer, but I needed to hear it, to seal the coffin of our past.

He paused, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Guilt? Regret? He opened his mouth, then closed it. He looked away, his jaw tightening.

Just then, a voice, sweet as honey but with a sharp undertone, chirped, "Aaron, darling! There you are!"

Kassandra. She materialized from around the corner, a stack of books clutched to her chest, her eyes wide and innocent. "I was looking all over for you! I even brought your study notes, just in case you forgot." She gave me a saccharine smile, her gaze lingering on my face for a beat too long. A silent challenge.

Aaron turned to her, his strained expression instantly melting into a forced smile. "Kassandra, sweetie, you didn't have to." He shot me a quick, apologetic glance, a mixture of shame and helplessness.

I met his gaze, my face a mask of indifference. His fleeting remorse meant nothing to me now. His eyes darkened, realizing his plea for sympathy had fallen on deaf ears.

My heart hardened further. He was already planning his future around her, accommodating her whims, justifying his choices. The life he had promised me, the future I had been willing to sacrifice everything for, was now hers. The bitterness was a heavy lump in my throat, but I swallowed it down. I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. I would not allow myself to feel anything but cold, controlled anger. I dug my nails into my palm, the physical pain a grounding force against the emotional maelstrom.

"I'm leaving," I announced, my voice cutting through the manufactured sweetness of their interaction.

Kassandra gasped, her eyes fluttering dramatically. "Oh! Chelsea! I didn't even see you there! Are you... are you leaving because of me? Did I upset you?" Her voice trembled, a picture of delicate vulnerability. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. "I'm so, so sorry if I did anything to make you angry."

I stared at her, unimpressed. Her performance was impeccable. My mind screamed, Get out of my way, you manipulative little fraud.

"Move," I commanded, my voice low and dangerous, ignoring her crocodile tears.

Aaron stepped forward, his hand grabbing my wrist. His grip was surprisingly strong, fueled by a sudden surge of anger. "Chelsea, that's enough! Apologize to Kassandra right now! She's done nothing but be kind and understanding!"

His words were the final nail in the coffin. The last shred of lingering affection, the last faint echo of our shared past, disintegrated into dust. He was defending her. He was choosing her. Over everything.

My hand flew up, a swift, instinctive movement. Smack. The sound cracked through the quiet hallway, sharp and decisive. His head snapped back, a crimson mark blossoming on his cheek.

"You want an apology, Aaron?" I spat, my voice shaking with rage, but my eyes clear and steady. "You want an apology for Kassandra's delicate little feelings? You should be apologizing to me. For every lie. For every manipulation. For making me feel like a fool for loving you."