Side Story Dite Final

I wanted to ask him the next day, but I was so tired and felt content just watching a movie, cuddled up on the couch until I fell asleep. The day after that went pretty much the same. Our time together is so limited—I didn't want to ruin the mood by asking a silly question. We're dating. There's no question about it.

One day, I messaged Valin after work to see where he was.

"I'm at the park, waiting for you. I'll come pick you up."

The park wasn't far, so I replied:

"No, I'll meet you there. It's not far."

He responded with a smiley face, so I packed up my things and headed over immediately.

Maybe I should invite him to my place to help me with my biology research paper... but I have to wake up at 5 AM tomorrow to meet my agent before class, so I really shouldn't stay up all night. Plus, it's already late. If I invite him over… naturally, things might escalate.

Even so, I'm tempted. I'm even getting flustered just thinking about it.

At the park, it was déjà vu—being happy to see Valin but immediately disappointed to spot her. The same girl from the library, sitting next to him on the bench.

"Wow, I didn't know dandelions had so many uses. I feel bad for killing so many of them now."

She was giggling, swinging her feet, tossing pheromones in his face, clutching a dandelion—probably what spurred this boring-ass conversation. By this point, a spirit took over my body and I slapped her so hard my hand stung.

She hit the dirt, blood dripping from her mouth as she looked up at me, all wide-eyed and innocent. Playing the victim.

She's the one repeatedly approaching someone who's taken. Why didn't she get the message last time?

"Stop getting so close to my man, you horny slut!"

I screamed, raising my hand to hit her again when Valin stopped me.

"Dite, what are you doing?!"

I was seeing red—his words didn't reach me.

"Why the hell is she here?"

I glanced at her, sitting in the dirt, reeling from the slap.

"Get up and fight me!"

"You can't talk to me like that. You're acting crazy," Valin said, accusingly.

"Me?! What is she doing here? Have you been with her all day?!"

He groaned.

"No. The library's across the street. She saw me here when she got off work. She's only been sitting with me for ten minutes, and we were just talking about flowers."

"I don't want to hear it! I know how that educational shit gets you off. You might as well say she was sucking your—"

His expression turned cold. He let go of me and turned to help her up. He apologized on my behalf and gave her money for a cold compress. He even offered to take her to the convenience store.

Her face… why does it look like that? Like I'm scaring her. That's when tears filled my eyes and I hugged him from behind, pulling him away.

"Don't go… I'm sorry… but she can walk… so don't leave me… I came all this way to see you."

He sighed heavily at my whining.

"Sorry again, Jess…" Valin said once again.

Jess didn't respond. She was sniffling, tottering away. She must be the unconfrontational type. Once she was out of earshot, he said:

"What's wrong with you?"

"I… saw you with another girl and… I just lost it."

I couldn't find a good excuse. So I hugged him tighter and cried harder.

"I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me."

I even softened my voice so the cuteness might quench his anger.

"Let go of me."

I'd never heard him sound so angry. It sent a chill down my spine. When I finally released him, he rolled his shoulders and said:

"Jess isn't the type to make a move on me."

…Does that mean something's wrong with a girl who would?

"I need you to calm down and tell me what the hell is going on in your head, because I don't understand you right now."

The tears wouldn't stop overflowing. I wiped my eyes.

"I just… I was thinking about how we're dating now, and I was so happy… I've never liked anyone this much. And I felt territorial because she likes you—it's so damn obvious.

To be honest… it makes me want to rip her eyes out so she'll stop looking at what's mine.

And she's just pretending to be interested in that nerdy shit so you'll talk to her!"

He poked my forehead.

"I don't like violence. So no—I don't think you're being cute. That's the first issue. Calm down."

Him saying "calm down" was irritating. I pouted and looked away, still struggling to stop crying.

"Secondly… we're not a couple."

His words hit like a blade.

"You weren't saying that last night when you were fucking me!"

He held his head, and people in the park began glancing over.

"What the hell are you all looking at?! Mind your business!"

I shouted, silencing the conversations around us.

"I… thought you initiated that while understanding my stance," he said.

"Dite, do you even like me? Do you truthfully want to be with me?"

I grabbed his collar and kissed him so hard I split my lip.

"I like you!"

He rolled his eyes and pushed me away.

"If sex is the problem, we can just stop."

That wasn't the plan. My ex got obsessed with me after we slept together once—jealous and possessive. It's why we broke up.

But when I imagine Valin acting that way, it doesn't feel annoying. He's not supposed to be so... indifferent.

He should be more attached. How can he imagine living without me when I can't imagine a day without him?

"That's not it! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up… I just… really want to be your girlfriend," I admitted awkwardly.

"So... if Zai said he wanted to date you right now, you wouldn't even consider it? You'd turn him down, no hesitation?"

I wasn't ready for that question. I hesitated. This was my final mistake.

Valin gave me a pained look and said,

"Right."

Then walked toward the parking lot.

"Wait! I would!" I chased after him.

"I only hesitated because you weren't an option. If I turn down Zai, does that mean I get to be with you? Or will I just be abandoned in the end? Valin… stop walking away and talk to me."

He paused, then turned to face me. I'm six feet tall—he, at 5'10", had to lift his eyes slightly to meet mine.

"You must think I'm gullible. You'd only reject him if you knew you'd have me to fall back on? How am I supposed to feel secure in a relationship with someone who thinks like that?

I need to be alone. Go home."

"I won't hit anyone anymore, I promise," I said in a panic, reaching for his hand.

He yanked it away.

"You also said you wouldn't lie to me anymore."

A lie…? If he can see through me anyway… maybe I should just tell the truth.

"Fine! I would hesitate. I might think about it. But in the end, I'd still choose you."

He didn't reply. Just unlocked his car.

"Valin…"

"That's the problem. I can't be with someone who hesitates to pick me—or a bitch who can't make up her mind and keeps lying.

I was actually thinking of letting it go… that you liked my brother first… because I liked you."

♥ He likes me?!

"But that's over now."

My world shattered.

"Wh-when I said I was super serious about him, I wasn't being honest! It was just a fleeting crush. You're the one I want."

He clicked his tongue.

"Yeah. For now. Too bad I'm tired of you."

"So if I just sat quietly, you would've… become my boyfriend? Is that what you're saying?"

"I'm saying... if I sincerely felt like you'd choose me first, yeah. But you've been yelling at me about your feelings without even thinking about how I feel.

Have you ever wondered that? Do you care? Or is making one-sided assumptions just your thing?"

I'm in trouble...

"How do you feel?" I asked timidly.

"I feel like... I never want to see you again. I've made so many exceptions for you, but you just solidified my original stance:

We can't date. I lose brain cells just breathing the same air as you. It's exhausting."

My tears returned. He grumbled, then got in his car and drove off.

No... crying was supposed to make him stay and hug me. Why is he leaving?!

Just yesterday, he couldn't keep his hands off me. There's no way he's lost interest that fast.

I tried calling him once I calmed down—but either he blocked me or changed his number, because all I got was a robotic voice telling me the number was no longer in service.

Shit.

It had been a whole month without Valin when I saw Zaikel heading to his office. I rushed to join him on the elevator. He was clearly startled by my abrupt entry, and I waited until the doors shut before blurting out:

"Have you seen Valin?!"

Even saying his name out loud felt strange. Heavy.

"It's my birthday this weekend," I added quickly, trying to sound casual. "I'm throwing a party and I... wanted to invite him."

Zaikel looked at me, then said with an odd little shrug, "Oh... hmm. He's not here. He went overseas on vacation. I'm not sure when he'll be back."

"He left the country?!"

My reaction clearly amused him. He smirked and added, "Yeah. He even changed his number."

Why is that funny to him? Does he enjoy other people's pain?

I know he and Valin share everything—secrets, glances, private jokes—so maybe he knows the full story and thinks our relationship was a joke. Maybe it was. I never found out where Valin lived, or where he went when he wasn't with me. And now he's just... gone.

Maybe my last real mistake was letting him go just because he said, don't touch me. Maybe I should've stayed. Waited. Fought harder. Maybe he just needed time. And I didn't give it to him.

Zaikel tilted his head with that same lazy grin and said, "It's kind of funny that you're asking about Valin now, and the last time we talked, you were begging to be my girlfriend... I mean that sincerely—it's funny."

The elevator stopped on his floor. He stepped off without another word.

I stood there watching his back disappear down the hallway. Then, when the doors closed again, I collapsed into the corner, hunched over, and cried. Not delicately. Not for attention. Just tears—raw, quiet, endless.

But I couldn't fall apart. I had work to do. My career was accelerating too fast for breakdowns. I buried the ache and moved forward.

At some point, the paparazzi caught up with me. Someone had snapped a photo of me and Zai in the elevator, and suddenly the internet was buzzing with rumors. Were we dating? Was it a fling?

When I was asked about it in an interview, I could've cleared it up. Should've. But Valin wasn't around anymore, so I just smiled and said, "That's a secret."

The internet exploded. They took it as a confession, and Zai's fame skyrocketed overnight. Maybe he should thank me.

I tried dating after that, really tried—but no one compared. They weren't as beautiful. Not as considerate. They didn't smell as good (I never did figure out what cologne Valin wore), and they were definitely not as skilled in bed. A parade of disappointments, one after the other. Forgettable. Dull. Small. They only made me miss Valin more.

Two years passed like that. And just when I thought I might text Zaikel maybe ask about Valin or see if he wants to try that relationship he suggested 2 years ago. After looking him up, I saw he'd updated his profile. That alone was strange, he hadn't updated it in years, but then I saw the photos. He was with a beautiful stranger with dark blue eyes and perfectly wild black curls. They looked like lovers. Like a couple from a romance movie.

I've never believed anyone was as pretty as me. She might even be more beautiful.

Until now... I'm happy for him. They shared a clip of her singing on his page as well. I listened to it... She has a nice voice... I listened just once. Or maybe six times.

He probably doesn't even remember his promise. Actually, it's fine I don't care either way.

My fans are ripping her apart online. Jealousy masquerading as loyalty. But I'm not worried. I'm still me. No one can replace me. Even if a few people start listening to her music, there's no way they'd stop listening to mine.

Another thing happened today, Angela, one of the staff from the songwriting agency, followed me on SceneIt. I followed her back half-heartedly. Just keeping up appearances. That's when I saw him.

In the comments.

Lisa—one of Angela's friends—had left a sugary little "Oh wow you look so pretty!" on a post, and in Lisa's profile picture... there he was. Kissing her cheek. His arms around her like she belonged to him. Like he'd moved on.

Valin, who never let me take a photo of us together. Who swore he hated social media. Valin, kissing her.

And I know her. I worked with her. The betrayal curled in my chest like fire.

Does he want me to see this? Is he rubbing it in my face? How dare he assume I'm not over him?

...but then again, I'm not.

He cut his hair. He looks good. Too good.

Her page was private. All I could see was that revolting profile picture—the two of them, frozen in digital happiness.

I sent a follow request. Maybe she'll accept. Maybe she won't.

Either way... I'm going to commission a new song with her company and meet up with her face to face, soon as possible.