Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Thiago’s explanation left Vincent speechless.

Refusing to admit it, he said, “Don’t talk nonsense. Kaylee and I are getting married in the future. Alina and I are just senior and junior from the same program–there’s nothing between us.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

With that, he ended the call abruptly. He then opened the chat with his professor, where messages from yesterday had gone unread. Over the past few days, his mind had been entirely consumed with thoughts of Kaylee, leaving him oblivious to anything else.

Quickly, he replied to his professor:

“Professor, I’m sorry. There were some issues at home these past two days, and I forgot to inform you. I’ll be back at the lab tomorrow.”

He followed up with a string of apologies, to which the professor responded:

“It’s fine as long as everything’s okay. If anything comes up, communicate with me promptly–don’t go missing.”

Vincent replied, “Understood. Thank you for your concern, Professor.”

After exiting the chat, he saw dozens of messages from Alina over the past few days:

“Senior, my foot still hurts. Could it not be fully healed?”

“I’m so hungry. I want the fried chicken from the north side of the city. Senior, can you get it for me?” 

“Where are you, Senior? Why aren’t you replying to my messages?”

As he read, two new messages from her appeared:

“What’s wrong with you, Senior? It’s one thing to not reply these past few days, but then you said those things to me. Did Kaylee say something to you?”

“But there’s nothing between us. You’re just being helpful that’s all.”

Vincent’s brow furrowed deeply. He typed a curt response.

“I have a girlfriend. If you need help, find your own boyfriend instead of asking someone else’s. That’s really crossing the line.”

Alina’s typing indicator kept flashing, but Vincent ignored it. He tossed his phone aside and grabbed a bottle of alcohol, taking a swig straight from it.

The burning sensation in his stomach brought a sharp, painful clarity, making him feel alive–if only barely. These past few days without Kaylee had made him feel as though his very existence had lost its meaning.

Only now did he truly understand–he couldn’t live without her. She was the only one he loved. But he had driven her away with his own hands, and now, he might never find her again.

As the empty bottles piled up, Vincent grew increasingly drunk. He began to hallucinate, imagining Kaylee standing before him. Smiling, he reached out to grab her wrist.

“Kaylee, you’re finally back. You missed me too, didn’t you?”

But the smiling Kaylee’s expression abruptly shifted to one of sorrow. With tears in her eyes, she questioned him bitterly:

“Why? Why did you betray me and get close to another woman behind my back?”

“If you didn’t love me, why didn’t you just tell me? Instead, you let me suffer, let me second–guess myself, just to laugh at my pain?”

Vincent staggered forward, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“No, that’s not it I never wanted to laugh at you My feelings for you were always genuine. I just I just lost my way for a moment.”

By the end, he was practically hugging. “I know I was wrong. Please, forgive me.”

Kaylee’s expression softened slightly.

She simply asked, “Do you truly know your mistake?”

Vincent nodded vigorously, “Yes, I know I was wrong.”

But her face hardened again. Wiping her tears, she looked at him coldly.

“You don’t truly know what you did wrong. You’re only upset because you lost what you thought belonged to you. People like you, who trample on genuine love, deserve to suffer.”

With that, she pulled a fruit knife from somewhere and plunged it into his chest. Vincent stared in disbelief, watching as the blade pierced his heart. An intense pressure crushed his chest.

He jolted awake, sitting upright on the floor, gasping for air as he glanced around. It was all a dream.

The stabbing, seeing Kaylee–it had all been a dream..

Was this it? Would he never see her again?