A/N: I was supposed to upload this tomorrow, but here you go. Haha Please don't forget to vote and write down your comments below! xx

THE REST OF the week passed without much incident. Classes were hard, but I knew they would be. I already had a short paper due in two of them, and we had quizzes in my other three classes.

Every night, Kade would call me and we would talk until I fell asleep with him still on the other line. It has become one of the things I look forward to after a tiring day. His grandfather had been discharged yesterday and he told me that he's coming back tomorrow and I could barely contain my excitement.

It was Friday, and I was on my way to the parking lot to meet Silas when Liv catch up to me.

"Hey, Ayla, wait up!"

I smiled at her pastel pink hair with purple highlights which she dyed a few days ago. We were in the campus dining hall when she told me that she was finally entering her spontaneous era and so the next day I almost didn't recognize her. She look absolutely adorable.

"What's up?"

"We're heading out to Stacy's for dinner. You want to come?" she said in a rush, still catching her breath.

I bit my lip and frowned. "Um,"

I was torn. I was going to finish reading the book in my room and wait until Kade call me. That. That's my exciting college life Friday night plans.

She tugged on my arms. "Come on. It's just me, Brad, my roommate, and a few others."

Shit. What should I do?

She took pity on me. "Come on, if it's not a scene for you, we'll go back together."

I beamed at her. "Okay, I'll come."

She flashed me a smile. "Good. I'll meet you there in fifteen? I'll just drop by at the locker. Or if you wait around, we can walk there together?"

I glanced back and saw Silas in the distance, waiting. I turn to Liv, "Actually, I'll meet you there."

"Awesome. See you!" She jog back inside the building and I head towards the parking lot.

Silas walk around to my side and open the door before looking at me expectantly.

"So, uh, I'm going out to dinner with my friend."

He stared at me hard before he said, "I need to inform Mr. Sinclair."

For some reason, my face heated in both embarrassment and annoyance. "It's fine. I'll inform him myself."

I rattled off the name of the restaurant bar and slid inside. Pulling out my phone, I typed a quick text to Kade and told him about my of plans. I only then noticed the texts I sent him this morning was still unread. He must be very busy.

"We're here, Ma'am."

I jerked out of my thoughts. The car had stopped and I scrambled out the door to find that we were at the entrance of Stacy's. When Silas closed the door behind me, I looked at him, "I can just order an Uber later—"

He gestured at the door. "I'll be waiting here, Miss Ayla."

"I—thank you..."

He nodded and I hurried to the door. When I walked inside, I cringed as I saw the place was packed. It seemed that all the students needed a drink. Stacy's is a small pub within campus grounds and as expected on Friday night, a large portion of the customers were students. Six large screens were mounted around the place and currently showing a football match. It was a total sports hangout and my introvert self was about to bolt right out of the door when I finally spot Liv. She saw me approaching and stood from her seat eagerly.

"I honestly thought you'd bail out on me." she teases and I chuckled, my nerves calming down.

She led me to their table and I realized Liv had lied. When she said "a few others" I was expecting a group of five or six people. Not ten. A collective greeting came up everywhere and I squeezes her arm nervously. She glances at me side ways before leaning over, "Sorry, I didn't know Brad's entire group were coming."

Liv led me on the empty chair next to her. Beside her is a pretty girl whom Liv introduced as her roommate, Abigail, while on my left is empty. Seems like they were still expecting another person coming.

"We meet again, Ayla." Brad nod his head at me, flashing a friendly smile.

True to what Liv said, Brad toned down his flirting once he found out that I have a boyfriend. Introductions were made and I learned most of Brad's friends were in Sports Management Program while two other girls were in Data Science.

"I knew it was you."

A voice came out and I turn to see a guy looking at me as he approached our table. He sat on the empty chair beside me, grinning.

He looks familiar. Where did I meet him again? I stare at him, clueless, until it finally click. "Oh, that's you." Brent?

"Hey, Trent, how do you know, Ayla?" Brad asked.

"We were neighbors." Trent replied. "Well, supposedly. Where did you moved?"

Liv was busy perusing the menu but perked up when she heard the question. I squeezed her leg hard, hoping she gets my message. She did. Thank God.

"Just a few blocks from campus." I answered vaguely. The last thing I want is for them to look at me the way Liv did when she found out that I lived in a luxurious apartment.

A roar in the room rang out as some player on the screen strike a goal and soon the conversation in our table shifted to that.

Although Trent had been watching me the whole time. Reaching for my soda, his arm grazed mine. Startled, I pulled my arm away quickly.

"Sorry."

I smile awkwardly. "It's me. I have a personal bubble issue."

He chuckled. "So I finally got your name."

"What?"

"I didn't get it last time because you know..."

Oh. That. My cheeks flush as I recall what happened that day.

"I was actually looking forward to you moving in. I would've helped you unpacked and settle."

Okay. He was being too friendly now.

The waiter arrives with our order and as soon as it was place down on the table, Liv and I took a slice.

"God, I'm hungry." she moaned.

A grin escaped me. "So am I."

"So," she started. "I heard about this generous donation in your name. That's pretty cool."

I had been reaching for my drink but I dropped my hand back to my lap at her words. "What do you mean?"

"Oh." She shrugged as she sipped on her soda. "Nothing, really. I was in the administration building yesterday when I heard a few staffs talking about it." Her eyes widen and her voice drop low, "Shit. Is it supposed to be confidential?"

I stare at her dumfounded. "I honestly don't know what you're talking about."

Donation? In my name?

She sat back, chewing on her pizza and shrugged. "Well, whoever it was, he or she donated a huge amount of money in your name."

I sat back, dazed, as I heard her. It hit me then.

It was Kade. I couldn't believe it. I mean, I could, but I couldn't. My phone buzzed at that moment, and I checked it. Kade is calling. Tingles of excitement and nerves soared through me.

"Sorry, I need to take this." I said to Liv and excuse myself. Clutching the phone against my ear, I walked out of the pub and head towards the alleyway where it's quieter and away from bustling sound of the door every time it open. Silas catches my gaze and I gesture at my phone to let him know I was taking a call when he move to open the door.

"Kade, I miss you. I was just about..."

My voice trailed off when I heard noises on his end. A shiver wound its way through me as I tried to make out the sounds.

"...and I understand now. Ayla's going to get hurt once she finds out."

It was Valerie.

My heart began hammering in my chest, threatening to break through my ribcage.

"We know you only postponed our engagement before because you wanted to fulfill your revenge first. And you did Kade." she paused. "You destroyed their family. We thought it's time to set everything back to its place now."

My mind was reeling and I can feel the panic rising, threatening to choke me. But all I can do is stare blankly at the pavement.

There was silence. And a moment later, I heard the sound of rustling clothes and footsteps.

"Val," I heard Kade groaned.

"I love you, Kade. I always do...." her sultry voice trailed off and an unmistakable sound of kissing came through the phone. That's when my legs finally gave out and I collapsed on my knees.

The call has ended. And I sat there frozen, hands clutching my chest. My mind was racing, a thousand distorted thoughts clamoring and emotions rifling through me one after another. Everything ceased to exist but with one glaring truth.

Kade is engaged to be married to someone else.

To Valerie.

The truth is like a boulder in my heart. I'm lost in a vortex of thoughts that makes it impossible to focus. Until I feel fingers on my wrist.

"There you are. I was looking...Ayla?" I barely register Liv's voice as she crouched in front of me.

"Hey, what's wrong? Ayla?" I heard her voice but I'm beyond pain. I'm beyond feeling. I'm in such a deep, deep state of shock that I don't know what to tell her either.

Someone approached us.

"Miss Ayla?" It was Silas.

My chest was hurting, like really badly hurting. I felt something squeezing in there, not letting go.

I choked. "I have to go, Liv."

Silas stepped forward but Liv stops him. "Do you know this man, Ayla? I'm not leaving you if you don't."

I nearly cried when I saw Liv's concern expression. I managed to say, "It's fine. I know him."

With one last look at Silas, she steps back. "Okay. I brought your bag."

Silas took it from her and led the way to the car. It wasn't until I was sitting in the back that Silas said anything. "Do you feel unwell, Miss?"

I didn't respond. I don't know what to tell him. Instead I rattled off Owen's address. He was silent for a moment, but eventually we took off, although I barely noticed. I'd retreated into false numbness. I'd managed to shut myself down until I knew it was safe to have my breakdown.

I knocked on Owen's door, praying he's inside, with Silas standing behind me. Finally, he opened the door, surprised. "Oh wow, Ayla." he pulled me into a hug, then backed away, examining my face.

I bit my lip hard. Barely holding on now.

"Get in."

Silas stepped forward. "Do you need anything else from me, Miss Ayla?"

I shook my head. "Thank you, Silas." I managed that much in a steady voice.

Owen pulled me inside, led me to the couch, and sat beside me. "What happened?"

I only shook my head, heart in my throat, tears blurring my vision. I felt it rising, burning on the way, and I tried to quiet it, but I couldn't. Finally, when I couldn't hold it in any longer. I burst into tears. Deep. Guttural. Straight from the soul sobs. And they didn't stop until I'd cried myself to sleep. The sobs came long and hard and relentless, subsiding momentarily, only to begin afresh after a few minutes.

Owen sat on the floor, his hands entwined with mine, holding me as only a best friend can, not asking any questions, just letting me cry, letting me sleep. I knew then something inside me has died. Something was crushed so cruelly and completely that I don't know if I'll ever recover from it.