I've always been a quiet observer, content to watch the world from the sidelines. But when Elio Reve Galvano walked into my life, everything changed. He was the kind of guy who made every heads turn wherever he went.

Elio, standing at 5'9", possessed neatly styled dark hair that framed a heart-shaped face. His skin was a smooth, warm olive tone. Dark brown eyes sat beneath well-defined, slightly arched eyebrows. His nose was straight, and his full lips held a natural, muted rose color. And the slow, deliberate curve of his lips into a smile was like the unveiling of Vega, a rare and beautiful star, slowly rising above the horizon. And I was immediately smitten.

At first, I was too shy to talk to Elio. I would watch him from afar, admiring his every move. But one day, fate intervened. Elio's first love, a girl named Isabella, broke up with him. And I was there to pick up the pieces.

Elio and I became fast friends. We would spend hours talking about everything and nothing. And as we got to know each other better, my feelings for Elio began to grow. But I knew that Elio was still in love with Isabella. And I didn't want to do anything to hurt him.

So, I decided to keep my feelings to myself. I would be Elio's friend, nothing more. But as time went on, it became harder and harder for me to hide my feelings. I would find myself thinking about Elio all the time. And I would get jealous whenever he talked about Isabella.

One day, Elio told me that Isabella had come back. She had realized that she still loved him, and she wanted to give their relationship another chance. My heart sank. I knew that this was the end of my chance with Elio. But I also knew that I had to be happy for him.

So, I put on a brave face and congratulated Elio. I told him that I was happy for him and that I hoped he and Isabella would be happy together. But inside, I was dying. I knew that I would never be Elio's female lead. I was just a side character in his life, someone who would always be there for him, but who would never be truly loved by him.

As the weeks went by, I tried to move on. I went out with friends, I focused on my studies, and I tried to forget about Elio. But no matter what I did, I couldn't stop thinking about him. I would dream about him at night, and I would see him in my mind's eye during the day.

One day, I was walking home from school when I saw Elio and Isabella together. They were holding hands and laughing, and they looked so happy. I felt a pang of jealousy in my heart. I wanted to be the one holding Elio's hand, the one making him laugh. But I knew that it was never going to happen.

So, I turned and walked away. I didn't want to see Elio and Isabella together. I didn't want to be reminded of what I had lost. But as I walked away, I couldn't help but think about the first time I had seen Elio. I remembered how he had made me feel, how he had made my heart skip a beat. And I knew that I would never forget him.

I've been avoiding Elio like the plague. Every time I see him coming, I duck into a different hallway or pretend I hadn't seen him. It's not that I don't want to talk to him. It's just that I don't know what to say.

I'm still bothered by Isabella's return to Elio's life, and I hate myself for being such a fool all this time. I assumed I had a chance, but no, Sajarah, you're wrong and delusional to think that. Elio will never see me as anything more than he sees Isabella.

One morning, I'm sitting alone in the garden, eating a snack I bought from the cafeteria. But my mind keeps wandering to Elio. 'I wonder what he's doing right now. Maybe he's with Isabella...' I sighed heavily, the thought ruining my appetite.

Suddenly, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and see Elio standing behind me. My heart skips a beat. 'No..! Focus, Sajarah, don't falter, you foolish bitch!'

"Hey," he says, smiling at me. My eyes soften.

"Elio... You're here?" I ask, confused. He should be with Isabella...

He looked at me as if I were weird to ask such a question. "Of course I am."

I wanted to ask about Isabella, but a lump formed in my throat, so I shut up.

He sat down beside me, and I flinched a bit. I don't know if I'm ready to talk to him. But then I realize I can't keep avoiding him forever. We sit in silence for a few minutes, neither of us knowing what to say.

Finally, Elio breaks the silence. "So, how have you been?" he asks. Right, it's been almost two weeks since I last talked to him, since I started avoiding him as best I could. I look up at the yellow leaves falling from the branches above us. "...I'm good. You?" I look at him with curious, casual eyes.

Elio looks at me. My heart races. Damn you, Sajarah. "You seem a little... off," he says. I look away. "I'm fine." His thick eyebrows furrow. "Sajarah, what's wrong?" he asks. I look at him. His eyes are full of concern. A lump forms in my throat. I hate this.

Elio looked at me for a long time, his expression serious. "I know you've been avoiding me," he said. "And I want to know why." I can barely breathe, pressured by his soft voice... "I've just been really busy with schoolwork, Elio."

Elio shakes his head. "Don't lie to me, Sajarah," he said. "I know you better than that. Something's wrong, and I want to know what it is."

I look down at his hand near mine, my heart aching. I want to tell him the truth, to tell him how I feel about him. But I'm too scared. I don't want to lose him as a friend. So, I pull my hand away. "I'm sorry, Elio," I say. I sigh. "It's nothing, Elio," I say. "I'm just going through a rough patch, that's all."

I know I can't keep lying to him. So, I turn and walk away, leaving Elio sitting there on the bench. I don't know what his expression is, but it hurts too much to even look back.

I rushed away from Elio, my steps quickening as if I could outrun the turmoil inside me. My mind was a maelstrom of emotions—guilt for lying to him, sadness at the situation, and a lingering hope that things could be different. I headed to the school library, seeking its quiet refuge.

I found an empty table in a corner and sat down, burying my face in my hands. The library was almost deserted, a few students scattered amongst the tables, absorbed in their books.

Lost in thought, I heard a commotion outside. Looking up, I saw Elio and Isabella walking past the glass doors, hand in hand, laughing, their faces radiant with happiness. My heart sank. 'I should focus on my studies', I thought, but the words were a hollow mantra. I watched them disappear, my eyes following their retreating figures until they were gone. I tried to return to my book, but the words blurred. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Elio's face, his smile, the way he looked at Isabella—a constant, agonizing ache.

But I refused to give up. Or did I? Elio only sees me as a friend. Maybe I should just...give up. He has Isabella. I'll have to pick up the pieces of my own foolish heart.

The following weeks were a blur. Parties, the art club, new friends—I tried to fill the void, to distract myself. But no matter what I did, a gnawing emptiness remained.

I took another glass of wine, gulping it down. "One more glass, please," I mumbled, my head heavier than my feet, feeling like I might topple from my chair. "Can you go home in that state, miss?" the bartender asked, his gaze assessing my inebriated condition. I nodded, and he shrugged, pouring another glass.

Just as I reached for it, a hand snatched the glass away. I glared at the intruder. "Hey—" But the sight of his face stole my breath. His gaze was stern. I looked away, ignoring him. "One more wine, please!" I insisted, my voice sharp. The bartender glanced at the man behind me, seeking permission. 'The nerve! I thought, I'm the customer!', "Hey! I said one more glass!" I gritted my teeth. He sighed, finally pouring the wine. Nosy bartender!

"Sajarah..." he said. 'Damn you, Elio. I hate you.'

Ignoring him, I took a sip. He reached for the glass again. "Enough of that..." I slapped his hand away. "Stop interfering!" I shouted, irritation bubbling over. He grabbed my wrist, hoisting me onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Elio, you—Put me down!"

I tried to protest, but the alcohol had me swaying. 'This is ridiculous.'

He carried me out to his car, settling me into the front seat. I huffed in frustration, too drunk to resist. I closed my eyes, ignoring his gaze.

A moment of silence stretched after he pulled away from the bar. Then, his voice, gentle yet concerned, cut through the quiet. "What made you so drunk tonight?" The question, laced with concern, reopened the wounds of the day. Stupid Elio. 'Just when I was about to forget, even for tonight...you know how to break me.'

I stayed silent until we arrived at my house. He carried me to the entrance. A maid opened the door, letting him in. Everyone here, including my parents, knows Elio. It's not surprising, but right now, I hate it.

He carried me to my room, laying me gently on my bed. I groaned, settling into the softness. He removed my heels, tucked me under the covers, and turned on the air conditioning. I couldn't open my eyes, but I could hear him, every careful movement in the quiet room. Then, the soft click of the door closing, and the sound of his retreating footsteps.