COLIN'S POV

I'm so depressed. It's only been a week but it feels like my life has been falling apart since forever ago.

How is life in prison? Two words - fucking horrible. The little time spent here, I have had more than the average amount a person self-reflects in a lifetime. The unbearable stench of the disease infested toilets inmates are forced to make do, the rats that sneak around in the middle of the night and disappear into wall cracks, the combination of wild, resentful and psycho cellmates, men and women alike, none of that can match up to the extensive hours of isolation and deep thinking in a prison cage.

People who complain about their first day of school should try having a first day in a police station. It's beyond teachers who try to embarrass you in front of the class or meeting the popular kids and feeling inferior. I can very well say I got the short end of the stick at my welcome party.

"Colin Jonas!" A prison warder calls out. "You have a visitor."

Who could it be this time? Ever since I got here, I realize I literally have no one to call family, not even a friend. Ivy hasn't come to see me since which is way more demoralizing than being accused of murder. What could she be doing? Looking for a way to get me out of here or content that I'm out of her life. I'll be very afraid if the latter is the case because her half-hearted concern was obvious from the first day of our wonderful relationship - no surprise there.

I step out of my cell, escorted by the warden to see who it is visiting a nobody like me. When I enter the heavily guarded room, I scan around unable to recognize anyone familiar, except maybe a lady sitting at the far end. She raises a hand, beckoning on me to come over and I do so, in a sceptical way of course, not sure why she is the one visiting me.

Laurel, I assume. I can vaguely remember anything about Ivy's best friend but it seems they go way back. I once picked up Ivy's school yearbook from when she graduated and they were mostly together in some pictures. They both aged gracefully though, still maintaining the same adventurous spirit and appearance. Did Ivy send her here to comfort me or tell me that it's over? Again, fear grips me with that last thought. I don't think I'm ready for that feeling called 'heartbreak' just yet.

I sit across the table, she starts off, "how are you, Colin?"

I'm perfectly fine, I live on my own, I made up my mind I'm better off being alone. That lyric comes to mind I don't know why, and honestly, I'm better off on my own if what she wants is to tell me any heart-breaking news.

"If you think I came here to accuse you, then please change your opinion," she says.

That's a relief. However, her face still carries an unnerving expression. "So, why are you visiting?"

"I want you to tell me everything that happened."

Wait what!!! Am I imagining this? No, no, I must be imagining this. She waits patiently for me to begin my narration but I sit back to appreciate the thought of someone who thinks I'm innocent for a ravelling couple of minutes. "Are you sure? Would you even believe me if I tell you my own side of the story?"

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

My word! I feel like tearing up. My sorry heart leaps for exuberant joy. I bet she does not realize how insanely contented I am right now, especially when I'm getting this concern from someone who barely know anything about me. "I... I don't know what to say. Thank you so much!"

She waves off my words of gratitude. "Yes, yes. Just get to it already."

Okay, um where do I start? My mind multitasks, retrieving any relevant details from the day before my life came down to shambles. "The morning before I was asked to leave the house, Benjamin wanted me to look for something, a special fountain pen that he lost in his antechamber. That is where he usually keeps his overpriced expensive shit; statuettes, paintings, awards, and so on. Normally, I wouldn't, but he really wanted to torment me by sending me on errands that day."

"How does this relate to his murder at the hospital?"

"Listen to me first. I think he framed me to get me thrown out of the house like he has been waiting for the opportunity."

"Uncle Ben framed you?"

"Yeah, he did, with a framed painting," I laugh at my own joke but she isn't. Then I clear my throat. "Actually, I have always known he wanted me out of his house for the longest time. I know it's hard to believe-"

"I totally believe you."

"Huh!"

She lowers her shoulders, sways her head towards the window and concentrates on the parole officers doing their job on the fenced in field. "It is in his character to stoop so low just to get what he wants."

"Can I ask you a quick question? Are you a lawyer? Did Ivy ask you to fight my case?"

She narrows her eyes at me. "No and no."

"Oh." The high expectations I had of my girlfriend shatters on the cold hard ground. Even though it's easy to believe Ivy left me to rot in prison, I get a funny feeling she might be waiting for the right time to burst me out of here. I mean, she is always the one with the plans and stuff. This may sound unwise of me to trust her blindly but what other options do I have?

Laurel stares distantly, cooked up in her thoughts.

"So... you think he may have done something to cause his death?"

"No, not at all. I think someone who hated him must be responsible for his murder." She meets my eyes again. "Tell me, how then were you involved in his poisoning?"

"I have no idea!" She intensifies her gaze. Even if I didn't want to tell the entire truth to anyone, she somehow manages to extract the words out of me with that glare. "Uh... I went back to the house that night to get my stuff."

"And?"

"And to see Ivy."

"You saw Ivy that night?"

Now here comes the specific part I did not want to talk about. Over the past few days, I kept wondering why Ivy made me keep this secret from everyone, thinking she might one day explain why she asked for that kind of favour. The more I think about it, the more I feel she no longer cares about me as such. The wild assumption that she only used me kept coming back, clouding my thoughts. I struggle to keep a positive mind.

Laurel reaches a hand towards me, egging me on to say my truth.

Oh for fuck's sake, what's the point of holding onto the lie that she will come for me? "She asked me to sneak into the house through the front door..." suddenly, an understanding settles in. If I tell Laurel what had happened, what would that mean for everyone involved? I don't think I can live with that. I'd rather suffer this punishment alone than bring everyone down with me.

"Why did you stop?" Laurel queries. "Something else also happened that night, right?"

"Um..." I try to think of ways to indirectly answer her question, but how can I do that when she keeps her questions candid and offers herself as my only hope of ever getting out of here.

"And you also knew how his coffee got poisoned... right?"

I fidget on my seat, squirming uncomfortably as beads of sweat break out from my forehead. "I don't know. I can't imagine anyone wanting to poison him."

She sighs and rests her head on her palm, rubbing her temple. "If you want me to help you, you've got to be honest with me. I need to know the truth, trust me, nobody is going to harm you."

"I've told you everything I know. I didn't poison the old man."

"There has to be a loophole," she mutters to herself before facing me again. "Did you by any chance see anybody else that night?"

To answer her question, if I say I didn't, that would limit her suspects. She is trying to create her theories about who else could be implicated and I already made the mistake to tell her I went back to see Ivy. If she is smart, which I think she is, she might work out the rest of the night's incident on her own. As a matter of fact, I'm going to give Ivy another one week. If I don't hear from her, I swear to God I won't apologize for spilling the beans.

"Time's up!" The prison warden calls out, holding his baton on one hand, rocking it against the other.

"I should get back to my cell."

"Don't worry. I will have a better understanding of what transpired that night whether you tell me the truth or not," Laurel asserts.

"What are you talking about?"

"And I might know how to help you. I just wish you could help me to it." She gets up and leaves along with other visitors.

If that didn't give me hope, I don't know what will. Alas, someone has decided to help me out of here despite hiding the truth. I feel guilty, and I'm now starting to wonder if Ivy really deserves my oath of confidentiality.

LAUREL'S POV

Should I meet up with my boss who is an insightful lawyer and can actually help me or the officer in charge of this case to explain what I've managed to learn so far, or go directly to Ivy's?

The brief discussion with Colin when he said he didn't poison uncle Ben has unlocked other ways this case could turn and several possibilities but has also brought me to more unanswered questions. Who exactly poisoned him and why? Is it the same person who got him killed at the hospital or that's another different story?

Since I've heard Colin's side, it is better I hear Ivy's too before I jump into any conclusions.

*

I arrive at the Lance's mansion in a taxicab. She least expected me to show up at her house by the stunned look on her face as she opens the door.

For a moment, I notice the security protocols uncle Ben usually have around the house have lessened. Their house hasn't changed much since the last time I came by, except the deathly essence of uncle Ben's ghost suspended in the atmosphere. I have to solve this as soon as possible so he can rest peacefully in his afterlife.

"Let's talk."

I consider she must have an idea what I want to talk to her about. She allows me in and together, we make it to her room. As I step inside, she locks the door behind me immediately.

Her eyes dart across the room nervously. "Why are you here?"

"Why? Do I need a reason to visit my best friend?"

"Drop the act and tell me what you're here for."

"Come on, Ivy, it's just me. There's no need for you to get nervous or anything."

"Is this about uncle's death?"

I thought so. She knew. And she equally knows I'm unto her. I clearly wasn't satisfied the last time we talked. We know each other too well for secrets to exist between us. "So can you tell me honestly what happened on the night uncle Ben was poisoned?"

"Laurel, I-"

I don't even give her a chance to lie to me before I interrupt. "I know you invited Colin to sneak back into the house that night uncle Ben chased him out." She leaves her mouth open and freezes in utter shock. "I also know Colin left the house that same night so the CCTV would capture him sneaking in and out. Seriously, what was your motive for doing this?"

Now let's see how she will deny her way out of this one.

"You're right." I wait for her to finish. "I... I asked Colin to come to the house that night. We planned to keep him away for a while. The truth is we did that to ensure Colin could return to the house."

"That was the excuse you used to drag Colin into your twisted game of selfishness?!" I try for the surprised act but I really do not have the energy for that kind of melodrama. I just want the truth. And by truth, I find it easy to believe Ivy would go through all that trouble just to get what she wants. Does that sound familiar? They both are from the same gene pool after all. What I don't understand is why going through all that for a reason as trivial as that?

She turns her back towards me. "It was only for retaliation's sake. It was never supposed to be this serious."

"Retaliation's sake?" After all these years, Ivy still hasn't changed one bit, opting underhanded tricks, cajoling people to do her biddings. I shake my head with disappointment.

"Uncle Ben has tried to kick Colin out of the house many times before. I guess that day, he had the perfect reason, and you know I can't go up against him. Besides, Colin bought the idea without giving it a second thought."

"Did it ever occur to you that what you did was too much? Irresponsible and childish aren't adjectives enough to describe this level of ridiculousness."

She turns sharply to face me. "Okay, fine! I agree I was stupid and irrational. Are you happy now?"

I exhale, heavily exasperated. To be frank, this is not how I pictured this confrontation would go. At least now that I know how they were involved in the coffee poisoning, it solves one part of the puzzle, and I can understand why Colin decided to hide the truth, but are they also involved in his death, too?

"Laurel, you're my best friend, right? You can do anything for me, can't you? And you believe me if I tell you that I don't know anything about his murder, right?"

I don't wish to be the one in this position, sadly, I do believe her. Ivy isn't capable of killing someone; I know her that well. She might be reckless and mischievous but not as far as ending someone's life. That means the person who killed uncle Ben is a completely different person who saw this as an opportunity. He or she must have known about the poison incident. The question is how?

"So what you're trying to tell me is you and Colin planned this whole set-up to get him hospitalized just for you to bring him back to the house?"

"Petty? I already know that, but I didn't kill my uncle, I swear."

"Then how was your boyfriend eventually accused of his murder at the hospital?" I make sure to emphasize the 'boyfriend' part to really know what her status with the poor guy is. Also, I need some leverage to use in his favour.

"I have no idea about that. I was shocked myself to learn about that information. You heard what the doctor said, right? He went to visit uncle Ben at the hospital."

Ah. I see. It looks like I won't be getting that detail from her at this point. "So why aren't you trying to get him out of police custody?" Now that's a detail I want to collect from her.

"I got scared! What do you expect me to say to him and the police after they learn that I was somehow involved in the poisoning?"

"The truth maybe? Look, I'm not even supposed to be bothered about this but I can't just let someone who is probably innocent pay for the crimes of the real murderer."

She bobs her head lightly. "Yes, you are right about that. You're not supposed to be bothered about it so let it go. You have a wedding to plan with your husband-to-be. Don't get involved with my business."

While taking those words to heart, I exhale in conclusion. It is high time I take matters into my own hands since Ivy doesn't want to be cooperative with me. She doesn't know an event planner is always better with someone else's business. "In that case, I should get going then."

I head towards the door before she grabs my wrist tightly. "Laurel!" She intently cast a gaze into my soul as earnest desperation flickers in her eyes. "You must promise me before you leave. Promise me you won't tell anyone about this."

This is where my loyalty fails me. For the people I care about, I can do almost anything to protect their character, even till my last breath will their secrets remain safe with me. Nonetheless, this secret we share now is more than the 'don't tell him I have a crush' kind. I guess if Ivy and Colin were not directly involved in uncle Ben's death, someone out there is probably relishing in their victory after successfully framing Colin and playing sentimental with Ivy. I don't want my best friend to go to jail neither do I wish her that mistake will get blown out of proportion before the real culprit is found.

"I promise," I assure her, and she knows I mean it.

COLIN'S POV

See who finally came visiting... a truly unexpected, somewhat happy occasion this is. Lately, I've been getting interesting visitations one after the other. Did I win the jackpot?

I walk up to where Ivy sits majestically, waiting for me. First of all, I am damn furious and I intend to unleash that anger before anything else. When I get to her side, all my fury turns cold. For a second there, I try to comprehend her composure; she is wearing shades indoor, her legs are crossed and she's fucking popping a chewing gum in her mouth right in front of me. What is this, my funeral?

"So you decided to remember your boyfriend today, huh?" I say cynically.

She moves only by a flinch, raising a side of her lips for a half smile. I can't tell what her eyes are saying through those silly sunglasses but I bet they speak volumes of scorn and contempt.

I was afraid this day would come. How I just wish it didn't have to be this way. This isn't the Ivy I fell in love with, certainly, this isn't how I pictured the moment she will finally tell me what's been on her mind to say to my face since we started dating, the serious looks I get anytime I do something she doesn't like, her aromantic attraction towards me when I try to take a step further than acting like high school lovers. I wasn't dense. I always knew she was holding back, but I stupidly fell for her anyway. Even though the unspoken fact that we are no longer on the same page is clear to me, I still harbour feelings inside, hoping that she still has a little bit of human sympathy to not leave me hanging.

"Colin, sit. Let's talk." Her commanding attitude still affects me, forcing me to the chair across. "And before you say anything, I know you feel like I may have abandoned you. I didn't. It hasn't been easy these past couple of days and I honestly don't know how I'm supposed to deal with it."

"Like it has not been difficult for me. You're the only reason why I'm here in the first place!"

"I'm not! I never asked you to kill uncle Benjamin."

"What the fuck! You think I killed Benjamin?"

"What do you expect me to believe, huh? You went to the hospital to see him, and for what?"

To gloat obviously. I may sound like a maniac but I didn't realize I needed that satisfaction seeing the idiotic fool lying on a hospital bed like a vegetable, unable to come in between me and Ivy, and more importantly, accuse me of destroying his ridiculous painting. That probably was the worst time to revel. I hated Benjamin but not to the extent of wanting to see him dead, let alone murdered. And here I am freaking out over my mind but she goes ahead to blame me even with that calm behaviour? I thought I'd never for one day see this malicious side of her, especially not when I need her the most.

She removes her shades, revealing her hazel eyes that are not even red from crying but very normal as Ivy's eyes can be. "I think we should slow down and think about where we go from here. You and I have really tried our best to make this work, spending some time apart can help us understand what we really want from each other. Plus, I don't know if I can ever be with someone who is accused of being my uncle's murderer."

Why prolong the inevitable? If she wants to actually break up with me, the least she can do is not to gaslight me into thinking it was my fault when she could have just rejected me back then and there instead of stringing me along like a running dog's leash.

"I don't know how else to help you. After everything that we've been through, it's with my deepest regrets that we have to end like this. I sincerely hope you can understand."

"You're breaking up with me." The sour words come together as I start to accept this newly profound reality. No matter how badly I wished this was a dream, the inescapable truth is right before my eyes.

She sighs lightly, as though I just relieved her of the burden of telling me straight what's been going on in her head. "If you're good with that, I guess there is nothing left to say."

It's not enough that she dragged me into her evil plans, she is calling off our relationship, too? We survived the critics and the haters and the infuriating younger sister but we couldn't survive a little misunderstanding...? What then was I holding onto? A fantasy?

"Even though it's over between us now, I still wish you the best." She isn't done breaking my heart, just a tad bit well-wishing bow to tie up the gift before offering it to me to do what I will. A vault unlocks at the back of my mind, releasing sorts of ireful emotions that should never have been released. One of them is going back on my word and dragging Ivy through the mud with me.

"So because of this unfortunate circumstance I'm in, which is actually your fault, you're saying goodbye just like that? Well... thank you too for the fake wishes." I want to say more but I don't have proper words. She has taken every one of them from my mouth.

The last six months of my delusional relationship with Ivy will forever be special to me. I will carry this pain and continue living my life like I have always done, like when my parents neglected me to fend for myself on the streets or when my old gang ditched me in a night club after nearly getting caught with hard drugs that was unknowingly implanted in my posterior. Ivy had saved me from that mess, so I'll always remain grateful. My only mistake was to put all my faith in her, thinking I wouldn't even last a week in this filthy prison, but she casually removed my heart from my chest and squashed it underfoot with a smile on her face.

"Take care of yourself."

I watch her go, my partially conscious body starting to ache from the throbbing, my knees - if at all I feel them are too weak to carry my weight.

My chest bleeds from the wound she's made, as if I have forgotten how to breathe. I'm left to carry the remaining broken pieces of my life back to my cell. What else can I do? The four-walled prison that should be for one or two prisoners now feels like a crowded room with all the air squeezed out of my lungs. I quietly lay my back on the rickety prison bed and cry my eyes out, replaying the scene all over again in my head.

LAUREL'S POV

"Come in, Laurel," Mrs. Meyers requests as she dismisses two men who look like they were being scolded at.

Even though Mrs. Meyers Dunkin can be a problematic supervisor sometimes, I take her as a role model in the profession. I respect her a lot. Industrious and talented women who are fighting for our recognition are rare to find these days, especially those who are divorced and must be independent for their loved ones. A lawyer running an event planning firm while raising a child is no small feat.

I walk in and sit across her desk.

She fixes her weird cat-eye glasses on her round face to read the papers littered before her. "Oh, Laurel dear. I did call you to discuss important business and this is the time you arrive?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am."

She raises her eyes to cast her classic scowl that can make someone sitting on the other side of the desk want to crawl up in a ball and wither away. She is always so serious, never smiles, doesn't indulge casual chatter and never commends your effort. I'm curious to know if that's a thing common for all lawyers. Too bad I have to deal with her right now. "There's just been a lot going on lately."

"Are these things more important than your work?"

"Um..." of course nothing is more important than my work, though I wish I had a better explanation.

"I hope those lots aren't the same reason you came into my office after five hours."

"I am sorry again, ma'am," I apologize. One apology will never be enough.

"Let me go straight to the point. I want to refer you to someone who is a very good friend of mine. He owns a large share of this establishment and he is organizing a multimillion dollar product launch."

"Oh, okay." I force myself not to smile or express any happiness. "Can I have his contact information so I can call a meeting with him."

"Hold on, Laurel. What he needs is a reliable event planner to manage this event."

I pause for a tentative second. What is she trying to say? I'm not reliable enough? "I don't understand. Don't you want me to take up this project?"

She sighs and looks at me pitifully. "This is what I like about you. You're career-driven and I love that for you. When did I say you're not capable of handling anything given to you? I'm only concerned because he is organizing this big event in the States."

"Ah. That makes sense... wait what! In the States?!"

She narrows her eyes at me and I immediately regain my composure, clearing my throat. "I know you just came back from the UK after all but you'll have to prepare yourself to travel abroad once again."

Whoa! This is huge! This could be the breakthrough I've been working so hard for since the past two years - the American recognition. I have never been to the States before in all my years of traveling. It has always been a dream of mine to feel what it's like to work in the infamous land of opportunities. But then, the castle I built up in the air comes crumbling down when I suddenly realize what this might mean. A weight lands on my conscience and the reaction on my face puts off the expectations Mrs. Meyers had initially.

"Do you think you are proficient enough to take on such responsibility?"

"Yes, I am!" I answer. She wants to say something else but I quickly add, "however, I'm sorry I can't do it."

She is taken aback for a moment.

"I seriously appreciate the honour and this is a huge responsibility but I have to reject this offer."

"Why? If I may ask."

"Um... it's actually the reason why it took me this long to come here and why I want to ask for your help."

She removes her glasses and moves her papers aside, studying me thoroughly. She must be so shocked wondering what could be more important than the golden opportunity she's offering me. "Tell me."

"I need your services, ma'am," I start calmly. "My friend needs a lawyer and I know you're one of the best out there."

"What's your friend's case."

"He's been accused of murder."

"Homicide, I see." She nods and waits for a while, thinking through accepting my request, I guess. "I'll have to get back to you then."

Oh, thank God. I feel very relieved. She didn't turn me down neither did she agree to help me, which means she will. I relate with people like her, they show disinterest at first but they always come around with time, especially when the endeavours are promising. What that does to their ego, I don't know, but not only will she help an innocent kid, it'll boost her career as well. Mrs. Meyers is not one to refuse a boost in her career. From what I've known, lawyers who win homicide cases are seen as the best in the field.

"Are you sure you want to let this God-given opportunity slip away to fight for this person?"

The conviction in me is so strong to a fault I simply can't let my friend go to jail if I can do something about it. Even Colin who is unjustly kept in police custody should be given a chance. I know I won't concentrate on my work if things get to that point, plus I want to know the person capable of killing someone in the family. I get the feeling uncle Ben's death is the start of something that's about to unravel. No matter how obsessive I can be about getting job offers, I prioritize loyalty above all else. "I don't like to give up on people when they need someone not to give up on them."

She nods in silent agreement. "And if a female lawyer can win a murder case, respect will be earned rightfully for our cause. Laurel, I'll need you to send me the details of this case by tomorrow," she finally agrees.

While I don't mind the different perspectives, as long as we are heading towards the same goal. "Thank you very much."

I just hope Colin is worth this sacrifice.

COLIN'S POV

I confess to Inspector Henry everything I told Laurel as we sit opposite each other in the interrogation room. From the poisoning to the favour Ivy asked of me, even the dumb reason I visited Benjamin at the hospital, I tell the entire truth on the condition that there will be no recording, no third party, just two of us, strictly confidential.

"Why didn't you say this before?"

In my mind, I want to yell at him. After being under Ivy's manipulation for so long, how was I supposed to not believe her?

Who can I really trust in this cruel world we live in? Everyone I ever loved always disappoints me when I needed them the most; my own parents rejected me, my so-called friends abandoned me, now Ivy is one of them too. I thought she was different, she saved my life, she gave me hope and took me in, she cared for me and I fell in love with her. The grief and emptiness she left me with has so much scared me for life I may not be able to trust anyone ever again. Now it's just me who is back to surviving on my own, doing my thing without giving a fuck about anyone, whether I incriminate Ivy or not, I couldn't care less.

"Now that you've finally given us your testimony, I'd like to know Ivy's side of the story," Inspector Henry tells me.

Actually, I feel more relieved now. holding all that information because a certain control freak asked me to as she says was such a burden to carry while I was having those contemplative moments locked in my cell. "What are you planning to do about Ivy?"

He turns towards me, critically weighing his options of either trusting me for such details or helping me by keeping me in the dark. No doubt the fact that I tried to protect Ivy before was a stupid mistake he must have picked up on. On the other hand, I'm not sure if I can handle the thought of Ivy being locked away in prison. To be fair, it took me this long to overcome the influence she had on me, if not I wouldn't have told the officer what I know.

"We won't arrest her just yet. My men will have her under our radar until we can find concrete evidence regarding the poison accident and the murder."

"Why?"

"Colin, you're obviously too naïve to understand any of this. I don't need sentiments in this investigation."

"Sentiments? I am zero sentiments. Ivy and I, we're done, finished, I swear."

He relaxes his shoulders and sighs. "We may have a theory that this murder was used to cover up an even bigger crime."

"Shit! That's fucked up. So Ivy was really involved in something illegal?" I mumble.

"What?"

I catch myself immediately.

He zooms in on me. "Tell me what you know about this."

"Nothing special really. Maybe you're right, maybe this murder was used to cover up something completely different."

"Exactly what I need to find out, what her aim was behind poisoning her uncle. And until we discover that out, we can't compromise anything."

"If she wanted to poison her uncle, why did she get me involved?" At last, it dawns on me. Ivy just used me to get away with what she's done. That was why she broke up with me. That was why she didn't visit me until she made up her mind to be rid of me. Jean suspected someone and that someone is her sister, Ivy. This one hurts a lot more than when she kissed our relationship goodbye, and I thought no pain could top that. Did she ever love me like she made me believe? Who was I to her all these times we were together?

"I'll need you to remain here in the meantime. There is a separate cell for you while the investigation is going on," the officer says and rises from his seat. "We will talk again some time."

After I leave the interrogation room, I walk back to my cell with the company of two warders. In my new prison, I sit alone to drown in my depressing thoughts. The space may be well improved from my previous cell but the despair only got heavier.

How did I not see this coming? I ignored everyone who criticized me and told me to stop my foolishness dating a woman older and wealthier than me. I was the only one who didn't see that our relationship was going nowhere. Was I that blind? And Ivy manipulated me, even dared to make me feel like a gigolo when in my head and heart, I was so in love with her.

Haven't I suffered enough hurt already? I just want someone to love me for me, not my looks, not my status, not what I can offer - not like I've got anything good to offer in the first place. Is that too much to ask? Every person I care about uses me for their selfish gain then dumps me like hot potato, like what Ivy did two days ago. It seems like only yesterday when Ivy and I would go to the park, have a nice time and Jean would throw in a few jealous remarks about us. She'd treat me to special foods and we'd try different things, but in a blink of an eye, everything just flipped sides and all over again, I get to be the one who is left behind.

I lean against the wall and sob to myself just as I did the last time my heart sustained its first injury.