Fated to Wed (English)

Chapter Six

Two years had passed, and a lot had changed. Theo and Liana’s relationship had grown stronger—or so it seemed. They were the perfect couple, at least on the outside. Theo was now a sophomore, fully immersed in his business administration course, while Liana and I had just started our freshman year. I was glad to see how close the three of us had become over time, despite our rocky start. I had settled into my life, focused on my studies, and occasionally helped Theo with his.

It all seemed so perfect. Too perfect, perhaps.

Theo had introduced Liana to his parents, and she had done the same with hers. Both families accepted their relationship wholeheartedly. For a while, everything was smooth sailing. But things began to change when Liana and I started college. She had become… distant. And it wasn’t just me who noticed.

One night, after finishing some coursework, Theo barged into my room, his usual carefree attitude replaced with frustration. I looked up from my notes, a little startled by the sight of him.

“Delilah, can I talk to you?”

“Uh, sure,” I said, setting aside my textbook. “What’s going on?”

Theo slumped onto the chair beside my desk, running a hand through his hair. "It's Liana. She’s been acting… different lately."

"Different how?"

"She doesn’t answer my calls anymore," he explained, his voice strained. "When we do talk, she doesn’t call me ‘babe’ or use any of those little things we used to say. She skips our dates and tells me she’s busy with school, but when I asked her parents, they said she’s not. I don’t know what’s going on."

I frowned, trying to piece it together. "Maybe she’s just adjusting to college life? It can be overwhelming, especially in the beginning."

Theo nodded but didn’t seem convinced. "Yeah, that’s what I keep telling myself, but something feels off, you know? Like I did something wrong, and now she’s pulling away."

I didn’t have an answer. Liana had been cold lately, but I had assumed it was the usual stresses of a new environment. "I’m sure it’s nothing serious, Theo. Give her some space. If it’s really bothering you, maybe talk to her about it."

"Yeah… maybe I’ll do that," he muttered, though the uncertainty in his voice lingered. He stood up, forcing a smile. "Thanks for listening, Delilah."

"No problem," I said, watching as he left the room. Deep down, I felt uneasy. Something about Liana had definitely changed, but I wasn’t sure what it was. I hoped it was just college stress, but a nagging feeling in my gut told me there was more to it.

Days later, I found myself sitting in a small café with my cousin Linda, celebrating a recent paycheck. Linda, who was the reason I even had this job, was going on about her new work while I enjoyed a rare moment of peace.

"This is the life, huh? We finally get to enjoy some free time without worrying about bills for a change," Linda said with a grin.

"Yeah, for once, I don’t feel like I’m drowning," I replied with a laugh.

As we ate, I glanced up and nearly choked on my drink. There was Liana—only she wasn’t with Theo. She was sitting across from another guy, one I didn’t recognize. My heart dropped, my mind racing to find a reasonable explanation.

"Linda, wait here for a second. I need to check something," I said quickly, rising from my seat.

"Uh, sure," she said, her brow furrowed in confusion. I could feel her eyes on me as I hurried out of the café and began tailing Liana and the guy, making sure to keep my distance.

They walked casually, too casually. I tried to convince myself that maybe he was just a friend or a family member, but deep down, I knew something was wrong. I followed them to the parking lot, my stomach twisting in knots. This isn’t what it looks like. That’s what I kept telling myself—until I saw it.

Liana kissed him. On the lips.

My breath caught in my throat, disbelief washing over me. She’s cheating on Theo. Liana, the perfect girl in Theo’s eyes, was betraying him right under his nose.

I watched, frozen in place, as they continued to kiss, completely oblivious to anyone around them. I should’ve looked away, but I couldn’t. All I could think about was Theo, and how devastated he would be if he found out.

As Liana and the guy pulled away, laughing softly, my mind raced. I could confront her right here, right now. I could call Theo and tell him everything. But as I stood there, I realized I couldn’t do it—not yet.

I cared about Theo. More than I was willing to admit, even to myself. I didn’t want to hurt him, not like this. If I told him, it would break him. I had to think of another way.

When they finally left, I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding in my chest. I can’t tell Theo… but I can’t let Liana keep doing this either. I had to confront her—alone. I’d give her a chance to come clean, to break it off with this guy and stop hurting Theo.

I headed back to the café, my mind buzzing with plans. Linda was sitting there, looking at me curiously.

"You good? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

"I’m fine," I lied, sitting back down. "Just thought I saw someone I knew."

As we finished our meal, my thoughts were already racing ahead. I needed to find a way to confront Liana, and fast. If she didn’t end this soon, I wasn’t sure I could keep this secret from Theo much longer.

That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d seen. Liana, kissing someone else. How could she do that to Theo? He loved her. And despite everything, he was still trying to figure out what he did wrong, blaming himself for her coldness.

But I knew the truth now. It wasn’t him. It was her.

I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of the decision I had to make. Do I tell him? Or do I wait and see if Liana will do the right thing?

One thing was for sure—my life had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.