MY BEATING HEART

CHAPTER 6- MY GROUP PARTNER

Over time, Daniel’s behaviour became more erratic, his hot-and-cold treatment leaving me in a constant state of confusion. One day, he’d be kind and attentive, the next he’d retreat into an unapproachable coldness that made me feel invisible. He stopped picking up my calls, ignored my texts unless I sent them first, and even then, his replies were brief and detached.

Despite this, I kept going to his house every night, convincing myself it meant something. We spent our nights together like always, his arms wrapped around me as if I belonged there. That routine became my anchor, the one thing that reassured me that whatever this was between us still mattered to him, even if he didn’t show it during the day.

I didn’t let myself dwell too much on the inconsistency. Why should I? Daniel was still letting me into his world, still holding me close when the rest of it felt distant. I told myself he wasn’t the type to hurt me, that I wasn’t just another girl passing through his life. Somewhere deep down, I hoped he saw me as more.

Then came that night.

I woke up in the early hours to find him watching me. His eyes were sharp, piercing, as though he was trying to read my thoughts without saying a word.

“Why do you plan to gain by being this stubborn?” he asked suddenly, his voice quiet but firm.

The question caught me off guard. “What do you mean?” I asked, sitting up slightly.

“You could be with someone else, someone who makes you happy,” he said, his tone unreadable. “Why are you still here with me?”

His words felt like a dagger to my chest. Was this his way of telling me he didn’t want me around anymore? Was this his way of pushing me away?

I stared at him, searching for answers in his expression, but he gave me nothing. Just the same unreadable look, as if he were testing me, waiting for my reaction.

“I’m here because I want to be,” I said softly, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. “Because I care about you.”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he turned over, his back to me once again, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a sinking feeling I couldn’t ignore.

Here’s a revised version with potential content violations removed:

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The day had started like any other. I was at school, discussing a group project with a classmate—a guy, just a friend. I didn’t even notice Daniel nearby as I walked past him, completely unaware of his presence. It wasn’t until later, sitting with Angel in the cafeteria, that she casually mentioned, “You know, you walked right past Daniel earlier.”

Her words made my stomach twist. Had he seen me? Had he noticed the guy I was talking to? I brushed it off, telling myself it wasn’t a big deal.

That evening, I went to Daniel’s place, as I always did. He was calm at first, but then he brought it up.

“Who was that guy you were talking to earlier?” he asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharper than usual.

At first, I felt a rush of something I couldn’t quite place—relief, maybe? Or was it hope? The thought that Daniel might actually feel jealous made my heart flutter.

I tried to keep my tone neutral as I explained, “He’s just a classmate. We’re working on a group project together.”

His expression shifted, softening into a small smile. But then he asked, “Why are you smiling like that?”

Caught off guard, I said, “Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just happy.”

His next words hit me like a slap. “Well, I don’t know why you’re happy, but that’s good. I’m asking about him because I care about you. I see you as a younger sister, and I wouldn’t want you hanging around the wrong people. That guy’s no good for you.”

A younger sister.

The words echoed in my mind, loud and jarring, drowning out everything else. He kept talking, his voice calm, almost patronizing.

“Once feelings get involved, things get complicated,” he continued. “I don’t want us to have to go our separate ways because you chose the wrong person. I care about you too much to let that happen.”

I barely heard the rest of what he said. My thoughts were spiraling. Younger sister??? Younger sister!? Does he kiss, touch and eat up his sister's p***y does he whisper lewd and sweet nothings into her ears? is this a joke?? or Did he really mean it?

I forced a smile, nodding along as if I agreed. Inside, I was screaming, my heart breaking in ways I hadn’t thought possible.

Excusing myself, I stood and walked to the bathroom, pretending I needed a shower. I let the water run over me, hoping it would wash away the humiliation I felt.

When I came back, I tried to approach him, needing some kind of reassurance, but he stood abruptly.

“I have work to do,” he said, his tone distant, almost cold. Without another word, he left me sitting there, alone in his room.

I stared at the empty space he’d left behind, my chest tightening with a mix of anger, sadness, and self-loathing. Why was I still here? Why did I let him treat me like this?

I climbed into bed that night, my thoughts racing, every word he’d said replaying in my mind. I felt confused, humiliated, and trapped—caught between the person I wanted him to be and the person he was showing me he truly was.

Due to the group project, I got to meet people I hadn’t had the chance to talk to or get to know before. While others in my department went out for hangouts and social gatherings, I was always spending my time with Daniel, so I never got to attend those events. Because of that, I had to meet everyone anew during the project.

That’s when I got to know Luis, the guy Daniel had seen me with previously. Luis was a great guy—smart, not bad looking, and genuinely friendly. Throughout the whole process, he was supportive and easy to work with.

The project required night classes and long hours, so Luis, Angel, two other students, and I often stayed back late to complete our tasks. During this time, Luis and I grew close. I later discovered that Luis was already friends with Angel and several others in the department.

As we spent more time together, Luis and I started talking about random things. While I couldn’t tell him everything about my life, I shared a few scenarios, and he always gave thoughtful advice. He even suggested that I give "the person" I was struggling with some space. Luis was kind and genuinely cared, though he kept a respectful distance since we were still getting to know each other.

Through the project, I realized Luis had a way of making people feel at ease. Spending time with him meant spending less time with Daniel, which was a refreshing change.

After the project was finally submitted and presented, Daniel reached out to me. I went to his house almost immediately that evening. As I settled into his room, I noticed something strange—Daniel seemed distant. He was glued to his phone, barely acknowledging my presence.

I tried to brush it off, thinking he might be busy, so I pulled out my phone to pass the time. But with no one to talk to, I decided to message Luis. To my surprise, Luis replied instantly.

We hit it off in a lively conversation, chatting, laughing, and making jokes about random things. For the first time in a while, I felt like I had someone who genuinely wanted to connect with me, and it felt good.

While laughing with Luis, I had no idea Daniel was watching. When I wasn't paying attention, he suddenly snatched my phone from my hand, looked at the screen, and asked, “Who is Luis?”

I was caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

He asked again, “Who is Luis? Is that the guy you were talking to the other day about the group project?”

I answered, “Yes, why?”

Before I could process the situation, I snatched my phone back from his hand, and he said, “You’re done with the project, so you don’t need to associate with him anymore.”

I was confused and irritated. “Why?” I asked, feeling frustrated. “Why would you say that?”

He replied, “Like I said before, he’s not a good guy. He’s not good for you. You should stay away from him.”

It felt like my boiling point. My patience snapped, and I shouted at him, “Who do you think you are to talk about my friend like that? Luis is a good guy, and I don’t want to hear his name come out of your mouth again. And for the record, I’m not cutting him off. Don’t ever talk about him like that again. He’s the best guy I’ve met, and he’s way better than you, if I’m being honest.”

As I said that, I took my phone from him and started to walk away, but Daniel grabbed my arm, holding me back.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice softening. “I had no right to take your phone, or tell you who you should be with, or who you should talk to. I apologize.”

His apology was sincere, and I could feel the tension in the air. We both went to bed that night, the unresolved emotions hanging between us.