You've Been in My Mind (English)

Between Love and Obligation

"Marriage? Us? Do you hear yourself right now?" Ester blurted out, eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Adrian. They stood in the middle of the campus courtyard, students bustling around them, but all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart. It had been a week since that family dinner with Elleri, the night Adrian realized his father had basically signed his future away.

Since stepping out of military life, Adrian had moved quickly—too quickly, in her opinion. Enrolling at the university was one thing, but now this? A proposal?

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his furrowed brows. "Why are you reacting like this? Did I say something wrong?"

Ester let out an exasperated laugh, crossing her arms. "No, Adrian, you didn’t. But you just got out of the military, and now you’re suddenly talking about marriage like it’s a life-or-death decision. Shouldn’t you at least take some time to— I don’t know—breathe?"

"I don’t have time," he admitted, stepping closer. "I have my reasons, Ester. I just need to know—can I count on you? Are you willing to be with me? I know you love me, just like I love you."

Ester softened at his words, eyes searching his face. Of course she loved him—she had for years. But love wasn’t the only thing that mattered. She reached out, cupping his face gently, her thumb brushing against his jawline. "You know I love you, Adrian. You always have."

He exhaled, relief washing over his tense features.

"But," she continued, her voice quieter now, filled with hesitation, "I’ve also waited my whole life for this career. This is my chance—my dream. The entertainment industry isn’t easy, you know that. I finally got my foot in the door. I can’t just drop everything because of… this."

Adrian’s jaw tightened, his desperation creeping in. He wasn’t just asking for her love—he was asking her to save him. To be his escape.

He took her hands in his, gripping them tightly, as if he could somehow hold onto her before she slipped away. "Let me ask you this. And I’ll only ask once." His voice was raw, urgent.

"Adrian, please—don’t do this." Ester’s voice trembled slightly, her fingers tightening around his hand. She knew where this conversation was headed, and she wasn’t ready for it. "Don’t make me choose."

Adrian held his breath, watching her, searching her face for hesitation—doubt. Anything that could give him an opening.

"You know I love you," she continued, voice soft, pleading. She reached out, cupping his hand in both of hers, the warmth of her touch steadying him.

He swallowed hard. "Then tell me, Ester—am I more important to you than your career?" He didn’t want to sound like he was forcing her to decide, but at this point, what choice did he have?

For years, he had been sure of her love. Even when he was stationed at the military base, away from everything familiar, she had promised him—no matter when he asked, her answer would always be yes. She was his person. His future.

But now that he was here, standing in front of her, her answer didn’t come so easily.

Ester sighed, glancing away for a brief second before looking back at him, her expression torn. "Adrian… you know I’d go anywhere with you."

A flicker of hope sparked in his chest, but it quickly faded as she continued.

"But we’re still young. There’s so much ahead of us. Our lives are just beginning—why does this have to happen right now?"

"I have my reasons," he admitted, voice tight. "And if we don’t take this chance now, we might never get another one."

Ester hesitated, emotions swirling in her eyes—love, uncertainty, guilt.

"I want to be with you. But…" She took a deep breath, knowing this next part would hurt. "I already signed a contract. With an entertainment company. Five years."

Adrian felt his heart sink. Five years. He didn’t even have a week.

"Can you wait for me?" she asked softly, searching his face for understanding. "There’s so much I still need to do, so much I want to accomplish." If you love me, you’ll wait… right?"

He wished he could. God, he wished waiting was an option. But it wasn’t.

Still, he couldn’t tell her—not without risking everything.

She smiled, trying to ease his worry, squeezing his hand. "After five years, I’ll marry you anywhere. Any church, any time. But not now, okay?"

Adrian could barely process her words before she was already glancing at her watch.

"I have a photoshoot—I need to go." She leaned in quickly, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. "I’ll see you later."

And just like that, she was gone.

Adrian stood frozen, watching her disappear into the crowd, feeling like the ground beneath him had just shifted.

Adrian knew deep down that if he told his family the truth—that he loved someone else, that he wanted to marry someone else—they would accept his decision. They wouldn’t force him into anything, not really.

But how could he even bring it up when the woman he wanted—the only woman he wanted—was choosing her career over him?

The thought weighed heavy on him as he stood there, watching Ester walk away, leaving him rooted in place like the world had suddenly stopped moving.

Elleri, meanwhile, was on her way to class when she spotted them. She slowed her pace, eyes flicking toward Adrian and Ester, catching the intensity of their expressions. It wasn’t unusual to see them together, but something about the way Adrian stood frozen after Ester left caught her attention.

She hesitated for a moment before walking toward him, a bright smile on her face. "Adrian!"

The sound of her voice pulled him from his daze, and as he turned to look at her, realization dawned—she and Ester were in the same university.

Elleri stopped in front of him, her expression open and curious. "Did you submit your college application? How did it go? Were you accepted into the faculty you wanted?"

She spoke quickly, her enthusiasm evident, but Adrian barely reacted. He just stood there, staring at her.

Elleri tilted her head, amusement flickering across her features. "Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something you want to say?"

Adrian exhaled heavily, shaking his head slightly as if trying to clear his thoughts. Then, without warning, he asked, "Would you want to marry me?"

Her smile faltered. What?

She blinked, eyes locking onto his, searching for any hint of sarcasm—any sign that he was joking. But Adrian wasn’t joking.

She wasn’t an i***t. Of course, he’d hesitate to marry her. After all, who would willingly agree to spend their life with someone they didn’t love?

Certainly not Adrian.

Elleri swallowed, forcing herself to keep her tone neutral despite the sting in her chest. "Even if we get married, Adrian, it’ll only be on paper. We both know that. Your heart belongs to someone else."

Adrian clenched his jaw. "Just be straight with me, Elleri. You don’t want to marry me, do you?"

She let out a short laugh, but it had no humor. "Do you want to marry me?" she shot back. "I mean, we barely even get along. We argue more than anything. If we end up stuck in a marriage without love, we’ll both regret it for the rest of our lives."

He didn’t argue. He knew she was right.

Elleri sighed, crossing her arms. "But still… can you really go against your family? Even now, they still think they owe my family a debt of gratitude. Are you really willing to turn your back on that?"

"You really know how to piss me off," Adrian muttered, his voice edged with frustration as he shot Elleri a sharp look.

She raised an eyebrow, arms crossed over her chest. "What? What did I even do? I’m just saying things as they are."

"And that," Adrian exhaled sharply, shaking his head, "is exactly why I could never see you as a woman." Without another word, he turned on his heel and started walking away.

Elleri blinked, momentarily stunned, before snapping out of it and rushing after him. "What? Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?"

Her voice carried after him, but Adrian didn’t stop. He didn’t turn around. He just kept walking, disappearing beyond the gate without so much as a glance back.

She sighed, watching him go, irritation bubbling inside her chest. "Still the same short-tempered idiot."

Glancing down at the papers in her hand, she frowned, shifting them slightly in her grasp. "I really need to get this done, or Lola will throw a fit."

The transfer documents sat heavily in her grip—a reminder that her grandmother had already decided everything for her. The plan was set. If she married Adrian, she would transfer to another university. Simple as that.

The problem was… would this marriage even happen?

Her so-called groom seemed like he was having second thoughts.

She let out another sigh, staring at the documents, then toward the gate Adrian had walked through.