Broken, Not Forgotten
630 Words
*CHAPTER. 12
Avoiding You
Harper
I barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Rowan standing outside my front door, holding the watch I'd returned to him.
His tear-filled eyes.
His trembling voice.
"I'm not giving up."
I pulled the blanket over my head, desperate to silence my thoughts.
Why did loving someone have to hurt this much?
...
Monday morning arrived far too quickly.
I stood in front of my bedroom mirror, staring at my reflection.
My eyes were still swollen from crying.
No amount of makeup could hide it.
I grabbed my backpack and headed to campus.
The moment I walked through the university gates, my stomach tightened.
What if he was here?
What if he tried to talk to me again?
No.
I wasn't ready.
As I crossed the courtyard, I noticed him.
Leaning against a tree.
His eyes immediately found mine.
For one brief second, neither of us moved.
Then he started walking toward me.
"Harper!"
My heart skipped a beat.
Without thinking, I turned around and walked in the opposite direction.
"Harper, please!"
I didn't stop.
His footsteps echoed behind me.
"Just listen to me!"
I kept walking faster.
Finally, I reached my classroom and slipped inside before he could catch up.
The professor walked in just seconds later.
Rowan remained outside the room.
Watching me through the glass.
...
During lunch, Lizy, Lara, and Matías sat across from me in the cafeteria.
None of them touched their food.
Lizy sighed.
"You've been avoiding him all morning."
I kept staring at my tray.
"I'm avoiding getting hurt again."
Matías rested his elbows on the table.
"Harper... we've known Rowan for months now."
"So?"
"So this doesn't feel like him."
I looked up.
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying maybe there's something you don't know."
I shook my head.
"I don't care anymore."
"But—"
"No, Matías."
The table fell silent.
Lara finally spoke.
"We're not asking you to forgive him."
"Then what are you asking?"
"Just... don't close the door forever."
I swallowed hard.
"I already did."
...
Across campus...
Rowan sat alone on a bench, absentmindedly turning the small gift box over in his hands.
He hadn't eaten all day.
His phone buzzed.
Matías:
Meet us behind the library after class.
Rowan frowned.
Why?
Matías:
Because we're trying to help two stubborn people who are obviously still in love.
...
After classes ended, Rowan walked toward the back of the library.
Lizy, Lara, and Matías were already waiting.
"You came," Lara said.
"I'd do anything if it means getting Harper back."
Matías crossed his arms.
"Then tell us everything."
Rowan hesitated.
"There isn't much to tell."
"Start from the beginning," Lizy said gently.
He looked down at the ground.
"I met Valeria when we were in high school."
"We dated."
"When she left the country... she disappeared."
"No calls."
"No messages."
"Nothing."
"I waited for months."
"When I finally accepted she wasn't coming back... I moved on."
"And then I met Harper."
A small smile appeared on his face before quickly fading.
"I never imagined Valeria would come back."
"Or that she'd try to destroy everything."
Lara exchanged a worried glance with the others.
"If you're telling the truth..."
"We'll help you prove it."
Rowan looked at them in surprise.
"Why?"
"Because Harper is our best friend."
"And if someone is manipulating her..."
"We're going to find out."
For the first time in days...
Rowan felt a tiny spark of hope.
He wasn't alone anymore.
But none of them noticed the girl standing behind a nearby tree.
Watching everything.
Valeria.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"So..." she whispered.
"They're starting to investigate."
She slipped her phone into her pocket.
"I guess it's time for the next move."
- Writer
