character two
1042 Words
Damn it all.
Lately, this restless irritability has been clinging to me like a persistent migraine I can’t shake.
My so-called friends promised me that the strongest liquor, the loudest rock music, and the most exquisite women would cheer me up.
But all I feel is a hollow boredom.
I swirled my crystal glass. The ice cubes clinked against the amber whiskey—a sound that felt cold, sharp, and utterly tedious. The raucous noise outside seemed muffled, separated from me by a thick layer of frosted glass.
The night bled away, the city lights shimmering with a neon glow that felt like nothing more than a grand, empty void.
And then, I saw her. A person I thought I’d never lay eyes on again as long as I lived.
Ha. Daisy?
My "dear" ex-girlfriend.
I thought my heart had turned to stone long ago. But seeing her felt like being struck by a high-voltage current—a searing pain so intense I nearly lost my grip on my glass.
Daisy was there, dressed in a revealing uniform miniskirt, gingerly carrying a fruit platter. She was forcing a smile, trying to please a group of men with lecherous, greasy faces.
Your smile… it’s just like I remembered. And yet, it’s entirely different.
The fog of alcohol in my brain cleared instantly.
Three years ago, back when I was just a naive, foolish kid… I thought you were my entire world.
In my memory, Daisy was sweet—a little ditzy, perhaps. She loved to laugh, and when she did, two small dimples would appear, making her look like a clingy, precious kitten.
We used to bask in the sun on the grass and count stars by the river at night. I was still a student then, juggling multiple part-time jobs just to scrape together enough for our "romantic" dates. I wanted to give her the best. I lived to see that smile—a smile sweeter than honey.
I had already started my first venture back then. In that cramped, dilapidated rental apartment, I fought like hell to build a bright future. Daisy knew I was struggling; she stayed by my side in that tiny room, studying with me, growing with me.
Those were the happiest days of my life, even if we sometimes had nothing but pickles and rice to eat.
I promised her a better life. But she would always shake her head and whisper, "It’s you I love, Caspian. Not things."
Back then, her eyes were reserved only for me, sparkling like a sky full of stars. Her smile literally radiated light. I thought she was the most precious treasure in the universe.
Until the day she told me it was all a lie.
It was our anniversary. She texted me, asking to meet in the park.
I was a nervous, excited wreck, clutching a massive bouquet of red roses I’d prepared days in advance. The petals were still wet with morning dew—just like my hopelessly romantic heart.
But when I arrived, the scene I witnessed shattered me.
Daisy was clinging to another man’s arm, looking at me with a gaze as cold as ice.
My heart felt like it was being put through a paper shredder. I rushed forward, demanding to know why. How could she do this to us? How could she do this to me?
Daisy just tilted her head slightly. "Caspian, you can’t give me the life I want."
She looked at the man beside her. He was wealthy, radiating old money, wearing a bespoke luxury suit and a watch that cost more than my life.
I was still in denial. "No, Daisy. This isn't real, right? You're not that kind of person."
Daisy laughed. But that laugh chilled me to the bone.
"Caspian, people change. I admit I was a fool before. Roses are beautiful, but only bread can fill a stomach."
She tossed the roses I gave her onto the ground like they were trash. Then, she turned her back on me, her black stilettos crushing the broken blooms as she stepped into a Ferrari.
I crawled back to my pathetic rental room, a hollow shell of a man.
I drank until I was surrounded by a sea of empty bottles. My reflection was a joke—I looked like a pathetic clown.
Money. In the end, it was always about the goddamn money.
Liar.
A torrential downpour washed over the city that night. Thunder crashed outside my window, but it couldn't drown out my soul-shattering sobs.
Ha! What a fool I was.
I assumed Daisy went on to live the opulent life she craved. Living in a luxury mansion, draped in silk, swirling a wine glass—a pampered flower of high society.
I laughed until I choked. I laughed and I cried.
The innocent boy died that rainy night.
Since then, I’ve become cold, violent, and paranoid. A complete stranger to my former self. I threw myself into making money with a vengeance. I learned the hard way: money is the only thing that gives you power. Every beautiful promise is bullshit without it.
I hauled myself out of the mud. I’ve seen the moon at 3:00 AM more times than I can count. I chugged bitter coffee, forced myself to master high finance and the art of cutthroat networking. I had to become a mogul.
Hard work paid off. I took the pittance I’d saved from part-time jobs, made a successful investment, and earned my first pot of gold. I used that to start my company. Since then, it’s been a relentless climb. Now, I’m a name on the Billionaire List.
I fought this cruel world with my bare knuckles until I carved out a path of glory.
Without realizing it, I’ve walked a long, lonely road. That woman never reappeared in my world. I thought I’d never have to see her again.
And yet… my soul still feels so damn empty.
- Writer
