📖 Chapter 12 — The Girl He Was Losing
1395 Words
Maya couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan’s question.
Do you think I’m too late?
It replayed in her mind the entire night.
Not because she wanted it to.
Because it felt unfinished.
She sat near the hostel window while soft music played quietly from Ada’s phone across the room.
Ada looked up from her bed almost immediately. “You’re thinking again.”
Maya sighed softly. “Maybe.”
“About who?”
Maya gave her a look.
Ada gasped dramatically. “Oh my God. It’s Ethan.”
“It’s not like that.”
“But it is about him.”
Maya leaned her head against the wall slightly. “He asked me something yesterday.”
Ada sat up immediately. “What?”
Maya hesitated before answering quietly.
“He asked if he was too late.”
Ada blinked once.
Then twice.
Then finally: “OH.”
Maya laughed despite herself. “Please calm down.”
“No, because this is serious.” Ada pointed at her dramatically. “That boy is entering his regret era properly now.”
Maya looked away again.
The strange thing was…
A few weeks ago, hearing something like that from Ethan would’ve made her heart race.
Now?
It mostly made her tired.
Not because she hated him.
But because she remembered how badly she once wanted him to choose her willingly.
And now that he finally seemed affected…
She wasn’t sure she had the same feelings anymore.
—
The next morning, campus felt unusually alive.
Students rushed through hallways discussing assignments, gossip, relationships—normal chaos.
Maya walked beside Daniel toward class while holding a cup of coffee carefully.
“You look distracted today,” Daniel observed.
Maya glanced at him. “Do I?”
“A little.”
She sighed softly. “I’m just tired.”
Daniel looked at her for a moment before speaking again.
“Is it him?”
Maya slowed slightly.
Then smiled faintly. “You’re observant.”
“I try.”
She looked ahead quietly.
“I think he regrets everything now.”
Daniel nodded slowly, unsurprised.
“And how do you feel about that?” he asked gently.
Maya thought carefully before answering.
“I used to dream about it.”
Daniel stayed quiet, letting her continue.
“I wanted him to realize my worth so badly.” Her voice softened slightly. “But now that it’s happening… it doesn’t feel the way I thought it would.”
Daniel looked at her carefully.
“That’s because healing changes people.”
Maya glanced at him again.
“You always know what to say.”
A small smile appeared on his face. “Not always.”
But Maya noticed something in his expression then.
Something quieter.
Careful.
Almost like he was constantly measuring how much space he should take in her life.
And somehow…
That made her chest tighten slightly.
—
Meanwhile, Ethan sat in class barely paying attention again.
His eyes drifted toward Maya instinctively.
Like always now.
She sat beside Daniel, listening while he explained something quietly to her.
Then she smiled.
And Ethan felt it again.
That sharp uncomfortable feeling in his chest.
Jealousy.
Real jealousy.
Not irritation.
Not curiosity.
Jealousy.
His friend leaned toward him slightly. “You look miserable.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, seriously. This is painful to watch.”
Ethan frowned. “What is?”
“You.”
His friend glanced toward Maya knowingly. “You’re one step away from writing poetry.”
Ethan rolled his eyes immediately. “Shut up.”
But he looked again anyway.
And the worst part?
Maya looked genuinely happy.
Not pretending.
Not forcing herself.
Actually okay.
And somehow, Ethan realized something terrifying in that moment.
Life had continued for her.
Without him.
—
After lectures, Maya headed toward the library alone this time while Daniel went to submit an assignment.
The campus felt calmer in the afternoon heat, quieter than usual.
She liked moments like this now.
Peaceful moments.
Moments where her mind wasn’t consumed by heartbreak.
As she reached the library stairs, a voice stopped her.
“Maya.”
She turned slowly.
Ethan.
Again.
Something about his expression looked different today.
Less guarded.
More exhausted.
“You keep appearing everywhere,” Maya said lightly.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. “I think that’s your line.”
She almost smiled back.
Almost.
“What’s up?” she asked calmly.
Ethan hesitated before speaking.
“Can we sit somewhere?”
Maya studied him for a moment.
Then surprisingly…
She nodded.
—
They sat outside near the quieter side of campus where fewer students passed.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Ethan exhaled softly.
“I’ve been thinking a lot lately.”
Maya raised a brow slightly. “That sounds dangerous.”
A quiet laugh escaped him unexpectedly.
And for a second, things almost felt normal.
Almost.
Ethan looked at her carefully afterward.
“You know… I didn’t realize how much you were part of my life until you stopped being there.”
Maya stayed silent.
Not because she didn’t care.
Because she needed him to keep talking.
“I got used to you,” he admitted quietly. “Too used to you.”
Something in his voice sounded painfully honest now.
Maya looked down briefly.
Ethan continued slowly, like each word took effort.
“You were always there. Always caring. Always looking at me like I mattered.”
“You did matter,” Maya said softly before she could stop herself.
Ethan’s chest tightened immediately at those words.
Did.
Past tense.
He noticed it instantly.
And clearly… so did she.
Maya looked away slightly after realizing it.
But Ethan couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Because maybe that was exactly the problem now.
Maybe he used to matter more to her than he did now.
And that terrified him.
“I messed up,” he said quietly.
Maya exhaled softly.
“Yes,” she replied honestly.
No sugarcoating.
No pretending.
Just truth.
Ethan nodded slowly like he deserved that answer.
Because he did.
“I didn’t think rejecting you would affect me this much.”
Maya laughed softly then.
Not cruelly.
Just sadly.
“That’s because you never thought I’d stop loving you.”
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Ethan looked at her immediately.
Because she was right again.
Some part of him had assumed her feelings would always stay there waiting for him.
And now?
He wasn’t sure anymore.
“Maya…”
She shook her head gently. “I’m not saying that to hurt you.”
“I know.”
“I’m saying it because it’s true.”
Her voice stayed calm.
But calm honesty somehow hurt more than anger.
Ethan leaned back slightly, staring ahead.
For the first time in years, he felt uncertain around someone.
Not confident.
Not admired.
Just… vulnerable.
And Maya noticed.
—
“Can I ask you something?” Ethan said after a while.
Maya nodded slowly.
“Do you really like Daniel?”
There it was again.
Daniel.
Maya thought about the question carefully before answering.
“I like being around him.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened slightly.
“And he likes you.”
It wasn’t a question.
Maya looked at him quietly. “Maybe.”
Something painful crossed Ethan’s expression before disappearing quickly.
Because deep down…
He already knew.
Daniel looked at Maya the same way she once looked at him.
Carefully.
Gently.
Like she was someone worth protecting.
And Ethan hated how much he noticed that.
—
Maya stood up slowly after a while.
“I should go.”
Ethan looked up at her immediately. “Do you always leave first now?”
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
Maya blinked slightly.
Then a small smile appeared on her lips.
Not mocking.
Just knowing.
“Maybe I learned my lesson.”
That line hit directly.
Ethan felt it instantly.
Because he understood exactly what she meant.
She used to stay.
Now she knew how to walk away.
Maya adjusted her bag carefully.
Then after a brief pause, she said softly:
“I really did love you, Ethan.”
His chest tightened painfully.
Because he believed her completely.
Every word.
Every feeling.
Every moment.
“But I’m starting to love myself more now.”
And with that…
She walked away.
Leaving Ethan sitting there alone with the full weight of everything he almost destroyed.
- Writer
