My best friend was getting increasingly worked up, so I quickly pulled her out of the ward.
“Go home first. I’ll handle the rest,” I told her gently. “Thanks for being here—but I don’t want you getting dragged into this mess.”
She wanted to say more, but seeing the look on my face, she swallowed her words.
When I returned to the room, Selena was sitting on the bed, holding her face as tears streamed down.
The moment she saw me, her body trembled with fury.
“Why did your friend hit me?” she snapped. “Let me tell you—the person Justin loves is me! If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even qualify to be his wife!”
“Enough! Shut up, Selena!”
It was Justin who shouted this time, his voice sharp, his face pale. For the first time ever, he raised his voice at her.
Selena froze, stunned by his outburst. But soon, she flung the blanket over her head and burst into exaggerated sobs.
Justin looked irritated and turned to me. “Let’s go,” he muttered, leading me out of the room.
“Don’t come see Selena again,” he said coldly once we were outside. “Your friend crossed the line. Stay away from her too.”
His words pierced deep, but by then, my heart had already gone numb.
***
Justin left for the office and not long after, Selena sent word that she wanted to see me.
When I arrived at her ward and was just about to knock, I saw a man inside—someone I didn’t recognize—gently helping her change her clothes.
Selena lay coyly in his arms, her voice soft and sugary.
“I told you, I’m not that badly hurt. You don’t have to keep visiting me. Once I’m discharged, let’s go take our wedding photos.”
I froze.
She had just finalized her divorce—and now she already had a new lover?
Wedding photos?
I turned to leave quietly, but she caught sight of me and came running out.
She stood in front of me, blocking my path.
“You saw everything,” she said, smug. “You’re not going to tell Justin, are you?”
“You’re getting married so soon. Why are you still hanging on to Justin?” I glared at her, voice trembling with anger. “Is it fun to string him along like this?”
Selena burst into laughter. She didn’t even try to hide her amusement.
“I just wanted to prove something,” she sneered. “That if I wanted to, even a genius like Justin would abandon everything for me. Even divorce you. It’s pathetic—you’ve never gotten a sliver of his affection. Pathetic.”
She took a step closer, her eyes filled with scorn.
“Back then, I didn’t even accept his confession. I already had too many boyfriends. He was too dull to even make it into my collection.”
That was the last straw.
The smugness in her voice, the cruelty in her eyes—I couldn’t take it anymore. My hand moved before I could stop it.
Smack.
Selena fell to the ground.
Before I could register what I’d just done, Justin appeared and shoved me hard.
I slammed against the wall, the impact jarring my bones.
He rushed past me and knelt beside Selena, cradling her in his arms.
His face twisted in fury.
“Thalia! You’re hurting Selena again?” he roared. “You know her foot’s injured. How could you hit her that hard?”
Selena whimpered and leaned into his chest, playing the victim.
“Justin, I don’t want to see her. Take me home.”
“Alright.”
Without another word, Justin carried her out of the hospital, shooting me one last look—one filled with disappointment.
I stood there alone, all the strength draining from my body.
What was the point of explaining? He wouldn’t believe me anyway.
There were only three days left until the date of my staged death.
After that, I would vanish from Justin’s life for good.
Back home, I sat alone in the empty room.
I cut up every photo of me and Justin, throwing the pieces into the trash.
All the gifts he had given me—I packed them up and gave them away.
Just as I was preparing for my move, Selena sent me a video.
In it, Justin was gently massaging her ankle, his expression tender and affectionate.
He even lowered his head and kissed her foot.
Watching the video, my heart didn’t even flinch.
Numbly, I blocked Selena, Justin and Benny on Whatsapp and deleted their numbers from my phone.
***
On the day I left, I wore a dress I had never worn before.
As Justin was crossing the street, I ran toward him with all the strength I had left.
The sharp screech of tires filled the air.
Everything seemed to stop in that split second.
As I closed my eyes, I faintly saw Justin drop the bouquet in his hands and dash toward me in a panic.
So, Justin, you can panic over me too…
Too bad it’s far too late.
