Chapitre 18: That Day in the Field

"Today, as you step into the world beyond these walls, remember that success isn't defined by the destination, but by the courage to chase your dreams, the strength to rise after failure, and the heart to keep moving forward, no matter the challenge."

I stood at the back of the sprawling field, listening to Cole's valedictorian speech as the sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the ceremony.

He graduated at the top of his class, and I couldn't have been prouder. In that moment, I felt like a proud mom — cheering and hollering for him from the back. I didn't care if all eyes turned my way. Let them stare.

Beside me, Sophie couldn't resist adding her two cents. "Too bad Cole's graduating just as you're about to enter high school, young lady," she said, her voice filled with that familiar mocking edge.

I crossed my arms, smirking confidently. "It's fine," I shot back, tossing my hair over my shoulder. "He's mine in the end anyway. We'll be getting married as soon as I turn eighteen. It won't be long now."

I felt a rush of excitement as I clutched the small gift in my hands — along with the love letter I had rewritten a hundred times over. This was it, the moment I had imagined for years. As Cole's speech neared its conclusion, my heart raced with anticipation.

He was up there on that stage, looking perfect, commanding the attention of everyone, like he always did. The crowd hung on his every word, but all I could think about was how soon he'd be mine. My fingers tightened around the gift, my secret offering for him. This was my moment too — the one I had been waiting for.

Sophie glanced at me, clearly enjoying my deperation, but I didn't care. All I knew was that after tonight, things were going to change.

When everything ended, I waited patiently on the sidelines.

As always, there was a crowd gathered around Cole. He had that magnetic presence, the kind that drew people in without even trying. Girls hovered around him, offering him gifts, but he brushed them all off.

I stood there, watching, feeling a surge of pride swell inside me. In a few years, he would be mine. Everyone practically knew by now that he was my boyfriend, or so I thought.

I bided my time, slowly making my way toward him. My eyes never left his face. Nothing else mattered. I didn't notice the crowd parting to let me through, nor did I hear the whispers that followed me. It was just me and Cole.

When our eyes finally met, a shiver ran through me. My stomach fluttered with familiar excitement as I drew closer, each step bringing me closer to the moment I had been waiting for. Everything else faded.

The crowd, the noise, the world — it was just Cole.

"Cole," I whispered, my voice soft, vulnerable. "I love you."

I waited for his reaction, hope filling every inch of me. But his expression didn't change. His eyes stayed cold, distant. When he spoke, his voice was deep, commanding, and heartbreakingly indifferent.

"Stop bothering me."

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. His voice echoed across the field, amplified by the microphone clip on his toga. I hadn't even noticed it was on.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't have feelings for you? Stop bothering me," he repeated, the words cutting deeper than any rejection before.

My heart shattered. I was used to his rejections, his indifference. I always smiled through them, laughed them off, made jokes to hide the sting. But this—this was different. The entire field had heard.

Suddenly, I felt all eyes on me. The whispers grew louder, turning into snickers, then outright laughter. My face burned with humiliation. I didn't know where to look, where to hide. And Cole? He just walked away, completely unaffected, as if none of it mattered.

"C-Cole . . ." I called out weakly, my voice trembling. I was used to his coldness, his harsh words, but today, the weight of the mockery was too much. The laughter from the crowd, their cruel smiles — it made me feel sick.

My stomach turned, and before I knew it, I was on my knees, retching. The world around me spun as the tears I refused to let fall burned behind my eyes.