Chapter 28 Her Relentless Effort
Under the dappled summer sunlight, Brian’s voice carried a warmth that made Rachel’s chest tighten.
“Tracy, we’ll be in the same university soon. Once we’re in college, be my girlfriend,
okay? I promise…”
Rachel never heard the rest. If she hadn’t been crouched behind the thick trunk of a
tree, she never would have caught his tender words.
She realized that Brian hadn’t failed his exams after all. Every choice he had made–all his sacrifices, all his compromises–had been for someone else. He had someone he liked. And he loved that woman deeply.
Rachel couldn’t even begin to put her feelings into words.
It was as if something inside her had been torn apart, the raw edges burning as though
rubbed with salt.
She
spun around and ran. Faster. Farther.
She had no idea how long she kept running–only that, by the time she finally stopped, the ice cream in her hand had completely melted.
The pink liquid dripped onto her white dress, splattering like drops of blood from a
wounded heart.
That day, she had spent every cent of her pocket money on the prettiest dress she could find, just in case she ran into him.
And in the end, she felt like the biggest fool.
As she sprinted uphill, her foot caught on an uneven patch of ground.
She stumbled, and the ice cream smeared across her face as she crashed onto the rough pavement.
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Jagged stones bit into her skin, but she felt nothing.
The only thing that mattered was that the boy she loved already had someone else in
his heart.
And to him, she was nothing more than a stranger–someone without a name.
When her senior year began, she buried herself in her studies.
She stayed up until one in the morning, then dragged herself out of bed at five- running on only four hours of sleep.
In the sweltering summer, whenever exhaustion crept in, she ran laps on the track until sweat drenched her clothes. Then she’d go right back to her books.
In the biting winter, when drowsiness clouded her mind, she splashed ice–cold water on her face, then plunged her hands into a freezing basin until the pain jolted her awake. That sharp sting fueled her determination.
And she endured. For an entire year, she never once tried to see Brian again.
Then, just days before her college entrance exams, she did something reckless- something completely out of character. She requested a leave of absence.
It was her first time traveling far from home. Her first time boarding a train.
She stood for a day and a night, her legs swelling and her feet going numb, before transferring to one bus after another.
Finally, she arrived at the gates of his university.
She had no phone number, no way to contact him.
The only thing she could do was wait and watch.
But an entire day slipped by, and she stood at the university gate, watching the constant flow of students until her eyes ached from searching. Yet, no matter how long she waited, she never caught sight of him.
Later, she scoured the school’s bulletin boards one by one, her heart pounding with anticipation. Finally, she found his name–listed among the top–performing students.
In the small framed photo beside it, Brian wore a crisp white shirt. His features had grown even more refined, his expression poised and self–assured.
A whole year had passed–365 days, 8, 760 hours.
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And in that time, he had changed.
He looked older, sharper, more confident.
The boyish innocence in his gaze had faded, replaced by the quiet maturity of a young
man.
The moment her eyes landed on the picture, tears welled up. Before she knew it, they spilled over.
A stranger passing by noticed her crying and handed her a tissue. “Miss, are you okay? Why are you crying so much?”
Rachel wiped her tears and forced a smile, shaking her head.
“No,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “I’m not crying. I’m happy.”
How she wished, one day, her photo could appear beside Brian’s.
Beneath the picture, Brian’s class information was printed.
With a renewed sense of purpose, she quickly made her way there.
As soon as the bell rang, she fixed her gaze on the classroom door.
She held her breath, heart racing with every person who stepped out.
But as the crowd thinned, her excitement dimmed.
One by one, almost everyone had left.
The classroom was empty. Only then did she step away, her shoulders slumping in
disappointment.
No, that couldn’t be right. The bulletin board information had to be accurate.
Brian was definitely in this class.
Panic surged through her, and without thinking, she rushed forward, grabbing the arm of a passing student. “Excuse me,” she blurted out, struggling to steady her breath.
“I… I need to ask something.” Her fingers tightened slightly. “Why wasn’t Brian White here today?”
The guy looked surprised but answered casually, “Oh, he left for a competition. He won’t be back until tomorrow.”
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Tomorrow? Her stomach dropped.
But by then, she barely had any money left.
She had planned to catch the train back tonight, right after seeing him.
If she stayed another day, she wouldn’t even have enough for a place to sleep.
What was she supposed to do?
Anxiously, she paced back and forth, her hands clenching into fists.
After some hesitation, she made her way to the train station, rescheduled her ticket, and used her last bit of cash to buy the cheapest meal on the menu.
The 24–hour restaurant’s air conditioning was freezing.
By the second half of the night, she was curled up in her chair, trembling from the cold.
The endless night finally gave way to dawn.
As soon as the first light touched the sky, she got up and headed straight for the school.
This time, Brian was the first to step out of the classroom.
Dressed in a light blue T–shirt and crisp white pants, his outfit radiated an effortless charm. His short haircut framed his features, emphasizing the sharp lines of his
youthful masculinity.
The moment Rachel saw him, her pulse went wild, hammering against her ribs in a chaotic rhythm.
She inhaled deeply. Then again. Then again.
Just as she finally worked up the nerve to approach, a girl suddenly stepped in front of
him.
She was dressed in Victorian–inspired doll–like fashion, her frilly outfit delicate and intricate. With her hands clenched into nervous fists, she hesitated before speaking.
“Brian, I…”
Her voice wavered, her cheeks burning red as she forced herself to continue. “I’m Amber Mitchell. I–I really like you. Can I have your-”
She never got to finish.
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“No.” His response was swift and firm, cutting through the air like a blade.
There wasn’t a second of hesitation, not even the slightest trace of warmth.
“My heart belongs to someone else already,” he said flatly. Then, with a final, dismissive glance, he added, “And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t bother me again. Goodbye.”
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
That day, Rachel remained hidden in the background, unable to summon the courage to
face him.
Yet, just seeing him–even from afar–left her with a bittersweet kind of satisfaction.
On the train ride home, she stood for another endless day and night.
But her determination only burned stronger.
She wanted to attend the same school as him.
Even if she couldn’t be his girlfriend, she just wanted the chance to see him now and
then.
Not much–just once a month would be enough.
Eventually, her relentless effort paid off. She was admitted into his university.
Jerking awake from a dream, Rachel blinked against the dim light, her lashes damp with lingering tears.
Her phone vibrated with a new message from Brian. “All department managers are attending this year’s welcome party. You should come too. It’s a good chance to connect with everyone.”
Rachel let out a bitter smile as she typed her reply.
“Is this really about helping me connect, or are you just helping Tracy?”
The moment she hit send, her phone lit up with an incoming call.
It was Brian.
This time, before he could speak, Rachel cut in first. “Jeffrey misses me. I need to go to
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