Back in my room, my eyes welled with tears—tears I couldn't stop, full of confusion, pain, and heartbreak. My heart beat like a war drum in my chest, loud and unrelenting. I forced a smile when my roommate glanced my way, pretending everything was fine. But nothing was.
Larry's revelation wouldn't stop echoing in my mind. Engaged to Lara. My cousin. My mother's pride.
I plugged in my earphones, hoping music would numb the ache, but every song I shuffled to only seemed to echo the pain louder. Every lyric reminded me that love, even unspoken love, could hurt.
Then my phone buzzed again. Larry.
I stared at the screen, frozen. Maybe this was the best time to end it—before we got in too deep. We hadn't even kissed. Maybe if I pulled away now, I could still save what was left of my sanity.
Cue, sensing my restlessness, curled beside the wall, watching me quietly. Earlier, she had tried to rest her head on my lap, but I'd been too torn up to acknowledge her. Now, she was the only thing that made sense—silent, loyal, present.
I broke. The tears came, silently but uncontrollably. The idea of losing Larry hurt more than I was prepared to admit. Everything I'd been building inside, the quiet hope, the excitement… it all felt like it was crumbling beneath me.
I needed to talk to someone. My eldest brother—maybe he'd understand. Or maybe Ashley, my level-headed friend who always knew what to say when I didn't.
Another message came in from Larry:
"I never meant for things to get this complicated, Uriel. I knew telling you would hurt, but I'm glad it came from me and not someone else. Please… promise you'll talk to me again. And don't let this mess with your exams. I'll be here. No pressure—just don't shut me out completely."
He wasn't blaming anyone. He didn't try to defend himself. He carried the weight alone.
And maybe that's what broke me even more.
I didn't know what the future held, but I knew I had to focus. I had to finish what I started. One thing at a time.
Love could wait. But for now… survival came first.
Here's a refined and polished version of your scene, maintaining your tone, voice, and Uriel's emotional journey while smoothing out the flow for clarity:
The next morning, sleep had barely touched me. I considered skipping class, but something in me needed answers—clarity about last night. About everything.
I texted Ashley, asking if she was free for lunch. Her reply came quickly: "Always." That gave me a sliver of comfort.
I hurriedly got dressed, though my face told the story of my night—swollen eyes from crying myself to sleep. Larry had called. Over and over. Sent messages, too. But I hadn't responded—not because I didn't want to, but because I had no idea what to say.
This was getting too complicated.
I dabbed on makeup to hide the evidence and slipped on a pair of stylish spectacles to avoid too many questions. Still, the weight of it all clung to me on the way to school.
Surprisingly, as I sat in class and waved at Ashley—who had snuck in late and taken her usual seat at the back—the thoughts from yesterday seemed to quiet down. For a moment, I was just another student, learning.
That was until the lecturer signaled for me to meet him after class. Curious, I packed my things while Ashley waited for me by the door.
"Miss Martin," he said, smiling as I approached. "Do you know me?"
"Only as my lecturer," I replied, confused.
He chuckled. "Thought so. I was in the same class as your mother back in college."
My eyes widened. "Really?"
"You're her replica—both in looks and in brains," he added warmly. "I've just graded your pop quiz, and you did impressively well. Keep it up."
I blushed, thanked him, and hurried out to join Ashley.
"Well?" she asked, mouth half-full as we found seats in the canteen.
"He was my mom's classmate. Just sending his greetings and telling me I did well."
"Speaking of greetings," Ashley said between bites, "when are you moving out of the dorms? I can't wait to ride in that sleek sports car of yours! You got your license yet?"
I smirked. "Yeah, after exams I'll move out. No roommates—just me, practicing adulting."
"Oh, you're going to be bored out of your mind," she fired back.
"Not with Cue around."
We both laughed, letting the conversation drift into lighter things for a bit—until silence settled in.
"Ashley…" I started.
"Hmm?" she looked up, curious.
"I want to ask you something. Hypothetically."
"Okay, shoot."
"Would you date someone who was once your cousin's ex-fiancé?"
She froze. "What?"
I hesitated. "I mean… just hypothetically."
"No, no, I heard you the first time," she said, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "That's… complicated. But honestly? If I really loved him, maybe. But I'd be prepared for drama. Especially if the cousin's the dramatic type."
I laughed nervously.
"If I were the cousin, I'm not sure I'd talk to you again," she added. "Depends on the reason they broke up, though. That matters."
Then she stared at me.
"Wait… is that you? The cousin or the girl?"
I shook my head quickly. "No, no. Just something I saw in a show."
She squinted at me. "Mmhmm. Sure."
I smiled faintly, but the truth was weighing heavier than ever.
---
I actually didn't think I needed someone else to spell it out for me. Ashley's words only echoed what I already knew deep down. No matter how much I tried to pretend this was just a complicated crush or a temporary emotion, it wasn't. It was more. And that made it dangerous.
I had to put an end to it.
I could deal with the pain later—cry it out, scream into my pillow, bury myself in schoolwork or take long walks with Cue. But right now, I had to do what was right. For me. For everyone involved.
As Ashley rambled on about an upcoming school party, I zoned out. My fingers moved almost automatically, unlocking my phone. My heart was thudding in my chest as I opened Larry's last message.
"I knew the truth would hurt, but I'm glad you heard it from me. Please don't shut me out. Talk to me, Uriel. Even if it's just to say goodbye."
I stared at the screen for a long time. My thumb hovered over the keyboard, trembling slightly.
Finally, I typed:
"Larry, I care about you more than I want to admit. But I don't think we should keep doing this. Not with everything that's come to light. Not with Lara in the picture. Not with my family involved. Maybe in another life where none of this existed… but not this one."
I hit send.
My breath caught as I stared at the "delivered" notification. My phone buzzed almost instantly, but I didn't check it. I couldn't. Not yet.
Ashley's voice faded back into focus. "You okay?"
I nodded. "I will be."
She looked at me for a moment, then offered a small, understanding smile. "You're stronger than you think."
I returned the smile, weak but genuine. Maybe she was right. Maybe walking away from someone you cared about was the strongest thing you could ever do.
But even as I sat there, pretending to enjoy my lunch, my chest ached like something had been ripped out of me. Like I had just broken my own heart.