He promised me a future, and then he married someone else Novel – Elowen Voss was in love with her brother’s best friend. A forbidden love, because he was six years older. That’s why she hid her feelings. She treaded carefully for years. Until one afternoon, under the dim light, she couldn’t resist stealing a kiss while he was drunk. She tried to pull away, but his gaze caught her and held her the instant his eyes snapped open. He languidly raised his eyelids, a mocking smile on his lips. —Trying to get a free lesson, little one? Sorry, I don’t date girls your age. Her face turned bright red, but she mustered her courage. Is it because I’m too young? It doesn’t matter. I’ll grow up! He paused, puzzled for a moment, then let out a low laugh. —Okay then.
Look me up when you’re twenty-two. If you still feel the same way, I’ll… consider it. Her heart raced. From that day on, she clung to his side, counting down the days until her twenty-second birthday. Eager to claim his promise, she went to find him, only to be stopped outside the private room by the crying of a baby. Frozen for a few seconds, she peered through the half-open door and saw Soren Hale rocking a crying baby, trying to soothe it. His circle of friends sat around, covering their ears, their expressions utterly tormented. —Soren, that’s tough. Just to disappoint the girl, you went so far as to borrow a baby to pretend you’re a father? Elowen’s mind went blank, with a buzzing sound. “What else was I going to do?” Soren’s voice had that familiar laziness. “He turns twenty-two today, he’s here to collect on that old promise.” —Do you really dislike Elowen that much? She’s actually a great girl: pretty, sweet, and totally devoted to you… “It’s not a question of whether I like him or not,” Soren’s voice lowered, becoming serious. “You all know who has always been in my heart.” The room was silent for a moment before bursting into laughter of understanding. —Liora! No wonder… I’m telling you, you’re overthinking it.
With a face like yours, who wouldn’t fall in love? Do you think Liora would say no? You just care about her too much. “All these years, I’ve been too afraid to say anything, in case it ruined our friendship. And now, with Elowen… it’s actually the perfect opportunity.” Soren’s voice held a smile. “I told Liora that a young girl has been clinging to me and I didn’t know how to get rid of her. I asked Liora to pretend to be my girlfriend for a while. Then, we’d show up together with this borrowed baby in front of Elowen, and even stage a wedding ceremony. That way, not only would Elowen give in, but it would also bring Liora and me closer. After the fake wedding, I’d confess my feelings to her right there.” Upon hearing Soren’s plan to kill two birds with one stone, the group was impressed, unable to help but applaud the plan. Amid the burst of laughter, no one noticed Elowen standing outside the private room. The cake box slipped from her hand, hitting the floor with a thud. She no longer had the courage to open the door. Tears streamed down her face as she turned and ran out, her mind in a frenzy. Outside the club, the rain was pouring down.
Elowen ran quickly, not caring that the downpour was soaking the dress she had chosen with such care. So that was it. He had never liked it. Eight years… and it had all been a dream. Her dream. It started when she was fourteen. One day after school, her brother hadn’t come to pick her up. A group of neighborhood thugs cornered her in an alley. It was Soren, who happened to be passing by, who intervened and chased them off. Her eyes were swollen from crying so much. Soren threw his jacket at her and gave her two chocolates, teasing her with a smile. —You little crybaby, you even have snot bubbles. Your dear brother is still on the basketball court. Come on, I’ll take you home. That day, Elowen tasted the sweetest chocolate of his life, and for the first time, he fell in love with someone. Thanks to her brother Kai, she was able to see Soren almost every day. A young girl’s infatuation grew uncontrollably, like a wildfire. She learned to make homemade lunches, preparing more than a dozen for Kai to take to Aurora Bay High School… all so that Soren might eat something she’d made. She found ways to learn his preferences, meticulously preparing gifts for every holiday, taking every opportunity to give them to him. She turned down a chance to study abroad, choosing to stay in Aurora Bay… all to wait until she turned twenty-two… She had waited eight years, believing that she could finally be with him as she wished.
But only today did Elowen realize that her affection had never been anything but a burden and a nuisance to Soren. He didn’t know how long he ran before he calmed down enough to pull out his phone with trembling hands and call his brother Kai. “Kai,” her voice broke, “I’ve thought it through. I’m willing to go study abroad. And that… good friend of yours you mentioned last time, I’m also willing to meet him.” Over the years, everyone in their circle knew that Elowen was pursuing Soren. Whenever Kai saw her trying so hard, he seemed like he wanted to say something but held back. Then he would subtly try to set her up with other boys, hoping she would forget about Soren completely. This good friend abroad was already the eighteenth guy Kai had introduced her to. Kai had said that this friend was tall and handsome, no less impressive than Soren. And since she was studying design, going abroad for a few years was perfect… Thinking about it now, he probably knew all along that Soren’s heart belonged to someone else and was using this method to help her cut losses in time.
There was a brief silence on the other end. —Do you… know everything? “Do you really love Liora Thorne that much?” Elowen closed his eyes, rain and tears mingling on his cheeks. -…Yeah. “Then I wish him all the happiness he seeks,” she said, wiping her face. “And I’ll do what he wants. He’ll stop liking me.” Back home, Elowen mechanically opened his suitcase and began packing his clothes. His phone vibrated, the screen lit up. Soren: [Why didn’t you come?] She stared at the message for a long time, until a second one immediately followed. Soren: [Look, I have a girlfriend now. We even have a baby, and we’re getting married soon. Turn the page, Elowen. Already.] Then, she sent two photos: one of a baby’s tiny foot, the other of an exquisitely designed wedding invitation. Elowen stared at the screen for a long time, then typed just one word: [Okay.] After sending it, she tossed the phone onto the bed, then retrieved a metal box from deep within a drawer. It was filled with movie tickets, amusement park passes, a piece of his basketball jersey she’d secretly kept, the stuffed animal he’d won for her—all mementos from her eight years with Soren.
Taking the box outside, he turned it upside down without a moment’s hesitation, emptying all of its contents into the trash can.