Rejected Proposal from Ex

On the day I was invited to the centennial celebration of my alma mater, I bumped into my first love, Kellan Knight. After delivering a speech as an alumni representative, he made a theatrical display by presenting a diamond ring to me in front of everyone.

"You once joked about making a wedding ring out of thorny roses for me. Now it's my turn to propose. Alicia, will you marry me?"

The auditorium was buzzing with excitement. Everyone seemed to be waiting for me to tearfully agree. After all, back in college, I had pursued him so zealously, capturing everyone's attention.

But everyone seemed to have forgotten. During my senior year, my final design project was falsely accused of plagiarizing Nyra Garza. Kellan knew the truth, yet he turned against me, accusing me of plagiarism.

At a press conference, as the brand spokesperson, he announced the end of our collaboration and initiated a boycott against me across the industry. That infamous day, I left and moved far away.

Now that I'm back, his friends are begging me:

"Kellan has been waiting for you all these years. Even when you supposedly tarnished his reputation back then, he always cared about you. He even made a fuss in the dean's office just to ensure you got your diploma. Alicia, Kellan really loves you."

"Can you stop fiddling with your phone and give me an answer?" Jonah Romero, his friend, sounded slightly irked as he watched me ignore his pleas. I calmly put down my phone and looked at him indifferently.

"Sure, Kellan comes from a privileged background, but he hates being treated differently because of it. Even though his father is a trustee, he's never used his father’s position for personal gain. Yet, for your diploma, he made such a big scene in the dean's office that he almost got a serious reprimand!

"Alicia Fisher, do you have any heart at all? Are you really unmoved by all he's done?"

Jonah was visibly frustrated, recounting past events as if my lack of emotion was some grave offense. I slightly furrowed my brows and scanned the room. The alumni who had been observing the scene quickly turned their gazes away as if oblivious, though in truth, they were all eager for what came next.

The plagiarism incident was such a humiliating affair that even seven years later, I could still see the disdain etched on their faces. Today was no different; I had only intended to step backstage to prepare for the celebration when Jonah intercepted me with his never-ending chatter.

I wasn't sure if Jonah was speaking out of friendship, upset that I had left without a word seven years ago, or if he'd been urged to convince me because he knew I’d be here. But to me, none of it mattered anymore.

I sighed softly. "What am I supposed to feel? It's all ancient history."

Perhaps my response didn’t align with Jonah's expectations. He furrowed his brows and stared at me in confusion.

I knew why he looked at me that way. After all, in my freshman year, I pursued Kellan Knight so passionately for three months that I shocked the entire college.

When I learned Kellan liked stargazing at the observatory, I went to great lengths to find meteorite fragments and crafted a star necklace for him. To spend more time with him, I risked penalties for not returning to my dorm on time by constantly "passing by" the law library, keeping him company during his night studies.

One stormy night, I heard he had a fever, so I sneaked out past curfew to buy him medicine and ended up with a broken right hand. When he asked why, I laughed it off, claiming I wanted to test my own resilience.

Kellan knew exactly why I’d broken my hand, yet he listened quietly to my fibs. It was also that night that he agreed to be my boyfriend.

Once together, he gave me a moon bracelet, saying we were meant to be. To stop my "accidental meetings," he even gave up his habit of night studying. And, to ensure I could still enjoy my favorite pulled pork with a broken hand, he, who never frequented the cafeteria, patiently queued up, enduring the hustle.

Each small gesture was like a seed that took root in my heart, growing into a towering tree. I thought this tree of love would flourish with happiness.

But Nyra Garza’s arrival began to wither it rapidly.

At first, Kellan was clear that Nyra was just someone his father had paired him with for business convenience. He assured me his heart was with me. As the sole heir to the Knight family, he had the power to reject anything undesirable and told me not to worry.

I believed him. So, I never saw Nyra as a threat. Yet, over time, I noticed he began arriving late for our dates, forgetting our anniversaries. And once he started taking on responsibilities at Knight Jewelers, he and Nyra frequently attended charity events together, seeming unconcerned with how intimate the news reports made them look.

After I complained, he seemed to make some effort. But then I saw a news article that claimed he'd been adjusting Nyra’s pearl earrings backstage at a jewelry exhibition.

On Valentine's Day, he promised to make it up to me, only to stand me up for a last-minute meeting. I waited at the revolving restaurant until closing time, only to see a social media post from Nyra showing them smiling together in business class.

Faced with the slew of congratulatory comments below the post, I lost all nerve to confront him about it. The next day, Kellan brought my favorite strawberry milkshake to the design department to see me. Seeing my swollen eyes, he showed no concern, instead impatiently smashing the milkshake bottle.

"Alicia Fisher, I’ve reassured you countless times, the one in my heart is you. Nyra and I are just compatible business partners. Must you persist with these endless tears?

"Do you even understand how suffocating you make me feel?"

Tears welled up, and I quietly asked him, "I never said why I was crying. Are you admitting you’ve grown close to Nyra Garza?"

Kellan froze, frowning as he looked at me. "You're just being irrational!"