Chapter 1089
Since Anika had accepted his proposal, Marcel decided to strike while the iron was hot, afraid she might change her mind. The very next day, he had his agent announce the engagement on Facebook and even tagged Anika’s account.
With Anika’s consent, the news spread quickly and became the talk of the town, igniting a frenzy online. Within three hours, it shot to the top of the trending searches. The sudden surge in traffic nearly overwhelmed the platform’s servers.
Their comment sections flooded with messages. Most people offered congratulations and well-wishes. Though a few dissenting fans voiced objections, most already knew about Marcel’s long-standing devotion to Anika.
The media caught on, too, and the spotlight immediately swung toward the couple’s upcoming wedding. With Marcel’s celebrity status, their engagement dominated entertainment headlines.
Meanwhile, Jared had returned to his life as a volunteer teacher in the mountains. Although he was pleased with the new classroom, he was no longer the talkative person he used to be. He kept to himself more often, leaving his thoughts a mystery to those around him.
One evening, Jared’s colleagues were watching TV when a report about Marcel and Anika’s engagement appeared.
As Jared stared at the screen, his heart ached.
He had lost the love of his life, and now she was going to marry someone else.
The longer he watched, the more distressed he became. He grabbed a can of beer beside him and took a long swig—one of the few temporary ways he had found to cope since Anika left him.
“Jared.”
A voice called from outside. It was a fellow volunteer teacher, a friend who had come to check on him. Her name was Liza.
Liza knocked, then realized the door wasn’t fully closed. She heard a faint sound from inside, which made her pause. When she stepped in, she found Jared draining a can of beer, eyes fixed on the television. The news of Marcel and Anika’s engagement was still playing.
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“Jared, are you alright?” Liza asked, her eyes full of concern. She walked over and rested a hand on his shoulder.
But the moment she saw what was on the TV, she understood why he was in that state. Her heart ached for him, knowing how deeply he had loved Anika.
After graduating from college, Liza had come to the mountainous region to teach. That was where she met Jared, who was a few years older than her. Over time, she had grown fond of him. Still, everyone knew Jared had a girlfriend in the city, so Liza kept her feelings buried.
After Jared returned from the city the last time, Liza heard he had broken up with his girlfriend.
Seeing him so depressed was nothing like the polite, gentle Jared she had come to know.
Liza sat beside him, lips pressed together. She patted his back, trying to comfort him. “Stop moping around, Jared. My hunch is that she… surely there are times when she thinks of you. Maybe she feels the same way.”
Yet her words came out tangled, and the more she spoke, the less sense she made.
Jared’s ears were flushed from the alcohol. He shook his head and forced a self-mocking smile. “It’s all over, Liza. I was the one who gave up on her first. I want her to be happy, even if it’s not with me. But… but…”