Three years ago, Xavier said that he would love me forever, unwaveringly.

Xavier was taken aback, trying to speak but seemingly burdened with the weight of his words. Bitterness spread from my heart and I began to cough violently, tears streaming down my face. The cold wind I had endured all night made me dizzy and I almost fainted.

Xavier rushed to support me, his arms steady and reassuring. “I have never forgotten those words, not even once,” he said, his voice filled with a mix of desperation and sincerity.

At that moment, Xavier’s phone rang. The caller was Becca. Her muffled sobs came through the receiver, tinged with desperation. “Where are you? I was so worried when I woke up and didn’t see you.”

Xavier’s hand, which had been gently wiping away my tears, froze momentarily. He composed himself and looked at me with a calm, resolute expression. “Don’t worry. I’ve made it clear to her that our relationship is over.”

Even so, I could still see a fleeting concern in Xavier’s eyes for Becca. The noise on the phone grew louder, a chaotic symphony of distress. It seemed Becca had pulled out her IV and was trying to get out of bed, causing a commotion as nurses screamed for restraint.

Unable to bear the turmoil any longer, Xavier reluctantly let go of me. “I need to check on her, make sure she doesn’t do anything more reckless,” he said, his voice strained with a mix of frustration and worry.

The sudden release left me feeling weak and disoriented. I clutched my mouth as a new wave of coughing overtook me, violent and uncontrollable.

“Xavier… don’t… go. I’m sick,” I gasped between coughs, my voice barely a whisper.

Xavier gently kissed my forehead, his touch tender despite the urgency in his movements. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave you. Just wait for me,” he said softly before turning and hurrying out the door.

I didn’t cry out of a desire for attention. I was genuinely ill. The doctor had told me that I had only three months left to live. If only Xavier had known that Becca's drama was merely a ploy to get his attention, while I was truly dying.

My body grew weaker by the minute and I felt I couldn’t hold on any longer. I managed to call 911 before losing consciousness.

When I regained my consciousness, I found myself in a room filled with medical equipment. The doctor was preparing for an examination, but I quickly made up an excuse about feeling better and slipped away. I couldn’t bear the thought of him discovering my cancer. As I fled, I heard a commotion coming from the adjacent room. 

“Don’t you get it? I don’t care whether you’re alive or dead. It’s over!” Xavier's back was to me as he spoke harshly to Becca. “From now on, don’t call me anymore.”

“I know I’m just a replacement. Your heart has always been with her, even after she left you. I never stood a chance. Don’t worry, I won’t bother you anymore.”

Becca’s tears burst forth, her face pale, stubborn and filled with a deep sense of brokenness.

Xavier was about to leave when he turned around and saw me. His body stiffened. Becca also looked up at me and I didn’t miss the fleeting resentment in her eyes.

Xavier walked up to me and took my hand. “Silvia, why are you here? Didn’t I tell you not to follow me?” He paused and his gaze softened. “Never mind. Let’s go home.”

I didn’t tell Xavier that I had been there because I fainted. Initially, I had planned to tell him the truth, but now, I suddenly didn’t want to. It seemed that there was more than just me in his heart.

After getting back together with Xavier, I discovered he had a second X account. On this account, he followed only one person—Becca.

On Becca’s X account, she had documented everything about her and Xavier over the past three years, though she had hidden specific details about them.

The most recent post from Becca was updated a week ago: “His old-love is back. I, as a mere replacement should give up. I’ll walk away.”

The account showed that on the day Becca posted this, Xavier’s secondary account had logged in and out hundreds of times. I closed the X page, feeling a painful swelling in my heart. What was Xavier thinking with each login and logout, repeatedly viewing Becca’s post? Was he thinking about the ten years we spent together, or the last three years he spent with Becca?

Half a month after my return, we attended an alumni gathering where Becca was also present. As soon as Xavier spotted her, his entire demeanor shifted. Becca’s eyes were swollen, her nose red and puffy. When a concerned classmate asked her what was wrong, Becca cast a furtive glance at Xavier and, with a shaky voice, replied, “It’s nothing. It’s just my birthday today and I’ve been waiting for someone who never showed up.”

Suddenly, the clatter of a dropped utensil against a plate shattered the silence in the room. A sharp pain shot through my chest, like a multitude of fine needles piercing my heart. I looked at Xavier, seeking an explanation.

Xavier turned his head towards me and whispered softly in my ear. “I didn't know anything. I told that there’s nothing between us anymore. You’re the only one I love, Silvia.”

To everyone in room, Xavier’s explanation seemed like a public display of affection. The strong love that remain between us.

“Yeah, we all know that, man,” a guy teased, his tone light but edged with sincerity. He turned to me and added, “Silvia, you know Xavier was practically losing his mind after you left. He was a mess. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d ended up in a mental institution. Thank goodness you’re back.”

“Yeah,” a woman chimed in. “Who hasn’t heard about the infamous couple from campus? You two would probably have kids by now if you hadn’t disappeared into thin air.” That woman was Carmen.

As I listened to the laughter and jokes around the table, I noticed Becca’s face growing increasingly pale. She downed one glass of wine after another, as if trying to drown her discomfort. Xavier held my hand, smiling at everyone, but his occasional glances towards Becca were full of pity.

It had been five years since our graduation and the evening was filled with nostalgia as we indulged in college-era games: beer pong, cards and a lively round of Truth or Dare.

When it was Xavier’s turn, he drew the Truth card and was asked, “Xavier, have you ever loved anyone else besides Silvia in your life?”

Xavier and I were known as a couple that everyone in our campus recognized. The room fell silent and all eyes turned to Xavier, including mine. His answer held the weight of a decision that might determine whether I should reveal my current condition to him and entrust him with the most important person in my life.

Xavier paused, his gaze dropping as he considered his response. Though it was only a second or two, it felt like an eternity to me. He finally looked up and said, “Of course not. Silvia is the only woman I’ve ever loved and I’ve vowed long ago to marry her.”

Everyone burst into laughter. Amidst the laughter, Becca’s face turned ashen.

It was my turn to draw Truth in the next round. Following the usual rules, the master game, Rex asked me, “Silvia, is Xavier the most important person in your life?”

The crowd cheered again, “Seriously, Rex? What kind of question is that? You’re asking the obvious, adding one point to them.” 

Despite the light-hearted reactions, everyone’s attention was on me. Xavier, too, looked at me with a mix of nervousness and hope. The three years we had spent apart had left us both uncertain about our place in each other’s hearts. Were we still the most important people in each other's lives, or had time and distance changed that? 

As Rex’s question hung in the air, a profound image surfaced in my mind—a face that bore a striking resemblance to Xavier’s but belonged to a little boy. This child’s face, though similar, was marked by an innocence and vulnerability that was distinctly different from Xavier's. It was an evocative reminder of the past and present intertwining in my life.

My parents had passed away when I was still very young, leaving a void that seemed insurmountable. Growing up without their guiding presence, I had found solace in Xavier, who entered my life during junior high. For many years, he had been my anchor, my confidant and my closest companion, filling the gap left by my parents. He was, without a doubt, the most significant person in the first half of my life.

But now, as I faced the reality of my dwindling time, the boy’s face reminded me of someone even more precious—someone who had become the center of my world. This child, who was the embodiment of my love and hope, was my greatest treasure. Despite the devastating news from the doctor, who had given me only three months left to live, my love for this child was boundless and unwavering.

Looking into Xavier’s hopeful eyes, I saw not just the man who had been my rock but also the man who had to share the remaining moments of my life with this boy. I knew the significance of my answer extended beyond the mere words. With a deep breath, I nodded and replied, “Of course.”

The crowd’s response was immediate and vibrant; cheers and laughter erupted around us, filling the room with a celebratory energy. Xavier let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing as his smile broadened, conveying both gratitude and comfort.

In the final round, the bottle pointed to Becca. Before the question could even be asked, Becca swiftly declared, “I’ll go with Dare.”

The dare was to hug someone of the opposite sex sitting next to you. As soon as the dare was announced, Xavier’s expression darkened.

“That’s not appropriate; let’s change it,” he said, his voice tinged with frustration.

“What’s inappropriate about it?” Becca shot a quick glance at Xavier before promptly hugging a male classmate seated beside her.

Amid the cheers, Xavier’s face turned completely black.

After the gathering ended and we returned home, Xavier sat in the living room, staring blankly at his phone.

Curious, I picked up his phone and went to Becca’s X. As expected, she had just posted a minute ago, accompanied by a photo of herself hugging her knees and crying.

[Left out again. Waiting all day for my birthday isn’t worth comparing to the alumni party with his first love.]

The post was filled with grievance, brokenness, but also immense resentment. Watching Xavier stare at his phone for a long time, I felt as if my heart had been punctured by a huge hole. Throughout the time, calls kept coming in, but Xavier ignored them all.

Xavier was distracted all night and as it neared midnight, he couldn't stay put any longer. Finally, he broke the silence.

“Something’s come up at the company. It’s urgent and they need me. Go to sleep. Don’t wait up for me.”

 I gazed at Xavier, the man I had loved for ten years. Even now, my feelings had not wavered. Love, I realized, is like a heartbeat—constant and enduring until it stops.

“Xavier, did you forget what day today is?” I asked softly.

The calendar in the living room clearly displayed the date: May 20th. Ten years ago today, Xavier had confessed his love to me and we had officially become a couple. Every year since then had been our anniversary—except for the three years I had been away.

Xavier’s face fell as he remembered. A look of guilt flashed across his eyes as he reached out to touch my face. “Silvia, I—”

Just then, the phone rang again, snapping Xavier back to reality. “I’ve got to go,” he said abruptly. Without another word, he left.