Dating the charming, drop-dead gorgeous heartthrob of the university was never as dreamy as it sounded. For three whole years, I tried everything to thaw the ice between us, but he stayed distant—completely out of reach.

One night, during a game of Truth or Dare, Rodrigo got dared to kiss a girl for three minutes. Every single person turned to me, teasing me with playful smirks. My cheeks burned with anticipation—I couldn't help it.

Just as I closed my eyes and leaned in, Monica, his so-called childhood friend, burst in and kissed him instead. Their kiss was deep and dragged on, like no one else even existed. Like they forgot we were all standing right there.

When they finally pulled apart, Monica let out a laugh. "Rodrigo hates it when strangers invade his personal space!"

That's when I knew I was done. When I told him it was over, Rodrigo's eyes went red-rimmed, and he practically begged, "Why are you making such a big deal out of this? It's not like I was the one who started it!"

But he hadn't pushed her away either.

That kiss was so intense, so full of heat, it felt like watching two long-lost lovers finally reunited. Everyone froze—especially me. When they broke apart, Monica was a little breathless, but she grinned and explained, "Rodrigo's a total germophobe, you know? Strangers freak him out."

An awkward silence swallowed the room. I was stuck between laughing and crying as I looked to Rodrigo for some kind of explanation. His cheeks were still flushed, and his eyes were glued to Monica—like I wasn't even standing there.

Noticing everyone's stares, Monica said boldly, "Rodrigo, you owe me big time for that!"

His whole demeanor dimmed, a flicker of sadness bleeding through, but he still asked her warmly what she wanted—with this weird intimacy I'd never seen from him before. Not with me.

"Well, I heard you're top of the class," she batted those innocent doe-eyes at me. "So, how about you take my calculus exam for me?"

Even as my heart felt like it was being sliced wide open, she clung to my arm, pleading like a little girl. "Just help me pass it, please?"

I was about to say no, but Rodrigo answered for me, all casual like. "It's no big deal. She can handle it."

No big deal?!

Ignoring him completely, I answered in an icy tone, "I don't have the time."

Monica's face crumpled instantly, tears pooling in her eyes as she whimpered out an apology. Her little act was flawless, and the air in the room turned thick with tension.

Everyone there was in Rodrigo and Monica's inner circle. And as those tears threatened to spill, they rushed to comfort her.

"Come on, what's the big deal? Just help her out!"

"Exactly, it's just one exam. Jade can ace that in her sleep!"

"Yeah, with great power comes great responsibility. We're all friends here, right?"

They were all trying to gaslight me.

"Jade, what the hell is your problem?" Rodrigo suddenly snapped at me. "Monica can't afford to fail if she wants into the grad program. Why can't you just do this one thing?"

I let out a bitter scoff. My problem?

The boyfriend I'd given three years of my life to had just humiliated me in front of everyone—and he had the nerve to ask what my problem was.

Three years of being all in, and it had all been a freaking joke.

"Did you even know I'm applying for the grad program too?" I asked.

Monica and I were in the same department. We were basically rivals.

Rodrigo's face froze, his smile faltering. "Wait—you're applying? Why didn't you tell me? You know there's only one spot, right?"

The energy in the room shifted so fast you could almost hear it. Since I'd kept the top rank for as long as anyone could remember, everyone knew I was the obvious pick—and that just made things a hundred times more awkward for them.

Monica's expression twisted into a wry little smile. "Oh, it's just a spot! I can totally let you have it," she chirped.

Rodrigo tried to smooth things over. "Jade, you've got the grades to get into literally any school, but Monica has fought tooth and nail to get where she is. Can't you just let her have this one thing?"

I turned away. I couldn't stand to look at his face for another second.

Seeing I wasn't budging, Rodrigo's eyes went ice-cold. "If Monica doesn't get into grad school, then maybe you and I shouldn't stay together."

"Think it over."

And just like that, he walked off—didn't even give me a chance to respond. This was a scene I knew all too well. Every single fight ended with him walking away.

Monica hurried after him, but paused just long enough to "reassure" me. "Don't be upset, Jade. Rodrigo's loyal to people, not rules. I'll talk to him later, okay?"

Once they were gone, the rest of them just stared at me, waiting for me to chase after him like I always did.

But I stayed right where I was.

The party slowly fizzled out. People started leaving.

When I finally got home, exhaustion hit me like a truck, and my chest ached with this raw, hollow pain. That's when my phone lit up with a message from Rodrigo.

"You've got three days to think it over."

Another message popped up a second later. Monica. "Jade, Rodrigo's really upset. Just go along with it for now, and I'll smooth things over later!"

I cut all ties with Rodrigo, Monica, and their entire crew without a second thought. Looking back, I realized my connection with them had never been real in the first place.

A wave of nostalgia hit me as I flashed back to my freshman year, when I was totally head over heels for Rodrigo. It had been a real struggle before Monica finally slid me his contact info.

Monica used to tease Rodrigo about his popularity and would drop hints that she had some tricks to help me win him over.

Back then, I totally missed the subtle tension crackling between them. I was so hopeful that, with Monica’s help, I could actually win Rodrigo’s heart.

When I finally got Rodrigo’s number, his first question was how I managed to track him down on WhatsApp.

I didn’t hold back. I straight-up told him Monica had given it to me.

There was an awkward silence—so long I thought he might ghost me. Then, he finally sent another message: "What else did she say?"

I answered honestly: "She said she’d help me win you over!"

Even though it was only texting, my cheeks flamed as I typed, "So you better watch your back—I’ve infiltrated your inner circle now!"

No reply came after that, which I chalked up to him being shy. According to Monica, he’d never dated anyone before—a hopeless romantic just waiting for true love.

Following Monica’s playbook, I chased after Rodrigo, and within six months, I had him wrapped around my finger.

I earned a rep as a total romance junkie, but I couldn’t care less back then.

The day we went public, Monica got wasted and hung all over Rodrigo, claiming she was our matchmaker and joking that even if we got married, she wanted to be a permanent third wheel in our lives.

Back then, I thought Monica was hilarious and even appreciated her antics. But she really did wedge herself between us in every possible way.

Rodrigo always put her first. But now my eyes are wide open, and I see the truth clear as day.

Right now, my only priority is getting into grad school.

The next day at the library, I dove headfirst into my studies. Nothing felt more fulfilling than losing myself in mathematics.

I didn’t expect to run into familiar faces at the library.

Monica spotted me and practically shoved Rodrigo my way, making me stumble against a wall. "Rodrigo, you know the saying: Lovers' quarrels never last. Just say sorry, she’ll fold!"

Monica’s loud comments drew the attention of everyone in the library.

We were in a university library, for God’s sake!

I was instantly mortified.

Rodrigo shoved me away with a look of disgust, like I was something repulsive. "This time, she needs to learn her place."

I laughed to myself. A lesson? Who the hell did he think he was?

I didn’t want to waste another second arguing. I’d rather dive back into solving equations.

I started gathering my stuff, aiming to find a new spot, but Monica placed her dainty hand on my notebook, stopping me in my tracks. "Let’s study together—we can hash it out!"

I frowned, studying Monica with fresh eyes, and it hit me: she was a master manipulator. How had I missed this all along?

"We’re just not on the same page. There’s nothing to discuss."

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Rodrigo cut in, instantly jumping to Monica’s defense.

"It means not with you, either!" I shot back.

With that, I yanked my notebook from under Monica’s hand and set out to find a quieter spot.

But Monica was dead set on blocking my path. "Come on, Jade, I worked my ass off last night getting Rodrigo to calm down. Just don’t make a scene!"

"Why are you even explaining to her? If she wants to leave, let her!" Rodrigo glared at me, silently daring me to walk away and not look back.

I let out a dry laugh, turned on my heel, and found a new seat—not too far, since the library was packed with students buried in their books.

I thought I’d regained my focus, but Monica’s playful laughter kept ringing out, followed by her whining to Rodrigo about not understanding something and calling herself stupid.

Rodrigo’s gaze went soft as he affectionately tapped Monica on the nose and explained it all over again.

The crack in my heart split wider. It wasn’t that he couldn’t; he just didn’t want to—with me.

I shook my head, determined not to let my feelings get the better of me, and plunged back into my studies.

When I finally came up for air, the library was closing. Rodrigo cornered me at the entrance to the women’s restroom, demanding, "Have you made up your mind?"

What?

Catching the confusion in my eyes, Rodrigo so helpfully reminded me, "Give up your spot in the grad program and help Monica pass her exam!"

Oh, so that's what this is about.

I studied Rodrigo for a moment, genuinely puzzled. How had I missed how unattractive he really was? His face looked bigger now—like I'd been seeing him through some kind of love spell.

"What's the matter? Finally figured out she's too dense to learn on her own?" I asked.

Rodrigo's expression faltered. "When did you become so rude?"

I let out a dry laugh. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. "So forcing me to help cheat on an exam is polite? Or cornering me outside the ladies' room is supposed to be, what, classy?"

Rodrigo's face went red and he yanked me into a more private corner. "Is this about last night? Monica doesn't even like me—she only kissed me to do me a favor, and you're that bent out of shape over it?!"

"So you don't like her either, do you?!" I shot back, locking eyes with him.

A flicker of guilt crossed Rodrigo's eyes, and I shoved him away and stormed off.

When I came out, Monica was waiting with this expectant look, her gaze bouncing between me and Rodrigo, who slunk out behind me. She whispered, "How'd it go?"

Rodrigo just shook his head, defeated.

Monica's face fell. Finals were right around the corner, and failing could tank her grad school application. Rodrigo tried to calm her down, mumbling that he'd figure something out.

But with finals only days away, what could he possibly pull off? Monica's frustration simmered just beneath the surface.

She quickly caught up to me, plastering on a fake smile like we were besties walking side by side. But I caught every word she hissed under her breath: "You only applied for the grad program because you heard I was applying, didn't you?"

"You're just jealous Rodrigo likes me better! You have to compete with me over everything!"

"Too bad for you, Rodrigo prefers me—and even his friends are on my side!"

I was speechless. It clicked then why she and Rodrigo were so close—they were both equally delusional.

"What proof do you have that I'm jealous of you?" I shot back.

Monica leaned in, her smugness practically dripping. "You know Rodrigo's confessed to me multiple times since high school? If I wasn't so not into his nerdy vibe, you'd have never had a shot! Even his friends tried to set us up!"

"The guy I tossed aside, you've been treasuring for three years. He won't even lay a finger on you—so pathetic!"

"I heard that kiss at the party was his first. How pathetic is that!"

Finally, I knew my suspicions weren't just in my head.

I glanced back at Rodrigo, who was catching up, then looked down at Monica. "You have the guts to repeat that?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Monica's eyes glittered with spite as she said it again, even prouder this time.

I fingered the pen in my hand and glanced at Rodrigo, now right there. I was dead set on exposing Monica right then.

This voice recorder, meant for practicing my speaking, was about to pull way more weight today.

"Are you bothering Monica again?" Rodrigo demanded the second he reached us.

What was he even seeing?

I understood a basic truth then: you can get pissed off by the same crap more than once.

Seeing Monica's fake concern, Rodrigo's sympathy for her only grew. He turned on me twice as harshly: "Jade, with your grades you can get into any university. Why are you fighting Monica for this one spot?"

Rodrigo went on, trying to sweet-talk me: "If you give up the grad spot, we can move in together off campus. You've already rented a place, right?"

After he said that, his self-satisfaction was practically rolling off him.

But I burst out laughing. "What's this? Couldn't force me into it, so now you're trying to bribe me? Rodrigo, let me tell you, you couldn't afford the place I've rented!"

Three years I spent feeding him, buying his clothes, and he wouldn't even let me touch him. And this was how he repaid me.

I turned to go but remembered I needed to clarify one more thing.

Looking at the face I'd loved for three years, I felt a relief I'd never known. Letting go really was that instant.

"Rodrigo!"

"You do realize we've already broken up, right?"