Primera

Selso's eyes never left Aya as she vanished into the crowd. His heart screamed for him to chase after her, to confess everything, but the weight of his secrets held him back, anchoring him to his fate.

The campus café, once their favorite haunt, now seemed hollow. Selso sat alone, nursing his coffee, his thoughts consumed by Aya. Her nonchalant demeanor had stung, a stark contrast to the passion that once simmered between them.

His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. Eliana's name flashed on the screen. Selso hesitated before answering.

"Hey, Selso," Eliana said cheerfully. "Dad wants to finalize the wedding details this weekend."

Selso forced a smile, though she couldn't see him. "Okay, I'll be there."

The conversation was stilted, but Selso knew his obligations. His family's business teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, saved only by an investor's conditional loan: marry Eliana, the investor's daughter. Love was irrelevant; financial survival was.

That evening, Selso's father cornered him in the study. "Selso, you know how much rides on this marriage. Don't mess it up."

Selso's jaw clenched. "I won't, Father."

Days turned into weeks, with Aya maintaining her distance. Selso didn't push, respecting her boundaries. Their conversations were polite, lacking the depth they once shared.

One afternoon, they collided in the library. Books scattered everywhere.

Aya kneeled beside Selso, gathering the scattered texts. Her hands brushed his, but she didn't flinch. "Sorry."

Selso's heart skipped a beat. "No worries."

As they stood, Aya's gaze met his, neutral, almost friendly. "How's Eliana?"

Selso's stomach twisted. "Good. Busy with wedding preparations."

Aya nodded, her expression unchanged. "Congratulations."

The exchange cut Selso deeply. Had he lost her completely?

Determined to move forward, Selso immersed himself in his family's business. Late nights and endless meetings filled his days.

Aya's smile occasionally haunted him, but he silenced those thoughts. His secrets had built a wall between them, a barrier he couldn't breach.

Weeks passed, with Aya's nonchalance slowly extinguishing the flame that once burned within Selso. Maybe, just maybe, he had imagined their connection.

The night before his engagement party, Selso's anxiety peaked. He couldn't shake Aya's neutral expression, the stark contrast to the love he knew they once shared.

In a moment of weakness, Selso drove past Aya's apartment, lingering outside her window. Her light flickered off, plunging the night into darkness.

Tomorrow, he would commit to Eliana, sealing his fate. Tonight, he clung to memories of Aya, his heart heavy with the secrets he couldn't reveal.

Selso's engagement party preparations were underway, the air thick with anticipation. But fate had other plans.

The phone pierced the night, shrill and insistent. Selso's heart sank as he answered.

"Selso!" his mother's hysterical voice screamed. "Your father...hospital...heart attack!"

Selso's world crumbled. He rushed to the hospital, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Eliana's anxious face blurred as he sprinted past her.

The ICU's sterile smell enveloped him. His mother's tears streamed down her face. "Doctor says it's severe. We need to prepare—"

Selso's vision blurred. No, not now. Not when his life was already predetermined.

Days blurred together in a haze of hospital visits and anxious prayers. Selso's father clung to life, his condition critical.

Eliana's visits became less frequent, her frustration palpable. "Selso, we need to discuss the wedding."

"Not now, Eliana," Selso snapped, exhaustion etched on his face.

The engagement party, once a looming specter, faded into insignificance. Family gatherings replaced wedding planning.

Aya's concerned text surprised him: "Selso, hope your dad recovers soon."

Selso's thumbs hovered, unsure how to respond. "Thanks, Aya."

Their exchange was brief, but Aya's kindness soothed his frazzled nerves.

As his father's condition stabilized, Selso faced the inevitable: the engagement party was cancelled. Eliana seethed, her anger barely contained.

"You're ruining everything!" she spat.

Selso's eyes narrowed. "My father's life is more important."

Eliana stormed off, leaving Selso reeling. Was this the escape he subconsciously sought?

In the chaos, Aya's gentle message echoed: a reminder that life's unpredictability could upend even the best-laid plans.

Night passed, Selso stood firmly beside his father's hospital bed, his voice unwavering. "I won't marry Eliana. I'll find another way to save the business."

His father's face reddened. "You're ruining everything! Eliana's family is our only hope."

Selso's resolve strengthened. "I'd rather die than marry someone I don't love."

His mother pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "Selso, reconsider. For our family."

Selso turned to leave, but his father's words cut deep. "You're no longer my son."

Determined, Selso poured over financial reports, negotiating with investors and slashing costs. Long hours turned into sleepless nights.

Frustration mounted. Eliana's family threatened to withdraw their investment. Selso's business partners doubted his leadership.

One evening, Selso stumbled into a nightclub, seeking solace. Whiskey burned his throat as he downed shot after shot. A seductive voice whispered in his ear.

"Hey, handsome. Buy me a drink?"

Selso turned, gazing into piercing green eyes. "What's your name?"

"Lily," she purred, her fingers tracing his jaw.

Their lips met, fueled by anger and desperation. Selso's demons temporarily faded.

Lily led him to her hotel room. Clothes scattered everywhere. Selso's hands roamed her body, seeking escape.

One thing Selso love is to s*ck.

In the darkness, Selso's thoughts drifted to Aya. Guilt gnawed at him.

Lily's moans filled the room. Selso's ruthless grip tightened.

For a moment, he forgot his misery.

Morning light crept through the curtains. Selso woke, his head pounding. Lily's arms wrapped around him.

"Get out," he growled and put on his clothes, ready to go home.

Lily gathered her clothes. "Asshole."

Selso's phone buzzed. Aya's text: "Selso, where are you? Worried."

He typed, thumbs bitter: "None of your business, Aya. Leave me alone."

Selso's business crumbled, each failed negotiation fueling his despair. He drowned his frustrations in whiskey and strangers' arms.

One night, at the club, he met Sophia, a ravishing blonde. "Wanna get a room?" she whispered.

Sophia's hands explored Selso's chest, her fingers tracing his tense muscles. Their lips met, soft kisses escalating into frenzied passion. Selso's hands gripped Sophia's waist, pulling her closer.

In the private room, their bodies intertwined. Selso's thrusts deepened, Sophia's moans filling the air. Soft kisses peppered her neck, contrasting with his fierce grip.

Selso's movements quickened, desperation fueling his intensity. Sophia's nails dug deeper, her whispers urging him onward.

For a fleeting moment, Selso's turmoil dissipated, replaced by primal desire.

Morning light crept in. Selso woke, his head pounding. Sophia gathered her clothes. "You're a monster."

Selso smirked. "That's what they call me."

Aya, amidst her chaotic college life, remained concerned. She juggled exams, projects and a part-time job, yet Selso's turmoil occupied her thoughts.

Between study sessions, Aya texted Selso: "How are you?"

His responses were sporadic: "Busy," "Stressed" or simply "Leave me alone."

Undeterred, Aya visited Selso at his office. His eyes sunken, his suit disheveled.

"Selso, please talk to me," Aya pleaded.

He shrugged. "What's left to say?"

Aya's voice softened. "You're not alone."

Selso snorted. "You're just pitying me."

Aya's hands touched his. "No, Selso. I care."

For a fleeting moment, Selso's guard dropped. Then, he withdrew.

"Thanks, Aya. But I'm beyond saving."

~