Chapter 121: The Turning Point

Chapter 121: The Turning Point

I think it all started after our final year. After four long years of business administration, eight complete semesters of late nights, caffeine, and way too many exams, we finally graduated.

Can you believe that in four whole years of studying, I only topped Val twice in our GPAs? Twice. And one of those times, she fell sick right before a final. The other time? Well... let’s just say I earned that one. She didn’t gloat about it, though. She knew I’d feel bad if she did.

Val was always the genius. The one who made it all look easy, who’d breeze through exams like she was born to do this. Me? I was the one who studied until my brain was fried, who grinded through every paper, every problem, every late-night cram session. But even at my best, I couldn’t quite match her effortless brilliance.

But, you know, somehow it felt right. I mean, it worked. We were a team. The best team. She had the crazy, chaotic, almost-likely-to-kill-me ideas, and I had the resolve to actually survive through them. And together, we made it through it all.

After all that studying, after all the lectures and papers and exams, graduation day came.

Her parents threw this huge party—probably one of those "we’re proud, but also we want everyone to know we’re successful" type of deals. The kind of party that’s so extravagant, you can smell the wealth in the air. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t even know if I could go.

Val’s parents and I... well, we never really clicked.

To be fair, we didn’t meet much. Three times to be exact. You already know the first. The other two times, they were the kind of situations you pray to forget but somehow end up burned into your brain forever.

The first time? She’d dragged me over to their house to pick up some stuff. Her parents weren’t supposed to be home yet, so, naturally, things escalated. By "things," I mean Val straddling me on their living room couch with her hands under my shirt while I forgot how breathing worked. You know—just the usual. Then the door opened.

Her parents walked in.

I swear my soul left my body. The look they gave me was... indescribable. Somewhere between shock, disapproval, and maybe mild homicide. My one chance at proving I was a decent guy—the kind of guy who could maybe, possibly be good for their daughter? Yeah. Poof. Out the window.

The second time was during finals. Yeah, that finals—the one where Val got sick but refused to admit it. She wouldn’t go for treatment, wouldn’t rest, just kept insisting she was fine. Lucien finally called me in because, apparently, I was the only one she’d listen to. Her dad was home that day too.

Somehow, I got her to agree to a check-up. Don’t ask me how—I still don’t know. But I do remember the look her dad gave me afterward. Not a glare. Not the "you’re not good enough for my daughter" kind of stare I was expecting. Just... a look. Something unreadable. Like maybe he saw something in me I didn’t even see in myself.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t hate. And at the time, that felt like a win.

Now back to the party. She didn’t wanna be there alone. So, she sneaked out to meet me. She texted me the moment she was away from her family, and I waited for her in a quiet corner of the city. It wasn’t anything fancy. Just the four of us. Me, Val, Marina, and Trent. The night felt like the last piece of everything we’d worked for. The future was already here, and for once, I didn’t feel like I was always running behind.

And, yeah, Trent. Funny how things change. He’s now like my best friend. My male best friend. Which, of course, Val would flip if she ever found out I referred to Trent as my best friend. She’d go, "I’m supposed to be your best friend. And your girlfriend. And your wife."

Marina, of course, found that hilarious. She’s always had that dry sense of humor. And for once, it felt like we were all just... happy. Like everything was finally normal. I had my girl, my best friend, and my other best friend, all in one place.

Lucien even sent me a message after the ceremony. It was short but meaningful: Congratulations, future brother-in-law. Of course, I didn’t let Val see it. She’d been parading around that ring since first semester, telling anyone who’d listen that we were already married. She loved it, which... I was fine with. But this? This would only make things more complicated.

Avery... well, she finally found peace. Sort of. She ended up dating some jock with more biceps than brain cells, and for once, she left me alone. Honestly, it felt good not having her breathing down my neck, trying to "be friends." Every now and then she’d toss me a casual "hi" in the hallways, and without fail, Val would roll her eyes so hard I thought they’d get stuck.

And Duchess, she died.

...Kidding. She didn’t. She’s very much alive—just a little too fat now because someone kept feeding her more than they probably should. You know exactly who I mean.

I’d spent four years trying to build a life for myself—one I could stand on my own two feet with, one that didn’t come from anyone else’s influence. Val’s name, her wealth, her family—none of that mattered. She was the one person who’d never seen me as just some nerd, or a guy trying to "live up" to something. And I, for once, was proud of that. I’d made it through without being anyone’s shadow. Without needing to rely on her family’s name.

It wasn’t always easy, but in the end, it was all worth it. Because Val was with me.

Nothing was going to change this. That’s what I believed. Nothing was going to shake this perfect little world we’d created.

I wasn’t wrong. Not yet.

I guess... that’s how it all starts. It’s easy to say everything’s perfect when you’re in the moment. When nothing feels like it can touch you. When the future is an abstract concept and the present is all that matters. But that’s the trick, isn’t it?

You don’t always see the cracks until you’re standing on the edge.

And the thing about the edge is, once you’ve crossed it... there’s no turning back.

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To be continued...