<h4>Chapter 22: Shattered Dreams ? ? ? ?</h4>


    "I''m taking medicine at Fate Academy. You know that I always wanted to take care of my parents when they got old, right? And I don''t have any special skills or hobby that would excel me from the rest. It''s kind of hard, but I''m managing somehow. I''m in my third year right now, and I''ve been training in the hospital."


    As Meilyn spoke, her voice was gentle and soothing, her words carrying a hint of vulnerability. Xin found himself captivated by her soft smile and her melting dark eyes, which radiated warmth and kindness. Her long ck hair framed her face, adding to her cute appearance.


    Xin''s attention was drawn to the adorable gestures of her hands, their delicate movements as her fingers tapped against each other. asionally, she would brush a strand of her hair behind her ears –– she often did it when she was ufortable.


    She must be caught off guard at his sudden appearance.


    "It must be hard," Xin finally said. He was always short with his words even before, and that didn''t change even after four years.


    Meilyn nodded, her gaze shifting to her fingers on herp. "It is, but . . . I''m managing." She offered a small smile.


    The silence between them grew, each moment filled with unspoken thoughts and emotions.


    And then, almost as if they were synchronized, both Xin and Meilyn spoke at the same time, their voices ovepping in the air.


    "Actually, I have something to say."


    The both of them stopped and then said at the same time, "You first."


    ". . ."


    The two paused and then broke into a smile.


    Meilyn couldn''t help but giggle, her eyes shining with amusement. "You first, Xin."


    Xin shook his head, a yful glint in his eyes. "No,dies first."


    Meilyn opened her mouth to respond, but her words trailed off as she noticed something outside the café window. Her gaze shifted, and Xin followed her line of sight.


    There, parked just outside, was a brand-new ck car, a sleek and stunning Bugatti. Its impable design caught the attention of everyone nearby.


    But the owner didn''t get off.


    "Xin."


    Meilyn''s serious voice caught Xin''s attention, causing his heart to skip a beat. As he looked into her eyes, he could see the absence of her usual smile and the weight of seriousness on her face. His heart constricted, sensing that something significant was about to be revealed.


    "I-I''m sorry, Xin," Meilyn choked out, her voice trembling with emotion. Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "I . . . I already have a boyfriend."


    Xin''s world seemed to pause at that moment. The words echoed in his mind, drowning out the rest of Meilyn''s exnation. He felt a deep pang of sadness and disappointment, realizing that the girl he had held onto in his heart had moved on.


    As Meilyn sobbed, her words tumbled out like a rushing waterfall, exining the pain and guilt she had carried during hisa. She confessed that she had med herself and had even sought therapy to cope with her emotions.


    Her words filled the air, but Xin''s mind seemed distant, still fixated on the memory of Meilyn''s confession to him. The weight of her current rtionship pressed heavily on his heart, overshadowing everything else she was saying.


    At that moment, Xin felt a mix of emotions –– heartache, longing, and a sense of loss. The reality of their situation sank in, and the dream he had nurtured in his heart shattered into fragments.


    ''I have loved you since we were kids!''


    ''It''s alright if you don''t reciprocate my feelings. I''ll always be here for you forever!''


    Xin''s face remained impassive as he lowered his gaze, his emotions hidden from Meilyn''s view. "I guess you didn''t really mean those words," he murmured softly.


    Confusion flickered across Meilyn''s face as she halted in her tracks. "What do you mean?"


    ". . ." If she couldn''t honor her promise, then it was better if she didn''t confess in the first ce.


    He shouldn''t have said yes out of pity and for fear of their long friendship being broken. He should have said ''no'' to her from the start.


    Now that he had learned to love her like a woman and not just a friend, she chose to forget about him and move on. Worse, she even got together with another man.


    What was he supposed to think and feel?


    The sadness had slowly turned into anger and Xin knew he needed to stop in that line of thinking, or it would consume him.


    He fell into silence, the weight of his thoughts and emotions bearing down on him. He shouldn''t hold her ountable for the choices she had made. After all, he was supposed to be dead. Four years had passed, a considerable amount of time for her to move on and forget.


    Inwardly, Xin battled with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, he felt betrayed and hurt that she had chosen to be with someone else. On the other hand, he understood that he couldn''t expect her to wait indefinitely for his uncertain future.


    He couldn''t me her for moving on and finding happiness.


    It wasn''t her fault.


    It was the circumstances that had separated them.


    Xin''s heart ached, but he knew he had to ept the reality of their situation, and move on.


    Xin maintained eye contact with Meilyn, forcing a smile to appear on his face. "It''s not your fault, so don''t worry about it," he reassured her.


    What else was he supposed to say?


    "The truth is . . . I wanted to see you because I''m worried that you would keep ming yourself for what happened. It wasn''t your fault. It was an ident." It was the truth, but he also wanted to reconnect with her.


    But now that she had a boyfriend . . . that was no longer an option.


    Meilyn''s eyes widened in surprise as tears streamed down her face, but she quickly wiped them away, recing her tears with a warm smile. "Thank you, Xin. I''m really d that we had this talk," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.


    She extended her hand and said, "Though we couldn''t be lovers anymore, we could still be friends."