I blanked out for a long moment before I realized I had to say something.

But my voice wouldn't come out like there was a big lump stuck in my throat, and my eyes were stinging like if I looked at Elian once more I would cry.

Speak, Alena! Or move! Do something, at least! Don't be pathetic!

I force myself up from the chair and turn around, managed to say, "Yes, um, I, uh, I get it. I'm sorry."

"Alena," Elian murmured, his voice giving away that he had something more to say. But I didn't want to listen right and made my way straight for the main door.

I wasn't in the best mood to stay in a room that used to belong to the person who just rejected me or stay under the same roof as him at the moment. I decided to let my feet guide me somewhere far away from him.

Once I stepped outside the apartment complex, my tears started falling freely.

I knew that Elian had every right to reject me, especially when he didn't return my feelings, but it still hurt. And I knew it was going to hurt. Just not this much.

It was like someone was ripping my heart open or running a bulldozer over it.

I walked around aimlessly until I reached a small café. I decided to go in and sit down. It was a cozy, warm café—just the kind I liked. There was a photo booth in the corner, and a big portion of the wall was covered with photos.

I was surprised I never came here, given that it was in close quarters to my university campus.

"What can I get you, Ma'am?" the waitress asked with a warm smile.

"A cup of hot chocolate, please," I said, and she noted it down before going away.

I looked through the cute couple photos on the wall and felt like crying. I wished for Elian and me to be like that, but God, I was so stupid.

Of course, Elian was still hung up on that girl. He still kept her things for God's sake! Even if he did like me, it would just be a rebound.

But still, wasn't I pretty enough to be someone's rebound at least? Was I that ugly? Or was my personality that annoying?

My eyes blurred with tears again. I buried my face in my hands because I didn't want other people in the café to see me cry.

"Ma'am, your hot chocolate," the waitress said, placing the mug on my table. I gave her a nod. "Ma'am, our café is known to make people feel better if they are feeling blue. If you're feeling the same, you should read that board over there in the corner. It might help." With that, she went away.

I wiped my tears with my hands and looked around the corners to find the board the waitress was talking about. When I found it, I got up from my chair and went over to see it.

The big board was labeled "One Thing I'm Grateful For Today" and it had notes stuck on it. There were many old and new notes on it. A smile formed on my lips as I read through them. There were so many little mundane things people were grateful for in their everyday lives, such as being alive, submitting an assignment on time, taking their dog to walk in the park, getting to watch a movie, and so much more. But one of them stuck out to me.

"I'm grateful that Elian and I are together. I never want to be separated from him."

Was this something Elian's kinda-girlfriend wrote? But the handwriting looked awfully like mine. Oh, well, not like my handwriting was too unique.

Wait, if this was a café Elian and his kinda-girlfriend went to, could there be a photo of them?

It could be my jealousy talking, but I really wanted to see this girl who owned Elian's heart.

I started to search the wall full of photos for the familiar guy in black hair, and it was pretty easy to find him because the woman he was with stood out with her bright smile, ocean blue eyes, and long ginger hair. She was glowing beside Elian.

And she was me.

The woman in the photo with Elian was me.

She looked a couple of years younger than me, and so did Elian. But that was me. How could that be? The date on that photo was of the winter four years ago. But I had never even met Elian back then.

I didn't know him, so how could I be smiling so happily with him while his arms were encased around my shoulders?

Was this photoshopped? But what would anyone gain from doing that? But did that mean this was real?

Elian and I were...

This is unbelievable.

My head started hurting more than ever. I clutched my head in pain as my world started spinning. Faint voices started ringing like bells in my ears.

"Ma'am, are you feeling okay?" the waitress asked me in concern.

I grabbed the nearest chair to regain my strength and said, "Yes, I'm fine." I walked back to my table and took my phone. I paid the bill and walked out of the café.

I made my way straight to Lance's penthouse. Elian had some questions to answer.

When I reached inside, I realized Elian wasn't there. I found a note stating that he was going out for a bit.

I scoffed.

Did he want to give me space or just didn't want to face me like a coward?

I went up to my room and took the pill I was told to take when my headache would be totally severe. I would feel extremely sleepy if I took it, so I usually tended to avoid it.

After taking the pill, I could feel myself falling asleep soon.

As I slept, I saw many glimpses. They were a little clearer now.

I never tried to think of it, but the man in those visions looked a lot like Elian. The oval face shape, the lean physique, the tall height, the raven black hair color, the cute smile...

I didn't know for how long I was knocked out, but when I woke up, I checked the clock and it was way past afternoon.

My phone was ringing; it was a call from Ashton.

"Hey, Ashton," I greeted.

"Oh, phew, you picked up finally. I thought they got you already," Ashton breathed out in relief.

"Who got me?" I asked in confusion.

"The Blacklists."

"Didn't you catch them all except their bosses?"

"No, are you kidding? They are a large gang. We only managed to wipe out half of them."

"But Elian said—"

"He lied so that you didn't worry. Oh, shit, now that I think about it, I just revealed what he didn't."

"So is the situation bad right now?"

Ashton sighed. "It is. Many of our men died in an explosion last night. They planted a bomb in one of our cars." Oh, that must be why Elian left last night. "Anyway, the reason I called is, don't open the door for anyone. It might be dangerous for you."

"Oh, don't worry. Who will come after me? It's not like I'm the mafia leader's girlfriend or anything," I replied almost bitterly.

Ashton chuckled nervously. "Right. Still, better safe than sorry."

"You're right. I will keep that in mind." I hung up the call after that.

I took a bath and got ready in my casual clothes. I ordered some lunch and decided to check Elian's room to dig out the truth. Why was there a photo of me and him in the café? The possibility that was roaming around in my head couldn't possibly be true.

Although I felt bad for invading his privacy, I didn't care at that moment.

I searched the entire room for something until I found a scrapbook, tucked away under the mattress. I sat cross-legged on his bed and opened it.

In it, there were probably hundreds of photos of me and Elian—from us holding hands on the university campus to cuddling in bed. Most of the photos seemed to be clicked by a Polaroid camera with dates, love quotes, or brief descriptions written beside them.

"We kissed underwater, but there was no one to click a photo down there. Anyway, cheers to us!"

"Dancing in the snow while Elian hating every damn second of it. Best~"

"Cupcakes disaster! When will we ever learn not to screw up in the kitchen?"

"Treasure hunt adventure! Elian won and I lost. But he gave me his prize. Win-win!"

"With you right here, you hand in mine, I know these storms will pass and the sun will shine, and through the good and bad times, you are mine, baby."

"You are mine, baby," it kept resounding in my head, like I had said it a thousand times over the years.

What I didn't want to believe seemed to be the truth, in the end.

I was Elian's kinda-girlfriend.

But why the hell didn't I know about it?

Before I had more time to ponder over the matter, the calling bell rang.

It must be my food delivery.

But when ordering, I had forgotten Ashton told me not to open the door for anyone. I was starving, though, and I had already paid for the food. However, my safety came first.

No one could break the main door or infiltrate in here, I knew that much at least, so I just had to keep the door shut and I would be safe.

I checked the door security camera screen and saw a young delivery girl with my food.

"I'm sorry, but you can take the food back. I have already paid for it, though. Sorry for the trouble," I said over the microphone.

"Okay, Ma'am," the delivery girl chirped.

I was about to head to the kitchen to make myself something when the calling bell rang again.

I looked at the security screen again and gasped when I saw the delivery girl was now at gunpoint and was surrounded by three men.

"If you don't want this innocent girl to be hurt, you will open the door."