The jock who had everything—the skills, the looks, the charm.
It was only natural that he would end up dating the hottest girl on campus, the cheerleader who turned heads wherever she walked.
Together, they were the golden couple, the pair everyone envied, the storybook romance that people whispered about in the hallways.
The beautiful woman's hands curled into her lap, nails digging faintly into her palms.
She hated the way her chest burned watching them together.
She hated how much it hurt that he had never once looked at her the way he looked at her.
She wanted to scream, to shake him, to make him see.
Didn't he remember the nights they stayed up talking until dawn?
The times she was the one who patched him up after a rough game, who listened when he was down, who cheered him on even when no one else believed?
Didn't he see that she had always been there, quietly loving him, while the girl on his arm flaunted herself for attention?
Her heart whispered what her lips could never say: Why can't it be me?
She lowered her gaze, blinking away the sting of tears.
Around her, the crowd roared with applause at something Ross said on stage, but the sound felt distant, muffled.
She was alone in her thoughts, drowning in the ache of unspoken love.
And yet... even in her loneliness, she could not stop looking at him.
***
The college event finally drew to a close, and the beautiful young woman who had secretly loved her best friend for years slipped away from the crowd.
Her eyes followed the couple one last time—her best friend, tall and handsome as ever, walking side by side with his cheerleader girlfriend, their laughter blending into the night air.
The sight tightened something in her chest, but she forced a faint smile before turning away, unwilling to let anyone see the sadness written in her heart.
With heavy steps, she left the campus grounds and wandered into the city streets, eventually spotting the warm glow of a fast-food chain.
The cheerful hum of chatter and the smell of fried food beckoned her in.
Maybe, she thought, something simple like a burger and fries would chase away the gloom.
She placed her order, collected the tray, and settled into a quiet corner seat by the window.
Outside, people bustled along the sidewalks, their faces lit by neon lights, moving on with their lives, as if none of them carried the invisible burdens she felt pressing down on her.
She unwrapped her burger slowly and took a bite, chewing without much taste.
Her mind wandered as she ate.
She was already a second-year student, yet still untouched by romance.
Not for lack of opportunity—boys admired her wherever she went.
Some sent flowers, others wrote notes or asked her out directly.
Yet she had never considered any of them seriously.
To her, those boys were just classmates, friends, strangers passing by.
Her heart, stubborn as it was, belonged only to her best friend.
That same best friend who had never noticed her feelings.
Who had always laughed with her, leaned on her, trusted her—but only as a sister, never as a woman.
And now, he was in love with someone else.
The thought cut her like a blade every time she let it linger.
She sighed, dipping a fry into ketchup and twirling it idly between her fingers.
She envied the other girls on campus, those who had already experienced romance, heartbreak, and everything in between.
Compared to them, she felt left behind, as if she were standing still while the rest of the world moved forward.
"Maybe I'm just foolish," she muttered softly to herself, her lips curving into a melancholic smile.
The fries cooled, the burger half-eaten, and still she sat there, staring out at the blur of passing cars.
Loneliness weighed heavy on her, and she wrapped her arms around herself as if to keep it at bay.
And then—
The door swung open with a jingle, and someone rushed inside.
In their hurry, they collided directly with her table, nearly knocking her tray to the floor.
She gasped, startled out of her thoughts, and looked up sharply.
That was the moment someone quite literally barged into her life.
Bang!
The table rocked violently when someone bumped into it, nearly toppling her tray of fries and soda.
She gasped, her hand shooting out to steady the cup before it spilled.
"Sorry—are you okay? I was in a rush and didn't even see the table."
The voice was deep but friendly, laced with genuine apology.
She looked up and was met with an easy smile, the kind of smile that seemed to melt tension as quickly as it appeared.
He carried a tray of burgers and a Coke, but what caught her attention wasn't the food—it was him.
His figure was partly obscured by a baggy hoodie and loose pants, an odd choice that seemed out of place in the clean, well-lit restaurant.
The attire was clearly chosen to disguise rather than to impress.
And yet, when the hood slipped back just slightly and his features came into view, her breath caught.
"You're r—" she stammered, her voice trembling on the edge of recognition.
She didn't need to finish the word. Everyone in the world would have recognized that face.
Ross Oakley. Basketball superstar. Movie star. Billionaire. Media's golden obsession.
He wasn't just famous—he was everywhere.
"Shhhh." Ross leaned forward with a conspiratorial grin, pressing a finger to his lips.
His eyes sparkled with mischief, though there was a softness there too.
"I'm just here to grab some snacks before I head out. Don't spoil the fun for me, yeah?"
Her throat went dry. She nodded quickly, almost too quickly, her mind racing.
Why here? Why now? Why me?
"Thanks," he said casually, his voice lowering. Then, as if it were the most normal thing in the world, he gestured at the empty chair across from her.