Chapter 3: Not as it Seems

There was a time when life seemed to smile at Eliana with every breath she took. At twenty-two, she glided through life with the effortless grace of a queen who knew the world was already hers. Her curls were longer now, falling down her back in wild black waves that bounced softly with each step. Her honey-brown eyes carried the wisdom of old pain, but they still burned with that bright, stubborn light that refused to die out. She was in her second year of college, studying Nursing. Her days blurred into a dance of early morning café runs, crowded lecture halls, group presentations, and volunteering at the children’s hospital on weekends. Every morning before class, her father always called to tell her she was his sunshine. Kenneth Holloway (her adopted grandfather) still introduced her to guests as "my granddaughter by fate," and her two best friends—Jason and Sarai—kept her grounded when life felt overwhelming. The three of them went to the same college. Jason was a Business major, more interested in socialising than studying. Sarai, on the other hand, floated through her Psychology classes like a queen, building her social media empire in between assignments. They all lived together in a fancy private hostel twenty minutes from school, complete with a private cook, cleaner, and chauffeur. From the outside, Eliana’s life looked untouchable: the golden girl dating the golden boy, blessed with golden friends and golden opportunities. But the thing about gold? It cracks under pressure. It was a chilly Thursday evening when Eliana found herself sitting alone on a metal bench outside their hostel, hugging her knees as the spring breeze wrapped its cold fingers around her. The sky above was painted in streaks of dusty purple and navy blue, the streetlights flickering on one by one like sleepy fireflies. She checked her phone for the third time in sixty seconds. Nothing. No texts. No missed calls. Eliana and Jason were supposed to meet an hour ago to study for their upcoming maths exams. Jason had promised he’d help her revise—even though he never remembered anything about their joined classes or professors. "Maybe he’s stuck in traffic," she whispered to herself, though her heart knew better. He always called when he was stuck. Always. Another ten minutes crawled by, each second dripping heavier than the last. Then her phone buzzed. Jason: Hey babe. Change of plans. Having dinner with the guys. We’ll study tomorrow. Love u ❤️ Eliana stared at the screen. Her throat closed up, burning with disappointment that she was tired of tasting. She typed quickly, fingers trembling. But Jason... my exam is tomorrow. The typing bubbles appeared. Then disappeared. Then appeared again. Jason:You’ll be fine, El. You’re the smartest girl I know. ???? She swallowed hard, blinking away tears as she typed back: Okay. Have fun. The moment she pressed send, the hostel doors opened behind her, spilling out warm yellow light. Sarai stepped out, her sleek hair pulled into a perfect low bun, emerald earrings catching the glow like tiny stars. "Baby," Sarai called out, her brows knitting into a frown. "Why are you out here alone? I thought Jason was helping you study tonight." Eliana forced a small smile, hugging her textbook tighter to her chest. "Yeah... he’s busy with his friends. We’ll study tomorrow." Sarai rolled her eyes, the heel of her strappy satin shoes clacking sharply against the pavement as she walked over. "Honestly, Eliana. You let him get away with everything." "He’s just... tired," Eliana murmured, her voice sounding so small. "He’s been busy lately." "Busy doing what? Playing pool and drinking overpriced whiskey shots?" Sarai scoffed softly, shaking her head. "You deserve better than this." Even though they were all best friends, Sarai never hid how much she disliked the way Jason treated Eliana. And she never missed a chance to remind Eliana of what she was worth. But Eliana never listened. Later that weekend, Jason did what he always did when he stood her up—he made it up to her. She was curled up in the library, surrounded by handwritten notes that lay scattered around her like fallen autumn leaves. She was scribbling so fast she didn’t hear him walk in. Without warning, his arm draped over her shoulders from behind, and he pressed a warm kiss to her temple. "Don’t do that," she gasped, pressing a palm to her chest as her heart thundered, not just from being surprised but also just by being near him. "You scared me." "Sorry, sorry," he laughed, sliding into the chair beside her. His hazel eyes dazzled with mischievous intent. "How’s my beautiful genius girlfriend doing?" Eliana tried to hold onto her annoyance, but Jason’s grin was always too infectious. "I barely passed, Jason. You promised you’d help me." He pouted dramatically, leaning in so close she could smell his cologne—woody, rich, intoxicating. "I know. I’m sorry, babe. Here." From his pocket, he pulled out a small red box. Inside lay a dainty silver bracelet, a tiny heart charm dangling from its chain. Her chest ached as her eyes watered. "Jason..." "Bought it when I was out with the guys," he said casually, though she saw the way his eyes flicked up, eagerly drinking in her reaction. "Saw it and thought of you." Warmth bloomed in her chest, spreading like melted chocolate. Her anger slipped away, replaced by that soft, helpless smile she always gave him. "It’s beautiful. Thank you." "Anything for my girl," he murmured, pressing another kiss to her cheek. And just like that, everything was forgiven. Again. But the truth was, the cycle never stopped. It only got worse, deepening its roots in her heart with every sweet word and broken promise.