The day of Caitlin’s high school reunion had finally arrived—a childish event she had secretly been looking forward to for weeks. Normally, Caitlin would spend her weekends lounging around her apartment or strolling through the nearby stores just to pass time. But today was different. She’d woken up with a nervous flutter in her chest, her emotions tangled in a storm of excitement and anxiety. All she could think about was one thing: proving to everyone that she had an incredibly cool boyfriend.
Since that night, Daniel hadn’t contacted her. Caitlin, too afraid to reach out first, chose to stay silent, terrified of being rejected or pushed away. Even though her heart was weighed down with sadness, she forced herself to carry on like everything was fine. Deep down, she told herself over and over again—having a man like Daniel in her life was simply impossible. He probably just needed a woman, and she just happened to be the one nearby.
“Yeah, that’s all it was. There's no way I’m that charming—charming enough to make him lose control,” she muttered bitterly to herself, trying to push away the sharp sting of disappointment.
She kept wringing her hands, pacing back and forth in front of the mirror, obsessively checking her face for blemishes. What if there was a pimple? What if her skin looked awful today? But she had already promised herself she would look perfect—no matter what.
"Nothing. Perfect. I used a face mask last night, anyway," she reminded herself with forced optimism, trying to summon a bit of confidence.
Caitlin walked toward the sleek black dress hanging on the wall near her bedroom door. The dress had elbow-length sleeves and flowed elegantly below her knees. She had even bought a new pair of shoes—comfortable ones this time—because she was done with getting blisters and bleeding heels. Today, she would be graceful and radiant.
“Beautiful shoes will take you to beautiful places.”
She said the quote aloud like a magical incantation, something to lift her spirits. A glance at the clock made her heartbeat spike. Time was ticking. The event was getting closer, and she could barely contain her nerves. It had taken her over an hour to do her makeup and mentally prepare for what lay ahead.
The event was set to begin at 10 a.m., so there was no need to rush. The invitation had specified that it would take place at a luxurious hotel. If traffic cooperated, the taxi ride would take about an hour and a half. This year’s reunion venue was no longer their old school grounds, but instead a grand hotel owned by one of their more successful alumni—someone who had made it big in real estate. Normally, Caitlin wouldn’t even think about attending such a gathering. But this time was different. Something was pulling her in. A dare, maybe. A desire to prove herself.
***
She stepped out of the taxi with a bold sense of confidence and walked into the hotel. Her heels clicked on the marble floor as she made her way to the ballroom, her heart fluttering. The space had been transformed into something magnificent—glowing golden chandeliers above, waiters weaving through the crowd with trays, and a buffet table brimming with food.
A soft band played nostalgic songs on stage while the MC prepared his lines. Everyone looked like they had stepped out of a fashion magazine—dressed to impress, laughing, mingling, catching up on old stories. The room was buzzing with alumni from all years. Caitlin spotted a few familiar faces and offered polite smiles. Some classmates from her batch waved at her, and she returned the gesture, walking toward them.
“Caitlin! Oh my God, you look stunning today!” called out a slim woman—Anna, one of her old classmates.
Caitlin gave a small, slightly awkward smile. “You look great too, Anna. Are the others here already?”
They had never been particularly close in school. Caitlin had always been the quiet one, keeping to herself during lunch breaks and avoiding too much attention. Still, she couldn’t stand around looking awkward now—not after making an entrance like this. Her eyes searched the room, but there was no sign of Tobey or his heavily pregnant girlfriend. Good. That gave her more time to mentally prepare.
“They’re over there, come on,” Anna offered, looping her arm through Caitlin’s as they walked.
They chatted casually, laughing over old high school memories, including the upcoming wedding of Sally and Igor, which had become a hot topic. Sally had made sure to invite everyone, maintaining ties with nearly all the alumni. As the conversation buzzed around her, Caitlin couldn’t help but glance at her phone. Daniel still hadn’t texted. Maybe he really was busy—even though it was the weekend. Please, she thought. Just this once, show up for me.
“Caitlin!”
The voice rang out behind her, echoing in her ears. That voice. She would recognize it anywhere. Tobey.
Some of her classmates had already started whispering—rumors about her and Tobey, about their breakup. But Caitlin turned around with poised grace, her expression unreadable, as if the two of them had never known each other at all.
“Can we talk? Just for a minute?” Tobey asked, as if nothing had ever gone wrong between them.
She hesitated. Where was his new girlfriend? The bony, scrawny woman Caitlin always thought looked like sticks and twigs strung together. She didn’t see her anywhere. Was Tobey alone today? Without a word, Caitlin turned and walked away, determined not to spend another second near him. But he followed her out, all the way to the elevator, trapping them in a moment of unwanted intimacy.
“You look really beautiful today, Caitlin,” Tobey said, completely shameless. “You should’ve dressed like this more often when we were together.”
Caitlin didn’t even flinch. Once, those words would’ve made her melt. She would’ve felt like she was flying. But now? Now they sounded cheap. Disgusting, even.
“So you’re saying I never looked good enough for you back then? That’s why you left?” she replied flatly, refusing to meet his eyes.
Tobey chuckled, like it was some sort of joke. “Well, that’s part of it. But let’s be honest—you were stiff, boring. Anyway, I wanted to tell you myself—I’m getting married soon. Thought you should hear it from me.”
Her chest burned. This wasn’t what she wanted. She had wanted an apology. An ounce of remorse. He had cheated on her, discarded her, and now he dared to flaunt his wedding plans like a prize? Did he have no soul left?
“You want me to congratulate you?” Her tone was ice.
Tobey shrugged, smiling smugly. “Not really.”
“I will never forgive you.”
“And this—this is why I chose someone else. You’re just… not like other girls. You’re not sweet. You’re not soft. And you always put your family first. We didn’t work.”
“Oh, I’m sorry—at least I didn’t cheat and ghost someone by blocking their number with zero explanation!” she snapped, jabbing her finger into his chest.
“What did you expect me to do? Talk to you and risk you begging me to stay?” he shouted back.
“I hope you have ten kids and end up dirt poor! Go be a farmer in some village—that’s what you always dreamed of, right?” she hurled the words like daggers.
Her insult struck deep. She knew it. That dream of his, once so noble and peaceful-sounding, now seemed ridiculous to her. If she could, she would burn Tobey’s happiness to the ground. Maybe then—just maybe—justice would feel real.
“Watch your mouth, Caitlin!” he growled, grabbing her wrist roughly.