Conrad's point of view.
Present time.
Evening hits when I'm chilling on my couch in my new apartment. I'm bored out of my mind. I grab my phone from my pocket and decide to open Instagram. I just got my old account back 3 months ago. Ever since then, it was so hard to contain myself not to write to her. Belly Conklin, the girl I left behind but never forgot. I am scrolling down my feed when I see a photo of Belly. Jeremiah posted the photo. ''Lucky bastard'' I think to myself. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for my brother. He deserves her. They seem happy together. I throw my phone away after a second. It's a lot to take in. I turn on the television for a distraction but it doesn't help. I am about to go to bed when I hear the doorbell ring. I decide not to open the door because I'm not in the mood for visitors.
When I finally think that the person has left. The bell rings again. I sigh before making my way to the door. I turn on the lights in the hallway. I open the door with a swing.
'' How about ringing once?!'' I say annoyed without even realizing who's standing in front of me.
''Conrad..'' Belly says to me.
I'm in complete shock. Belly Conklin is here.
5 years ago.
''Please don't shut me out'' I hear Belly say. I take a deep breath before turning around to face her.
I avoid eye contact and stare at the ground for what feels like forever.
Belly takes a deep breath before she takes a few steps toward me. I shake my head at her ''please, stay back''.
Belly remains in place.
'' Conrad, please. We have to talk about this..'' I notice the uneasiness in Belly's voice.
I shake my head at her. ''No. Please go..'' I say trying to hold myself together.
Tears are starting to form in my eyes. My hands tremble, and I can feel the tension rise inside my body.
''Conrad, please..'' Belly begs me. ''I don't want to leave it like this..''
''Funny, you didn't want me to see you kissing my brother?'' I spit out in anger while turning around to face Belly.
I see the shock in Belly her face the minute I face her. Belly doesn't say a thing, instead, she just keeps staring at me. Lost for words.
''Conrad. I'm so sorry. You weren't supposed to see that. I..'' Belly tries to find the right words. ''I didn't think you still cared..'' she admits to me.
''Really?'' I spit out in disbelief. I can't believe that she still doesn't know my feelings for her. She's my entire life. Every part of my body is aching in pain. All I want is to be with her. To kiss her, to comfort her.
''Conrad..''
Belly is about to finish her sentence when I interrupt her. ''You want to know how I feel Belly? Let me tell you..''
I want to finish my sentence but somehow feel the tension rise. I start pacing in front of her. Trying to calm down. I feel my heartbeat rising and my breathing is getting harder. It's the minute I realize I'm having a panic attack. I stop halfway in my sentence and my entire body stiffens.
Belly sees the panic in my eyes and before I know it she takes a few steps towards me. ''Conrad, please calm down..''
Belly tries to grab my hands but I pull away the second her skin touches mine.
I shake my head at her repeatedly. Tears are flowing down my cheeks. My entire face feels swollen and my breathing is getting more rapid with the second.
Belly isn't taking no for an answer and before I know it she stands in front of me. Stopping me from pacing.
''Conrad, focus..'' she tells me. I feel her hand on my cheek and I try to pull away from her but it's no use. ''Conrad, look at me..'' she mumbles to me.
I somehow get lost in her words for a second and look right into her bright brown eyes. Just for a second is all I can take. Tears are taking over again.
I jerk away my head from Belly's touch and take a few steps back.
Belly stays in place. She doesn't say a word. There's a silence between us that feels like forever. I put my hand in my pocket when I feel the cold metal touch my hand. The necklace I wanted to give Belly tonight. I take a deep breath, somehow feeling a bit more calm before turning around to face Belly one more time.
''I believe this is yours'' I tell Belly before grabbing her hand. I put the necklace in the palm of her hand before letting go. Belly studies the necklace for a second before looking up at me. ''You kept it..'' she mumbles trying to figure out why.
I nod at her without saying anything.
''Why..?'' she asks me confused. I can see tears that are starting to form in her eyes.
For a second I get lost in the moment and before I know it I wipe away her tears with my thumb, caressing her cheek. ''Don't you know, Belly? I've always loved you. I don't think I can ever stop..''
I wanted to finish my sentence when the image of Belly kissing my brother came rushing to the surface. I pull away my hand from Belly's face and back away from her.
Belly is about to say something but I interrupt. ''Goodbye, Belly..'' I turn around and walk away from her without ever looking back.
...
Belly's point of view.
''Bye..Conrad'' I mumble to myself.
With disbelief I just watch him walk away from me. I never imagined Conrad slipping away from me. I always imagined me and him growing old together. I now know that my dreams weren't reality. The reality was that I kissed Jeremiah and Conrad saw us. I can't take back what happened. Yet I've never felt more broken in my life. Maybe because I just knew that I wouldn't see him for a long time. He is the person I once loved so much.
I take one more deep breath before walking away from the university towards the car where Jeremiah is waiting for me.
Jeremiah is leaning against the car, tapping his foot impatiently. ''Belly!'' he yells out to me.
I give him a hint of a smile before making my way to him. ''What happened..?'' Jeremiah asks me.
I don't say a word, instead, I hold up my hand before showing Jeremiah the necklace. ''I think we've lost him..'' I mumble softly to Jeremiah, only just realizing that I probably lost Conrad.
Jeremiah doesn't say anything else. Instead, he pulls me in for a hug and wraps his arms around me. At this moment I welcome his hug and put my head against his chest.
''I'm sure he'll come to his senses'' he whispers in my ear.