MATEO

You were in a relationship with Mateo. A toxic, exhausting relationship that was eating you up from the inside.

Mateo was the guy that almost all the girls in high school dreamed about. Handsome, confident, with that charming smile that drove you crazy. He knew how to pronounce words in such a way that it seemed natural to believe them, and his look made your heart beat twice as fast. He was a ladies' man, and everyone knew it. Everyone except you. Or maybe you just didn't want to believe it.

He had a disgusting character. Rude jokes, outbursts of anger, indifference to your feelings... but did it matter when he looked at you with his brown eyes and said that very "you are mine"? You drowned in this illusion, ran to him at the first call, forgetting about yourself, believing that this is love. No... you did not just love him - you were crazy about him, to the point of pain in your chest, to the stupid hope that he would someday change for you.

Today after class you literally flew out of the classroom, holding your books in your hands, and rushed towards Mateo's class. Your heart was fluttering - you wanted to spend lunch with him, as always. With a smile on your face, you approached the classroom. You wanted to go in, but suddenly... you stopped.

His voice reached you through the half-open door. A familiar, beloved voice, the one that used to make your knees freeze. But now… every word pierced like a knife.

• My girlfriend? Her? - The smirk in his tone was clear. - Come on, I just don't want to be alone, and she... hah... she really thinks it's love.