Neil was sitting on a bench in the nearby park. He used to come here with Olivia after work hours. Today was the same—he had texted her to meet after work.

However, he wasn’t sure what to say or how to say it. He had made his decision, yet part of him still refused to accept it.

Olivia arrived an hour later, a smile on her face.

“Smiley face… I thought you weren’t going to text me after earlier…” she said, sitting beside him. “Let it go. I have some good news for you.”

Neil looked at her silently.

She continued, “That team leader of yours is suspended. We got the evidence.”

Her joy was evident, but Neil didn’t respond.

“Hey, don’t be like that. Say something! It was very hard for me to get the evidence. I had to go through countless CCTV footages.” She sighed. “But it was worth it. You should have seen his face . He seriously—”

“Thank you.” Neil interrupted. Something in his voice made her feel uneasy.

“I don’t need your thank you. But… you can apologize for earlier,” she teased.

“Sorry,” he muttered, staring at his hands. “I’m sorry for everything.”

She gave a hesitant sigh. “Neil… are you alright? Uh…It’s late. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

She might have sensed his demeanor; not wanting to face the reality, she stood up to leave. But Neil gently held her hand to stop her.

“Let’s put an end to this.”

She turned, removing his hand from her wrist. “End… to what, Neil?”

Silence.

“What do you mean, Neil?” she asked again.

“I don’t know anymore. But for now… it’s the best thing for us.”

“And you decided that all by yourself?”

“I’m sorry.”

She sighed. “Does saying ‘sorry’ make you feel better?”

“I know you’re disappointed in me. You should be. You’ve done everything for this relationship, but I…”

She stood there for a moment, noticing the determination in his eyes. She realized she couldn’t reason with him anymore. Perhaps, at this point, it really was the best choice for them.

“You’re right… let’s break up.”

Neil froze. He had been the one to suggest they part ways first, yet hearing it from her still wrecked his heart. He simply nodded in response.

The night fell silent again as they went their separate ways.

A few weeks later…

“Have you heard? She resigned.”
“After all that drama? She should have done it in the first place.”
“I always said she was in the wrong. She seduced team leader Neil.”
“He’s a nice catch. Maybe she forced him into a relationship. He’s so fine.”
“I would’ve been smitten too if I were her. He’s kind, handsome, and successful.”
“Hey, why compare yourself to her? Seriously. He deserved better.”

Gossip can never be controlled, though it began to fade after some time.

Weeks passed. Since Olivia’s resignation, they hadn’t contacted each other. Neil buried himself in work, finishing the project day and night. He had become the team leader, in charge of the project. Work became his only comfort, a way to forget her, even for a little while. He realised he had always loved working, but after all the rejections and underestimates, he had lost his initial purpose.

He made it through, and finally, after a year, he achieved his goal. The company offered him a promotion—but he refused and resigned. This had been his plan all along, from the start of the project.

“Isn’t it a waste to throw away such an opportunity?” Chris asked, holding Neil’s resignation letter.

“It isn’t,” Neil replied casually.

“If you’re doing this for Olivia, then you don’t need to.”

“I know. She would’ve been so happy for me…” he sighed. “But I’m doing this for myself.”

Chris nodded and extended his hand. “Good luck.”

Neil shook it politely, his usual smile on his face—this time, not forced. He had found himself again.

That night, he went to the bar where he and Olivia used to go for drinks. It was where it had all started—conversations, feelings, and their relationship.

“It’s been a while since you came,” the bartender said.
“It has.”
“Where’s your girlfriend?”
“Umm…”
“Ah…”

The bartender didn’t need to hear it. Neil’s pain and hesitation were obvious.

After a few drinks, Neil rambled on, words barely making sense, except for one name: Olivia.

Then, a familiar voice came from behind.

“Not a heavy drinker, are you? Meeting deadlines again?”

Curious to hear what he mumbled while he was drunk—here’s the scene:

“Who cares if I achieved anything?” he muttered, his voice low and rough. “I lost everything. I miss her… God, I only needed her in my life. If I could just—” his breath caught, “just go back in time… I’d hold her tight. I’d never let her go. Even if it hurt us both, I’d ask her to bear it with me. It wouldn’t hurt then, right?” His eyes blurred. “It wouldn’t… Olivia.”