Page 44 of Upgraded Friendship

“I’ve watched you from afar all these years, watching you. Wishing I had said ‘yes’ when you asked me to be your Valentine that day. Now I see you with Josh and wish it was me by your side,” he continues, his voice filled with a bitterness that cuts to the bone. “I’ve hated seeing you with him, knowing that I could never have what he has.”

I can feel the tears stinging my eyes as I listen to his confession, the weight of his words pressing down on me like a lead weight.

“I know I’m probably too late, that you’ve moved on and found happiness with him. I see how you look at him. It’s how you used to look at me,” he says, his voice tinged with resignation. “But I had to tell you, Andrea. I had to get it off my chest, to finally admit the truth.”

As Jeremy’s words hang heavy in the air, I feel like the ground beneath me is shifting, the foundation of my reality crumbling beneath my feet. I stumble backward, my mind racing as I try to process the magnitude of what he’s just confessed.

Without a word, I turn and flee, desperate to escape the suffocating weight of Jeremy’s declaration. I stumble into the nearest restroom, collapsing against the door as I try to catch my breath.

Alone in the bathroom, I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling as I press them to my temples. What on earth is going on? Why now, of all times, has Jeremy chosen to tell me he has feelings for me?

And more importantly, what am I supposed to do about it?

My mind whirls with questions, doubts and fears swirling around me like a tempest. I close my eyes, willing myself to find some semblance of clarity amidst the chaos.

But try as I might, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that lingers in the pit of my stomach. Jeremy’s confession has thrown everything into disarray, casting doubt on everything I thought I knew about myself and my feelings.

And then, like a bolt of lightning, it hits me.

It doesn’t matter. I still love Josh.

The realization crashes over me with all the force of a tidal wave, leaving me gasping for air. In that moment, I understand with a sudden and startling clarity that my heart has always belonged to him, and him alone.

But even as the truth settles over me like a comforting blanket, I can’t shake the feeling of guilt that gnaws at the edges of my consciousness. Guilt for the confusion and pain that Melissa is feeling.

I press a hand to my chest, feeling the steady thrum of my heartbeat beneath my fingertips. With each pulse, I’m reminded of the depth of my feelings for Josh, of the undeniable connection that binds us together.

And in that moment, I know what I have to do.

With a newfound sense of determination, I push aside my doubts and fears, steeling myself for the challenges that lie ahead. I won’t let Jeremy’s confession derail me, won’t let it overshadow the love that burns bright and true within me.

For I know now, with a certainty that defies explanation, that my heart belongs to Josh. And no matter what obstacles may come our way, I will fight for our love with every fiber of my being.

With a deep breath, I straighten my shoulders, ready to face whatever comes next. And as I step out of the restroom and back into the world beyond, I do so with a newfound sense of purpose and resolve.

Chapter eighteen

Josh

As Jeremy’s confession hangs heavy in the air, I feel a surge of conflicting emotions wash over me. Anger, sadness, and a deep sense of betrayal battle for dominance within me as I struggle to process what I’m hearing.

I had known something was brewing, a sense of impending doom hanging over the day like a dark cloud. But I never imagined it would come to this—Jeremy, professing his love for Andrea right in front of me, on his own wedding day, no less.

As Jeremy pours his heart out, I pray silently for Andrea to shut him down immediately, to put an end to this madness before it goes any further. But as I steal a glance at her, I’m met with a sight that breaks my heart.

She stands there, her face a blank mask of shock and disbelief, her lips pressed tightly together as she listens to Jeremy’s confession. There’s no anger in her eyes, no trace of defiance—just a numb resignation that cuts me to the core.

I can feel the tears stinging my eyes as I watch her, my heart aching with a pain I can barely comprehend. She’s the woman I love, the one I would do anything for, and yet she stands there, silent and unmoving, as another man professes his love for her.

And in that moment, I realize the truth that I’ve been trying to deny all along.

She doesn’t love me. She loves him.

The realization hits me like a ton of bricks, knocking the breath from my lungs as I struggle to come to terms with the enormity of it all. I had hoped against all hope that she might feel something for me, that our friendship might blossom into something more, but now I see that it was all just wishful thinking.

Angry and saddened by the turn of events, I turn on my heels and stride purposefully out of the church, my footsteps echoing in the empty silence of the hallway. I struggle against the desire to go back and talk some sense into her, and I can feel the weight of Andrea’s gaze burning into my back, but I refuse to look back, refuse to let her see the pain that’s written on my face.

As I step out of the church, my heart heavy with the weight of Andrea’s silence and Jeremy’s confession, I find myself standing alone in the parking lot, staring at the horizon with a mixture of anger and resignation.

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