Chapter 5. Unspoken Longing

Xerina’s POV

“Ruka and I are going to get married next month,” he said, and my world was broken.

You know the feeling as if someone was scraping the walls of your heart, pulling each cord and twisting it in circles. I was jealous, shamefully so. Feeling like a fire was burning within, consuming all that was me, leaving only ashes of bitterness behind.

She was perfect for him, too perfect—it made me want to pull my hair out in frustration.

Every time I saw them together, her flawless smile and effortless grace only emphasized my own apparent flaws. It felt like an invisible hand was reaching into my chest, twisting and knotting my emotions until I could barely breathe. It was an agonizing mix of longing and self-loathing, knowing that she fit into his world so seamlessly while I was left on the outside looking in.

I had no control over my emotions. This male made me this way. Ugh.

I watched as Ruka remained glued to his side, her slender arm