Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 By the time | made it to the alumni gathering, everyone was already having a blast.

Among the crowd, Hogan Zade sat solemnly at a round table, bathed in the halo of light refracted from the chandelier above. His prominent nose and sharp features looked as if chiseled from fine jade — cool, aloof, and impeccable.

Next to him was a girl with a pretty face.

His hand rested casually behind her, every move he made was filled with tenderness.

The bottle for truth or dare just happened to point at the girl.

A busybody, eager to stir the pot, said in a pleasing tone, “Pick someone of the opposite sex here and kiss for two minutes.”

After hearing this, the girl shyly bowed her head and gave Hogan a look that practically screamed ‘rescue me’, and no one’s heart would not go out to her.

Hogan shot the crowd a look, and in a soft voice said, “Cut it out, she’s shy.”

When he said ‘cut it out’, nobody dared to push her further. But out of respect for the game rules, Hogan still downed his drink. It was pretty clear he was looking out for her.

The teasing and jeering continued, but nobody noticed me standing in the corner.

| touched the scar on my wrist, turning away quietly.

“Xaviera, did you just get here?” Darren Yearwood, the class rep, asked, drawing everyone’s attention.

“It's Hogan’s wife.”

The title | once wore with pride now felt like a joke.

In an instant, all eyes were on me. | forced a smile and said calmly. “Long time no see.”

No response.

The room fell into an awkward silence.

You could hear a pin drop.

After all, Hogan seemed to have found his match now. Who would bother with me, someone who’s been fawning over him for six years?

My appearance was indeed ill-timed./

But then, the girl by Hogan’s side broke the ice. “I know you, Xaviera March, the famous top student belle from our department's previous years!”

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She was sweet-looking and spoke so softly, it was impossible to dislike her.

“Hi Xaviera, I'm Cecilia Irwin, also from the computer science department,” she introduced. herself. Then, turning to Hogan, she whispered, “Hogan, why didn’t you tell me Xaviera was coming tonight?”

Hogan glanced at me indifferently and said with a nonchalant tone, “An insignificant person, why bring her up?” Insignificant.

So that was how Hogan saw me.

But when | thought about it, he was not wrong.

Otherwise, how come | never had the chance to sit by his side openly, even after six years?

He never acknowledged me, let alone stand up for me.

The irony was, | always thought Hogan, being so reserved and self—controlled, didn’t drink.

When the party ended, we all headed downstairs.

Hogan and Cecilia were surrounded by people at the front.

| overheard her tender voice, “I told you to drink less, you see, you’re uncomfortable now, right?” Hogan’s response was on point. “You know the reason.”

Cecilia’s eyes teared up as she said, “Hogan, don’t walk me out, it hurts to see you like this.”

Whatever Hogan replied made her laugh through her tears instantly.

The two of them were lost in each other, oblivious to the world, while | received sympathetic glances from the back row. | was feeling a bit down.

| had planned to network with some folks from the investment circle at this alumni event.

Now, that plan had fallen through, and I'd been the butt of the joke altevening..

Darren couldn't stand it any longer and offered to walk me to the subway ehtrance.

“Sorry, | didn’t know Hogan would come,” Darren said with regret. “He never attends these kinds of gatherings.”

Darren was telling the truth; Hogan’s name wasn’t even on the alumni list.

| replied evenly. “It’s okay, it’s all in the past. I'll be counting on you to pull some strings for me in the future.”

Darren nodded, “I’ve got your project proposal. I'll contact you as soon as | have news.”

See, talking business was so much easier than dealing with emotions.

An hour later, | was on my way back to my apartment complex with a hangover cure in hand.

The elevator door opened, and standing before me was a familiar tall figure. On closer inspection, it was none other than Hogan.

He was holding a cigarette, his lighter hanging in mid-air, and his navy—blue striped tie hung loosely around his neck. He looked a bit defeated.

Seeing me, his gaze faltered, and his eyes trembled slightly as his lips pressed tightly together.