The Unfortunate News

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Weeks passed, and Daniel's life fell into an even darker rhythm. The news hit him harder than he expected, and he couldn't shake the feeling of disgust—not toward Clara, but toward himself. He had built up this silent hope in his mind, thinking maybe, just maybe, something could happen between them. But when he found out that she was already in a relationship, and not just any relationship—she was dating a military guy, someone no one had even known about until recently—his heart sank.

It was as if the universe had conspired against him, mocking him for daring to hope. Daniel hated himself for even thinking he had a chance. The disappointment was crushing, like a weight pressing down on his chest every time he thought about it.

He remembered the day he saw them together, the moment that cemented his misery. He had been leaving the library, walking through the courtyard, when he saw Clara standing near the entrance, laughing and talking with a tall guy in uniform. She looked happy—radiantly happy—and the sight of her leaning into him, comfortable and at ease, made Daniel's stomach twist.

The guy must have been there to pick her up. Daniel stood frozen for a moment, watching them, his heart sinking further as the realization washed over him. He turned on his heel and walked away, ignoring everything around him, trying to block out the image of her with someone else. From that day on, he avoided her as much as he could.

---

One evening. 

"I'm really sorry, man," Mark had said when they met up later in the week. They were sitting on a bench outside campus, the sky above them dimming as the sun set. "I didn't know about the military guy. No one did."

Daniel didn't respond at first. He just stared ahead, watching students mill about the campus, going about their lives, unaware of the storm inside him.

"You good?" Mark asked, clearly feeling guilty. He had been pushing Daniel to make a move for weeks, and now it all felt like some sick joke.

Daniel finally shrugged, his voice flat. "Yeah. Doesn't matter now, does it?"

Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Still, man... that sucks. I wouldn't have pushed you if I knew."

Daniel didn't answer. In truth, he wasn't angry at Mark. He was angry at himself. Angry for being so foolish, for thinking he could somehow change his life by getting close to someone like Clara. It was laughable, really.

"You don't care anymore, huh?" Mark asked, trying to gauge Daniel's mood.

"I care," Daniel said quietly, his voice thick with frustration. "I care too much. That's the problem."

Mark shifted uncomfortably, sensing that Daniel didn't want to talk about it anymore. "Alright," he muttered, "but if you ever want to—"

"I won't," Daniel interrupted, standing up abruptly. "I just want to forget about it."

And forget about it he tried. But the more he tried to distance himself from her, the more it seemed impossible. Clara, with her energy and warmth, was always around, always present in one way or another. Whether it was seeing her laugh with friends, catching glimpses of her in the hallway, or overhearing her in conversations, Daniel couldn't escape the constant reminder that she was there. But now, she felt more out of reach than ever.

---

In the months that followed, Daniel withdrew even further. He avoided group gatherings, skipped the cafeteria, and took routes that would guarantee he wouldn't run into her. He stopped sitting in the back of the lecture hall where they had once shared the same space, opting instead for the far corners of the room, hidden away.

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Mark noticed, but he didn't press him. "I get it, man. Just... don't shut yourself out completely, okay?" Mark had said one evening when they ran into each other by chance.

"I'm fine," Daniel muttered, walking past him. But he wasn't. His loneliness had grown into something darker, something that felt like it was devouring him from the inside.

The world around him seemed duller now. The things that used to bring him some form of joy, like excelling in his classes or helping others with their work, felt hollow. He passed the days in a fog, going through the motions, but never truly present. His grades remained high, and his professors continued to admire his dedication, but inside, Daniel was barely holding on.

It wasn't just about Clara. She had merely been the catalyst. The truth was, Daniel had been fighting this emptiness long before she arrived. She was just the spark that made him realize how deep the void really was.

One late afternoon, as he walked through campus, the shadows long and stretching across the pavement, Daniel caught sight of her again. She was walking with a group of friends, her laughter filling the air like it always did. And there, standing just a few steps behind her, was the military guy, arms crossed, watching over her like some kind of protector.

Daniel clenched his jaw and kept walking, head down, determined not to look back.

In the quiet moments alone in his room, that image would replay in his mind. Clara laughing, carefree, surrounded by people who adored her, while he faded further into the background. Life had become more than lonely—it had become unbearable.

As the months dragged on, Clara began to notice something strange. Daniel, who had always been quietly present—whether in the back of lectures or during group projects—seemed to have completely vanished from her world. At first, she thought it was just a coincidence. People got busy, right? But then she started seeing less and less of him, to the point where it felt deliberate.

She tried to catch him after lectures or during breaks, but he always seemed to slip away before she could even say hello. The few times their paths did cross, Daniel would either avoid eye contact or make a quick exit. It was unlike him, and it gnawed at her curiosity.

One afternoon, after another failed attempt to run into Daniel, Clara found Mark sitting on the university lawn, scrolling through his phone. Determined to get some answers, she approached him.

"Mark!" she called out as she walked over.

Mark looked up and smiled, but his expression quickly shifted when he saw the determined look on her face. "Hey, Clara. What's up?"

She didn't waste any time. "What's going on with Daniel? He's been avoiding me. Like, completely vanished. Did I do something wrong?"

Mark blinked, trying to act casual, but she wasn't buying it. He shifted awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck. "Uh, no, nothing like that. He's just been... busy, you know? Lot of stuff going on with his classes and personal life."

Clara crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed with the vague answer. "Busy? Come on, Mark. We worked together for months, and now he can't even say 'hi'? I know something's off. You two are close. Can you just tell me what's going on?"

Mark sighed, knowing Clara wasn't going to drop it. But he also knew that telling her the truth would only make things worse for Daniel. "Look, Clara, it's not you. Trust me, you didn't do anything wrong. Daniel's just... dealing with some stuff right now. He's kinda going through a rough time."

She frowned, her concern deepening. "What kind of stuff? Is he okay?"

Mark hesitated, knowing he was walking a fine line. "He's fine... I mean, not great, but he'll be alright. It's just... complicated." He leaned back, trying to steer the conversation away. "Maybe just give him some space, you know? He'll come around when he's ready."

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