The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the bustling campus as Dustin stumbled through the crowded quad. It was the day after the beach trip, and the memories of laughter and dancing were still fresh in his mind. But today was different; the thrill of the previous night was overshadowed by the heavy weight of regret hanging over him like a dark cloud.

He had woken up in his own bed, confusion clouding his mind. The events of the previous night played out like a broken film reel—images flickering in and out of focus. He remembered drinks, laughter, and the enticing buzz that comes with forgetting the world around you. But the most troubling part was the vague memory of a girl, someone he couldn't quite place, sharing his bed.

"Dustin! Hey, are you okay?" A voice broke through his haze, pulling him back to reality. It was Liam, one of his friends, who approached him with a concerned expression. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Yeah, just... rough night," Dustin mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to shake off the lingering effects of the hangover.

"Rough night? You mean you don't remember anything?" Liam raised an eyebrow, a smirk creeping onto his face. "I thought you had a fun time at the party last night. You were with a girl all night."

Dustin's stomach dropped at the implication. "What do you mean, 'a girl'? Who?"

"Some girl from the next dorm over. Didn't catch her name, but you guys were pretty cozy," Liam said, chuckling. "I thought you were still hung up on Catarina."

"Yeah, well, I guess things change," Dustin said, forcing a laugh but feeling a knot tighten in his chest.

"Man, you're a player now, huh? Just be careful. I know how you feel about Catarina," Liam warned, his playful tone shifting to concern.

Dustin waved him off, already feeling the weight of his decisions crashing down on him. "I'll be fine. I just need to sort this out."

He wandered off, his mind racing. Memories of Catarina flashed through his mind—the way she laughed, the warmth of her smile, the promises they had made. But now, he had crossed a line he couldn't take back. He had betrayed her trust, and the thought of it made his stomach churn.

Later that evening, Dustin found himself sitting at a café, his laptop open but completely neglected. He was supposed to be studying, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept checking his phone, hoping to see a message from Catarina, but nothing came through. The silence felt deafening, amplifying the weight of his guilt.

"Hey, man, you're looking rough," Liam said, sliding into the seat across from him. "Did you talk to Catarina yet?"

Dustin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Not yet. I don't even know how to start. I messed up, Liam. I slept with someone else."

Liam's expression shifted from playful to serious. "Dude, that's a big deal. You need to tell her the truth."

"I know! But I don't want to hurt her," Dustin replied, his frustration boiling over. "What if she hates me? What if I lose her for good?"

"You won't know unless you tell her. It's better to be honest than to keep lying," Liam said, leaning forward, his voice steady. "Catarina deserves to know. You owe her that much."

Dustin nodded slowly, the weight of his friend's words sinking in. "You're right. I just... I don't know how to face her."

"Just be honest. She's your best friend, and if she truly cares about you, she'll want to hear the truth," Liam encouraged.

With a heavy heart, Dustin took a deep breath, steeling himself for the inevitable confrontation. He decided to head to Catarina's apartment, hoping to catch her before she went out for the night.

When he arrived at her place, he knocked hesitantly, the sound echoing in the stillness. After a few moments, the door opened, revealing Catarina, her eyes wide with surprise. "Dustin! I wasn't expecting you."

"Hey, can I come in?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course," she replied, stepping aside to let him in. The familiar scent of her space wrapped around him, and for a moment, he felt a sense of comfort despite the turmoil swirling within him.

Catarina closed the door and turned to face him, her expression shifting from surprise to concern. "You look exhausted. Is everything okay?"

Dustin swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "No, not really. I need to talk to you about something."

"Okay..." she said cautiously, her eyes searching his. "What's going on?"

Taking a deep breath, he decided to plunge into the depths of honesty. "I messed up, Catarina. I... I slept with someone else."

The silence that followed felt like an eternity. Catarina's expression faltered, confusion and hurt flickering in her eyes. "What do you mean? When?"

"Last night. I got really drunk at the party and... I don't even remember her name. I just know I shouldn't have done it," he confessed, feeling the heat of shame wash over him. "I didn't mean to hurt you, and I hate myself for it."

Tears welled in Catarina's eyes, and the sight of it felt like a dagger to his heart. "Why would you do that, Dustin? After everything we talked about?"

"I don't know! I was stupid and reckless. I never wanted to hurt you. You mean so much to me," he pleaded, desperation lacing his words. "I messed up, and I'm so sorry."

Catarina shook her head, stepping back as if to distance herself from him. "I can't believe this. You just threw everything we had away for a one-night stand? Did it even mean anything to you?"

"No! It didn't! You're the one I care about. I'm so sorry," he pleaded, his heart racing as he stepped closer, but she held up her hand, stopping him.

"Stop. Just stop. I need time to think," she said, her voice trembling. "I thought we were building something real, and now you've shattered that trust."

"Catarina, please. I know I messed up, but I want to make things right. I want to fix this," he begged, feeling the weight of his mistakes crash down around him.

"I don't know if that's possible," she whispered, turning away from him as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You've hurt me more than I thought you ever could."

Dustin felt his heart drop at her words, the reality of the situation crashing over him like a wave. "I'll do anything, just please don't give up on us."

But she shook her head, her expression firm despite the pain in her eyes. "I need space. I can't just pretend everything is okay after this."

"Catarina..." he started, but she cut him off.

"Just go, Dustin. Please. I need to be alone right now," she said, her voice breaking.

He stood frozen, feeling the walls closing in around him. This was the moment he had dreaded—the moment he had created with his own hands. Slowly, he turned and walked out of her apartment, the door closing behind him with a finality that echoed in his chest.

Outside, the cool night air hit him like a slap, and he felt lost. The weight of his decisions felt heavier than ever, and he leaned against the railing of the staircase, the pain of regret wrapping around him like a suffocating shroud.

He had thrown away the best thing he had ever had, and for what? A moment of weakness, a night fueled by alcohol and reckless choices.

He pulled out his phone, scrolling through his messages, seeing all the conversations they had shared—the laughter, the plans, the love they had built. But now, everything felt tainted. He had betrayed her trust, and the thought of losing her was unbearable.

Dustin stared at the screen, his heart racing with the possibility of reaching out one last time. But deep down, he knew he had to give her the space she needed. He had to let her process what he had done.

With a heavy heart, he sent her a simple message: I'm sorry, Catarina. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I'll wait as long as you need.

He hit send and stared at the screen, feeling a mix of hope and despair. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—he would do whatever it took to make things right. If that meant waiting, then he would wait, hoping that one day, she could find it in her heart to trust him again.

For now, all he could do was face the consequences of his actions and hope that the bond they had built would not be lost forever.