The following week, the atmosphere at campus felt different for Catarina. She wore a brave face, laughing with friends and attending classes as if nothing were amiss. But inside, she was a storm of emotions—confusion, anger, and heartache all swirling together. Despite Dustin's efforts to mend their friendship, the wounds he had inflicted were still fresh.

She kept replaying the scene from the picnic in her mind, the way he had looked at her with sincerity, the way he had held her hand like it was the most precious thing in the world. For a moment, she had allowed herself to believe that they could get back to where they had been before the betrayal. But as each day passed, reality settled back in like an unwelcome shadow.

Catarina found it increasingly difficult to ignore the images of Dustin with another girl. She had seen them in passing—a quick snapshot on social media that her friends had sent her, a picture of Dustin laughing, his arm casually draped around a girl she didn't know. They looked happy, carefree. And it cut her deeper than she had expected.

"Hey, you okay?" asked Mia, her roommate, breaking her from her thoughts as they sat together in their shared living room.

Catarina forced a smile, trying to mask the hurt. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Sure you are," Mia replied, raising an eyebrow. "You've been awfully quiet lately. You can talk to me, you know."

With a heavy sigh, Catarina leaned back against the couch, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on her. "It's just... everything is so complicated right now."

"Complicated how?" Mia pressed, leaning forward with genuine concern in her eyes.

"It's Dustin," Catarina admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought we were making progress, but then I saw him with that girl. It feels like he moved on so quickly."

Mia frowned, her expression shifting to one of sympathy. "I'm sorry, Cat. That must hurt."

"It does," Catarina confessed, her eyes welling up with unshed tears. "I thought we had something special, something worth fighting for. But now I just feel... betrayed."

Mia reached out, squeezing Catarina's hand. "You deserve better than that. You shouldn't have to compete for his attention."

"Maybe he never really cared as much as I thought he did," Catarina said, her voice breaking. "Maybe he was just playing with my feelings."

"Don't think that way. You know he's not like that," Mia countered, shaking her head. "But you can't just sit back and let this get to you. You need to prioritize yourself and your feelings."

Catarina nodded, knowing Mia was right. But the ache in her chest wouldn't dissipate. It felt like a constant reminder of the happiness she had lost. After a long pause, she wiped her tears and took a deep breath. "I just wish I knew how to move on. I want to be happy again."

"Let's do something fun this weekend. A little distraction might help," Mia suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "What do you think? A movie night or maybe a day trip to the beach?"

Catarina smiled faintly at the thought. "That sounds nice. I could use some time away."

"Perfect! Let's make it a plan," Mia said enthusiastically. "You need to let loose and have fun. You deserve it."

As the weekend approached, Catarina did her best to immerse herself in the plans. The thought of spending a day at the beach with her friends was a welcome distraction. But even as they packed their bags and set out, her mind often wandered back to Dustin.

They arrived at the beach, the sound of waves crashing against the shore and the salty breeze filling the air. The sun blazed overhead, and for a moment, Catarina felt the tension in her chest ease. Laughter echoed around her as they set up their spot on the sand, and she tried her hardest to join in, to forget the pain for just a little while.

But as they splashed in the water and lounged on the sand, the nagging thought of Dustin wouldn't leave her. She couldn't help but wonder what he was doing, if he was thinking of her at all. Her heart twisted at the thought of him moving on so easily.

"Cat, are you okay?" Mia asked, noticing the distant look in her friend's eyes as they sat on the beach.

"Yeah, just thinking," she replied, forcing a smile.

"About him, huh?" Mia prodded gently.

"Maybe," Catarina admitted, picking at the sand beneath her fingers. "It's just hard to shake off what happened."

"Just remember you're here with your friends who care about you," Mia said, nudging her playfully. "Let's make some memories without him."

Catarina nodded, but her heart wasn't in it. She wanted to let go, but every wave that crashed against the shore felt like a reminder of her heartbreak. The laughter around her felt distant, as if she were watching from behind a glass wall.

As the day wore on, they gathered around a bonfire, the sky turning shades of orange and pink as the sun began to set. They roasted marshmallows and made s'mores, the warmth of the fire contrasting with the chill creeping into the air.

"Cat, you're too quiet," Mia said, nudging her again. "What's up?"

"I'm fine, really," Catarina insisted, forcing herself to join in the conversation. But as they shared stories and jokes, a sense of emptiness still lingered within her. She forced a smile, but the laughter felt hollow.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, and she glanced down to see a message from an unknown number. Hesitating for a moment, she opened it, her heart sinking as she read the words:

"Hey, I saw Dustin with someone else at the café today. Just thought you should know."

Her breath hitched in her throat, the pain resurfacing with renewed intensity. She tried to push the phone away, but it was as if the world had stopped around her. The laughter faded into silence as her mind raced.

Mia looked over, concern etched on her face. "What is it?"

Catarina shook her head, unable to form the words. Instead, she excused herself from the group and walked a few paces away from the fire, her heart pounding in her chest. She needed air, needed space to breathe.

The ocean roared behind her, but all she could hear was the rush of betrayal coursing through her veins. The thought of Dustin being with someone else made her feel physically sick. Had their moments meant so little to him? Did he really move on that fast?

Catarina crouched on the sand, wrapping her arms around her knees as tears streamed down her cheeks. The weight of loneliness and hurt pressed down on her, suffocating her spirit. She thought about how easily he had laughed with that girl, how easily he had let her go.

"Why does it hurt so much?" she whispered to herself, choking on her words.

Moments later, Mia found her, concern written all over her face. "Cat, what's wrong? You don't have to hide from me."

"I can't do this anymore, Mia," Catarina said, her voice trembling. "It hurts too much. I thought I could handle it, but I can't."

Mia knelt beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You're not alone in this. I'm here for you, and you don't have to pretend to be okay."

"I just want the pain to go away," Catarina cried, the anguish pouring out of her like a dam breaking. "I thought we had something real, and now I just feel... betrayed."

"I know it's hard, but you have to let yourself feel this. You deserve to grieve what you lost," Mia said softly, her voice comforting. "But remember, you're strong. You will get through this."