The days that followed the beach trip felt like a blur for Catarina. She went through the motions of her routine, attending classes and hanging out with Mia and the others, but her heart felt heavy, and her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The pain of betrayal still lingered, but amidst the heartache, she started to feel a flicker of determination rising within her.

It was a Thursday afternoon when she found herself sitting in the campus café, a cup of steaming coffee in hand and her laptop open in front of her. She was supposed to be studying for her upcoming exams, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Dustin. The image of him with another girl haunted her, and every time she caught sight of him in the halls or on campus, her heart would clench painfully.

"Hey, Cat! Mind if I join you?" a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see Liam, a mutual friend from their group, sliding into the seat across from her.

"Sure, I could use the company," she replied, forcing a smile.

Liam raised an eyebrow, concern etched on his face. "You okay? You've seemed a bit off lately."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Catarina lied, shrugging her shoulders. "Just stressed with exams coming up."

"Totally get it. Want to study together? I could use some help with my notes," he offered, grinning.

"Sure, why not?" she agreed, grateful for the distraction.

As they dove into their study session, Catarina found herself relaxing a bit, the tension in her shoulders easing. Liam was easy to talk to, and he had a way of making her laugh that felt refreshing. For a few moments, she was able to forget her worries and just enjoy the moment.

After a couple of hours, they finished their session, and Catarina closed her laptop, feeling accomplished. "Thanks for the help, Liam. I think I'm finally starting to get a handle on this material."

"Anytime! We should do this more often," he replied, his smile warm and genuine.

As they stood to leave, Catarina noticed Dustin across the café, sitting with the same girl from the pictures she had seen. Her heart dropped, and she felt a familiar pang of jealousy rise within her. She quickly looked away, trying to maintain her composure.

"Cat? You okay?" Liam asked, noticing her change in demeanor.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied again, but her voice lacked conviction.

Liam's expression softened. "Hey, if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here."

"Thanks, I appreciate it," she said, forcing another smile before they walked out of the café together.

That evening, Catarina found herself scrolling through her social media, her heart racing as she came across more posts of Dustin and the girl, laughing and enjoying each other's company. The images twisted the knife deeper into her heart, and she slammed her laptop shut, frustration boiling over.

"Ugh! Why can't I just let this go?" she muttered to herself, pacing around her room.

Mia peeked in, concern etched on her face. "Cat? What's wrong?"

"Just... everything. I thought I could move on, but it feels impossible," Catarina admitted, collapsing onto her bed.

"Want to go for a walk? Sometimes fresh air helps clear your head," Mia suggested.

"Yeah, that sounds nice," Catarina agreed, grateful for the distraction.

They walked through the campus, the cool night air brushing against their skin as they chatted about anything and everything. As they strolled, Catarina's mind began to clear, and she realized that she needed to focus on herself instead of Dustin.

"Maybe it's time I start doing things for me," she said, a newfound determination in her voice. "I've been so focused on him that I've neglected my own needs."

Mia nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! You're strong, and you can get through this. How about we make a list of things you want to do this semester? Things that will help you feel like yourself again."

"Sounds like a plan," Catarina replied, feeling a glimmer of hope.

The next day, she took a step back from her heartache and decided to take charge of her life. She enrolled in a painting class she had always wanted to try, began volunteering at a local shelter, and even started a fitness routine with Mia.

As the weeks rolled by, she found herself rediscovering her passions and enjoying life without the constant ache of Dustin's betrayal. But every now and then, she would catch sight of him, and the memories would flood back. However, she was slowly learning to accept the past and embrace her future.

One afternoon, as she was leaving her painting class, she bumped into Liam outside the studio. He was waiting for her, a wide grin on his face.

"Hey, Cat! How was class?" he asked, falling into step beside her.

"It was great! I actually think I'm improving," she replied, feeling a rush of excitement.

"Let's see some of your work sometime. I'd love to check it out," he said, genuinely interested.

"Sure! I'd love that," she smiled, appreciating his support.

As they walked through the campus, Catarina felt lighter. For the first time in a long while, she felt free. They made plans to hang out more often, and Catarina couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement at the prospect of getting to know Liam better.

Weeks passed, and as the semester progressed, Catarina continued to find joy in her newfound independence. She enjoyed painting and volunteering, and slowly, the memories of Dustin began to fade into the background.

But one chilly Friday evening, everything changed again. As she walked into the campus café to meet Mia for their usual catch-up session, she was taken aback to see Dustin sitting at a table, looking more lost than she had ever seen him.

Their eyes locked for a brief moment, and a wave of emotions crashed over her—hurt, anger, and a tinge of sympathy. He looked different, a shadow of the confident guy she had known. His usual smile was nowhere to be found, and his shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world rested on them.

"Cat, over here!" Mia called, waving her over.

Catarina broke her gaze from Dustin and joined Mia at their table, forcing herself to focus on her friend. "Hey! Sorry I'm late."

"No worries! I ordered you your favorite," Mia said, grinning. "So, what's the plan for this weekend?"

Before Catarina could respond, she felt someone approach their table. She looked up to find Dustin standing there, a hesitant expression on his face.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Catarina's heart raced as a mixture of emotions flooded her. "What do you want, Dustin?" she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Please, just give me a chance to explain," he pleaded, his eyes searching hers for understanding.

"Why should I?" she shot back, hurt evident in her tone.

"Because I messed up, Cat. I realized that after everything we shared, I should have never let you go," he admitted, his voice thick with emotion.

Catarina felt her heart twist painfully. "And now you want to talk? After everything?"

"I know I hurt you, and I'm so sorry. I thought I could just move on, but it's not that easy. You mean more to me than I ever realized," he confessed, vulnerability written all over his face.

Mia watched the exchange closely, sensing the tension between them. Catarina's heart raced as she processed his words, torn between wanting to scream at him and feeling the remnants of love that still lingered.

"Dustin, I don't know if I can just forgive and forget," she said softly, her resolve wavering.

"I understand that. But please, can we at least talk? I want to make this right," he pleaded, his eyes earnest.

Catarina glanced at Mia, who gave her a small nod of encouragement. With a deep breath, she turned back to Dustin. "Fine. But this doesn't mean I'm ready to forgive you. I need time."

"Time is all I ask," he replied, relief washing over his features. "Thank you for giving me this chance."