He Called Me Ugly. I Became His Biggest Regret. Chapter 10
Spring. My first year winding down. The Columbia campus in bloom.
I saw Marco again.
He was wearing the same white shirt from the day we said goodbye. Thinner. Older.
His eyes hollow. He walked with a slight limp.
I found out later — one drunk night in his exile, he’d tried to climb from his balcony into my family’s upstairs window to prove he could still reach me.
He fell from the second floor. Broke his leg. Sobered up. I wasn’t there.
His leg was broken. But his exile continued anyway.
Now he stood on the Columbia campus. His eyes flickered with something like hope when he saw me.
“Lucy. It’s been so long. Forgive me — I asked around about your program. That’s how I found you. Congratulations. Such a good school. You deserve all of it.”
His voice was raw. “To see you again. To hear your voice. It’s so good. This past year — it’s been brutal. I made it through because of this shirt.”
He tugged at the hem. “Whenever I look at it — I imagine you still want to hold me. That we still have a future.”
A voice cut through the courtyard.
Cold. Commanding:
“This guy. He came all the way here with a broken leg — just to try to steal my girlfriend. That’s a little undignified.”
Adrian stepped up from behind. His arm wrapped around my waist. Tight. Secure.
He looked at Marco with the calm confidence of a man who’d never had to fight
for what was his — because it was never in question.
Marco stared. His pupils shook. He turned to me. Desperate. Searching.
“Lucy. You’re… with someone?”
I smiled — calm and clear. “Yes. This is my boyfriend, Adrian. My first love.”
Because Marco and I had never actually been together. Adrian was — of course — my first.
Marco looked like he’d been hit. His face drained. He couldn’t even manage a polite smile. His mouth opened. Closed. Nothing came out.
“We have to go now.” My voice was gentle. Final.
“You should head home too. Your leg still isn’t fully healed. Being out here alone — your father must be worried. Marco. You need to start your own new life. Bye.”
He managed a bitter smile. Waved. Turned. Walked away slowly — the limp making every step a small labor. He took a long time to disappear.
Once he was gone, Adrian said: “Babe. I think it’s not just his leg that’s broken. Something in his head isn’t right. Fantasizing about you — because of a SHIRT? I’m so mad.”
I stroked his hair. “Don’t be mad. His brain honestly doesn’t work right. He’s not worth it. Come on — we have forms to submit.”
He traced his finger over my photo on the exchange program application. Smug. “Having a too-excellent girlfriend is its own burden. I need to keep up my gym routine. Anyone eyes you — I’ll scare them off with pure muscle.”
He flexed his biceps. Deliberately. Show-off. I laughed and linked my arm through his.
The future is wide open.
I will keep moving forward — toward infinite possibilities.