Heartstrings on Fire (Agnes and Jared)
Chapter 883

Alyssa knew Michael spent his days hauling bricks at a construction site.

One day, skipping class, she tracked him down. She was relentless, but all she got in return was Michael's scorn.

Despite the heartache, Alyssa couldn't let go. She would visit Michael whenever she got the chance.

Hounded by her persistence, Michael quit his job, but Alyssa found him again at his new workplace.

That evening, after clocking out, Michael was unwinding with his buddies at a local dive bar. Alyssa, thick-skinned, showed up uninvited. Michael let his crew tease her mercilessly. Still, she wouldn't leave. Finally, Michael stood up, dragged her into an alley, and nearly slammed her against the wall. "Alyssa, if you show up again, I'll go full psycho on you. You have no idea what I'm capable of. I'm not the good guy you think I am."

Pinned against the wall, Alyssa looked up at the rugged youth.

She tiptoed, wrapped her arms around Michael's neck, and kissed him. It was her first kiss.

Michael seemed furious, trying to shake her off. However, Alyssa clung to him with surprising strength, refusing to let go.

It was because she had spotted a figure nearby - It was Julia.

All of Alyssa's focus shifted to Julia. The distance was far, but Alyssa seemed but see Julia's disbelieving eyes.

From Julia's angle, it must have looked like an intense kiss.

Eventually, Julia turned and walked away.

Michael pushed Alyssa off. Disgusted, he wiped his mouth vehemently. "You're insane," he spat, and stormed off.

That moment marked Alyssa's transformation into a cunning and spiteful girl.

She knew Julia was watching and had planned it all along.

After that incident, something shifted between Julia and Michael.

Several times, when Alyssa went to see Michael, she found him drinking alone, brooding. Every time he saw Alyssa, his teeth would grind with irritation.

Alyssa knew how much Michael detested her. Yet, shamelessly, she told Julia that Michael had been her first kiss.

Julia, hearing this, said nothing. She just sat at her dorm desk, head down, pretending to read, as tears dropped, staining the pages with circles.

Julia finally asked, "Alyssa, did you ever really consider me a friend?"

Alyssa froze. She had thought of Julia as a friend, a sister, even family, but it seemed that none of that could outweigh the burgeoning feelings and greedy longing for love in her heart. The happier Julia appeared, the more Alyssa envied and resented her.

Every time she saw Julia with Michael, Alyssa imagined herself in her place. She just couldn't help it.

Before Alyssa could respond, Julia took off that bracelet she was wearing and handed it to her. "Take this back, Alyssa. From today on, you're no longer my friend."

At that moment, Alyssa felt an acute pain, as though something was being torn from her very soul.