Shattered Illusion

Arina reached school, her heart pounding with nerves. "Oh my God, I'm so nervous," she whispered to herself. She saw him coming her way, and her anxiety spiked. Just then, her teacher's voice cut through her thoughts.

"Arina, come here! You need a touch-up. Get in the queue."

She sighed with relief and joined the line. To her surprise, he joined the same line. There was something off about him—his trousers were a bit loose, and he kept busy pulling them up. As he moved closer, he suddenly looked at her, mesmerized. Without warning, he kissed her on the cheek. Time seemed to stop. Shocked, Arina turned and ran away, her cheeks burning.

An hour later, it was time to rock the stage. "Don't get distracted by that incident. You have to perform well," she told herself, taking deep breaths. Summoning all her courage, she stepped onto the stage. Her performance was flawless, and everyone was amazed by her confident walk.

Next, it was time for the bunny walk. He had to hop like a rabbit, but his loose trousers made it difficult. He struggled throughout his performance, tugging at his pants.

At the end, all the participants gathered on stage for the final judgment. The judges, with their lists in hand, were ready to announce the top five participants. The air was thick with tension, and everyone was nervous. But Arina was zoned out, still thinking about the unexpected kiss.

"And the winner is... Arina!" The announcement jolted her back to reality. She took her prize, her face lighting up with joy. "Thank you, everyone," she said, tears of happiness in her eyes.

Her mum and dad were waiting backstage, beaming with pride. "Congratulations, Arina!" they said, hugging her tightly. To celebrate her victory, they took her to a pizza restaurant, her favorite treat.

That night, as she lay in bed, Arina couldn't stop thinking about the kiss. The memory replayed in her mind over and over, making it impossible for her to sleep. She hugged her pillow, a smile creeping onto her face despite the confusion. It had been a day full of surprises and triumphs, one she would never forget.

Years passed, and now Arina was 16. Yet, everything felt the same—her love for him, the promises they made, her unwavering loyalty—all of it existed vividly in her mind. She clung to her childhood dreams, ignoring the reality of growing up. In her heart, he remained her "bunny," even though they had grown into different people. He now loved football and had shed his innocence, becoming more self-absorbed. Their schools were different; he was a junior in another school. They barely spoke, but her love for him had only deepened.

Arina had become the most popular girl in her school, known for her intelligence and arrogance, making it nearly impossible for anyone to win her heart. She had two close friends, Pilyee and Tessa, who were the epitome of true friendship. They loved Arina dearly but did not share her fondness for her bunny. They often warned her about his selfish and flirtatious nature, but Arina defended him, insisting he was just naïve.

One day, Arina decided to surprise him with a gift—a red checkered shirt. The choice of red had a special meaning. Once, while they were at the market, he had pointed at a mannequin wearing the shirt and said, "I like that shirt. It would suit me, but I don't have the money right now." Arina remembered his words and thought it would be a wonderful surprise.

She was so excited to give him the shirt, imagining his reaction, hoping he might hug her out of gratitude. When she handed him the gift, he simply said, "Thanks," and walked away. Arina was taken aback by his cold reply but chose to ignore it.

Later, as she lay on her bed, she received a video from an unknown sender. Arina watched in horror, her heart sinking. She dropped her phone and burst into tears. The video revealed her bunny, wearing the shirt she had gifted him, laughing and flirting with another girl. The reality of his true nature hit her like a ton of bricks, shattering her childhood dreams and leaving her heartbroken.

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