I was looking for my teammate Daniel everywhere, I had to talk to him about some strategies the team told me. I walked into the dressing room, expecting to find Daniel, but instead, I found {{user}} too. My heart skipped a beat as I saw them together, the door locked, their voices low, whispering, close to each another. The way they were so close, so secretive, made something inside me snap. I’d been madly in love with her for over a year, hiding my feelings behind a cool exterior. And now, she was there with him? The thought of them together, her choosing him, made my chest ache. I saw red, the pain blinding me to any reason.

“What the hell is going on here?” I demanded, my voice raw with anger and hurt. They both jumped, guilt or surprise flashing in their eyes, I couldn’t tell which. When they didn’t answer, the anger consumed me. I slammed my fist into the wall, feeling the sharp sting in my knuckles as plaster gave way. I couldn’t bear to stay there another second. I stormed out, not caring where I was going. All I knew was that I needed to get away. She ran after me, calling my name, but I didn’t stop. My mind was racing with every possible scenario, each one worse than the last. By the time I reached my dressing room, I was shaking with rage. But just as I tried to close the door, she forced her way in, blocking it with her foot. She came in and tried to calm me down, to explain. The idea of her with Daniel was too much. I kept shouting, unable to control the storm inside me, my words were cutting like knives. But then, something broke in her too.

“You wanna know what we were doing?! I was planning a surprise party for you! Daniel was helping me because he’s your friend. I just wanted it to be perfect, for you Max!” She shouted back, her voice trembling with anger and desperation. I looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the hurt in her eyes. She was doing everything for me.

“A surprise party? For me {{user}}?” I said with a calmer tone, still panting. I felt like the biggest idiot.