Sakura stood frozen on the rain-soaked pavement, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if that could hold her together. Haru's words still echoed in her ears: "I wish you'd told me the truth, Sakura. Even once. Maybe then... none of this would've happened."
She stared at the space where he'd disappeared, his figure swallowed by the relentless storm. Her chest felt hollow, a chasm of guilt and regret threatening to consume her. She didn't know how long she stood there, rain drenching her dress and hair, her tears indistinguishable from the water streaming down her face.
But the muffled hum of voices from the venue behind her reminded her: Mia was waiting.
Sakura wiped her face with trembling hands, though it did little good. Her heart pounded as she turned toward the building, each step feeling heavier than the last. By the time she reached the entrance, her bare feet were numb from the cold, her soaked dress clinging uncomfortably to her skin.
She pushed the doors open, the warm, lit room inside a sharp contrast to the storm raging behind her. Conversations faltered as heads turned toward her. Whispers rippled through the crowd like a sudden gust of wind, tension replacing any trace of celebration.
At the centre of it all stood Mia, radiant and expectant in her pristine wedding gown. But the smile she tried to hold faltered when she saw Sakura's bedraggled state. Her expression shifted to concern as she hurried toward her best friend, her dress billowing behind her.
"Sakura!" Mia's voice was laced with relief and worry. "What happened to you? Where have you been? Did you find Haru? Where is he?"
Sakura froze, her sodden dress dripping onto the pristine floor. Mia reached out, gripping her arms tightly, her nails digging into Sakura's skin as though holding her would somehow steady the unraveling chaos.
"Sakura, please," Mia begged, her voice cracking. "Tell me—did you find him? What's going on?"
Sakura's breath quivered as her lips parted, but no sound came. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, her guilt choking her. The guests' gazes burned into her as Mia reached out, gripping her arms tightly.
"Sakura, what's going on?" Mia pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice. "Where is he?"
Sakura's lip trembled as she shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "Mia… there's something I need to tell you."
Sakura swallowed hard, her soaked hair dripping onto the floor. The weight of the room pressed down on her, the gazes of dozens of guests burning into her. But none of that mattered. Only Mia mattered—and the truth she could no longer avoid.
"Mia," Sakura began, her voice trembling. "Haru… isn't coming back."
Mia froze, her grip tightening on Sakura's arms. Her face paled, panic flashing in her wide eyes. "What do you mean, he's not coming back?" she whispered.
Sakura's chest ached as the words fought their way out. "I found him," she said. "He… he's confused, Mia. He said some things I didn't expect—things I didn't want to hear. And now, he's gone."
Mia shook her head violently, her voice rising with desperation. "What are you talking about? What did he say? Where did he go?"
Sakura's lip quivered as she met Mia's gaze. She had no choice now. The truth would hurt, but it had to be said.
"Mia..." Her voice broke, tears streaming freely down her face. "Haru told me he's not in love with you."
The room seemed to still, the air thick with silence as the guests exchanged uneasy glances. Mia's hands dropped to her sides, her expression twisting in disbelief.
"No," she said firmly, her voice wavering. "That's not true. He loves me. He told me he loves me!"
Sakura forced herself to continue. "He… he said he's in love with me."
Mia recoiled as though struck, her eyes wide and unblinking, unable to process the words. "What?" Her voice was a whisper, raw with hurt.
Sakura's tears mingled with the rainwater dripping from her hair as she pressed on, her voice trembling. "He said he's always been in love with me. Even when he thought he loved you."
The room buzzed with the murmur of voices, people exchanging glances, unsure whether to intervene or simply watch the unfolding drama. But Sakura could no longer take back what had been said. Mia's pain was reflected in her own, but it was the truth, and it had to be heard.
Mia's eyes were brimming with rage and disbelief. "You knew! You knew I loved him, Sakura! And you still—"
"I didn't do anything!" Sakura interrupted, her voice cracking. "I swear, Mia. Even though I loved him, I never told him. I never acted on it. I pushed him toward you because I wanted you to be happy. I helped you because I thought… because I thought it was the right thing to do."
Mia's face twisted in confusion, her voice barely above a whisper. "You loved him?"
Sakura nodded, choking on the weight of the confession. "I loved him back in college. But when you came to me, begging me to help you get together, I pushed my feelings aside. I ignored them. I wanted you to have your chance with him... because I wanted you to be happy."
Mia's eyes narrowed, her voice suddenly sharp and accusing. "So, what, you didn't want him, but you're telling me you didn't secretly pursue him?"
Sakura shook her head violently, her heart racing. "No! I never pursued him, Mia. I swear. Not once. I... I just wanted what was best for you."
Mia's disbelief turned into anger, her voice rising again. "If that's true, then why did Haru choose you? Why didn't he choose me, if you were just helping me all along?"
Sakura flinched, the question cutting deeper than she expected. Her voice trembled as she answered, "Maybe it's because... maybe it's because you were pretending to be me." She met Mia's eyes, her voice thick with emotion. "At least that's what Haru told me. He said he thought he was in love with you because, for so long, you were acting like me all this time. He told me that's how he mistook his feelings. That's why he thought he was in love with you, Mia."
Mia's face went pale. Her anger dissolved into stunned silence, and she looked away, unable to argue, knowing there was truth in Sakura's words.
"That's why I moved to Osaka, Mia. I couldn't stand seeing you two together, knowing how I felt. I needed to get away because I knew I'd never stop loving him. So I left... hoping it would be easier," Sakura said, unable to bear the sight of Mia's pained expression any longer.