#Rejection | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

funlovinzara · 9 months ago

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Monster trio rejecting you Pt.2

The long awaited part 2! I absolutely loved writing Zoros part🙏

Warnings: angst, a bit of fluff

———-

Luffy

Surprisingly it wasn’t as hard to get over him because you knew he was just a knuckle head like that

On your new adventures you met new people, one specifically caught your eye.

Ace.

Ace was caring, funny, charming and very welcoming to be around. You both shared contacts on a transponder snail and talked 24/7, 365. Everyone knew the bond you had and left it alone, except luffy. He always saw you speaking on the snail but never knew who was on the other side.

The crew made a stop to a new island but everyone was waiting for you, who was talking on the transponder snail in your room.

“Finally a new adventure!! Lets go-!”

“LUFFY! Wait we cant leave without y/n!! This island is larger than anything we’ve ever seen before and ANYONE can get lost anytime!!” Said chopper

Luffy sighed in annoyance and stomped off to your room and busted in

“Y/N!! LETS GO ALREADY!!” He yells with his chest

You jump in fear and quickly whisper to the other side of the snail “i gotta go!” And hung up.

“Who are you always talking to on that thing anyway?”

You sigh in defeat and answer “Ace, i talk to ace.”

“Ace? Huh? Why?”

“Well, I think he’s pretty cool and i like him.”

“I thought you liked me?”

“What?”

“You cant like-like me and like-like Ace? I thought we were just starting to get closer?”

You have a dumbfounded look on your face and you laugh at the misunderstanding. Maybe he understood after all, but i wonder why he would hide it.”

———

Sanji

Of course it was ALOT more difficult to get over him. You were devastated at how unreasonable he was, it was ridiculous.

So you decided to just not respond often when Sanji would speak to you, it was pointless anyway. He was still trying to pick up a conversation even after all that.

Sanji had a really bad dream one night, it was him re-experiencing the events at Sabaody, you werent there during that time but he dreamt that you were.

He woke up inna horrible cold sweat and immediately walked to the front of the ship, he needed some air. However when he walked out to see his crew doing there normal shenanigans, something was off.

He looks over at you to see you chatting, with brook?? How come your more comfortable around brook than him? He was an even bigger pervert than him.

“Y/n, may i see your pant-.” You swat brook on the side of his arm and slightly yell/giggle “no way brook!”

You clear your throat and begin to say “Thank you brook for helping me get over Sanji though, its really nice to have someone to talk to when no one else is around.” You leaned in and gave brook a deep hug.

“YOHOHOHOHO! Y/n it is a pleasure!! You flatter me, im blushing!! Although i am a skeleton so i cant really blush!! Yohoho!”

He hugs back and swings you around and you both laugh in glee. Sanji saw all of this and he thought, what did he even do wrong.

————

Zoro

In this you ARE included in the Sabaody Arc

It was VERY difficult to get over Zoro especially since he would never talk to you anymore. Nami being the jerk she was partnered you and Zoro together to walk around. She said it was for the “bonding experience”

She kept trying to bring back the spark that you and Zoro had but it will never work anymore.

You heard that day there was going to be an auction so you left to go check it out, you found the auction house and decided to take a seat not paying attention to your surroundings.

“X’cuse me?” Said a man next to you. It startled you and you jump. turning your head to look at him.

“That seat isn’t for you.”

His voice was DEEP.

“Oh- ill move- sorry.” A bear in a seat behind him leans over and says. “Come on boss lets let her stay! Shes really pretty!”

“Bepo-.” “Pleaseee!! Come on you need more allies than foes in this place anyway!”

The man grunts, allowing you to sit down again once more. “Law. Trafalgar D. Law.”

“Y/n L/n.”

“Nice to meet’cha Y/N!”

“You’re a straw-hat aren’t you? Hmh. What a tease your Captain isnt first here.”

You chuckle a bit scared at the power law might consist..

Zoro searches nearly the whole place for you, and finally lands at the auction house, he busts in and frantically looks around. He sees you sitting with a man, he cant see his face but he sure can see yours. And your enjoying yourself, this sets something off in him.

Him being your ex-best-friend and all, Hes only used to seeing him make you laugh, but this. This is so different and weird, why does he care?

#black leg sanji #one piece x y/n #one piece x reader #one piece fluff #one piece angst #one piece #one piece sanji #one piece zoro #one piece law #traflagar law #vinsmoke sanji x reader #luffy x reader #monkey d luffy x reader #rejection #zoro roronoa x reader #zoro x reader #law x reader #trafalgardwaterlaw #sanji x reader

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leewritesstuff · 21 days ago

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Price of Rejection | Felix x Reader

Summary: Rejections hurt but it also hurt even more when it backfires.

Pairs: Felix x Reader

Type: Angst

AN: I was going to make this into a series, but I decided a one shot is better.

Every morning, without fail, you found something waiting for you—flowers carefully arranged with tiny handwritten notes, chocolates wrapped in ribbons, delicate trinkets chosen with obvious thoughtfulness. At first, you ignored them. Then, you tried to be polite, brushing off Felix’s gestures with tight smiles and dismissive remarks. When that didn’t work, you told him, clearly and firmly, to stop.

But he never did.

It didn’t matter how many times you rejected his advances, how many ways you tried to make him understand—Felix just wouldn’t let go. He was persistent, always there, always waiting, always hoping.

Tonight was the final straw.

You turned the corner, already dreading what you knew you would find. And there he was, standing in the dim glow of the streetlight outside your building, hands curled around yet another gift—this time, a silver bracelet, glinting under the soft light. His eyes lit up when he saw you, his expression so full of warmth and certainty, like he truly believed this time would be different. That this time, you’d accept him.

You didn’t let him speak.

“Felix,” you snapped, your patience snapping with it. “Enough. Just stop.”

His smile faltered, confusion flashing across his face. Still, he held the bracelet out to you. “I just thought—”

“I don’t care what you thought.” Your voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet night air. You took a deep breath, trying to temper the frustration clawing at your chest. But it was too late. You were done playing nice. Done pretending this wasn’t suffocating. “I don’t like you, Felix. I never have. And I never will. You’re not my type, and you never will be.”

Silence stretched between you, thick and heavy, but you weren’t finished.

“You’re clingy. You don’t know how to take a hint. You smother me with all these gifts, like that’s going to magically change how I feel, but it doesn’t—it makes me like you even less.” Your arms crossed tightly over your chest. “You don’t listen. You’re too pushy. And honestly? You make me uncomfortable.”

Felix stood frozen in place, his grip tightening on the bracelet. His knuckles turned white, but he didn’t say anything.

You exhaled sharply and shook your head. “Do you even realize what you’re doing? You think just because you’re nice to me, I owe you something? I don’t. I never did.” You scoffed. “You don’t even care about what I want. You just keep forcing yourself into my space like I’ll magically wake up one day and fall in love with you. Well, newsflash—I won’t.”

The look in his eyes shifted—hope replaced by something raw, something shattered. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

“I… I didn’t mean to make you feel that way,” he finally said, his voice small, hesitant.

“Well, you did,” you replied coldly. “So do me a favor and stop. No more gifts. No more waiting for me. No more anything. Just leave me alone.”

For a moment, Felix didn’t move. He just stood there, shoulders tense, chest rising and falling unevenly, as if he was trying to process every word you’d just thrown at him. Then, without another word, he turned away. The silver bracelet—one you’d never wear, one you never asked for—remained clenched in his hand.

You watched him walk away, his figure growing smaller with every step, until he finally disappeared from sight.

And for the first time in weeks, you felt like you could finally breathe.

After that night, everything changed. The silence between you and the others stretched longer, thick and suffocating. Conversations that once flowed effortlessly now felt forced, if they happened at all. You noticed the hesitation in their voices, the careful way they spoke around you—like they were afraid of saying the wrong thing, or maybe just afraid of you.

The easygoing atmosphere was gone, replaced by something colder, something uncomfortable. And you hated it.

But the final blow came when Chris didn’t show up for your monthly hangout.

You had been waiting at home, expecting him to knock on your door any second like he always did. It was routine—he’d show up late but grinning, maybe carrying snacks or some dumb inside joke from the past month, making himself at home on your couch like he always had. It was the one constant in your life, something you never thought would change.

But tonight, the minutes stretched into an hour. Then two.

The knock never came.

You checked your phone. No texts. No calls.

Annoyance twisted in your stomach. Chris never missed this. Even when he was busy, even when things got complicated, he always made time. But tonight? Nothing. No explanation, no excuse—just silence.

You weren’t going to let this slide.

The next day, you found him alone, leaning against the railing outside the dorms, scrolling through his phone like he had nothing to answer for.

“What the hell, Chris?” You stormed up to him, barely holding back the frustration in your voice.

He looked up, sighed, and locked his phone. “What?”

“You know what. You didn’t show up last night.”

Chris exhaled through his nose, his jaw tensing. “Didn’t feel like going.”

“Didn’t feel like—” You scoffed. “Seriously? And you didn’t think to tell me?”

Chris dragged a hand through his hair, his expression already tired, like he was done with the conversation before it even started. “Look, I just… I wasn’t in the mood. That’s it.”

But that wasn’t it. You could see it in his face.

Your stomach twisted, frustration burning hotter in your chest. “Be honest, Chris. What’s your problem?”

His gaze darkened, and for the first time, he looked at you like he didn’t recognize you.

“You really don’t get it, do you?” he muttered.

“Get what?”

Chris let out a short, humorless laugh, shaking his head. “The way you treated Felix. That’s my problem.”

Your breath caught. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, I am.” His voice was firm now, no hesitation. “Look, I get that you don’t like him. That’s fine. But the way you shut him down? It was cruel. He didn’t deserve that.”

You stared at him, stunned.

Cruel? He thought you were cruel?

“He didn’t listen to me, Chris!” you argued. “I told him over and over again that I wasn’t interested, but he just kept pushing! What was I supposed to do—keep letting him smother me with gifts until I gave in?”

Chris’s jaw clenched. “You could’ve been nicer.”

You let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Nice wouldn’t have worked. It didn’t work. He wasn’t getting the message.”

Chris shook his head, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I don’t know, maybe just… not tear him apart like that? We all saw how wrecked he was after you told him off. And now, none of us know how to act around you. Felix still loves you, and you—” He let out a sharp breath, like he was trying to keep himself from saying something he’d regret. “I just didn’t think you were that kind of person.”

That was it. That was the moment something inside you snapped.

Without another word, you turned on your heel, anger curling in your gut, and you knew exactly where you were going.

Felix was sitting outside alone, his arms resting on his knees, his gaze fixed on the sky. The usual light in his eyes was dimmer, his shoulders hunched slightly like the weight of everything was finally sinking in. But when he saw you, his lips parted slightly in surprise, and for a brief moment, that stupid, soft smile flickered to life. Like he still had hope.

But you weren’t here for that.

“This is your fault,” you spat, and the smile immediately dropped.

Felix blinked. “What?”

“My friends are acting like I’m some kind of monster, Chris won’t even look at me, and it’s your fault.”

His expression twisted into something pained, but you didn’t stop.

“You just had to keep pushing, didn’t you?” Your voice was sharp, laced with frustration. “I told you I wasn’t interested, I told you to stop, but you wouldn’t. And now? Now I’m the bad guy because I finally had to make you listen.”

Felix swallowed, his hands gripping his sleeves. “I… I didn’t want to make things hard for you,” he murmured. “I just—” He looked away, exhaling shakily. “I love you.”

Something in his voice—something raw, something so heartbreakingly genuine—made your chest tighten. But you pushed it down, pushed it all down, because none of it mattered.

“Well, I don’t love you,” you snapped. “And now I’ve lost my friends because of you.”

Felix flinched, like you had physically hit him. He looked at you for a long moment, searching your face for something—maybe regret, maybe softness. But there was nothing.

Finally, he nodded, the corners of his mouth twitching like he was trying to keep himself from breaking completely.

“…I’m sorry,” he whispered.

You scoffed and turned away, leaving him sitting there alone.

Days passed, then weeks. The silence from your friends became suffocating, pressing down on you in ways you hadn’t expected.

At first, you told yourself it didn’t matter. They were overreacting. You had done nothing wrong. Felix wouldn't take no for an answer, and you had put an end to it the only way he would finally understand. If they had a problem with that, it wasn’t your fault.

But as time stretched on, the loneliness became impossible to ignore.

The group hangouts continued—just without you. You’d see the photos on social media, the ones that used to include you, now filled with laughter that wasn’t yours. The inside jokes you once helped create now lived in conversations you weren’t a part of. When you passed them in the halls, the warmth that had always been there was gone, replaced with brief nods or tight-lipped smiles that felt more like politeness than familiarity.

Even Chris, the one person you thought would never turn his back on you, kept his distance. The messages that used to flood your phone—stupid memes, sarcastic remarks, last-minute plans—had dwindled into nothing. The absence of them felt louder than any confrontation ever could.

One evening, you found yourself scrolling through your phone, past unread messages that weren’t meant for you, past stories and posts from gatherings you hadn’t been invited to. You told yourself you didn’t care, that it was their loss.

But your stomach twisted.

An ache settled in your chest, unfamiliar and unwelcome.

You had pushed Felix away. But in doing so, you had pushed all of them away, too.

And Felix…

Felix was moving on.

You saw it in the way he carried himself—lighter, freer, like he had finally let go of something heavy. He no longer looked at you with quiet hope lingering in his eyes. He stopped waiting for you after class, stopped leaving small gifts, stopped orbiting around you entirely. And for some reason, that realization left a hollow space where your frustration used to be.

For the first time, you wondered—had it really been him holding on all this time?

Or had you needed him to?

It wasn’t until a month later that you finally swallowed your pride and reached out to Chris.

"Hey," you texted. "Can we talk?"

The message sat there, unread, for hours.

You stared at it, debating whether to delete it, to pretend you had never sent it at all. But just as you were about to give up, the typing bubble appeared.

Meet me at the café.

The air between you was thick with something unsaid as you sat across from him. The café was one you had been to a hundred times before, but today, it felt unfamiliar.

Chris was unreadable, arms crossed, his expression carefully neutral. He was studying you, waiting—not just for an explanation, but for the right one.

You hesitated, then exhaled. "I miss you."

Chris’s jaw tightened. He looked away, shaking his head slightly. "You miss me, or you miss us?"

You swallowed hard. "Both."

Chris let out a slow breath, leaning back in his chair. "You really don’t get it, do you?" His voice wasn’t angry, just… tired.

Your stomach twisted. "Then what was it about?"

Chris exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple. "The way you handled everything. The way you made Felix feel like garbage. He wasn’t some obsessed stalker, he loved you. And yeah, maybe he was persistent, maybe he didn’t know when to back off, but he never meant to hurt you."

He shook his head, his gaze sharp. "But you— you crushed him. And the worst part? You never even cared."

You opened your mouth to argue, but the words stuck in your throat. Because deep down, you knew there was truth in what he was saying.

Chris leaned forward, his voice quieter now. "I get it. You didn’t love him. You had every right to reject him. But you didn’t just reject him—you tore him apart. And for what? To prove a point?"

Your fingers curled into fists. "I just wanted him to stop."

"He would’ve," Chris said. "Eventually, he would’ve. But now? Now, he’s finally moved on, and you’re the one left behind."

Silence stretched between you, thick and heavy.

Chris sighed, shaking his head. "I don’t hate you. None of us do. But we saw a side of you we didn’t expect, and it’s hard to forget."

His words landed like a punch to the chest.

He met your gaze, his eyes filled with something you couldn’t quite name. "You can’t undo what happened. But maybe, just maybe, it’s not too late to try and make things right."

Your breath caught. "With Felix?"

Chris hesitated, then nodded. "With yourself."

As you left the café, his words echoed in your mind.

Maybe it was too late to fix everything.

Maybe things would never go back to the way they were.

But maybe… just maybe… you weren’t as right as you had thought you were.

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midnightshindig · 2 months ago

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i love your work! could i request hc’s/drabbles for mark, cecil, and rex (separately) having unrequited feelings for the reader? take care of yourself!! 😊

Cecil, Mark, and Rex x Unrequited!Reader

ooooooo you guys are about that angsty shit

i fw it

hcs under the cut!

Cecil

Cecil is a PROFESSIONAL

he keeps his emotions tight and on LOCK

There isn't enough psychological torture in the world that would get him to admit his feelings for you

except maybe the torture of watching you subtly flirt with him

I mean come on, the way you wear your uniform tie a little loose, the way your stockings always have runs in them, you bring him his coffee with a bright smile reserved for him and nobody else.

The two of you have a rapport, engaging in witty banter during the rare downtime at the GDA

You're intelligent and hilarious with a strong sense of conviction, what's not to love?

And he's so certain you feel the same way

So when he asks you to dinner, like a gentleman, in all the correct ways, and you politely decline?

Oh he's hurt, for sure

but he's a professional. He deals with worse all the time.

So why is he still thinking about it?

Why does it sting when you inevitably start dating Anthony from HR

Why can't he bring himself to just forget about you?

your banter becomes stifled, and Cecil thinks he's losing touch just a little

It culminates when you request to transfer branches

He approves the request, of course

He is a professional, after all.

Mark

He's a dweeeeeeb when he has a crush

Like, he thinks he's so slick

talking to Rex about you while you're only across the GotG gym with headphones in

but you totally know

Still, he doesn't care, because you like him too

I mean, c'mon, he's a total catch, right?

He's literally Invincible, and he's also invincible, what's not to love?

He follows you around like a lost puppy, chatting you up about everything and anything.

"Did you in the 2018 adaptation of Sceance Dog-" Oh my god shut upppppp he's such a dork

but he's nice, and is always down to spot your weights

so you're content to be his friend, and this works for a while

Until Mark asks you to come over for dinner

which is fine! You love having dinner with Debbie and Oliver

but you get there and Debbie is putting Oliver in the car, apparently they're going to get dinner elsewhere? She leaves with a wink and a smile

you go inside to see Mark setting up a candlelit dinner

"Oh! You weren't supposed to be here yet-!" He cries, smacking his forehead

"What... is all this?"

"I was going to ask you out, but... I mean... do you want to go out with me?"

You turn him down as politely as you can, and quickly leave the house

Training at the gym is awkward after that

Mark can take a hint, he's not a jerk or a creep or anything

but the moment can't be undone

Rex

MUCH less subtle than the other two

been flirting with you since day one

and you thought he was JOKING

I mean no way he's sincerely that much of a dick (oh but he was.)

so you'd jokingly flirt back

and Rex was like, hell yeah, pretty little thing wants me back

lets go boys.

but it developes, and he REALLY likes you

like he wants to take you on a date

So with some encouragement from Mark, Rex dusts off a suit from the thrift store, nabs a bouquet of roses from someones garden, and is outside your dorm door

"Oh, hey Rexxx....." You trail off, taking in the scene before you

"Y/n! Hey! Uhm... look... I know it, you know it, let's stop dancing around it and go out already!" he presents you the bouquet, thorny and still wet and half-eaten by caterpillars

You don't even have the words

"I'm sorry.... What gave you the impression...? What?" you're so confused, and trying so hard not to hurt his feelings

but Rex is easily triggered, and his face burns red with embarrassment

He yanks the flowers back and laughs a fake laugh "HA hahahhhh.... You- You thought I was being serious!! Bwaahhaha!!!!" He laughs, holding his stomach cheesily, before straight up running away on foot

He doesn't talk to you for three weeks

and after that it's only short responses and quippy, albeit cutting remarks.

"Heyyyy Rex...." You approached cautiously "A bunch of us are gonna watch a movie, do you want to join?"

"I would, but then you'd get confused and think I was trying to make it a date!" He snapped back, running on the treadmill even faster

It would take some time, and a number of rebounds, but eventually he gets over you and things return to some semblance of normal

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missmaddys-prejacgooner · 25 days ago

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Oh look who's back. Cant seem to stop yourself from scrolling and listening, can you? Dont worry, its perfectly normal to be enthralled by @obeymissmaddy, just message her two simple words and she will gladly take you in and make you fall deeper than you've ever been ♥

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grickle14 · 1 year ago

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Alienated.

#grickledoodle #alien #facehugger #horror #rejection #cartoon #art #drawing #funny

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aventurineswife · 2 months ago

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Hello! Hope you're doing well!

So I sorta got rejected for Valentine's this year :cc so I was wondering if I could ask for Aventurine, Phainon, Dan Heng and maybe also Anaxa helping the reader with cope with rejection

Hope you're having a good day! Please take your time!! 🫶

Every Closed Door Leads to a New Beginning

Tags: Aventurine x Reader, Phainon x Reader, Dan Heng x Reader, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Rejection, Healing, Emotional Support, Slow Burn, Self-Discovery, Inner Strength, Self-Worth, Healing Journey.

Warnings: Mentions of rejection, Emotional vulnerability, Mild angst.

A/N: I'm so sorry to hear that 🫂 (sorry for the late response too😔🙏)

Tagslist: @themiddletenmasibling

Aventurine had seen countless deals collapse, empires crumble, and fortunes shift with the flick of a wrist. Rejection was just another spin of the wheel, an inevitable part of the game. But when he found you curled up in quiet devastation, he realized—this wasn’t just a failed wager to you. This was real, raw, and deeply personal.

He sighed, leaning against the edge of the table where you sat, hands folded in your lap. “Ah, rejection,” he mused, tilting his head dramatically. “A bitter drink, isn’t it? Like ordering the finest wine and finding it’s corked.”

You didn’t respond, only staring at your hands. The silence was an answer in itself. Aventurine’s usual smirk softened as he observed you—he could read people like open ledgers, and right now, you were on the verge of shattering.

“Tell me, darling,” he said, lowering himself to sit beside you, “what makes this so unbearable? Did you truly lose, or did you just not get the outcome you expected?”

You swallowed. “Does it matter? It still hurts.”

Aventurine clicked his tongue. “Of course it matters. If you lost, then you grieve and move on. But if it was only an outcome you didn’t anticipate, then all that’s changed is the direction of the wind.”

You shot him a glare. “So what? I should just pretend I don’t feel anything?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “No, no, my dear. Feel it. Wallow in it, if you must. But don’t let it define you.” His fingers ghosted over yours, deliberate yet light. “You know, if I let every rejection—every ‘bad hand’—dictate my life, I’d still be groveling in the dirt, licking the boots of men who never deserved my loyalty.”

You looked up, startled by his uncharacteristic sincerity. He smiled, but this time, it wasn’t sharp or teasing. It was something… quieter.

Aventurine stood, brushing imaginary dust off his coat. “Come,” he offered, holding out his hand. “I’ll teach you a lesson more valuable than gold—how to turn rejection into opportunity.”

“…And if I don’t want to?”

His grin returned, brighter now. “Then I’ll simply stay here, bothering you with endless metaphors and tragic poetry until you beg for mercy.”

A small, reluctant smile broke through your sadness, and Aventurine knew—he’d won this round.

Phainon found you standing alone, the weight of rejection pressing down on you like an unseen force. Your shoulders were tense, your breathing uneven, and he knew—he recognized the look of someone fighting to keep their heart from crumbling.

Without a word, he stepped beside you, his presence warm and steady. “You don’t have to talk,” he said gently. “But if you do, I’ll listen.”

You hesitated before finally whispering, “I wasn’t enough.”

Phainon’s brows furrowed. “That’s not true.”

You let out a bitter laugh. “How would you know?”

He turned slightly, eyes searching yours. “Because rejection doesn’t mean you lack worth. It only means this wasn’t the path meant for you.” His voice carried an unwavering kindness, a softness that wrapped around you like a shield against the pain.

You exhaled shakily. “It still hurts.”

Phainon nodded. “Of course it does.” He reached for your hand, squeezing it gently. “But you’re allowed to hurt. You’re allowed to grieve. Just don’t believe, even for a second, that this defines you.”

You looked down, squeezing his hand back. “How do you deal with it?”

He smiled wistfully. “I remind myself that my worth isn’t determined by someone else’s acceptance. And when that’s not enough… I turn to those who see me for who I truly am.”

You met his gaze, and in that moment, you realized—Phainon saw you. Not as someone rejected, but as someone strong, someone deserving of love and understanding.

“Thank you,” you murmured.

Phainon’s smile grew, bright and unwavering. “Always.”

Dan Heng wasn’t one to offer words freely, but he noticed the way your movements had lost their usual energy, the way your eyes seemed dimmer. He didn’t ask. He didn’t pry. Instead, he simply placed a cup of tea beside you and sat down, his presence solid and unwavering.

You stared at the tea, then at him. “You heard, didn’t you?”

He nodded.

“…And?”

Dan Heng took a slow sip of his own tea before speaking. “It isn’t the end.”

You scoffed. “Sure feels like it.”

His gaze remained steady. “It’s not.”

Silence stretched between you, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was… grounding. You found yourself tracing the rim of the cup, trying to gather your thoughts. “Why does it hurt so much?”

Dan Heng set his tea down. “Because you cared.” His voice was quiet but firm. “Because you invested a piece of yourself into something that didn’t return the way you hoped.”

You clenched your jaw. “Then what am I supposed to do?”

He looked at you for a long moment before answering, “Heal.”

You let out a shaky breath. “And if I don’t know how?”

Dan Heng shifted slightly, as if considering his words carefully. Then, he spoke with a certainty that made your chest ache.

“Then let me help.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the raw sincerity in his voice. Dan Heng wasn’t one for grand gestures or excessive reassurances, but this—this was real.

His presence alone was enough to remind you that even in rejection, you weren’t alone.

And for now, that was enough.

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