Lost Love Never Returns

Leona Langham and Sebastian Kane are the match made in heaven that's acknowledged by the entire school.

Sebastian is the hottest guy in school. He's tall, lean, and has an extremely handsome face. Oftentimes, he wears a black windbreaker that makes him look like a protagonist from an action comic. Many girls find themselves falling head over heels for him.

Unfortunately for them, Sebastian only has eyes for Leona. They are childhood sweethearts who have grown up together.

They celebrated their first birthdays together. When they turned seven years old, their families betrothed them to each other. When they turned 14, Sebastian gave Leona a love letter. When they turned 16, Sebastian confessed to Leona. When they turned 18, they promised to apply for the same university.

But on their senior year, a new transfer student named Maureen Shadwick joins their class. The homeroom teacher specifically assigns Maureen to Sebastian when she's organizing pairs for the tutor sessions.

She stresses to Sebastian, "If you don't accept this assignment, you can forget about maintaining your relationship with Leona at school."

Sebastian Kane, who was usually indifferent, reluctantly accepted the task.

What began as mere tutoring and helping Maureen Shadwick navigate the campus slowly evolved into something else entirely.

Maureen wanted the cake from the popular bakery on West Street, the one with the long line, so Sebastian skipped his evening study session to buy it for her. When Maureen posted about feeling down, he spent the entire night on the phone with her. And when she had cramps during her period, he climbed over the campus wall to get her ginger tea.

Leona Langham grew frustrated. Each time, she threatened to break up.

The first time she said it, over the phone, Sebastian was silent for what felt like forever. Then, she heard his breathing grow heavier. That night, it rained heavily, and he stood drenched outside her apartment building while calling her name repeatedly. His voice was hoarse as he begged her to forgive him.

The second time, he skipped class the entire day to wait by her classroom. With bloodshot eyes, he handed her a thick letter filled with heartfelt words, pleading for a second chance.

But as the breakups kept happening, it seemed like Sebastian was learning slowly what her limits were.

He was convinced that she couldn't live without him.

His efforts to reconcile turned mechanical. At first, he'd beg her immediately, then a day later, then three days, then a week…

Until the 99th time.

At the celebration party after their exams, Maureen casually mentioned she wanted watermelon.

Without thinking, Sebastian cut the sweetest, most tender piece from the large fruit and handed it to her, forgetting entirely that Leona, who was sitting right beside them, also loved watermelon with all her heart.

The hurt and betrayal Leona had been quietly holding in burst forth in an instant.

As she stared at the watermelon, Leona spoke in a cold and steady voice. "Sebastian, we're breaking up."