Chapter 32 Chapter Thirty-Two
“Imran… excuse me,” Felicity whispered suddenly.
She didn’t stay for his reaction. She stood so fast she nearly stumbled over her bag. The cinema closed in on her all at once — the noise, the lights, the people. She mumbled quick apologies as she pushed past, her chest burning painfully with every step.
In the bathroom, she hurried to the sink and turned the tap on full. Cold water spilled over her hands and onto her face as she splashed herself in shaky motions.
Breathe. Slowly.
Her reflection met her gaze — pale, stunned, lips trembling despite her effort to stay composed.
It’s really happening.
So… it’s real.
A proposal. Tonight. Live.
Her phone buzzed again on the counter beside her, screen lighting up with more notifications, but she didn’t look. She couldn’t. If she did, she might actually collapse.
The door creaked open softly.
“Felicity?” Imran’s voice was cautious, worried. “Are you okay?”
She took a slow breath and reached for a tissue, patting her cheeks like it might steady her. When she faced him again, she pulled her lips into a faint smile that didn’t match the strain in her eyes.
“I’m not really okay,” she said quietly. “I think… I’d like to go home now.”
Imran studied her for a second, clearly unconvinced but gentle with it. “Do you want me to drive you?”
She nodded once. She didn’t trust herself to speak again.
On the rooftop of the hotel, Leon stood under the warm glow of hanging lights, the city stretched wide beneath him. The crowd was quiet now. Every camera was fixed on him. The wind lifted the edges of his jacket slightly, cool against his skin.
One of the organizers slipped the cue card into his hand.
Leon stared at the speech for a brief second.
Then he lifted his head.
“My family taught me a lot about responsibility,” he began, voice steady even though his chest felt hollow. “About standing by your word. About choosing what you build your life on.”
Charity watched him with stars in her eyes, hands clasped tightly in front of her as she swayed slightly with excitement.
“And sometimes,” Leon continued, “life doesn’t turn out the way you planned. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t still worth choosing.”
Each word landed perfectly. The crowd murmured softly. Charity’s lips trembled with emotion.
He shifted his weight, slid one hand into his jacket—and hesitated.
For one long second, his fingers searched the inner pocket.
Charity’s hand slowly lifted, already stretched toward him, hopeful and glowing.
“Yes,” she whispered before he had even asked. “Yes, yes.”
Leon finally found the ring. He dropped to one knee smoothly, like this wasn’t tearing him in half inside, and slipped it onto her finger.
The lights flared brighter.
“Surprise!” voices shouted all around them as family members stepped out from behind curtains and columns. Fireworks exploded into the night sky above the rooftop, bright and blinding, thunder rolling over the city.
Charity cried out in joy and threw her arms around him.
Leon forced his smile and held her while flashes blinded him from every angle.
Pictures. Laughter. Cheers.
And him—trapped inside a moment everyone thought was perfect.
Felicity didn’t go back to the hostel.
Exams were over. There was nothing left to collect. No reason to walk into that building and risk seeing Charity’s glowing face, hearing the excitement in everyone’s voices, answering questions she didn’t have the strength to face.
She went straight home.
Her room felt too quiet when she shut the door behind her. She didn’t take off her hoodie. She didn’t sit on the bed. She just stood there for a moment, phone buzzing endlessly in her hand like it was alive.
Gwen:
HE IS A DEMON. ACTUALLY EVIL.
Victoria:
This subhuman just proposed on live TV??? Felicity please tell me you’re not seeing this online omg.
Mope:
Can you imagine? Yesterday they were broken up. Today he’s on one knee. This whole thing feels like a set up.
Another message came in.
Then another.
Group chats exploded. Screenshots. Voice notes. Angry emojis. Shock. Disbelief.
Felicity tossed the phone onto the bed like it could burn her.
She finally sat down, slowly, like her body had just remembered gravity.
Her chest hurt in a way she couldn’t explain. It wasn’t sharp anymore. It was dull. Heavy. Like something had finally settled, permanent and undeniable.
So this is how it ends.
Not with a goodbye. Not with closure.
But with fireworks.
Her phone lit up again.
She didn’t pick it up this time.
She leaned back against the wall, staring at the ceiling as the noise of her friends’ anger and confusion went on without her. Somewhere across the city, people were still celebrating. Still posting pictures. Still replaying the moment again and again.
Leon on one knee.
Charity crying in joy.
A ring.
A promise.
And Felicity, finally outside of it all.