A letter to the post man

I wrote everything in my diary.

Oh no. What's happening to me?

Not this same feeling again.

What do they even call it?

"Love."

A call from Alex jolted me back to reality, pulling me out of my tangled thoughts.

"Rei, hope you're good?" his familiar voice said.

"Oh, Alex, I'm well," I replied, though my voice felt distant even to me.

"Rei, you really have to get back here. Miss Diana hasn't been treating Archie well. She's been admitted to the hospital, and I'm even here as we speak."

I froze. I had always suspected Diana wasn't as good as she appeared in front of my father. I didn't want to see her wretched face—or that of her daughter.

Alex switched the call to video, and I suddenly saw my little sister, Archie.

"Hey, is that you, Reina?" she asked, her voice weak but full of longing. "I've missed you so much."

"Oh, Archie," I said, my voice trembling. "Your sister has been working hard, but I'll come for you soon. I promise."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw how much she had changed. It had only been two years since Mother's death, but Archie had slimmed down drastically. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her fragile frame broke my heart.

Hearing her sob was unbearable.

"Alex, please hang up," I managed to say before breaking into tears.

He ended the call.

I sat there crying, my chest heavy with guilt and sorrow. The silly thought of love that had consumed me earlier vanished like smoke. My priorities were clear now. I had to return to my family.

I decided then and there—I would resign.

I couldn't sleep that night, my mind restless as I tried to compose my resignation letter to Mr. Timothy. After countless drafts and hours of overthinking, I finally finished it.

The next day, I went to work, took a few final shots, and headed straight to Clark's office.

He greeted me with a warm smile and gestured for me to sit.

"Hello, Miss Premiera. How may I help you?" he asked kindly.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "Mr. Clark, I want to resign."

His smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. "Resign?"

I nodded. "It's time I go back to my family. They need me more than Vulgari does right now, and I… I hope you understand."

Clark leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. After a moment, he nodded. "It's fine, Reina. I understand. You've been a great asset to Vulgari, and it will take some time to process your request. But thank you for everything."

"Thank you," I said, rising from my seat. My heart felt heavier than ever.

Later, I called Catharine to tell her the news. She was devastated. "Reina, no!" she said. "I can't let you go."

She insisted on spending as much time with me as possible and even moved into my apartment.

Catharine was more than a sister to me; she was an absolute friend in every sense of the word. I didn't know how to thank her or her family for everything they'd done for me.

One evening, I told her about my family. I showed her pictures of my siblings and shared stories about my mother.

She stared at a picture of Alex, smiling. "He looks so serious every time you take a picture," she teased.

Her mood darkened when I told her about my father's deeds, about how he'd hurt us all.

"He sounds terrible," she said, anger flashing in her eyes. "I loathe him."

We sat in silence after that, the weight of our shared pain pulling us closer together.

I was making some snacks when Catharine pulled into the driveway, her face glowing with excitement.

"Rei, Father's throwing a sudden ball!" she announced.

"This man is full of surprises," I said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, Father has a lot going on in his head. I think it's about the runway." She paused "Do you think I am ready ? ", then looked at me intently. "I think you're ready."

"You sure?"  She  asked, raising a brow.

"Trust me, Catharine," I told her confidently.

"But, Rei, it's just two days away!"

I laughed lightly. "Two days is enough for a queen."

The two days passed like a gentle drizzle, each moment slipping through my fingers before I could even grasp it.

When the night of the ball arrived, I was prepared to walk the runway. However, Catharine, wearing the peacock dress, was the star—the mastermind of the collection.

I stepped onto the runway, walking elegantly as the crowd erupted in cheers. Cameras flashed endlessly, their blinding lights creating a surreal aura. Among the sea of faces, I noticed Nath. His gaze was intense, locked on me, as though he were trying to unravel something within me.

I quickly looked away, unsure of what to make of him.

Then it was Catharine's turn. The lights dimmed as she appeared, commanding the stage. Her walk was spectacular—graceful yet powerful. She was a natural, and the audience adored her.

"She's better than Reina! Where have you been all this time?" someone in the crowd shouted.

The jubilation around her was deafening. I couldn't help but smile. She deserved every bit of it. She could easily replace me when I left.

Mr. Khan soon took the microphone, his commanding voice silencing the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this evening is one to behold," he began confidently.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the audience before continuing.

"My daughter has finally recognized her worth, and Vulgari needs her now more than ever. She has made me proud today."

The crowd roared in approval, clapping and cheering.

But Mr. Khan wasn't finished.

"And," he added, his tone brimming with pride, "my daughter will soon marry Nath Anderson. As a matter of fact, their wedding date has already been set!"

I gasped audibly, my chest tightening as a nerve in my heart seemed to snap. A knot formed in my stomach, twisting painfully.

The crowd erupted into even louder cheers, and I struggled to process the announcement.

Why was I sad?

Catharine deserved Nath. The two of them were in love—of course they were.

But the weight in my heart told a different story.

Catharine and Nath walked to the front of the stage, hand in hand, smiling as they kissed in front of the cameras. The crowd roared with approval, but my knees felt weak.

I couldn't bear it.

I left the hall quietly, slipping into the dressing room where tears began streaming down my face. I hated myself for how I felt, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn't stop the ache in my chest.

I grabbed my belongings and took a taxi home, avoiding any goodbyes.

Once home, I went straight to the shower, hoping the water would wash away the turmoil in my heart.

Later, I sat at my desk, writing my worries in my diary. As I flipped through its pages, a sketch of Nath fell out. I stared at it, my chest tightening.

I had to admit it now.

I had fallen for the man before me.

But he was my best friend's future husband. That made it unbearable.

My phone buzzed, jolting me from my thoughts. It was Catharine.

"Rei, why did you leave without telling me? I was so worried!" she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

"I wasn't feeling well," I lied. "I also needed to start packing. I'll be leaving soon."

"No, Reina! You're not going anywhere until I'm wed," she insisted, her voice firm.

"Reina, promise me you'll stay until my wedding. Please, I want you by my side. You'll even be my bridesmaid if you want."

Her words hit me like a wave, the weight of her request crashing over me. My heart felt heavier with every mention of her wedding. The date was already set—just a week away, on the 25th of November.

I had no choice but to agree.

"Alright," I whispered.

"Thank you, Reina," she said, relief evident in her voice.

After the call, I stared at my ceiling, the ache in my heart refusing to fade.

The next morning, I received an email from Mr. Clark regarding my resignation. He had accepted it. My company card was deactivated, but he left a kind note, saying I was welcome to return anytime.

I sighed deeply, knowing this was just the beginning of the end.

I spent the following week focusing on myself and shopping for toys for my little sister.

Catharine would drop by often, telling me how much I meant to her.

I never wanted to hurt her in any way.

She had already suffered a great loss after her mother's death, and I understood her pain.

Moreover, I knew the agony women endured when their partner cheated.

I didn't want to be part of that.

I also knew that Nath didn't truly love me—he was head over heels for Catharine.

It wasn't until much later that I had a visitor.

It was Nath.

He arrived, panting and out of breath, asking for my help.

He wanted to surprise Catharine and knew I was the only one who understood everything about his future wife.

I helped him plan a surprise bridal party.

From a distance, I watched him smile as he imagined how delighted Catharine would be.

My heart felt unbearably heavy.

Under my breath, I wished it was me he was planning for.

"What did you say?" he asked, catching me off guard.

"Oh, nothing, Nath. You've done a great job—I think Catharine will love it," I replied, forcing a smile.

"Reina," he said, his voice soft and earnest, "I love her so much. I didn't realize the depth of my feelings for her until our visit to my mom, when you refused my offer. I love her most ardently."

His words pierced through me like arrows, shattering my fragile heart into a million pieces.

I forced another smile as he got up to leave.

Not long after Nath left my apartment, tears spilled over like a waterfall.

I felt like a horrible person.

I couldn't even stand my best friend's happiness.

I made up my mind—I would leave as soon as their wedding was over.