He Gave My Ring To Her Now He Wears His Regret Chapter 02
I didn’t grow up with them.
The five of them were all from Italian families and had known one another since kindergarten.
I only met Nico after I started at NYU, and he was the one who brought me into their circle.
For the first few years, I tried so hard.
When they talked about sneaking out in Brooklyn as kids to see shows, I didn’t really get it, but I laughed along anyway.
When they used nicknames only they understood, I secretly wrote them down in my Notes app to remember later.
I memorized everyone’s birthday, food allergies, and dietary quirks.
Whenever we went out to eat, I was always the first to arrive.
For every trip we took, I was the one booking the flights, hotels, and itinerary.
I did all of that, and it never changed a thing.
Whenever they reminisced about the past, the conversation always ended with the same line.
“You didn’t know us back then.”
Later, that sentence took on a different form.
“There’s no need to tell her.”
If they changed restaurant plans at the last minute, they wouldn’t mention it in our group chat.
If they all changed their Instagram profile pictures to a matching theme, no one sent me the new photo.
This trip had been the same.
The only reason I found out they’d been planning it for six months was because I saw the iMessage history between Nico and Alessia.
I asked Nico why no one had told me.
He just smiled and stroked my hair.
“Weren’t we waiting for you to handle the details?”
So the flights, hotels, and itinerary became my responsibility.
I even fronted the costs on my own credit card.
And in the end, the five of them were here, enjoying the trip.
I had arranged everything, and now I was expected to give up my own room.
I placed the key card back on the front desk.
“You guys stay here. I’m going to wait in the lobby.”
I didn’t say another word.
The next morning, when I woke up on the lobby sofa, the living room of the suite was empty.
A breakfast photo appeared in the group chat.
Five plates of eggs Benedict sat on a table.
Alessia sent me a private message.
> Virginia, we didn’t want to wake you, so we came down first.
> Get something to eat when you wake up.
After I got ready, I went to the restaurant, only for the server to inform me that breakfast service had ended.
Right then, Nico called.
“Where are you?”
“At the restaurant.”
“Why are you still at the restaurant?” His voice was sharp with impatience. “We’ve been waiting for you at the dock for twenty minutes.”
I checked the group chat again.
No one had said what time we were leaving.
“No one told me.”
“Didn’t Alessia message you?”
“She only said you all went down for breakfast.”
Nico paused for a second before turning it back on me.
“If you saw everyone was gone, couldn’t you have just asked? Now everyone’s waiting on you.”
I never got breakfast. By the time I rushed to the dock, the yacht’s engine was already running.
All five of them were standing on deck.
No one had saved me a seat.
Alessia was wearing Nico’s white linen shirt, the hem falling to her mid-thigh.
The moment she saw me, she tugged at the collar.
“Virginia, don’t get the wrong idea. The zipper on my dress broke, so Nico lent me his shirt.”
I had never been allowed to touch Nico’s shirts.
Once, while doing laundry, I accidentally washed one of his white shirts with dark clothes, leaving a faint gray stain.
He didn’t speak to me for a week.
He said he hated other people touching his personal things.
Now, Alessia was wearing one, and all he did was glance at her before saying casually, “Change into long pants later. It gets windy out on the water.”
Alessia made a face at me, as if sharing a private joke.
“See? He’s always so bossy.”
I held onto the rail and stepped aboard.
Leo immediately shoved a pile of things into my arms.
“Perfect timing. Sunscreen, camera, water—it’s all here. You can carry this for us.”
Clutching their belongings, I sat in the only available seat, near the engine.
The sea wind hit me, and on an empty stomach, a dull ache began to throb in waves.
I had learned to dive six months ago, just for this trip.
Nico loved the ocean; I was afraid of the water.
I never told him. I signed up for a PADI course on my own and got certified.
I had planned to surprise him with it.
But when we reached the dive site, the instructor announced that only five people could go down at a time.
Marco smiled at me.
“Virginia’s afraid of water, right? She can stay on the boat and watch our stuff.”
I opened my mouth to tell them I was certified now.
But just then, Alessia wrapped her arms around Nico.
“Nico, I’m a little nervous. Will you stay with me down there?”
Nico checked the gauge on her tank.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right beside you.”
I swallowed the words I was about to say.
All five of them jumped into the sea.
I sat alone on the deck, guarding their clothes and phones.
After a while, the instructor asked me, “You’re not going in?”
I pulled the brand-new certification card from my bag, looked at it for a long moment, then tucked it away again.
“No.”