After six years with my girlfriend, I broke up

I'd been with Vivian for six years, from high school through college.

Then, I broke up with her.

“Vivian, it’s over.”

Vivian was the undisputed campus queen. Beautiful, smart, and with a personality to match.

Everyone said I was punching above my weight, having snagged such an amazing girlfriend.

I'd just smile and say nothing.

I was waiting for her outside her classroom after her Friday afternoon class. A few other couples lingered around, and a small group of students were chatting nearby.

“Which one’s Vivian?” I heard a guy with braids ask a girl with short hair. His voice wasn't exactly quiet.

The girl pointed.

“That’s her. Wow, she's gorgeous. How have I never seen her before?”

“She’s always buried in books, either here or at the library.”

“She has a boyfriend, right?”

“Don't you know? Ethan, the econ major.” The girl glanced sideways.

I heard my name and knew she’d seen me. Our eyes met.

An awkward silence followed.

The girl quickly dragged the guy away.

Even as they walked off, I could still hear snippets of their conversation.

“He’s…average. What does she see in him?”

“Beats me. Heard they’ve been together since high school.”

I watched them go, shrugging. I wasn't new to this kind of talk.

Vivian and I got together sophomore year of high school. Now we were seniors in college, six years down the line.

It wasn't their fault they were surprised. Vivian really was stunning. She’d had tons of admirers since high school. Me? I wasn't bad looking. At least back in high school, I was considered somewhat cute. But college was a different playing field. There were so many good-looking guys, and I was just…there.

I sighed, pulling my hands out of my pockets and craning my neck to look into the classroom.

2.

Vivian was sitting a few rows back, pen in hand, working on some equations.

Right next to her, close enough that their shoulders almost touched, was a guy. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow on their faces, making them look like characters in a romance novel.

And me? I felt like the unnecessary third wheel.

Class ended, but they stayed put.

I walked in. Vivian looked up, saw me, then immediately returned to her discussion with the guy.

Their voices were low, almost whispers. I didn’t understand the complex physics they were discussing anyway.

Instead of just standing there, I found a seat and watched them. Vivian’s eyes stayed glued to her notes as she scribbled away, completely unfazed by my presence.

The setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink.

As I watched them, a sense of unease settled in my stomach.

I could tell. This guy liked Vivian.

3.

Guys liking Vivian wasn't new. It had always been this way.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally finished. I got up and walked over, taking Vivian’s hand, almost as a way to stake my claim.

The guy looked familiar. I racked my brain, then remembered. He’d been around before, always asking Vivian questions.

And she never refused. Actuall...