Heart of the Huntress: The Blooming Second Chance

I felt so sick I wanted to throw up. He ditched me, his current girlfriend, to celebrate his ex’s birthday on our anniversary! He looked so pleased with himself too!

I fumed so badly that I switched places with my junior and drove the car at maximum speed.

I wasn't sure of what I was doing nor where I’d be taking this car. At that moment, I just wanted to go far away and remove Calvin from my life. If it wasn't for my junior screaming at me, I wouldn't realize that we had already stopped.

When I looked up I saw the 42nd division’s emblem. We arrived safely at the station. Seeing that was like a beacon of light. I knew how to get my life straight.

I got out of the car, ignoring the complaints about my reckless driving, and stormed inside the building.

A lot of people checked on me and congratulated me on my recovery, but I couldn't pay attention to their concerns. I was laser-focused on one thing, as I headed toward my unit and barged into the captain's office.

“Paul! The offer from the higher up. Is that still open?” I didn't beat around the bush.

I know what Calvin wanted most. Getting that first would be a great shot at his ego.

He didn't expect I’d simply take his crap lying down, did he?

“That’s a surprisingly unique way to greet your captain, Hunter.” Paul dropped what he was doing and faced me with his inquisitive gaze. “You’ve been holding out on it for a year. What made you change your mind?”

Right now, a lot. I didn’t know what to tell him, but Paul knew me too well.

“You’re not acting on impulse because of Calvin again, are you?”

Right off the bat, I knew he had seen Cathy’s post. My relationship with Calvin had always been an open secret. And if the captain knew then, everyone did too. Now it made sense why I passed by so many hunters earlier.

I sighed and showed him my brightest smile.

“Not at all, Captain. I just felt silly drawing it out for this long.”

I didn’t lie about feeling silly, but I wasn't being truthful either.

When the offer came last year, Calvin and I had also broken up.

To me, it was like a breath of fresh air. I was ready to pack up and leave, but Calvin later apologized. He seemed so sincere that I foolishly forgave him and took him back.

As one of the most promising female hunters, I had the brightest future ahead of me, and I gave up that one opportunity all hunters would’ve fought for, a position among the elite corps, for him.

Calvin had a lot of pride in himself. He quickly rose to fame the first year he joined our division. At that time, I was also killing it in the field. So great at what I’m doing I earned the name Flaming Rose. But I bloomed too much in battle that I overshadowed the others.

Calvin would’ve lost it if he knew the elite corps reached out to me and not him. He already didn’t take it well that I got my second star first when we started about the same time. That was also what caused our fight and led to our breakup.

Paul gauged me for a while before giving me a skeptical nod.

“Alright, I’ll give them a call. In the meantime, I’m putting you on leave. Get it together.”

He handed me the paperwork that I excitedly held.

Then, from the back of my mind, a small voice had me thinking, and I couldn’t resist asking, “You think there might be a chance they're gonna retract it after my slip-up?”

“Are you kidding me? I was told to leave it open until you come demanding it,” Paul exclaimed, then his expression softened.

“Think better for yourself this time, Rose.”

I came to the station with convoluted thoughts and left with a lot more. But the good thing about it was, I’m definitely getting that promotion.

I went back to my apartment to pick up my stuff. Aside from it getting destroyed and inhabitable, I want to cut my ties with that bloody place. I'm moving out.

As I pushed the door open, my heart almost stopped from shock. Calvin was there, looking around at the rubble and everything.

Of course, running into him was inevitable, but I didn't expect to see him this soon.