Without hesitation, Isabelle stormed up to him and yanked the guitar from his hands, her eyes blazing with anger. “I warned you,” she seethed, her voice trembling with a mixture of resentment and pent-up emotions. “I told you to either quit playing that damn music or at least keep it down. But you never listen!”

Gabriel’s eyes widened in shock as he watched Isabelle raise the guitar high above her head. Before he could react, a sickening thud resonated through the air as the instrument collided with the ground, splintering into a mess of broken strings and shattered wood.

The park seemed to hold its breath as the scene unfolded. Isabelle’s chest heaved with exertion, her breaths ragged with the release of her anger. Gabriel, his face a mix of disbelief and fury, stood up abruptly, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“You had no right to do that,” he spat, his voice trembling with a mixture of hurt and indignation. “That guitar meant everything to me.”

Isabelle’s eyes flashed with a complicated mix of regret and stubbornness. “And what about my peace of mind?” she retorted, her voice wavering slightly. “Your music, as beautiful as it is, has been echoing through my head. I can’t even think straight anymore!”

The tension in the air was palpable as the two stood face to face, emotions swirling like a tempestuous storm. This was their first heated argument, a confrontation they had been avoiding but could no longer ignore.

Gabriel’s anger began to waver as he looked into Isabelle’s eyes, seeing not just her frustration, but also the vulnerability she had kept hidden beneath her bravado. He took a deep breath, his fists slowly unclenching at his sides

Gabriel’s fingers trembled with anger as he confronted Isabella. “You know what? You’re nothing but a bitter, hateful person. Your life must be filled with so much misery that you can’t help but spread it around. No one will ever love you with that stinking attitude of yours,” he spat out, his voice dripping with venom.

Isabella looked back at him, her expression unchanging. “I was told years ago that I’m a monster, so hearing it from a stranger in a park doesn’t make any difference,” she retorted calmly. Her eyes held a hint of sadness, but her resolve was unyielding. “You can go to hell for all I care. And guess what? I won’t regret a damn thing,” she added before turning on her heel and walking away.

A few minutes later, Gabriel’s sister Tracy entered the scene, her eyebrows raised in concern as she saw her brother fuming next to the ruined guitar. “Gabriel, what happened?” she asked, her voice soft.

He pointed towards the destroyed instrument, his frustration evident. “That crazy girl over there ruined my guitar,” he explained, his voice still laced with anger. “She said it was disturbing her, so she destroyed it and walked away.”

Tracy’s eyes widened as realization dawned on her. “Isabella?” she murmured.

“Don’t tell me you know her, how can someone with such a lovely name be a devil,” Gabriel asked

She is my coursemate and I have heard stories about Isabella’s past, the hurtful labels she had been subjected to, and the walls she had built as a result,” Tracy replied.

Gabriel nodded bitterly. “Yeah, Isabella. She’s filled with so much hate, Tracy avoid her. She’s just a walking storm of negativity.”

Tracy sighed, her gaze distant. “I know she can be difficult, but there’s more to her story than you think. She’s been through a lot.”

“I don’t care, Tracy. No one should act like that,” Gabriel snapped.

His sister placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I’m not excusing her behavior, but sometimes pain can twist people into something they’re not. It’s not an excuse, just an explanation.”

Gabriel’s anger still simmered, but he looked at Tracy with a slightly softened expression. “What should I do about my guitar?”

Tracy shrugged sadly. “As for the guitar, it’s just an object. Repairable or replaceable.

As Gabriel stared at the shattered remains of his guitar, he contemplated Tracy’s words. Maybe there was more to Isabella’s story.