Sixteen years of chasing him, yet his heart remained untouched. Then, one drunken night, I unexpectedly ended up in bed with my sworn enemy. My rival, tracing the marks I’d left on him, cornered me. “Alex, are you really going to keep running from me for that coward?” My childhood friend’s eyes were red, his voice raw with desperation. “I messed up. Just give me one more chance.” I stood outside the private room at the club. Clutching the carefully chosen gift, my heart hammered, threatening to burst out of my chest. It was Liam’s birthday today. My childhood friend. I’d planned this for an entire month, just to confess my feelings to him on this special day. My hand had barely touched the doorknob when I heard Liam’s voice from inside. “Alex? Don’t joke around. I’ve always thought of him like a little brother.” My fingers froze instantly, glued to the doorknob. “Really? But the way he looks at you is totally different.” Liam chuckled lightly: “Just a fleeting crush, nothing serious. He’ll get over it eventually. Besides, we’re practically siblings; dating would be weird.” I took two steps back. It felt like my heart shattered into a million pieces inside my chest. So, all the careful feelings I’d cherished for so many years were just a “fleeting crush” in his eyes? … Stepping out of the club, the cold wind hit me, and I realized my face was wet. My phone vibrated. Liam had sent a message: “Alex, where are you? Everyone’s waiting for you.” I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then just switched my phone off. Right then, all I wanted was to find a place to get blackout drunk.
“Another one…” I lay slumped on the bar, my vision blurry. The bartender looked troubled. “Sir, you’ve had too much…” *Slam!* I fumbled for my wallet and slapped it onto the bar. “Worried I don’t have money? I’m loaded!” Just then, a familiar figure sat down next to me. Tall, with broad shoulders and a lean waist. I squinted, a surge of wild joy rushing through me. “Liam? Did you change your mind?” The person seemed to say something, but I couldn’t hear it anymore. The alcohol had completely drowned out my reason. I lunged and hugged him, burying my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. “You smell so good…” It wasn’t Liam’s usual cologne, but it somehow made me feel strangely at ease. “Alex, you’re drunk.” The person’s voice was deep and magnetic, tinged with a hint of helplessness. I looked up at him. *Damn, he’s hot.* I leaned in and kissed him directly. The moment our lips met, he stiffened. I gnawed and bit at his lips like a puppy, my hands restlessly trying to slip inside his clothes. He grabbed my wandering hands, his voice hoarse. “Alex…” I giggled stupidly. “Don’t be shy… I know you like me too…” After that, my memories were fragmented. I remember him half-carrying, half-dragging me out of the bar, and my restless body rubbing against his in the taxi. Back at my place, he pinned me against the wall, warning, “Don’t move.” But I only got worse, biting his Adam’s apple… And then, a blank.
The sunlight stung my eyes. I groaned, struggling to open them, and found myself lying in a strange bed. “Awake?” My body stiffened. I followed the sound. And saw my sworn enemy. Ryder. He was leaning against the bedroom doorway, shirtless, watching me with a smirk. My gaze dropped, landing on his toned chest. There were several clear scratch marks there. “I… we…” My voice trembled. I pulled back the covers and saw I was only wearing my boxers. Ryder slowly walked over, looking down at me from above. “What, don’t remember what you did to me last night?” My mind went blank. Last night, while drunk, I seemed to have mistaken someone for Liam, kissing and touching them… “No way! How could I possibly—” Ryder raised an eyebrow. He pointed to a red mark on his collarbone. “You kissed and gnawed on me, then tore off my clothes?” My face went white. Flashes of last night flickered through my mind. I really did kiss someone, and said some… unspeakable things… “I’m sorry! I was drunk, I got the wrong person! I thought you were Liam—” Ryder’s eyes turned cold. “So all that passion was for Liam?” “Uh, it’s a misunderstanding. I’ll pay for your dry cleaning. Let’s just pretend nothing happened…” “Alex, you’re just going to sleep with me and not take responsibility?” He pressed me onto the bed. Up close, his handsome face made my heart pound uncontrollably. Ryder’s looks were truly flawless. A high nose bridge, thin lips, and those alluring, mocking eyes… *Wait, what am I even thinking?!* I struggled. “Nothing happened between us! I, I blacked out, there’s no way…” He frowned. “Do I need to describe in detail how you clung to me last night, kissing me while whispering, ‘I like you so much’?” My whole body burned. I was so mortified I wanted to crawl into a hole. “Those were just drunken words! Ryder, let’s just pretend this never happened!!” I abruptly pushed him away. Grabbed the clothes scattered on the floor and haphazardly pulled them on. Then, I fled.
It wasn’t until I ran out of the apartment complex that I dared to stop and catch my breath. I also switched my phone back on. There were dozens of unread messages and missed calls. All from Liam. “Alex, where are you? I’m so worried.” I stared at the message for a few seconds, a pang of bitterness in my chest. Just yesterday, this kind of concern would have made my heart race. But now, it only felt ironic. My finger hovered over the screen for a long time, but I didn’t reply.
Back at my apartment, as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw a familiar figure. Liam. His eyes lit up when he saw me. “Alex!” “Where were you last night? I looked for you all night, and you didn’t even come to the birthday party.” “…Something came up.” Avoiding his gaze, I pulled out my keys to open the door. But he grabbed my wrist. “You’ve been drinking? You still smell like alcohol—” His voice cut off. His gaze fell on my neck, and his pupils constricted. I pulled away. “I’m tired, I want to rest.” “Is that a hickey? Who were you with last night?” “None of your business! You said you only see me as a brother, right? My private life doesn’t need to be reported to you, does it?” Liam’s face turned ashen. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. I took the opportunity to open the door and quickly slipped inside. I tried to close the door, but Liam blocked it with his arm. “Move!” “Who was it? Ryder?” My heart skipped a beat, and the force in my hand loosened slightly. Catching my reaction, Liam’s eyes darkened. “It really was him? You were with Ryder last night?” I turned my face away. “I told you, it’s none of your business.” Liam grabbed my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye. “Alex, Ryder is known for being a player—” “So what? At least he doesn’t treat me like a child!” I slapped his hand away.
Ignoring his hurt expression, I firmly closed the door. Leaning against the door, I slowly slid to the floor, burying my face in my knees. My phone vibrated. Ryder: [You ran fast. Did you know your shirt was on inside out?] I looked down at my T-shirt. Infuriated, I threw my phone onto the couch. But a few seconds later, I couldn’t resist picking it up to reply: “Nothing happened last night, right?” [Typing…] This status lasted for a long time. Finally, he sent a photo. On a messy bed. My shirt and Ryder’s tie were tangled together, looking incredibly intimate. [What do you think?] “You took advantage of me!” [Who was it clinging to me, saying ‘You’re so hot, big brother’?] “No way! I never said anything like that!” Ryder sent a voice note directly. It was my own sticky, drunken voice: “Big brother… you’re so hot… way hotter than Liam…” I was so mortified my toes curled, almost crushing my phone. “Delete it! Delete it now!” [Beg me. Or, come to my place tonight and beg me in person.] “In your dreams!”
I tossed my phone aside and rushed into the bathroom for a quick, hot shower. As I was drying my hair, the doorbell rang. I thought it was Liam, back again, so I quickly threw on my pajamas and opened the door. “Did you forget anything—” The words caught in my throat. Standing outside was Ryder, holding a paper bag. “Your clothes.” “How did you know where I live?” “Hardly. Star debater for the Law School. Just had to ask around a bit.” I reached for the paper bag, but he suddenly raised his arm, using the momentum to slip inside. “What are you doing! You delivered the stuff, now leave!” Ryder closed the door behind him and took a step closer. “Alex, did you forget something?” “W-what?” He backed me against the wall, one hand braced beside my head. “Last night, you promised to go on a date with me today.” “…Do drunken promises count?” Before I could finish, Ryder pinched my chin, rubbing my lower lip. “This place… it was very enthusiastic in responding to me last night.” I was both mortified and angry, and pushed him away hard. “Ryder! What do you want?” His eyes darkened, and he dropped his playful expression. “Simple. Give me a chance.” “A chance for what?” “A chance to pursue you. I know you’ve liked Liam for years, but since he doesn’t appreciate it…” My heart jolted. “You… how did you know?” “Alex, did you really think Liam was the only one paying attention to you?” Before I could fully process the meaning of his words, He suddenly leaned in and kissed my forehead lightly. “Get some rest.” By the time I came to my senses, he was gone. At the same moment, my phone vibrated. Liam had sent a long message. I hesitated for a moment, then opened it: “Alex, we need to talk. About what I said last night… that wasn’t what I truly meant. Can you give me a chance to explain?” I stared at the message for a long time, my fingertip hovering above the screen, but ultimately, I didn’t reply.
Three in the afternoon. I sat down at a desk in the Law School library, dark circles under my eyes. The senior student across from me, Chloe, immediately winked. “Alex, you really missed out yesterday. Ryder completely crushed the Economics Department’s debate team. It was epic.” I was stunned. “He had a debate yesterday?” Chloe shot me a knowing, amused grin. “Yeah, in the lecture hall. Packed house. Speaking of… that thing on your neck, could it be…” I quickly covered my neck, my ears burning. “A mosquito bite!” Chloe’s smile deepened. “Oh, a very *big* mosquito~” I was so embarrassed, I wanted to crawl into a hole. Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind me. “Excuse me.” My body stiffened. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was. “What a coincidence?” Ryder sat across from me, taking his laptop out of his bag. Chloe’s eyes darted between us, and then she wisely packed up her things. “I just remembered I have a date. Gotta go.” Once Chloe was gone, I lowered my voice. “Are you stalking me?” “The Law School library is a public space.” “Then why did you specifically sit across from me?” He quirked his lips. “Because the lighting is good here… makes it easier to see your expression.” I ground my teeth in frustration, but there was nothing I could do. I buried my head in my case files. But his presence was simply too strong. Even without speaking, he made it impossible for me to concentrate. Ten minutes later, he suddenly spoke. “You keep staring at me.” “I do not!” “You’ve looked at me seven times since you sat down. If you want to look, just look openly. I don’t charge.” I flared up, mortified. “Ryder! Can you just—” “Shh, library. Quiet.” That’s when I noticed a few other students nearby were looking at us curiously. Suddenly, my phone vibrated. Liam: [I’m downstairs at the library, waiting for you.] Ryder glanced at my phone screen. His eyes immediately turned cold. “He wants to see you?” “None of your business.” I instinctively locked my phone. “That day, you hugged me and said, ‘I never want to like Liam again.’ You’re going back on that so soon?” “Those were drunken words!” “Then what’s the truth?” He clasped my wrist. “Alex, do you dare admit you feel something for me?” I shot up, my chair scraping loudly. Students around us all turned, but I didn’t care anymore. “Ryder, nothing will ever happen between us. That day was a mistake. Just let it go.” With that, I fled the library as if my life depended on it. iam leaned against a ginkgo tree nearby. When he saw me, he immediately straightened up. “Alex, Ryder didn’t bother you, did he?”
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