Landon Thorne and I? We were infamous, a legendary toxic couple in our circles. After ten grueling years, we finally called a truce. The day Landon got back in town, he decided to make a grand gesture for some new girl. He tore my bar apart, all to put a smile on some pretty face. I ripped into him for it. “Tsk, loved smashing your place, didn’t I? What kind of compensation do you want? Name your price.” What could a dying person possibly ask for? It wasn’t until my last follow-up appointment that I knew. I was out of time. A mother and daughter, recovering in the same ward, looked at me with pity. “That poor thing, so young. And at the end, there won’t even be anyone to claim her body.” I sat in the cold hospital corridor, my fingers tracing the number I’d had saved for ten years. “If you really want to pay me back, then promise to handle my funeral.” *** It was a rainy night. The bar was almost empty. The TV screen flashed with news of Landon Thorne’s return. Just as I was about to close up, a young woman walked in. She folded her umbrella, her eyes bright as she pointed at the bottles behind the counter. “These? I’ll take them all.” Trailing in behind her was Asher Vance, Landon’s best friend. He saw me, and his expression froze. “Uh, maybe we should try somewhere else?” “I brought Landon some drinks from here once, he absolutely loved this brand,” she chirped, looking at me. “Bartender, I’ve booked the whole place tonight. Just get these ready for me.” I murmured a reply, my hand trembling slightly as I scooped ice. It wasn’t nerves, or anticipation. It was my illness. Untreatable. “Asher, can you help me light some candles? Landon will be so happy when he gets here, won’t he?” Asher didn’t answer. He knew Landon would never be happy if he saw me. On the news, Landon smirked at the camera. “I’m sure she’s watching this now. And I’m really looking forward to our reunion.” The camera angle highlighted the scar above Landon’s eyebrow. It was particularly noticeable. Yeah, I did that. With a kitchen knife. No real reason, just a bad mood. The ugly scar at the base of my thumb? That was him. He tore my hand open, and it got infected again and again. “So, where are you headed next, Mr. Thorne? With those roses, are you meeting your girlfriend?” He paused for a beat. “My fiancée.” The young woman, Jasmine, meticulously arranged the bar, then turned to watch the TV. “Asher, have you ever met his first love, the one he was with for ten years?” I lowered my head, shaking the cocktail shaker, but my peripheral vision caught Asher’s gaze. “Landon!” Jasmine rushed out, forgetting her umbrella. “Jasmine.” Landon tilted his umbrella to cover her. She eagerly rose on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth, her excitement palpable. Landon clearly flinched back for a split second. My gaze met his through the rain-streaked glass. Jasmine tried to follow his line of sight, but he lifted her chin, pulling her into a deeper kiss. I looked away, adding mint leaves to a glass. Asher was already at the counter. After a few hesitant moments, he finally spoke. “Please, just… don’t torment him anymore.” He thought for a second, then added, “She’s really beautiful, isn’t she? A little like you when you were younger. She’s only nineteen.” I nodded, feeling a strange disconnect. “She is very pretty.” Two figures walked into the bar. Landon folded his black umbrella. “Were you… talking about my fiancée?” His words hung in the air, that familiar gaze, so long absent, finally landing on me. Asher held his breath, watching me. He wasn’t sure if I was about to do something crazy again. But I simply placed the glasses in front of them. “Here you are, everyone. Enjoy.” Jasmine Hayes rested her chin in her hands, her eyes sparkling with joy as she looked at Landon. “Landon, try this. It’s your favorite, the one you loved.” He took a sip, his fingers tracing the rim of the glass. “Bitter and astringent. Yes, definitely my favorite.” Jasmine took a suspicious sip. “It’s sweet! You’re lying again!” She didn’t see it, but his eyes were fixed, deeply, on mine. The bar door burst open. “Bro! Welcome back!” A few guys swaggered in, but their cheerful faces froze the moment they saw me. Their eyes followed my movements, cautious, probing, then flickered to Asher.
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