It was the thousandth time I’d spent the night with my childhood best friend, Liam, and he was as wild and passionate as ever. The next morning, I woke up covered in hickeys. Every movement sent a jolt of pain through my aching back. The intimate scent of the night still clung to the room. Liam’s long arm wrapped around me, pulling me closer, his voice casual. “Dress formally tomorrow. Come home with me.” My head shot up, a spark of hope igniting in my chest. “Are you finally going to… tell everyone about us?” Liam raised an eyebrow, a dismissive glance in my direction. “Tell them what? I have a blind date at my place tomorrow. I want you to come help liven things up, so the girl doesn’t feel awkward.” Each word landed like a thunderclap. My heart seized, my mind a blank. “You’re going on a blind date? Then what am I?” Liam was already up, pulling on his clothes. He spared me a lazy look. “You? You’re just my various buddies. My dinner buddy, my gaming buddy, and, of course, my bed buddy – someone to satisfy our physical urges.” A chill spread through me, draining the color from my face. My lips trembled. Seeing my expression, Liam’s smile slowly faded. He leaned closer. “No, Scarlett. You didn’t actually think, after all these years, that we were a couple, did you?” His playful tone was a dagger straight to my heart. I fought back the stinging in my nose, my voice breaking. “W-what are you talking about? I’m going to shower.” I scrambled off the bed, my steps unsteady as I stumbled into the bathroom. The moment the door clicked shut, all strength left me, and I collapsed onto the cold tile floor. His words echoed in my ears. I stared at the dense array of hickeys Liam had left on my body, and tears streamed down my face. We’d known each other for over twenty years, grown up together. We drank from the same juice box, read the same comics. And when we were eighteen, a drunken night led to us sleeping together. Once led to twice, then thrice… At night, our bodies fit together perfectly. During the day, we did everything couples did. We’d hold hands strolling through crowded streets, kiss at New Year’s Eve, promising to face the next year together, and spend hours on FaceTime every day, keeping that spark alive… I always thought we were together, just not officially public. Now, Liam was telling me we weren’t a couple? The pain was suffocating. My hands shaking, I turned the shower on full blast before finally letting out a sob. I don’t know how long I cried until my tears ran dry. Only then did I compose myself and step out. Liam was already dressed, sitting on the couch talking on the phone. “There will be a lot of people tomorrow, so make sure the restaurant private room is large enough. The lady prefers light, elegant dishes, so a modern European menu. For the cake, Black Forest, with pink and white roses for flowers. Send me pictures when it’s set up for approval. Also, prepare a dozen suits for me to choose from, all black. Izzy only likes black.” My heart clenched at the name. Involuntarily, I looked over and saw Liam’s sweet smile. Isabelle? His blind date was Isabelle Collins? The light in my eyes dimmed. If it was Isabelle, then I understood why he was so happy. In high school, Liam had a huge crush on Isabelle, mentioning her name a dozen times a day. Unfortunately, before he could confess his feelings, Isabelle moved abroad. After that, I never heard him bring her up again. When we became intimate after that wild night, I thought he’d long since moved past Isabelle. But I was wrong. That elusive dream girl, his ‘white moonlight’—he never talked about her, but he never forgot her either. The heartache, which had briefly subsided, surged back, so intense I couldn’t hold onto my phone. *Bang!* Liam turned at the sound, a playful smile on his face. “All showered? Good. Can you check out later? I already paid for the room.” He grabbed his jacket, heading for the door. Just before leaving, he turned back, a half-smile playing on his lips. “Scar, I’ve always seen you as a buddy. Don’t give me that heartbroken look. I might think you’re getting some wrong ideas about me. I know you inside out; you can read my mind with just a look. Don’t you think a relationship like that would be boring? It’d be over before it even began.” His words faded with his footsteps but echoed in my heart. I sat on the cold bed, then started to laugh, tears streaming down my face. So, all these years, that’s what Liam really thought. I sat alone until late into the night before heading downstairs to check out. A heavy rain was falling outside, but I barely noticed, drifting home in a daze. Seeing me drenched, my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Miller, rushed over with dry towels, their voices filled with concern. “Such heavy rain, why didn’t you take a cab?” I looked at them blankly, my eyes vacant, my voice hoarse. “Dad, Mom, you’ve always wanted to emigrate because of the changes in the group’s business, right? I’ve thought it through. Let’s emigrate. Let’s never come back.” My parents had been trying to convince me for months, so they were surprised to hear me finally agree. “Are you really serious? Did you break up with that boyfriend?” Remembering Liam’s words, my heart ached. I forced a bitter smile and shook my head. “There was no boyfriend. Never. I just made it up so you wouldn’t pressure me to get married.” Though they weren’t sure if I was telling the truth, Mr. and Mrs. Miller were overjoyed. They immediately started preparing the immigration paperwork, urging me to pack. I hummed in agreement, went to my bedroom, and threw out everything related to Liam. Years of carefully preserved photo albums, all the jewelry, dresses, and handmade figurines he’d given me… All of it went into the trash. “Miss Scarlett, all these nice things? You don’t want them?” The maid’s eyes were full of pity. I nodded softly, my voice barely a whisper. “No, I don’t.” Not just these things, but this relationship, and Liam himself – I didn’t want any of it anymore. The next morning, I was woken by Liam’s SnapChat messages. He’d sent dozens, asking when I was coming over. A bitter taste filled my mouth. *Liam, do you even realize how cruel you are?* My hands trembling, I typed a short reply: “Not feeling well today. Can’t make it.” Soon after, my parents knocked on the door. “Scarlett, even if you’re upset with Liam, this isn’t the time to act out! Hurry, get dressed and go to his house. You don’t know how much Liam cares about this blind date. He’s liked that Collins girl for years, and as soon as he heard she was back, he asked your father to set it up.” “That’s right,” my mom added. “Isabelle studied piano with me for a while. I personally arranged this meeting! From the gifts to the dinner, everything is so formal. He wants you there to liven things up. With another girl your age, Isabelle won’t feel awkward. Liam is really serious about this, and you two are so close, how can you not help him?” Liam had called my parents when I didn’t respond! Listening to their earnest pleas, Scarlett could only fight back tears, wash up, and head downstairs. Their houses were close, and ten minutes later, I stood at the Hayes’ front door, opening the shoe cabinet in the entryway. It was empty. I didn’t see my little bunny slippers. I searched everywhere, eventually finding them, along with my water cup, toothbrush, towel, pajamas, and other personal items, in the trash can outside. All of it belonged to me. “Miss Miller, the young master threw these out. Please use the shoe covers for now.” I stared at the trash can, silent for a long time. Because the Millers and Hayes families had always been close, I used to visit almost daily and often stayed over. Liam had even prepared a room just for me, filled with everyday items, specifically picking out the little bunny designs I liked. He said his house was my house, no need to be polite. We’d kept it a secret from our parents, embracing and kissing at the front door, holding hands under the table during dinner, and sharing intimate moments in his study. Now Isabelle was here. He was afraid his crush would misunderstand. So he threw out everything connected to me. Scarlett took a long moment to compose herself before putting on the shoe covers. The moment I stepped inside, I saw Liam, peeling fruit for Isabelle, both of them laughing and chatting. He sat on the sofa, impeccably dressed in a tailored satin suit, his hair perfectly styled, a subtle cologne scenting the air. He had this sharp, almost too-perfect allure that screamed “sophisticated bad boy,” a vibe that could make you forget anything else. I remembered girls at school always saying he was handsome enough to make a burlap sack look good, and if he actually dressed up, he’d put all those celebrities out of business. But Liam was naturally carefree, usually just casual tees and shirts, never bothered with dressing up. So even *he* would preen for the one he liked? The man who’d been tangled with me in bed just yesterday now acted like he didn’t know me. He spared me only a fleeting glance before turning his full attention back to Isabelle. They talked about everything from hobbies to the weather, from work to jewelry brands, from childhood anecdotes to school memories. Watching Liam enthusiastically keep the conversation flowing, I lowered my gaze, a self-deprecating smile on my lips. So, *this* is how he acts when he genuinely likes someone. “It’s funny, in high school, you were a year above me, and we weren’t even in the same building, but we’d always run into each other. What a coincidence.” Hearing Isabelle laugh as she recalled the past, I looked at the faint flush on Liam’s ears and smiled silently. A coincidence? No. Liam deliberately orchestrated every single one of those “chance” encounters. Back then, I followed him around, watching him pull out all the stops for the girl he liked, my heart aching. Later, when Isabelle went abroad, I thought I finally had him. But now, it seemed Liam was the one getting his wish. Scarlett was lost in thought when she suddenly heard her name. “I heard in high school you had a very close childhood friend. That must be Miss Miller, right?” I froze, looking up to meet Isabelle’s probing gaze. Before I could speak, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes jovially chimed in. “Oh, they’re more than close! They’ve been inseparable since childhood, practically grew up in each other’s pockets! We even used to joke about them getting married one day…” Halfway through, Liam’s face darkened, and he abruptly cut them off. “Mom, Dad, stop talking nonsense. I wouldn’t like Scarlett even if she were the last person on Earth.” I lowered my eyes, hiding my disappointment, and forced a smile. “Me neither. Out of everyone in the world, Liam is the last person I’d ever be with.” Liam’s expression froze for a second, then quickly returned to normal. He slung an arm around my shoulder, like he would a brother, feigning indifference. “Exactly! We’re just pure friends.” The tension in the living room immediately lightened. I joined in the laughter, and vaguely heard Liam sighing in relief, whispering, “Nice one. You really saved me there. Thanks.” I didn’t say anything, just subtly shifted a few steps away from him, creating distance. Saved him? No. What I said was the truth. As evening approached, the Hayes family arranged a car to take them to the restaurant. The three of us young people rode in one car. Throughout the ride, Liam, sitting in the middle, showered Isabelle with attention – adjusting the AC, getting her a blanket, twisting open her water bottle. On my left, I watched them chatting animatedly, and quietly turned to look out the window. Halfway there, a torrential rain began to fall. The road was dimly lit. The car in front flashed its high beams, blinding our driver as we went downhill. He swerved, failing to make the turn, and crashed directly into the guardrail. In that split second of danger, Liam instinctively pulled Isabelle into his arms, shielding her. *CRASH!* The car windows shattered, glass flying everywhere. I, on the inner side, was slammed against the impact, my body bleeding profusely. A searing pain spread through me; I felt like I was coming apart. My consciousness blurred, but I saw the right passenger door open. Liam, frantic, carried Isabelle out of the car, calling the hospital while gently comforting her. He seemed to have completely forgotten there was another person in the car, showing no concern for me whatsoever. When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics suggested tending to the more severely injured first. But between me, lying in a pool of blood, and Isabelle, dazed with shock in his arms, Liam hesitated for only a few seconds before choosing to take Isabelle to the hospital first. Watching the car disappear into the distance, my vision blurred, and tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. Liam, Liam… Twenty years of friendship, and it still couldn’t compare to one glance from her! My eyelids grew heavy, the relentless pain fading like smoke. I didn’t wait for the next ambulance. Everything went black, and I lost consciousness. I don’t know how much time passed. I heard a muffled clamor of voices. Opening my eyes, I saw my mom, Mrs. Miller, patting her chest, her voice a mix of worry and relief. “Thank goodness, Scarlett, you’re finally awake! We were so scared! It’s a miracle the ambulance got here so fast; you lost so much blood, the hospital almost ran out. You three were in one car, how did Isabelle only get a scratch on her hand while you’re so badly hurt?” My dad, Mr. Miller, sighed with relief, taking a sip of water. “Well, that’s because Liam protected her, of course. True love shows in times of trouble. That girl was incredibly touched. I just went to visit her next door, and Liam was feeding her soup. Just seeing the loving glances between them, I’d say they’re practically official.” Scarlett listened quietly. After they finished gossiping, I spoke, my voice hoarse. “How long have I been asleep? Are the immigration papers ready?” “You’ve been asleep for two days! You scared us half to death!” “Don’t worry about the paperwork. It’ll be finalized in about twenty days. Just focus on recovering.” Hearing it was less than a month away, a sense of relief washed over me. Over the next two or three days, Scarlett occasionally heard from the nurses about all the things Liam was doing for Isabelle. He stayed by her bedside day and night, worrying for ages even if she coughed in her sleep, then going to find a nurse for hot water; He personally tested the temperature of all her medicine, and had candied fruits ready, terrified the girl would find it bitter; Fearing she’d be bored in her hospital room, he went to great lengths to find all sorts of entertaining toys to cheer her up. Scarlett listened in silence, not saying a word. When a nurse wheeled me for a follow-up, I heard a commotion in the hallway. Passing the room next door, I glanced over and saw Liam, holding a huge bouquet of roses, confessing his love to Isabelle. “Izzy, I fell for you eight years ago the moment I saw you. All those ‘chance’ encounters were me deliberately trying to get close to you. I remember all your favorites, and I know your dreams. I never got to confess back then, but now, will you give me a chance?” Hearing the anticipation and nervousness in his voice, Scarlett couldn’t help but remember that Liam had already been preparing this confession a month before Isabelle moved abroad. Even though it had been missed due to a twist of fate, it was only a few years late. When I heard Isabelle say “I do,” I smiled softly and walked towards the examination room. The moment I turned, the surrounding crowd erupted in applause. Liam turned at the sound and saw Scarlett’s lonely, desolate figure. His smile froze, a flicker of something unsettling in his heart. This discomfort lasted only an instant before being swallowed by an overwhelming tide of joy. He reached out, openly and confidently, pulling Isabelle into his embrace. That night, I opened a ticket app and searched for flights from Miami direct to Madrid. Just as I completed the payment, Liam arrived with Isabelle. “Scar, I have great news! Izzy said yes! Pretty cool, huh? You’re the first to know, buddy.” Looking at their clasped hands, I nodded, my voice neutral. “Congratulations.” Isabelle’s eyes sparkled with happiness, and she smiled shyly. “Thank you for your blessings. Mrs. Miller said you were seriously injured. Are you feeling better recently? I brought some fish soup; you should have some.” As she spoke, she urged Liam to quickly serve the soup. Seeing him obediently comply, Scarlett froze for a moment before reacting. “Thanks, but no need for the fish soup.” At my words, Liam’s face instantly hardened, and he looked at me with displeasure. “This soup was homemade by Izzy, and I was reluctant to even let you have any. It’s because Izzy cares about your injuries that I reluctantly agreed to bring you some. How can you be so ungrateful?” As he spoke, he poured a bowl and pressed it into my hand, insisting I drink it now. Scarlett tried to explain, but he gripped my wrist. In the struggle, the bowl was knocked over, and the hot soup splashed all over my wound. “Ah!” A sharp pain made cold sweat bead on my forehead, my face crumpling and turning ashen. Isabelle gasped, her face filled with remorse, as she pulled out a tissue to help wipe it away. Liam, fearing she’d get burned, quickly pulled her behind him. “Izzy, this has nothing to do with you. She’s been tough as nails since she was a kid; it’s no big deal. Don’t blame yourself.” Scarlett’s hand, holding the tissue, trembled several times, her heart seizing.
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