15

After leaving ​The Apexion Tower, ​Chloe Johnson reached the mountaintop. She wanted to find a quiet spot to sort through all the things she'd never quite understood.

Settling onto a stone bench, she felt the absence of someone beside her… She'd grown so used to having ​Ryan Carter there.

The first time she saw Ryan, he'd kissed her. Back then, she didn't understand what a kiss meant—she only knew she liked his. After that, he picked her up for school, shared breakfasts with her in the park, covered for her lies, even took her to ​Japan to see the cherry blossoms…

She'd always taken it all for granted, accepting his efforts without a second thought.

But after ​Alex declared she was his girlfriend, everything changed. Suddenly, only Alex was by her side, and Ryan vanished.

At the time, she'd felt a vague sense of loss. Now, looking back, she realized she'd simply grown accustomed to Ryan's presence. Without him, there was no comforting reassurance of being cared for. Turns out, Alex's concern couldn't replace what Ryan had given her.

When she feared her college entrance exams, it was Ryan's encouragement she craved. When she aced a test, it was Ryan she wanted to share the joy with. When she felt wronged, she longed to bury her face in Ryan's chest and cry it all out…

No matter what happened, she wanted Ryan there—part of her highs and lows. She'd unknowingly come to rely on him.

When she learned Ryan might be ​gay, she'd been furious, though she couldn't explain why. She'd resolved to "fix" him, convinced it was what a friend should do.

But now, she wondered: If it had been anyone else, would she have gone to such lengths?

The answer was no.

"What would you do? Heartbroken? Why would you be heartbroken?"

The words ​Chu Lin had asked her at the restaurant that day echoed in her ears again.

Back then, she hadn't wanted to dwell on the why—because she was afraid of the answer.

Why would it break her heart? Because she cared about him. She couldn't bear to see him hurt or in tears, even if it was for her.

Why did she suddenly feel like crying? Because she liked him. She'd always liked him—it's just that her oblivious self had only now realized: the person she loved was ​Ryan.

All this time, she'd depended on him, trusted him, simply because she'd loved him all along. She wanted to share her joy with him, pour out her grievances to him—all of it, just because she loved him!

But what now? She'd fallen for a man ten years older than her, a man she never thought would look her way, a perfect man… a man who might be gay.

At that thought, her tears welled up again.

"Oh God! What should she do? How could she have only realized her feelings now? How could she fall for a man who might be gay?"

Should she let him know? That she loved him, that she wanted to spend every single day of her life with him? That she longed to open her eyes to his face each morning and see no one but him before falling asleep... Should she tell him?

Someone please tell her whether to say it or not!

Chloe Johnson curled her legs up, wrapping her arms around her shins, and buried her face in her knees as she cried helplessly.

Never before had she felt this utterly alone and lost.

At some point, an elderly man tapped her shoulder and gently reminded her it was time to head down the mountain before dark, or her family would worry.

Chloe looked up, noticing the fading daylight. After thanking the old man, she began her descent.

Walking down the street, Chloe Johnson caught her reflection in a storefront window - her eyes were swollen like peaches. She didn't want to go home to empty walls. With Ethan Johnson away for military service and her parents back in the countryside, the house would be completely empty.

As she wandered aimlessly, she passed a bar pulsating with loud music.

She glanced up at the sign - "The Forget Love Bar." What a perfect name! Chloe followed the crowd inside.

The interior had stylish decor. A man with flame-red dyed hair was on stage, strumming a guitar while singing. Below, some patrons danced, others drank, and a few played drinking games - the entire bar radiated reckless abandon.

"Whiskey, please," Chloe said as she slid onto a barstool.

Another heartbroken soul trying to drown her sorrows, the bartender thought with an understanding smile. He poured her whiskey, adding extra ice cubes to slow her down.

Chloe lifted the glass and downed it in one go, coughing violently as the liquor burned her throat. This was far harsher than the sake she'd had in Japan.

The thought of Japanese sake brought back memories of Ryan Carter. Remembering Ryan made her recall their cherry blossom trip together... Why had it taken her this long to realize how precious those moments had been?

"Damn it! Why am I thinking about him?" Chloe Johnson shook her head violently, trying to force Ryan Carter out of her thoughts. Just then, the alcohol hit her system—a wave of heat rose from her stomach like wildfire.

"Easy there, kid. That's not how you drink," the bartender said, eyeing Chloe's flushed, burning-red face. Nobody drinks like that unless they're trying to get wasted.

"Isn't drinking just... picking up the glass and drinking? Is there some kind of science to it?" Chloe laughed, sliding her empty glass forward for a refill. She was already feeling lightheaded.

The bartender filled her glass again. ​"Sip it slow." Then he moved on to other customers.

This time, Chloe drank gradually, letting the whiskey's bitter burn coat her tongue sip by sip. Her mouth grew numb, her thoughts hazy...

Just then, ​Ryan Carter walked into the bar, weaving through the crowd toward the counter.

If his usual seat from last night was free, he planned to take it again.

But when he reached the bar, he froze—there was Chloe Johnson, slumped in hisspot, glass in hand.

Judging by her flushed face and sluggish movements, she was already obliterated.

Two small cups of sake in Japan had knocked her out—what the hell was she doing with amber whiskey?

And just like that, memories rushed back—those fleeting but unforgettable days they'd shared...

No! He shouldn't dwell on the past—those memories were ancient history now.

But why was she here, drowning her sorrows? She looked so lost and alone... Was it because of that ​Alex guy?

Seeing her like this, ​Ryan Carter couldn't just walk away. Before he knew it, he was striding toward Chloe, who was already slurring her words for another drink.

Sensing someone approach, Chloe jerked her head up—and there he was. A man who looked exactly like Ryan, standing over her, studying her with those familiar eyes.

Was she dreaming again? No way Ryan would actually be here.

She shook her head hard, then grinned at the stranger, raising her glass. Who cares who he is? Misery loves company, and strangers make fine drinking buddies.

But then—Ryan snatched the glass from her hand.

His chest ached seeing her like this. Who had reduced her to this state? Had something happened in the single day since he'd last seen her? Something he hadn't anticipated?

"Hmm... You are Ryan, right? Otherwise why would you take my glass?"

Chloe Johnson struggled to focus her bleary eyes. ​"Are you... Ryan?"

When the man before her nodded, she practically leaped from the stool and threw herself into his arms.

She was exhausted—all she wanted was somewhere to rest.

Burying her face against his chest, Chloe murmured, ​"I'm so tired."

Ryan swiftly caught her as she swayed, tossed cash on the bar, and guided her out of ​"The Forget Love Bar."

"I'll take you home," he said softly.

"No one's home. I don't want to go back—I want to stay with you." The thought of being alone again terrified her. She pushed against Ryan's chest, voice rising. ​"I won't go home!"

"Alright, we won't." Ryan tightened his grip around her unsteady body and carried her back to ​The Apexion Tower.

Looks like tonight will be another long, sleepless night.

"Get some rest," Ryan said as he laid Chloe on the bed—though whether he was speaking to her or himself, he wasn't sure.

"Ryan..." Chloe lifted her arms, looping them around his neck, and pulled him down until her lips met his.

She craved his embrace, his kiss—she just wanted him to hold her like he used to, to make her feel safe again.

Ryan Carter swiftly turned passive into active, kissing her back with equal fervor. His lips moved against her soft ones, his tongue slipping into her mouth to dance with hers.

Chloe responded passionately, unable to remember how long it had been since he'd kissed her like this. She'd missed this so much.

She pulled him down harder, craving more contact with his body.

Ryan's kisses trailed from her lips down to her neck, alternating between gentle sucks and light nips that sent heat coursing through Chloe's entire body, as if she were burning up.

No—it was too hot. She needed to cool off. Pushing Ryan away, she stumbled to her feet and wobbled toward the bathroom.

Left lying on the bed, Ryan took a deep breath. He'd nearly lost control. If she hadn't pushed him away... He wouldn't have known how to face her accusations tomorrow morning.

She was drunk. He wasn't. How could he take advantage of her when she was most vulnerable—and intoxicated?

Lost in self-reproach, Ryan didn't realize Chloe had gone to the bathroom to shower. Under the now-running showerhead, she let the water cascade over her.

So refreshing. Those burning flames inside her were finally being doused.