A lone tear escaped my eye as the cool breeze touched my face. And then I let some more fall free. Tears that I’d been succeeding to hold in for years.

My hand clutched my chest as I felt the same pain it felt that night. As if someone sliced open the old wounds.

Biting my lip hard, I attempted to stop those tears. Seven years. Seven freaking years! And here I was, still mourning over the heartache I got as a punishment for my foolishness. Seven years, and it still pained me physically to remember the loss.

I was still afraid of seeing him. I was still a coward. That’s why I tagged Warner along. I needed support. I knew one way or another, in these two weeks, I’d have to face him. I’d been trying to escape him after that night. I’d avoided him like a plague. Even if it was impossible on some occasions to avoid him before I left LA, I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t look at him because I knew. I knew if I made the mistake to look up, he would see it. He would see it all.

And he’d find out how pathetic I was for believing his words he said to a nine-year-old naïve kid, not to break her fragile heart.

I thought, I’ll forget him if I go away. So, I went to live in a different city. I thought, if I dated other men, I’d forget him. So, I dated a lot of men. If I toughen myself up, I’d be able to wipe him from my memories.

But no. Just one glance, and some mere words threw me back to where I’d been years ago. All my attempts failed.

“Why?” I whispered, my voice quivering.

Why can’t I just move on? After all these years, why does it still hurt?

Fuck you, Achilles Valencian! Fuck you for fucking up my life!

I wiped my face when I felt a presence behind me. A glass of orange juice was held before me.

“Just give me a moment, Warner. I will be inside in a while.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not your boyfriend. He is enjoying his drink very much with your brother inside.”

I snapped my head toward him. He followed me here?

Stormy gray eyes were dark with… anger, shadowed jaw was clenched. His charcoal suit gleamed under the moonlight as he towered over me. Even after these years, I could only reach his broad shoulders with my five feet four inches height.

And the way he pronounced the word ‘boyfriend’ with malice, didn’t go unnoticed by me. I didn’t like that tone at all.

“Why are you here?” I took a step back. His proximity suffocated me.

He covered the distance I created between us, handing me the glass. “Came to see if you’re okay.”