Clarisse Balas ran back to her room in tears, curling up on her bed in sadness, tears streaming down her cheeks as the fiery sting of his presence lingered on her lips. At eighteen, in the prime of her youth, she yearned for love, hoping for someone to appear whom she could love and who would love her in return, someone she could marry, have children with, and grow old alongside.
She had many admirers at school, and she was aware of Fadrique's feelings for her, but she didn't feel anything special for any of them. Fadrique's kindness moved her, but it didn't stir her heart. The only person who made her blush and her heart race was Jonathan Serge Drucker, whom she had met for the first time today.
But... what if he already had someone he loved?
If it was just a temporary lack of affection for her, she could try to win him over. But now that he had someone else in his heart, someone he loved so deeply, could she ever replace her?
Why hadn't she found the love she longed for, like Farah and her boyfriend, who loved each other deeply? She spent the night silently crying until she fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, when she woke up to wash her face, she found her eyes swollen red. Helplessly, she put on a pair of large black-framed glasses to cover them up a bit.
When Clarisse Balas went downstairs for breakfast, Cesar Rollin Balas and Fadrique were already seated at the table, but Jonathan Serge Drucker was nowhere to be seen. She glanced at the empty seat and felt a pang in her heart. She thought, perhaps he was avoiding her because of last night?
But shouldn't it be her who couldn't face him? After all, he had taken her first kiss, mistaking her for someone else.
She absentmindedly sat down in her chair, and Fadrique noticed her swollen eyes. "Why are your eyes so swollen?" he asked.
Feeling annoyed at being found out so easily, she glared at Fadrique. "Can't I cry all night watching TV dramas?" she retorted.
Fadrique glanced at her and didn't say anything else, just lowered his head to eat. Having grown up together, how could he not understand her thoughts? But he could only pretend not to know.
Jonathan Serge Drucker appeared just as they were finishing their meal, with a polite smile on his lips as he took his seat. "Sorry, I drank a bit too much last night and overslept!"
Cesar Rollin Balas chuckled. "Jonathan, it seems you need to work on your tolerance for alcohol!"
"Yes, godfather!" Jonathan replied with a smile, glancing at Clarisse Balas, who was almost burying her head in her bowl.
She was wearing a white sleeveless dress today, revealing her delicate, fair arms, looking fragile. She had a pair of large black-framed glasses on her small face. Despite her head being lowered, he could still see the redness under those glasses.
Almost as soon as Jonathan Serge Drucker sat down, Clarisse Balas hurriedly got up. "I'm done eating. I'll go to school first. Take your time!"
"I'll drive you," Fadrique said, getting up and reaching for the car keys. Jonathan Serge Drucker timely stood up and intercepted Fadrique. "I'll go with her."
Fadrique stared at him displeased, and Cesar Rollin Balas was surprised. Clarisse Balas was also startled, standing there with wide eyes, looking at him anxiously.
Jonathan Serge Drucker smiled faintly. "I'll take this opportunity to get to know the area. Although driving habits in Miami and LA are a bit different, I don't think there should be any problem."
Cesar Rollin Balas pondered for a moment before instructing, "Fadrique, let Jonathan go."
With a cold snort, Fadrique tossed the car keys to Jonathan Serge Drucker, who took them and walked out. Clarisse Balas bid farewell to Cesar Rollin Balas and Fadrique before following Jonathan Serge Drucker out.
As they approached the car, Clarisse Balas dared not lift her eyes to look at him. She kept her head down and quickly got into the car because every time she saw him, she would be reminded of his kiss from last night, causing her face to flush uncontrollably and her heart to beat rapidly. With a fleeting glance at her as she sat in the passenger seat, her head bowed and hands clutching her bag tightly, Jonathan Serge Drucker felt a trace of impatience before starting the car and driving away.
Throughout the journey, apart from Clarisse Balas softly reminding him of the directions to her school, neither of them spoke. Jonathan Serge Drucker drove steadily while Clarisse Balas sat there anxiously, gazing out of the window. If it weren't for last night, perhaps she could have faced him with more composure. But after what happened, she couldn't find the courage.
It wasn't until the car stopped in front of her school that Clarisse Balas gathered the courage to look at him. "Jonathan, thank you for driving me to school. Goodbye!" She said, grabbing her bag and preparing to get out of the car.
"Clarisse!" He called out to her from behind. It was the first time he had said her name, and his voice sounded pleasant, deep and magnetic. Just those two words made her heart tremble. She bit her lip, turning back to look at him anxiously. She didn't know what was wrong with her. She liked him a lot, yet she was also afraid of him.
"About last night... I'm really sorry, I—" Jonathan Serge Drucker began, but he was interrupted by her.
"It's okay. I know you drank too much..." she murmured, lowering her eyes.
But the more gentle and understanding she appeared, the more restless and guilty Jonathan Serge Drucker felt. Last night, he was too drunk and mistook her for Catherine. But Catherine and her were completely different. Catherine was tall and slender, while she was petite. Catherine would respond passionately to his kisses, while she only timidly accepted them.
Shaking off the turbulent thoughts in his mind, he looked at her indifferently and said, "There's something I need to clarify. I already have someone I love. I've been chasing her for two years, and I love her very much."
Jonathan Serge Drucker saw the hurt in her bright eyes, but he continued calmly, "Although she's temporarily left me, I believe she'll come back to me one day. That's why I came here with your father. I want to become stronger and bigger, so that I can win her back!"
Actually, Jonathan Serge Drucker wasn't heartless. He just felt that he should clarify these things with her early on, so that she could completely give up her thoughts about him. She bit her lip and remained silent, and her petite face, hidden in the light shining through, prevented Jonathan Serge Drucker from seeing her expression clearly.
Finally, he softened his tone. "You're still young. You'll definitely meet a better man who will cherish you. If you want, you can treat me as your brother."
Throughout his words, she remained silent, still keeping her head down. Jonathan Serge Drucker wondered if she was crying. She didn't react even after he finished speaking. Her demeanor made him feel like a despicable villain, even though he hadn't done anything wrong. He just didn't love her.
As he struggled to break the silence, she softly uttered a few words, "I understand." Then, without looking at him, she opened the car door and hurried out. Her petite figure disappeared into the imposing school gates, and Jonathan Serge Drucker let out a sigh of relief as he drove back.
He remembered the crystal gifts that Cesar Rollin Balas and Fadrique had given her, and couldn't help but marvel. She truly was like crystal, clear and transparent yet fragile.