As Emily was dragged out of the classroom by Howie, Ryan's shadow stretched long across the floor, cast by the fading sunlight. The glint of the diamond in his nose ring sparkled coldly, echoing the frigid look in his eyes.
"If you leave with him, don't ever talk to me again." His voice, sharp and cutting, was as icy as the glimmer of the jewel.
"I have something to say to you!" Howie's fury simmered just beneath the surface. "If you don't want to come with me, then I'll say it right here in front of everyone!" The frustration in his voice was palpable—why was she so desperate to protect someone she had barely known a month?
"You—!" Emily turned back, panic flooding her eyes. She saw the desperation in Howie's gaze—desperation that could push him to do anything. Without another word, he tightened his grip and pulled her from the room, not giving her a chance to explain to Ryan.
Ryan stood frozen, watching as she left with him. His face grew pale, and his trembling fingers betrayed the depth of his pain.
"Bang!"
The deafening crash echoed through the classroom as Ryan kicked over the desk in front of him, the impact reverberating like an earthquake. The remaining students, their faces drained of color, stared at him in shock.
"What are you looking at? Get out—every one of you, get out!" he roared, fury twisting his features, leaving the room trembling in the wake of his rage.
In the soft glow of the setting sun, the dessert shop bathed in hues of rose. The few patrons scattered around were quiet, lost in their own thoughts. By the window, a young man and woman sat in profound silence. The drink before him remained untouched, while her once-warm tea had long since gone cold.
"Come back with me." Howie finally broke the stillness, his voice heavy with quiet intensity. He couldn't let her throw her life away over something so absurd.
"No," she replied softly.
His eyes flashed with a sharp light, his frustration barely contained. "He's not Young!"
Emily tightened her grip around the straw in her hand. "Howie, you should return. You're brilliant—going back to Lingyun Academy won't be an issue for you."
"Not unless you come with me!" His tone left no room for compromise.
Emily stared at him, lost in thought. He hadn't changed. Once Howie decided on something, there was no backing down—no room for negotiation.
"No," she repeated, her voice firm.
"Emily!"
Since the day they met, she had said "no" to him countless times. He could never compete with Young, the shining, unattainable figure who had captured her heart. But Young was gone now, and still, she continued to deny him. Why? Why was she still saying "no" to him?
Emily remained silent for a long moment.
"Just go back. Pretend you never knew me."
With that, she stood up, ready to leave.
Howie's anger flared. He seized her hand, yanking her back into her seat with a force that left her breathless. "How many times do I have to tell you? Young is dead! He's gone! That person isn't Young! Do you hear me?!"
"Splash!"
The tea struck Howie squarely in the face.
Brown liquid cascaded down, little tapioca pearls rolling off his cheeks in a comical fashion.
Emily inhaled sharply, the tremor in her body leaving her gasping for air. "And I told you, if I hear you say that name again, you won't be my friend anymore."
The weight of her words hung in the air, thick with unspoken emotions.
...
Emily's Memories
"I don't like Howie!"
She pouted, her voice tinged with frustration. It was infuriating—why did she and Young have to live next door to Howie? Ever since childhood, he had watched her with a gaze sharp as an eagle's.
He sat at the computer, engrossed in his research, a slight smile tugging at his lips as he heard her complaint.
"Can we just ignore him from now on? Don't talk to him at all?" she grumbled, shoveling a spoonful of jelly into her mouth with a defiant huff.
He continued to smile, having grown accustomed to her venting like this a couple of times a month.
"Hey! Are you even listening? I'm really angry!" She dashed over to him, shouting in an attempt to pierce through his focus with her high-pitched voice.
Finally, he turned away from the computer screen, still smiling.
"What's the matter now?"
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she vented, "That… he actually… kissed my finger!" It was infuriating! Darn Howie insisted she watch him play basketball, and since he was Young's friend, she reluctantly sat down to cheer him on, clutching his clothes in her hands. But when the game ended and she handed him his shirt, he fixed that annoyingly intense gaze on her, and before she knew it, he had grabbed her finger and kissed it!
Gross!
But she quickly retaliated with a slap across his face!
He frowned for a moment, then pulled out a tissue and gently took her hand, wiping it delicately. "Feeling better now?"
"Still feels disgusting!"
He pressed his lips to her fingertip again, the kiss carrying a faint scent of pine that made her heart turn soft and sweet, like jelly. Nestled in his embrace, she found a comfortable position.
"I still hate him."
"He likes you."
"...I know." She pouted, recalling how he had confessed his feelings more times than she could count over the years. "That's exactly why I hate him!"
"Howie is our friend."
"Not even close!"
"You don't remember? That year you fell seriously ill and needed to pay a hefty hospital fee that night. I pulled together all the money I had, and it still wasn't enough. You cried in my arms, your face pale with pain, and no matter how much I begged the attending physician, he insisted I pay upfront…"
"I hate that hospital!" she muttered darkly. The memory flooded back: Young, usually so proud, had pleaded with the doctor, tears in his eyes. She couldn't bear to see him in such a vulnerable state, suffering and begging while she felt helpless, her protests unheard amidst the chaos.
"Thank goodness for Howie…"
"He's just rich," she grumbled.
"Emily!"
"Alright, alright," she surrendered, "friend, good friend, fine."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Howie has always treated you well."
She turned her eyes mischievously, a grin spreading across her face. "Now that I think about it, Howie really has been quite nice to me… maybe…"
"Maybe what?"
"I'll try dating him for a bit," she said, her eyes sparkling. "What do you think?"
He looked at her, her radiant smile infectious.
"Sure," he replied, smiling back.