Claire Grace froze for several seconds before she regained her composure. Raising her gaze, she managed a slightly awkward smile. "Why are you suddenly apologizing? Look... I know it happened because I got drunk. I'm not blaming you," she said, biting her lip as if she had guessed what he was about to say.
"I'm really sorry…" Blaine Jackson's voice was heavy with self-reproach. He felt utterly despicable—taking advantage of her again and again, only to stand here apologizing now. He couldn't help but see himself as worse than a beast.
"You don't have to keep apologizing," Claire said with a faint laugh, though her words carried a bittersweet undertone. "I get it. You don't like me. You don't feel the same way. And what happened made you feel guilty, right?" She spoke quickly, as though rushing to protect herself from the sting of rejection. "I know you don't like me. But I… I like you. That part is real. So, you don't have to apologize."
"You… really like me?" Blaine asked, still unsure despite having heard it from her many times before.
"Yes. I like you. I've liked you for five years," she confessed, her voice trembling slightly. "From the moment I first heard about you from my sister, I was drawn to you. When I was living alone in Japan, I kept wishing you'd suddenly show up and find me. But you never came, not until Sophie told me you'd be visiting. Blaine, I've loved you from the start, and that hasn't changed one bit."
"But… we didn't even know each other back then!" Blaine exclaimed, struggling to process the intense emotions of this woman he had barely interacted with in the past.
"You believe in fate, don't you?" Claire challenged him, her tone tinged with a mix of vulnerability and defiance. "Even if we hadn't met, I felt this unexplainable connection to you. It's not something that fades with time. If anything, it's grown stronger. Isn't that what you'd call destiny? Or maybe… love at first sight?"
Blaine frowned deeply, his features contorting as though her words had struck a nerve.
"You're too young to understand what real relationships are about," he muttered, attempting to dismiss her feelings.
"Too young?" Claire scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Have you forgotten, or are you just being deliberately forgetful? I've told you countless times—I'm an adult! A grown woman!" With an annoyed pout, she stabbed at the Kyoto-style ribs in her bowl with her chopsticks.
"But I'm six years older than you," Blaine countered weakly, grasping for an excuse.
"So what? It's not like you're sixteen," Claire shot back immediately.
"I'm not good at sweet-talking people, and I'm not great at taking care of others," Blaine said, trying to create more distance between them.
Claire wasn't having it. "You make breakfast, you carried me to the hospital when I was burning up with fever, and you never once let go of me. That's more than enough. It's already made me incredibly happy," she replied, her voice unwavering. But her confidence faltered when she noticed his downcast eyes, avoiding hers altogether.
"Claire, I—"
"You love someone else, and that's fine," Claire interrupted him before he could finish. Her tone softened, though her words cut deeply. "I just want you to let me like you. Don't reject my feelings. That's all I'm asking."
Blaine blinked, confused by her sudden shift in tone. "Someone else? What are you talking about?" he asked, his expression clouded with doubt.
"It doesn't matter," Claire said quickly, changing the subject. "Just… hurry up and eat. The food's going to get cold."
"Claire, we can't do this," Blaine said firmly, forcing himself to be cruel. The words stabbed at his own heart as much as hers, leaving him feeling numb.
"Is it so hard for you to just say yes?" Claire stood abruptly, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes. "Even if it's just to humor me, why can't you do something so simple?"
Blaine's resolve faltered as he watched her tears fall. He had known her to be strong, confident, even a little stubborn—but this side of her, vulnerable and heartbroken, was almost too much to bear.
"Claire…" He took a hesitant step toward her, his voice softening. "Don't cry. Please."
"Why are you so sure you don't like me?" Claire countered, her tear-filled eyes locking onto his. "If you really didn't, you wouldn't have touched me."
Blaine sighed deeply, unable to meet her gaze. "Men are… complicated," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Complicated? You're saying a man can be 'complicated' enough to sleep with someone he doesn't care about?"
"I'm sorry." Blaine reached out, pulling her into a loose embrace. It was the only thing he could think to do.
Claire pushed him away, her voice trembling with both frustration and hope. "I don't need your apology!" she cried. "I'm not asking you to fall in love with me right now. Just give me a chance. How will you know it's impossible if you won't even try?"
Blaine rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He let out a weary sigh and returned to his seat.
"The fashion show we're hosting with MoriRoyal is happening late next month," he said suddenly. "If, by the time the show happens, I still don't have feelings for you… then you'll understand."
Claire blinked, her tears momentarily forgotten. "Wait… are you saying yes?"
"What do you think?" Blaine asked, pretending to focus on his food, ignoring the radiant smile breaking across her face. Deep down, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of relief.
"Then can I take those first two words back?" Claire asked teasingly.
"Huh?" Blaine looked up, puzzled.
"'Temporary boyfriend.' Can we drop the 'temporary' part now?" she said, her grin so bright it was almost blinding. Blaine found himself unable to argue.