"Please, let him be safe.""If anything happens to him, I’ll die with him."That entry was from the day after the plane nearly crashed.I couldn’t imagine how he wrote those words. But as I read them, I remembered him—barefoot in his pajamas, running through the airport, searching for me.Kian’s mother spoke again."There’s also a will in the safe."I turned to her in shock."He was afraid. He said life is unpredictable—plane crashes, car accidents, anything could happen. “So, he hired a lawyer and wrote his will, leaving all his assets and savings to you. From the moment he fell for you, he never gave himself a way out.“If you didn’t love him back, he would have spent his life alone. He won’t get married and have children. He would be all alone."My tears broke free.A bittersweet ache swelled in my chest, overflowing with warmth, sorrow, and something so deep it made my whole being tremble. It felt like my life had finally become whole like nothing else mattered anymore."His roo
I couldn’t think. Fear consumed me, wrapping around my body like a suffocating vice.Curling up in the backseat, I clutched my head, trembling. The driver hesitated before asking if I needed to go to the hospital."To the airport!" I roared.I called my uncle, Jimmy Cooke, demanding that my car be allowed through security.I couldn’t think.All I could picture was Sora—terrified and in pain. Was he hurting? Was he suffering? My heart felt like it was being ripped apart.I hated myself for sending him on this trip.I hated that I wasn’t there to protect him.I would never forgive myself.When I arrived at the airport, the chaos told me everything.There were ambulances, fire trucks, and police everywhere.The severity of the situation was undeniable.I prayed, staring up at the sky, barely able to breathe.And then, finally, the plane appeared.It landed safely.And so did my heart.But I was frozen, paralyzed.Every ounce of courage I had drained from my body.Passengers began slid
The cabin was in utter chaos—screams, cries, and wails filled the air. I sat there like an outsider, expressionless, unmoved. But no one noticed my hands were gripping my pants so tightly that the skin on my pale fingers had been rubbed raw.Some were writing farewell letters while others were typing away on their phones. It was then that I remembered something. I hurriedly pulled out my phone—my stingy boss had insisted on giving me a satellite version so he could always track me down.My breathing grew a little unsteady, but as I thought about the past years of my life, I realized there was nothing and no one worth holding onto. No family, no friends, only endless work.A faint smile slowly curled at my lips.I found the chat with my boss. Just as I was about to type something, the plane lurched violently. If it weren’t for the seatbelt, I might have been thrown out of my seat. Luggage flew in every direction, one piece slamming into me. Pain exploded through my body, and I
As soon as I stepped off the plane, I was surrounded by people. A staff member supported me as I was led toward the ambulance.Then, as if pulled by some invisible force, my gaze shifted. In the distance, a figure stood among a cluster of black-suited bodyguards.Kian, my infamously stingy boss was scanning the crowd anxiously, his eyes darting in every direction.The moment our eyes met, everything around me seemed to freeze. Even from this far away, I could see his expression clearly, and for the first time, I was stunned by his state.His eyes were bloodshot, his usual immaculate three-piece suit nowhere in sight. Instead, he was wearing sleepwear, without shoes. His pale feet stood directly on the dusty, grimy airport tarmac. The sight made my eye twitch.My boss, the Kian Homer, who was obsessed with cleanliness, standing on this filthy ground without even putting on shoes? How was he even enduring it?The moment he saw me, it was as if something came back to life in his de
“Fine. I’m quitting. I’m done.” I pounded my fist against the edge of the bed. “No, you’re not. You signed a ten-year contract.” “What? Oh, for the love of God, can someone please bring me justice?” My emotions flared so violently that a sudden rush of dizziness hit me, and I collapsed backward. Kian, who was rigid and composed just seconds ago, moved in an instant. His arms caught my shoulders, pulling me into his embrace. …A sharp headache tore through my skull, my vision went dark, and cold sweat drenched my skin. Kian’s hands trembled as he held me. And just like that, my mind flashed back to that desperate embrace at the airport and his pale feet on the cold concrete. “Kian… why weren’t you wearing shoes back then?” I finally voiced the question that had been nagging at me. He kept quiet, as if struggling with himself. Then, his low voice broke through the quiet. “You said you liked me. Was that a lie?” “Of course,” I answered without hesitation. Beside
The impact of the plane’s descent sent a blazing inferno crashing over me, swallowing everything in flames.…When I woke, my mind was hazy, and the muffled voices of a doctor and Kian drifted into my ears.“Psychological disorder?”“Yes. And it doesn’t seem to be just from the plane crash. This condition has likely existed for a long time. It was only triggered recently.”Kian answered in a low voice, “He lost his parents, and the person he was closest to is no longer here. He really hasn’t had it easy. “You once said keeping him busy would help him forget the pain… but maybe it’s my fault. I overlooked his mental health.”My muddled thoughts churned.How did Kian know?By the time I fully regained consciousness, the doctor had already left.Kian sat silently by my bedside, watching as I stared blankly at the ceiling.“You’re awake?”“Mm… Kian, are you real?”I could hardly believe it. Everything before I blacked out felt too real—the scorching flames, the searing heat licking at my
The two of them looked perfect together. Everyone in the company chat had started shipping them as a couple.A dull ache settled in my heart.I often woke up in the middle of the night, startled from the same recurring nightmares—the plane crash, Kian running to hold me, Kian attending my funeral, and even Kian getting married.Every time I woke, a wave of deep exhaustion and detachment from the world washed over me.Maybe I really was losing my mind.I thought back to the first time I met Kian—back in middle school, my first year.Back then, my parents had just passed away, and I was living with my grandfather. Poverty and hunger were our constant companions.One day, my homeroom teacher organized a small donation within the class to help me.At first, my pride wouldn’t allow it. But I made peace with it, knowing this money meant my grandfather wouldn't need to scavenge for a long time.The donations were only supposed to come from my classmates. But when my teacher handed me the
From that moment on, with distance stretching between us, my quiet crush faded into nothing.…I never thought I’d run into an old high school classmate—Pierce Moore, our class president.The moment he saw me, he pulled me into a warm hug, launching into an endless stream of high school memories. Not once did he mention my struggles or poverty.There was only the joy of reuniting with an old friend."Sora, our class is having a reunion tomorrow. You should come!"I instinctively refused.I was never close to any of them. Back then, I was too busy worrying about where my next meal would come from to care about making friends. The only one who ever looked out for me was Pierce, who used to check in and ask if I needed help."Don't say no just yet. A lot of people still care about you. When you dropped out, so many classmates asked me about you, but by then, you already moved, and I couldn’t find you. Are you doing okay now?""I'm doing well.""Seriously, you have to believe me. James
I couldn’t think. Fear consumed me, wrapping around my body like a suffocating vice.Curling up in the backseat, I clutched my head, trembling. The driver hesitated before asking if I needed to go to the hospital."To the airport!" I roared.I called my uncle, Jimmy Cooke, demanding that my car be allowed through security.I couldn’t think.All I could picture was Sora—terrified and in pain. Was he hurting? Was he suffering? My heart felt like it was being ripped apart.I hated myself for sending him on this trip.I hated that I wasn’t there to protect him.I would never forgive myself.When I arrived at the airport, the chaos told me everything.There were ambulances, fire trucks, and police everywhere.The severity of the situation was undeniable.I prayed, staring up at the sky, barely able to breathe.And then, finally, the plane appeared.It landed safely.And so did my heart.But I was frozen, paralyzed.Every ounce of courage I had drained from my body.Passengers began slid
"Please, let him be safe.""If anything happens to him, I’ll die with him."That entry was from the day after the plane nearly crashed.I couldn’t imagine how he wrote those words. But as I read them, I remembered him—barefoot in his pajamas, running through the airport, searching for me.Kian’s mother spoke again."There’s also a will in the safe."I turned to her in shock."He was afraid. He said life is unpredictable—plane crashes, car accidents, anything could happen. “So, he hired a lawyer and wrote his will, leaving all his assets and savings to you. From the moment he fell for you, he never gave himself a way out.“If you didn’t love him back, he would have spent his life alone. He won’t get married and have children. He would be all alone."My tears broke free.A bittersweet ache swelled in my chest, overflowing with warmth, sorrow, and something so deep it made my whole being tremble. It felt like my life had finally become whole like nothing else mattered anymore."His roo
Kian’s mother unlocked the door, still chattering as she did."I stole this from Kian," she said with a mischievous smile.I couldn’t help but laugh. She was adorable.But the moment I stepped inside, I froze.The study was massive. One entire wall was covered with photos of me—pictures I had never seen before. It was as if someone secretly took them over the years.There were photos from middle school, high school, and college. Pictures of me at tutoring classes, working part-time jobs, handing out flyers, eating a bread. Even a shot of me on my first day at Homer Enterprises, striding into the building with determination.My breath caught in my throat.On the bookshelf, I spotted my academic records—high school transcripts, college admissions results, even my SAT score reports, showing my progress from a low score to a near-perfect one.Each one was neatly printed out, and beside them, in elegant handwriting, was a single phrase: "Well done."I recognized Kian’s handwriting insta
Kian's voice trembled as if he was suppressing an overwhelming emotion. "Sora, do you trust me?" His eyes lit up once more, as though he was looking at something precious. The thought startled me, but I met his gaze and nodded firmly. Kian nodded back, released me, and turned to leave. Just before stepping out, he said, "Wait for me." The sound of the door closing sent a shudder through my entire body. Watching his departing figure, I felt lost. I had no idea what he meant by that. But I trusted him. He would give me an answer. He wouldn't make me wait in vain. I trusted him the way I trusted my own life. I could never forget my first interview. With only a self-taught associate’s degree, I wasn't remotely qualified for a position at Homer Enterprises. But I received the interview notice anyway. The interviewers were kind, telling me to wait for further news. And then, I got in. I started from the very bottom. The company gave me a chance, supporting me in ta
Everyone stared at me in stunned silence, which only made me feel a little self-conscious."Wow, Sora, you’re incredible! You have to teach my son Spanish someday," Leslie said, eyes practically sparkling.Others chimed in, offering genuine praise.Pierce clapped me on the shoulder. "I knew it. There was no way a guy like you just dropped out for good. You were always one of the smartest in class."Meanwhile, Wade’s face turned bright red.He knew exactly how valuable those qualifications were.Every word he had just thrown at me now felt like a slap to his own face.And worse, he had antagonized the one person he should never have crossed—Kian.Regret weighed down on him, crushing whatever arrogance he had left. The smugness was gone, replaced by sheer panic.Without another word, Kian turned to the waiter."Put everything on Homer Enterprises' tab."Then, just like that, he led me out of the room.Pierce hurried after him. "Mr. Homer, thank you! This place is ridiculously expensive
My mind went completely blank, like a helpless rabbit trapped in a predator’s jaws.Wade grinned, milking the moment."You know, I once met a senior girl. Guess what? Turns out our dear Sora once wrote a love letter to a guy."The room fell into a stunned silence.He wasn’t done."That senior was a friend of mine. She told me Sora asked her to pass the letter to a boy in her class."A wave of sheer terror crashed over me.I was afraid that he would say Kian’s name.My whole body trembled, my blood running cold.Wade, drunk on attention, kept running his mouth."Wade, shut up!" Leslie snapped, her voice cutting through the tension.But he only smirked, undeterred. "Oh, what? We’re all adults here, aren’t we? No need to be so sensitive. Anyway, my friend thought it was disgusting, so she just threw the letter away. Hahahahaha!"My heart started beating again.A mix of relief and disappointment crashed into me all at once.So that was it.That confession from so many years ago had ended
With a sharp slap against the table, Leslie shot to her feet."Wade, enough! This is a reunion, not a damn flex-off for you to show off!"Her voice rang loud and clear, cutting through the tension. She was never one to hold back.Wade’s face flushed red, his breathing turning heavier with anger."I’m not going to argue with a woman. So petty. Do you even understand how the real world works? “A reunion is about networking, not some singles’ mixer. Oh wait, maybe you came looking for a date. Does your husband know?"Leslie nearly lunged at him, but Rain caught her just in time, holding her back.The whole thing was so ridiculous that I couldn’t help but laugh.Leaning back in my chair, I let out a slow, lazy chuckle—one of quiet authority.It was a habit I picked up from Kian.In the corporate world, no one dared to speak to me like this.I was Kian’s assistant, his right-hand man, a CEO with 50% decision-making power.I had long since outgrown my past. There was nothing to be ashamed
As soon as I stepped into the private dining room, all eyes turned toward me.A bright, excited voice called out, "Sora!"I looked over and saw a stylish woman with short, neatly cut hair."Leslie?""It's me! Wow, I can't believe you actually came. You have no idea—I had such a crush on you back in school."She was confident and good-natured, saying it so openly that it caught me off guard, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable, just a little embarrassed."Come in! I'm already married, but I still want my school crush sitting next to me."Before I could respond, a mocking voice cut through the room."Hah, guess they'll invite just about anyone these days."I turned toward the source of the voice.He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place his name."What the hell, Wade? What are you talking about?" Pierce spoke up, frowning.That’s when it clicked.Wade Turner.He was one of those rich kids who never cared about school—the type who bullied others but never really crossed paths with me.
From that moment on, with distance stretching between us, my quiet crush faded into nothing.…I never thought I’d run into an old high school classmate—Pierce Moore, our class president.The moment he saw me, he pulled me into a warm hug, launching into an endless stream of high school memories. Not once did he mention my struggles or poverty.There was only the joy of reuniting with an old friend."Sora, our class is having a reunion tomorrow. You should come!"I instinctively refused.I was never close to any of them. Back then, I was too busy worrying about where my next meal would come from to care about making friends. The only one who ever looked out for me was Pierce, who used to check in and ask if I needed help."Don't say no just yet. A lot of people still care about you. When you dropped out, so many classmates asked me about you, but by then, you already moved, and I couldn’t find you. Are you doing okay now?""I'm doing well.""Seriously, you have to believe me. James