Time flew by, and the scenes from last year were still vivid in my mind even though 365 days had passed.I could see that Felix was brooding over last year's events, his calm exterior belying his seething emotions. The anger of the past was gone, replaced only with regret and anguish.The atmosphere was as lively as before, but my feelings were different. Everything had changed. The seven of us split into two cabins on the Ferris wheel, which slowly ascended into the sky.The night sky was clear, with stars hanging low. Distant lights flickered like tiny flames, and smoke from an unknown home rose and writhed in the wind, like a snake slithering up the sky.A new year had arrived, and I silently wished my parents good health, my friends' dreams to come true, and peace and prosperity to the world.Below us, countless people waved their glow sticks, their chants echoing the countdown on the LED screen."Three, two, one…"Fireworks lit up the sky as the Ferris wheel cabin I was in
Hannah, hiding on the side, exchanged exaggerated winks with me. I bit my lip to keep myself from laughing.Colin spoke tersely to Jasmine, not yielding an inch. He treated her with icy politeness, never saying a kind word to her throughout their conversation.Felix, now a seasoned expert at detecting schemes, subtly collaborated with Colin. It angered Jasmine so much that she abruptly ended the call, citing a meeting.Once the call ended, the atmosphere in the small cabin grew tense. Hannah held my hand while Felix watched me carefully. He wanted to say something but ultimately just pursed his lips and asked dryly if I was okay.Of course, I was fine. I had thought I would spend New Year's Eve alone, but seeing Colin alive and well was more precious than any present.It was as if a lifelong wish had suddenly come true. With such joy flowing through me, there was no way I could be anything but okay."It's good that you're okay. Colin went through a lot of trouble for this," Felix
I heard that a cultural platform adapted one of the romantic stories into an audio drama, which became an instant hit. The author personally sought me out and insisted on sharing a portion of the royalties, saying that without my painting, she wouldn't have found the inspiration to write such a touching love story.My classmates coined a term for this phenomenon, calling it the "Luna Effect".Of course, all of this happened later. When I submitted Colin's portrait as a class assignment, I never expected it to receive such an overwhelming response or that so many people would love it. It was an unexpected and pleasant surprise.After finals, winter break began. Zara and I packed our bags and headed back to Southsville together. I was on winter break while Zara was using her accumulated vacation days.Through her own efforts, Zara successfully obtained a permanent position and became a full-fledged police officer. Her innate sense of justice and agile abilities had finally found t
Breakfast was incredibly sumptuous, with all my favorite foods on the table. Dad had gone to the bakery downstairs to buy my favorite bread rolls and doughnuts while Mom made some oatmeal. She even added a spoonful of white sugar to my bowl, making it wonderfully sweet and soft.As I ate, I couldn't help but think that home was the best. Even the oatmeal was so delicious that I wanted to swallow the whole bowl in one go.Naturally, my thoughts drifted to Colin. We had shared countless breakfasts together, and his favorite was always oatmeal. He would always order a large bowl, saying a small one was never enough.Mom's oatmeal was exceptional, far tastier than any breakfast shop's version. It was a pity Colin hadn't had the chance to taste it. The thought of Colin made my eyes sting, and I felt like crying. But to avoid worrying my parents, I held back my tears and quickly lowered my head, focusing on eating my oatmeal."You arrived home at five, right? It was still dark then, wa
In the future, when all of this was over, I promised myself that Colin and I would take good care of my parents.This winter break had been relatively uneventful for me. Aside from my parents, I didn't want to see anyone or go anywhere. I spent most of my days lounging at home, focusing on my comics. Occasionally, I would call Nico to check on the progress of our experiments.Since Nico's house was near Jesselton College, he was left to handle everything in the lab during my time at home. Despite being on his own, he worked with complete dedication and never once complained.As I settled back into the familiarity of my childhood home, long-forgotten memories resurfaced with newfound clarity. It dawned on me that, throughout my early years, Colin had always been a constant presence. His love and companionship were significantly more profound than Felix's.Colin had always indulged me, showering me with kindness and leaving the best of everything for me to enjoy. He would save whol
When Aunt Mel saw that I repeatedly refused to visit, she finally broke down in tears and asked if I still resented her. She wanted to know what she could do to earn my forgiveness.I wasn't sure if I could ever be magnanimous enough to forgive them completely, but I knew I would eventually accept them, only because they were Colin's family. I could disregard Aunt Mel's feelings, but I couldn't ignore Colin's.Mardi Gras was approaching, and aside from the occasional social media update, Colin remained silent. I yearned for him to come back and spend the holiday with me but feared that such a rash decision might lead to irreversible consequences, leaving his debt of gratitude unpaid.My anxiety grew with each passing day.On sleepless nights, I would hug the little backpack Colin had given me, stroking it as I closed my eyes and reminisced about our times together. Eventually, those memories would lull me to sleep. More than a decade had passed, and the backpack was no longer in
Dad emptied a whole case of beer during the dinner. He got so drunk he started talking nonsense and insisted on drinking more. Mom had to force him onto the bed and lull him to sleep. It seemed that Mom had practiced her soothing skills on Dad before she used them on me. After dinner, I intended to watch Mardi Gras with Mom, but Dad was too irritating. He kept calling for Mom incessantly. When she didn't respond, he came out with bloodshot eyes to grab her. Mom gave me an apologetic look and blushed as Dad dragged her into the bedroom. The door slammed shut, shutting me out of their world.It all made sense now. I was an accident, and they were the ones meant to be.Watching Mardi Gras alone was pointless, and I wasn't in the mood for it now that Mom wasn't watching with me. Since my parents had gone to their room, I no longer had a reason to keep watching. I tidied up the living room and went to my room. After showering, I lay on the bed staring at the ceiling.Bursts of la
"You sleep like a baby. I want to devour you." Colin's husky, magnetic voice murmured in my ear. I could hear the eagerness and restraint in his tone. I could even feel the warmth of his breath on the back of my ear. The crisp scent filled my nose. It felt so real, as if he was right beside me. I reached out and hugged him with all my strength. Then, I thought to myself that this dream felt too real, more real than any before. It was too good to be true.I yearned so desperately for Colin's embrace. We didn't have to do anything; I just wanted to hold him like this. Pressing against his chest, I wanted to listen to his strong heartbeat and inhale his crisp pine scent. That would be enough.Even in the dream, I knew that I was asleep. Everything before my eyes was a beautiful dream, but it felt so real as if Colin was right next to me. It was as if all I needed to do was to open my eyes to see him.So, I tried hard to open my eyes to confirm that this dreamlike scene was real
Luna furiously scolded me, asserting that I didn't deserve Queenie's love and that Queenie had been blind to my true colors all those years. Driven mad by desperation, I chased after Queenie, determined to tell her I was wrong and plead for another chance to prove myself. However, the young man intervened, delivering a swift and punishing combination of punches and kicks that knocked me to the ground. Humiliated, I struggled to get up and fight back, unwilling to lose to another man.Despite his youthful appearance, the look in his eyes as he glanced at Queenie was undeniable. It was a blend of love, desire, and possessiveness only a man could understand.I was consumed by the thought that he wasn't worthy of my precious Queenie's love.Nevertheless, my body felt heavy and powerless. It was as if the strength had been drained from me. The blows rained down on me, bringing with them a strange sense of relief amidst the pain. Part of me yearned for him to kick me harder, inflict
I wanted nothing more than to run to Queenie, to hold her tightly and tell her how much I missed her during those endless days apart. I wanted to kiss her deeply and feel the warmth of her embrace. I called out, "Queenie, I'm here."Seeing me seemed to jolt Queenie from her joyous state, replacing it with a vacant expression. Mere moments before, she had been smiling brightly, her eyes aglow with happiness. Now, she appeared lost, her initial elation dissipating into a blank, unresponsive gaze.I couldn't understand why she had turned so distant upon seeing me. The love and joy that once shone in her eyes were nowhere to be found. As I observed her, I wondered if our time apart had caused her to forget. Or perhaps the events of the past had wounded her so profoundly that she had stopped waiting for me.The thoughts terrified me, and I dared not ask for fear of confirming my suspicions. All I wanted was to hold her, kiss her, and tell her how much I missed her. Yet, it seemed tha
I had no interest in Daniela's pregnancy, so I kicked her out of the house. My friends came to console me, each expressing their sympathies with a drink because they didn't know how else to comfort me.The money I had sent to Queenie's account was quickly returned as the account had been closed. Her phone number became unreachable, and when I sought her at her parents' home, I found the elderly couple waiting anxiously for their daughter's return. I lost not only Queenie but any connection to her. I grew disinterested in everything, neglecting my company and spending my days in a drunken haze.Then, my uncle came. We drank through the night as he shared tales of his hardships, the painful memories of his mother, and the years he spent alone, suffering.He said, "Everyone has their fate, Flynn. And choosing one thing often means losing another. Just as you've chosen to fight for the family business, you've sacrificed a part of yourself. But you must rise and fight me with all you'v
Queenie would then jump off the cliff, leaving me to jolt awake in a cold sweat. I endured each twilight in my hopeless vigil, counting down the days.On the 75th day, the door finally unlocked. I stepped outside and realized that this was the neighborhood where Queenie and I lived. All this time, we had been mere yards apart.My mom truly knew how to break a person's spirit. All I had to do was lift my head to see the pomegranate tree planted in our yard.I stumbled toward our home, my wounds screaming as I desperately called for Queenie. But the immaculate house stood eerily silent, echoing my footsteps like thunder.Except for Queenie, every possession remained meticulously in place—the exquisite clothes, expensive jewelry, and designer cosmetics.Queenie was gone, and the thought of losing her drove me into a frenzy.I collapsed in the middle of the room, sobbing uncontrollably. Regret consumed me. I should have never let my family's threats manipulate me and left Queenie to
I clenched my fists, barely resisting the urge to rush over to Queenie's side. All I wanted was to embrace her and whisper assurances that I would protect her, always. But I knew I had no right to do so.My dad's threat hung heavy in my mind, and the stares of Daniela and her mother bore into Queenie like daggers. One wrong move or word and those blades would descend upon Queenie, cutting her to shreds.The pain was unbearable. I felt sorry for Queenie. I was powerless and couldn't help her. With all my heart, I wished for her to stay strong and survive. She deserved better than me. Daniela's mother slapped Queenie, calling her a whore and a homewrecker, accusing her of seducing other people's boyfriends.Queenie stood rigidly, her gaze filled with humiliation. Her lips trembled, and the light in her eyes gradually faded.I winced in agony but held myself together, picking up Daniela and walking away.Countless times afterward, I berated myself for choosing to take Daniela away
We both knew the truth—neither of us could cross the chasm that had formed between our hearts.After that, I went home almost every day. We managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy in our day-to-day lives. We prepared sumptuous dinners and tended to our garden. I even considered adopting a pet to keep Queenie company while I was away.However, no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't rekindle the warmth we had once shared. Queenie hardly smiled anymore. No matter what I did to cheer her up, she would only give a half-hearted smile, her eyes remaining cold and distant.I knew something had transpired during our separation, but she refused to discuss it. My attempts to uncover the truth through private investigators were in vain. Any evidence had been meticulously erased.Eventually, I realized Queenie was simply biding her time, waiting for the moment when she would be forced to relinquish all hope and leave.A month later, my mother joyfully told me that Daniela was pregnant an
I grabbed a brush from the bathroom and scrubbed myself furiously, desperate to wash away the overwhelming sense of filth. Even as the rough bristles tore into my skin, drawing blood and causing searing pain, I felt no closer to feeling clean.My mind was consumed with thoughts of Queenie and the nearly five years we had spent together—the happy moments, the arguments, every single memory.At that moment, I realized I was terrified. Never before had I experienced such abject fear. Knowing Queenie's uncompromising stance on love and fidelity, I knew she would never forgive me once she discovered my transgression.She would undoubtedly turn and leave, heedless of any pleas I might make. I probably wouldn't even have the courage to ask for her forgiveness in the face of her justified anger.I regretted everything. If I had listened to my friends and taken Queenie away from all this, none of this would have happened. But I had hesitated. Even now, I couldn't be certain if my hesitati
Yesterday afternoon, my dad called and demanded that I make a decision within two days, or they would take action.I felt cornered because I genuinely didn't know how to talk to Queenie about this. The mere idea of her packing her belongings and leaving, accompanied by the unspeakable anguish it would inflict upon me, was a burden too heavy to bear.I wasn't sure if I could ever have a semblance of normality in my life again after that.So, I gathered some friends to drink with me. I drank heavily because I had made a decision—a disgraceful, heartless decision. The thought of what I would have to face the next day made life seem hopeless, so I drank even more.Before losing consciousness, I handed my car keys to my assistant, using my last bit of clarity to tell him to take me home no matter what state I was in.Even if it meant returning to the Hayes family's residence, he should not leave me out on the streets. Despite the imminent breakup, I wanted to part ways with Queenie in
My mom proved to be even more ruthless than my dad. She found me, dropped to her knees without a word, and begged me. She reminded me of the years they had spent raising me, pleading that I ensure they wouldn't be left without a sense of security in their old age.In essence, they were pressuring me to abandon everything. I was to pursue money and power for their sake, secure the Hayes family's head position, and ensure our grip on wealth and influence. Their priority was maintaining their luxurious, elevated lifestyle. My happiness, my desires—whether I even wanted those things—meant nothing to them. Sometimes, it felt like I was nothing more than a tool for achieving their ambitions.My dad told me bluntly that he would go after Queenie if I didn't comply. He said, "You're right. I'm incapable of outmaneuvering your uncle. But no matter how incompetent I am, I can easily make Queenie's life in Harveyton unbearable."To be honest, that day was the coldest my heart had ever felt