- 5 hours ago
No Longer By His Side - HOT ENGSUB Heartbreak Romance, Moving On, Second Chance Love
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Tristan Broderick had chronic insomnia. I'd been his living pillow since I was 13.
00:04He went through countless flings, but every single night he sent them away,
00:08because he could only fall asleep holding me. Late at night, when I arrived at the hotel suite,
00:13Tristan's latest girlfriend hadn't left yet. The bedding had already been replaced,
00:17but a faint, intimate scent still hung in the air. Alyssa Corbin had a flushed face.
00:21Are you sure you won't let me stay the night? She pouted just then. She spotted me walking in.
00:26She frowned. Sorry, we don't need housekeeping right now.
00:31Tristan let out a short laugh, correcting her. She's not here to clean. She's mine.
00:35Alyssa froze for a second, then looked at him in disbelief. You already have me.
00:39You're moving on that fast? Tristan leaned against the headboard,
00:42desire still lingering in his eyes as he looked over at me. He raised an eyebrow,
00:46a teasing smirk on his lips. Got a problem with me sleeping with my personal pillow?
00:51He pulled out to checks, scribbled on them quickly, and handed them to her.
00:58All right, you can go now.
01:00I stood to the side, quietly waiting for her to take the money and leave, just like all the others.
01:05Instead, she slapped the checks right back onto the table, lifted her chin, and snorted.
01:10I don't want your money. I had a good time too. We both got what we wanted.
01:14With that, she walked out of the suite without looking back.
01:19Tristan ran his finger over the check, a rare flicker of surprise in his eyes, but he quickly
01:24composed himself, pulling me into his arms with practiced ease. He wrapped one arm around my waist,
01:29burying his face in the crook of my neck. When I glanced down, I spotted a bright red lipstick
01:34stain on the collar of his shirt. It was impossible to miss, as if marking him as Alyssa's. He noticed
01:39my
01:39expression and asked,
01:42Huh? What's wrong?
01:43His voice was husky.
01:44You have lipstick on your collar?
01:46I said flatly, pointing at it.
01:47Tristan seemed to be in a good mood tonight.
01:50If it bothers you, I can change.
01:51He said.
01:52I pressed my lips together and stayed silent.
01:55All right.
01:55He said after thinking for a second.
01:57Let's sleep somewhere else.
01:59How about we go to your place tonight?
02:01After we got to my place, Tristan changed into the men's pajamas I'd kept for him,
02:05then walked straight to my bed and lay down. Thanks to our size difference, he could wrap
02:09me up in his arms easily. While we slept, he always held me face to face, one arm around
02:14my waist, the other around my back. He pressed me tightly against him, as if I really were
02:19just a pillow. He lowered his head, his nose brushing against my hair. He asked after holding
02:25me for a while, confused.
02:27Alice, why does your bed smell so good?
02:31I was already getting sleepy.
02:33Everything's freshly washed.
02:35I mumbled up, but Tristan wasn't done. He didn't seem tired at all. He sniffed around
02:40until his nose brushed against my sensitive neck.
02:42Turns out this is the sweetest spot.
02:44He murmured, his voice rough. His warm breath brushed over my skin, causing a faint shiver.
02:49My heart skipped a beat. I looked up to say something, but my lips accidentally brushed
02:53against his chin. We both froze. I quietly tried to move away, but he pulled me right back,
02:59his grip firm.
03:00What are you hiding from?
03:01He said flatly. His large hand rested on my thin shoulder.
03:05Relax. I'm not into scrawny girls like you.
03:10The year he turned 13, he was kidnapped by a rival company, after he was rescued. He
03:15was traumatized, unable to sleep. The doctors said he needed a constant companion to calm
03:20him down. Lots of people showed up for the interview. I grabbed a number, huddled alone
03:24in the crowd in my tattered clothes, and waited quietly. But I'd done too much work the day
03:29before and was utterly exhausted, waiting there. I ended up squatting in a corner and falling
03:33asleep. Back then, 13-year-old Tristan was surrounded by people as he came out. His face was sullen
03:39as he scanned the crowd. His eyes landed on me, fast asleep. Full of impatience, he pointed
03:44arbitrarily.
03:45Her.
03:45And just like that, I became his human pillow for the next 10 years.
03:50But as I got older, my features fully developed. Maria's frown deepened. She repeatedly warned
03:56me. Subtly, not to entertain any illusions. So, I quietly buried my crush for him. Making
04:01sure no one would ever notice every time before he could fully enjoy himself. I'd knock on
04:05the door and say routinely,
04:07Mr. Broderick? It's time to sleep.
04:09In his eyes, I was no different from all those girls. We were all just after his money. But
04:13they could make him happy, while I was boring and just a buzzkill. When I was 19, he coldly
04:18stepped in to deal with those debt collectors. That day, in my diary, I finally allowed myself
04:23to write his name, carefully tracing each stroke. When I came to my senses, the entire page was
04:29covered with lichen tristan. Scribbled all over, I panicked and reached to tear the page
04:34out. But my hand hovered over the diary for a long time, and I couldn't bring myself to
04:38do it.
04:40The diary had a lock. It was hidden in the very bottom drawer of my bedroom desk. When
04:45I woke up the next morning, I saw Tristan sitting quietly in a chair. The drawer was
04:49wide open. He asked flatly, pointing at the open diary. I was completely stunned. After
04:54a long moment, I managed a strained question.
04:56What's this?
04:56After a long moment, I managed a strained question.
04:58How did you open it?
05:00I tried all morning.
05:01Tristan said, half smiling.
05:04Turns out the password's my birthday.
05:06He held up the diary, squinting.
05:08An entry from four years ago. Baby, you really hid this well.
05:13Then the sound of tearing filled the room. Tristan tore that page out, his face expressionless.
05:18He shredded it, piece by piece, taking my teenage feelings with it.
05:22What were you dreaming of?
05:24He scoffed, tossing the pieces into the trash can.
05:26Elise, you didn't actually think this lousy page would make me settle down, did you?
05:30Those girls will play any game I want. Can you do that? Huh?
05:39After that day, Tristan didn't contact me for three whole days on the evening of the fourth
05:44day. I was home alone when Tristan's assistant knocked on my door.
05:48Mr. Brottle had a bit too much to drink tonight, he said, supporting the wasted Tristan.
05:54Could you please take care of him, Miss Gilvman?
05:59After helping him into the room, I turned to go make some hangover soup in the kitchen.
06:03I was spacing out while waiting for the water to boil when a scorching.
06:07Body pressed against me from behind.
06:09Tristan wrapped his arms around my waist with practiced ease,
06:12leaning down to rest his chin on my shoulder.
06:14I see.
06:15He murmured, his voice rough.
06:17He rarely called me that.
06:19Are you feeling bad?
06:20I replied gently after a moment's silence.
06:22Before I could finish, he kissed me.
06:24Warm and soft, his kisses landed on my cheek,
06:27the corner of my lips,
06:28and the nape of my neck,
06:30setting off waves of tingling shivers.
06:33When I finally snapped out of it,
06:35I frantically, tremblingly,
06:37tried to push him away,
06:38but Tristan buried his face in my shoulder,
06:40his drunk voice thick with desire as he repeated,
06:44I see, I see, I see.
06:49My hands froze mid-push,
06:50I turned and actively wrapped my arms around his neck.
06:53We got on that tiny light pink bed.
06:55I tried my best to keep up,
06:57giving in to his ridiculous demands one after another.
06:59For once,
07:00Tristan slept incredibly soundly and peacefully.
07:03It was almost noon,
07:04and he still hadn't woken up.
07:05Then his phone rang.
07:06I dragged my tired body over and picked up his phone.
07:09And then, I saw the caller ID clearly.
07:12Lissy, in that split second.
07:13My blood ran cold,
07:15a ridiculous,
07:16unbelievable thought popped into my head.
07:18I looked down and met Tristan's cold eyes.
07:24Tristan showed no trace of irritation as he took the phone from me,
07:27then a flirtatious,
07:28familiar female voice came from the phone.
07:30Hey, baby.
07:32Miss me?
07:34Trybin,
07:35I heard you didn't sleep for three days.
07:38You didn't even hold your comfort pillow.
07:41And you've on a late night drive just to chase after me?
07:44Well, since you're so sincere,
07:46I suppose I can forgive you.
07:48I recognized her voice.
07:50It was the woman from the hotel that day.
07:52A smile played on Tristan's lips as he murmured his replies.
07:55His smile faded,
07:56and he looked at me with a critical eye, frowning.
07:59Why was it you last night?
08:01I clenched my hands so tight that my nails dug into my palms.
08:04After a long silence, I closed my eyes.
08:07It was me.
08:08Who did you think it was?
08:11Baby, you really can't live without me, huh?
08:14He sighed eventually.
08:16He pulled out a few more checks,
08:18slapping them roughly onto my body with a laugh.
08:22You were pretty obedient last night.
08:25This should be more than enough, right?
08:28But stick to being my pillow from now on.
08:31Don't daydream about anything else.
08:34That night,
08:35Maria showed up at my door,
08:37when she slid that renewal contract across the table.
08:39It hit me.
08:40I'd known Tristan for ten years already.
08:43Stan's new girlfriend says she can help him sleep, too.
08:46She said casually,
08:47maybe we won't need you anymore.
08:51Your pay's cut in half.
08:52Sign it if you want it.
08:54Memories from the past ten years flashed through my mind,
08:56one by one.
08:57After a long silence,
08:59I pushed the contract back toward her and shook my head gently.
09:02I'm sorry, Mrs. Broderick.
09:03I said gently.
09:05Let's end this contract.
09:06She took a sip of coffee,
09:08then asked slowly.
09:12Are you sure about this?
09:13I nodded.
09:14Elise,
09:15don't get cocky with me.
09:17Maria's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
09:20You're just a pillow who helps him sleep.
09:23Stan doesn't need you specifically.
09:26I stood up straight and bowed slightly to her.
09:30Mrs. Broderick,
09:32thank you and your family for the support over the past ten years.
09:36Rest assured,
09:37I won't go back on this decision
09:39or pester you guys afterward.
09:41Maria's brows finally relaxed.
09:43The contract would expire in seven days.
09:46Take these seven days to pack up.
09:48As soon as the contract expires,
09:50you're out.
09:51Go wherever you want after that.
09:54Just don't show up in front of him again.
09:56Stepping out of the Broderick's residence,
09:58I stood by the roadside,
10:00feeling weirdly lost for once.
10:02I leaned under the dim streetlight.
10:03I texted my professor to ask if there were any spots left.
10:07She replied right away,
10:08said there were,
10:09and promised to try to get me one.
10:11Seven days was actually pretty tight.
10:13I had to scramble to get all the documents and paperwork,
10:16ready for studying abroad.
10:17I also started packing the clothes from my closet,
10:20slowly filling my suitcase.
10:23On the evening of the second day,
10:25Tristan showed up at my door,
10:26letting himself in as usual after Tristan showered.
10:29He tossed open the closet door
10:31and helped himself to looking for pajamas.
10:33Why are two of your pajama sets missing?
10:36They were getting worn out,
10:37so I bought new ones.
10:38In bed,
10:39when he habitually placed his hand on my waist,
10:41I couldn't help but flinch and pull away slightly.
10:45The next second,
10:46he pulled my shirt up without warning.
10:48The overlapping fingerprints stood out against my pale skin,
10:51a stark reminder of that night's intense passion.
10:53He sighed and brushed his thumb over my furrowed brow.
10:56You always say it's nothing when you're hurt,
10:59but your eyebrows give you away.
11:03Stay here.
11:04I'll go get some ointment.
11:05Fifteen minutes later,
11:06he was back with medicine from the pharmacy downstairs.
11:09Without another word,
11:10he applied the ointment and massaged it into my skin.
11:14The warm yellow glow from the nightlight softening his features,
11:17a rare peace settled over the room.
11:20He seemed to remember something.
11:22Your contract's about to expire, right?
11:24He asked casually.
11:26Make sure you renew it, okay?
11:28I blinked in surprise.
11:29So,
11:30Maria hadn't told Tristan that I wasn't planning to renew the contract.
11:33Tristan,
11:34I...
11:35He kept massaging,
11:36responding.
11:37Huh?
11:37Just then,
11:38his phone rang sharply.
11:39Then Alyssa's plaintive voice came through the speaker.
11:41Tristan,
11:42I cut my hand while packing our camping gear.
11:45I can never get this stuff right.
11:47Tristan frowned,
11:48standing up with the phone to his ear.
11:50I'll send someone to handle the gear.
11:52Stay put.
11:53I'm coming over to check on you.
11:56He hung up and pulled his coat back on.
11:58The tube of ointment was left uncapped,
12:01discarded on the bedside table.
12:02Right before he walked out,
12:03he paused and turned back.
12:05Oh, right.
12:06What were you going to say earlier?
12:07Left alone under the light,
12:09I looked at him and said calmly,
12:10Nothing important.
12:12You go ahead.
12:15Soon,
12:15it was the evening of the sixth day,
12:17the final night before the contract expired.
12:19I stood in the middle of the room,
12:21staring at the noticeably emptier space,
12:23kind of zoning out.
12:24Only the items on that small bed remained untouched.
12:27The dolls and the two pillows sat quietly in their places.
12:30He never replied to my texts,
12:31and I waited until one in the morning.
12:33When he finally called,
12:35I blinked slowly.
12:36I went back to the distant way I'd addressed him long ago,
12:38answering the call.
12:39I said mechanically,
12:40Mr. Broderick,
12:41it's time for bed.
12:42Unlike my flat tone,
12:44a bright,
12:44lively female voice reached me first through the receiver.
12:47Woo!
12:48The fireworks are so pretty!
12:50Trippin,
12:51I love you so much!
12:53Oblivious to my mood,
12:54he said,
12:54I'm not coming back tonight.
12:56Can I cuddle you to sleep tomorrow instead?
12:58Alyssa cut in.
12:59No way!
13:00You promised to stay with me tomorrow.
13:03Let me try tucking you in this time.
13:05Tristan chuckled and changed his mind.
13:10Fine.
13:11Then I'll head back the day after tomorrow.
13:12I listened to their conversation in silence,
13:14in that moment.
13:15It was like the last little bit of unwillingness
13:17to leave him had vanished completely.
13:21The next day,
13:22on a totally ordinary morning,
13:23I boarded my flight to London,
13:25in a daze.
13:26I thought back to ten years ago,
13:27when I'd gone to apply for the job
13:29at the Broderick's residence all by myself.
13:31At thirteen,
13:32insecure and scared,
13:33I'd huddled in the crowd,
13:34silently cheering myself on.
13:36Lysi,
13:37be brave.
13:39You can do it.
13:40Now at twenty-three,
13:41filled with both anticipation
13:42and uncertainty about the future,
13:44I was heading to a foreign country.
13:45I pulled out the SIM card I'd used for years
13:47and swapped it for a new one.
13:49On the night I left,
13:51Alyssa was trying to get Tristan to fall asleep,
13:52but it wasn't working at all.
13:54Alyssa tugged lightly at his collar
13:56and whispered suggestively in his ear.
13:58Tristan was totally distracted,
14:00staring at the chattering Alyssa.
14:02He suddenly wondered
14:03if I was quietly reading right about now.
14:05A message he'd sent in the morning
14:06had gone unanswered by me.
14:08Tristan dialed my number right away,
14:10it rang for three minutes,
14:11but no one picked up.
14:12He frowned.
14:15But when I still hadn't replied by the next day,
14:18Tristan's patience ran out.
14:19He ignored Alyssa's pleas to stay
14:21and drove straight to my place.
14:22The landlord hadn't changed the keypad code yet,
14:25so Tristan typed in the password and opened the door.
14:27But when he stepped inside,
14:29all he found was an empty apartment.
14:30The once familiar light pink bed was gone,
14:33leaving behind alone.
14:34Stark white mattress,
14:35it was like no one had ever lived there.
14:37His heart gave a violent lurch.
14:39The panic he'd been suppressing erupted.
14:41At the Broderick's residence,
14:43Mireya was meticulously pruning her prized flowers
14:45when Tristan stormed in.
14:49Who gave you the right to mess with my girl?
14:51Mireya set down her shears and clapped mockingly.
14:53The usually composed and gracious Mireya
14:55finally let her mask slip.
14:57Your girl?
14:59She's just some country girl
15:01who got lucky being your bed wearer.
15:03Did you really lose your mind over her?
15:07Where is she?
15:09You'll never find her.
15:12When I first got to London,
15:14I was still kinda out of sorts.
15:16I rented a small apartment
15:17that was truly my own for the first time.
15:19I bought a new collection of adorable dolls
15:21for my bedside
15:22and covered my bed with sheets
15:23and duvet covers
15:24and all my favorite patterns.
15:26The bed still wasn't huge,
15:27but it made me feel totally at peace.
15:29Now and then,
15:30after leaving the lab,
15:31I'd visit a flower shop
15:33and buy a few bunches of my favorites.
15:34It always lifted my mood.
15:36One weekend.
15:36While unpacking,
15:37I found my old diary
15:39from my teenage years.
15:40The sun streamed in through the window,
15:42so I sat on the carpet out of boredom
15:43and flipped through it page by page.
15:45Nearly every single entry had
15:47Mr. Broderick written in it.
15:49I closed the diary,
15:50reset the lock to 0000,
15:52and sealed it away
15:53in a storage box in the attic,
15:54those 10 years officially relegated to the past.
15:58Later,
15:59I made more and more friends
16:00and picked up new hobbies.
16:01I changed my phone number,
16:03and Tristan never reached out again.
16:05One day,
16:06my landlord mentioned
16:06she'd sold the apartment next to mine,
16:08and I was getting a new neighbor
16:09pretty soon.
16:10I noticed the flowers on his balcony
16:12were changed every single day.
16:14When I stepped onto my balcony in the morning,
16:16the scent of blooms
16:17always drifted over from next door.
16:19His taste was surprisingly similar to mine.
16:21He really was busy.
16:23Though,
16:23and traveled often,
16:25I practically never ran into him.
16:26If it weren't for the fresh flowers every day,
16:29I would have sworn no one lived there.
16:31Later,
16:31I met another international student from America.
16:33He had a little cat in his apartment.
16:35One day,
16:36after we went to a cat cafe together,
16:38my cat can do backflips.
16:40It's way cooler than the cats at the cafe.
16:43Do you want to see?
16:46I smiled at him and agreed.
16:48Before I knew it,
16:49it was dinner time.
16:50After eating,
16:51two people got wasted and crashed there.
16:53The next day,
16:54when I got back to my apartment,
16:55I went to the balcony like I always did.
16:57But I noticed that the flowers on my neighbor's balcony
16:59hadn't been changed.
17:00For seven days straight,
17:02the flowers wilted further,
17:03with no one tending to them.
17:06On the tenth day,
17:07I got a text from an unknown number.
17:09The next day,
17:10a WhatsApp friend request popped up.
17:12It was Maria.
17:13A year later,
17:14her tone seemed much softer.
17:16Elise stands in the hospital.
17:18Can you come back to see him?
17:20I replied politely.
17:21Mrs. Broderick,
17:22my medical expertise is quite limited.
17:25Doctors are useless.
17:26It has to be you.
17:28Please?
17:29Then,
17:29as an afterthought,
17:30she softened the demand.
17:32When I got to the hospital,
17:33a nurse led me to the ward on the top floor.
17:36I heard Mr. Broderick took too many sleeping pills.
17:39When I looked up to meet,
17:41Tristan's unwavering gaze from the hospital bed,
17:43I walked in and sat down on the chair next to him.
17:47Tristan looked a little pale,
17:48but otherwise,
17:49he seemed okay.
17:52I got straight to the point.
17:54Mrs. Broderick asked me to come check on you.
17:57Why'd you take so many sleeping pills?
17:59His eyes lingered on my face,
18:01full of longing.
18:03After a long pause,
18:04he said hoarsely,
18:05I couldn't sleep.
18:07I can't sleep without you.
18:09He immediately denied it,
18:10sounding almost frantic.
18:11That's over.
18:12I don't want her.
18:13I only want you.
18:15I sighed and didn't acknowledge his words.
18:17Instead,
18:17I said gently,
18:18Perhaps you should consider proper psychological treatment.
18:21He shook his head,
18:22his voice softening as he pleaded.
18:24Can you stay with me for a bit?
18:27I nodded at he lay back down next to me,
18:30slowly closing his eyes.
18:31Exhaustion was written all over his face.
18:33I sat on the chair,
18:34not saying a word,
18:35just scrolling through my phone quietly.
18:38Two hours later,
18:38my body grew stiff.
18:40I stood up to stretch,
18:41but his hand suddenly shot out and grabbed my wrist.
18:43By evening,
18:44he finally woke up.
18:45I put my phone away,
18:47pulled my hand out of his,
18:48and nodded at him.
18:49If you're feeling better,
18:50I should go.
18:52Wait!
18:53He grabbed the hem of my shirt in a panic.
18:55Then,
18:56under my gaze,
18:56he pulled a crumpled piece of paper from under his pillow.
18:59I looked at it.
19:00Though wrinkled,
19:01it had been carefully preserved.
19:02In childish handwriting,
19:04it said to characters,
19:05Wish coupon.
19:08I'd written this for Tristan when I was 13.
19:11Just to cheer him up after writing it,
19:13I'd drawn a clumsy smiley face
19:14and poked the sulking Tristan.
19:17Please don't be mad anymore, okay?
19:19I'd coaxed him gently,
19:20ten years later.
19:21I took the paper.
19:22What is your wish?
19:25Can I hug you
19:27one more time?
19:28I was stunned for a second.
19:30But in the end,
19:31I looked down at him.
19:33Then,
19:33under his gaze,
19:34I slowly tore the paper into pieces,
19:36just like how he had torn my diary page years ago.
19:38I said,
19:40Tristan,
19:40the wish coupons expired,
19:42throwing the shredded paper into the trash can.
19:44I didn't want to say anything more
19:46and turned to leave as I reached the door.
19:48I heard him call me again.
19:49Lysi,
19:50I said,
19:52that night when I was drunk,
19:55then I called for was you,
19:56would you?
19:59Hearing those words,
20:00I truly paused for a moment.
20:02I thought quietly for a second,
20:04only to find that apart from a faint sense of regret,
20:06there was nothing else left in my heart.
20:08I didn't say whether I believed him or not,
20:10just gently interrupted him.
20:12It doesn't matter anymore, Tristan.
20:15Tristan immediately said,
20:17I know you need to focus on your studies now.
20:20I can go to London.
20:22I can wait for you as long as it takes.
20:24Please don't leave me, okay?
20:25I sighed,
20:26turned to look at him again,
20:27and asked,
20:28that neighbor in London,
20:30it was you, wasn't it?
20:31A flash of panic crossed his eyes at being found out.
20:35I didn't mean anything else.
20:38I just wanted to be a little closer to you.
20:42I looked into his eyes seriously,
20:43and for the last time said to him,
20:46Tristan.
20:47In this life,
20:49no one is meant to stay for someone else.
20:52Get proper treatment,
20:54go to bed on time,
20:55and you should also welcome your own new life.
20:57With that,
20:58I opened the door in this time,
20:59I didn't look back.
21:00On the plane back to London,
21:02outside the window was the twilight line
21:04where deep blue met orange red.
21:06The plane pierced through the clouds,
21:07carrying me farther away,
21:09flying toward a brand new life.
21:12Tristan was busy filling out college applications
21:14with Elise during the summer break.
21:16He read through both of their choices countless times,
21:19making sure they would be admitted to the same university,
21:21until he overheard Elise assuring her mother,
21:24I'm only doing this for the money.
21:26I have no feelings for Mr. Brodick.
21:29The vague, uncertain affection of youth
21:31gradually grew into hatred that night.
21:33He was almost beside himself with anger,
21:35gripping her waist and asking over and over,
21:37So all you want is money?
21:40Elise bit her lip,
21:41her brows furrowing once again.
21:43He knew that meant she was in pain again.
21:45But for someone whose eyes were filled only with money,
21:48what right did she have to feel pain?
21:50Later, when he found her diary,
21:51he stared at the words on the page for a very long time.
21:54By the end,
21:55all he felt was absurdity and ridicule.
21:59When he met Alyssa,
22:00he was indeed attracted to her.
22:02She was different from Elise.
22:04She didn't want money,
22:05and her feelings seemed purer.
22:06But after Elise went abroad,
22:08he completely lost interest in Alyssa as well.
22:10On the day he sent her away,
22:12Alyssa suddenly sneered.
22:14The person who stayed with you for ten years is gone, Tristan?
22:19What are you pretending to be so devoted for now?
22:22Your mother kept putting her down.
22:24The Broderick family's servants looked down on her.
22:27Even you bullied her.
22:29And yet she managed to endure ten years in that environment.
22:33I just want to say,
22:35Tristan,
22:36you really
22:38don't deserve to be loved.
22:40After saying that,
22:41she took the money and left.
22:43Alyssa's words were like needles,
22:45piercing his mind and leaving a ringing in his ears.
22:47Ten years if there was no love,
22:49that would be unbearably hard.
22:51He stood there in a daze,
22:52suddenly remembering,
22:53on that night after the set,
22:55Elise lay beneath him,
22:56silently furrowing her brows and enduring.
22:58Thinking back now,
22:59it wasn't just her body that was hurting,
23:00it turned out her heart was hurting too.
23:04After Elise left,
23:05his insomnia worsened again,
23:07when Tristan landed in London to look for her.
23:09He hadn't had a full night's sleep in many days.
23:11From a distance,
23:13he saw Elise holding an armful of fresh flowers,
23:15laughing and chatting with the girl beside her.
23:17It had been exactly five days and thirteen hours since he last held her,
23:21and the longing he'd felt burst forth all at once.
23:23But that day,
23:24maybe the sunlight was too dazzling,
23:26or maybe the smile on Elise's face was too relaxed and genuine.
23:29He felt as if he'd been burned.
23:31Hiding in the corner and not showing himself.
23:34Suddenly,
23:34he remembered that Elise hadn't always been dull and boring.
23:37Long ago she used to smile so brightly.
23:40Tristan's greedy gaze lingered on her for a long time.
23:42But in the end,
23:43he didn't dare to break that beautiful moment.
23:46Later,
23:46he quietly bought the house next door to Elise's.
23:49He put a bed in the room next to Elise's bedroom.
23:51Pressing it close to the wall.
23:53He decorated the bed in pale pink and placed stuffed animals on it.
23:56Lying there.
23:57Separated by a wall that wasn't very soundproof,
23:59it felt as if he'd never been apart from her.
24:03The day he learned Elise was spending the night at another boy's house.
24:06He was still in his home country handling work.
24:09That day,
24:09he sat in his office for a long time,
24:12silently thinking,
24:13what would Elise do with him?
24:14Had Elise fallen for someone else?
24:16Was Elise close to that person?
24:18Then he suddenly wondered,
24:19when he went from one lover to another,
24:21did Elise feel as miserable as he did now?
24:23At night,
24:24he lay in the room where Elise used to live and took a sleeping pill.
24:27Half awake,
24:28he seemed to see 17-year-old Elise blinking at him,
24:31smiling as she asked,
24:33Mr. Broderdick,
24:34which university do you want to apply to?
24:36He reached out his hand in a daze.
24:38The dream shifted,
24:39and he was back to that chaotic night after the set this time.
24:43Tears streamed from her calm,
24:44beautiful eyes.
24:45She didn't bite her lip in silence,
24:47but instead leaned close to his ear and murmured,
24:52he jolted awake,
24:53his heart tightening.
24:55With trembling hands,
24:56he poured out a handful of pills and swallowed them all at once,
24:59desperately.
25:00He wanted to return to the dream and hold her,
25:02gently kiss and comfort her.
25:04But when he opened his eyes again,
25:05he was lying in a hospital bed,
25:07just rescued,
25:08and finally,
25:09he saw the person he'd been longing for day and night.
25:11But when she tore up that wish coupon and left without looking back,
25:15he finally realized a simple truth.
25:16It wasn't the wish coupon that had expired.
25:18It was her love.
25:19From then on,
25:20the mountains and rivers would stretch far,
25:22and they would never meet again.
25:24It seemed they weren't meant to end up like this,
25:26but this was all they could be.
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