A powerful full drama movie filled with love, secrets, and unexpected twists.
Follow a powerful story where relationships are tested, hidden truths are revealed, and lives change forever. From romantic moments to shocking surprises, this drama keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
Featuring stories about CEO, billionaire lifestyles, family connections, and life-changing decisions, this movie delivers strong emotions and unforgettable scenes.
Watch the full movie and discover what happens in the end.
New full drama movies uploaded regularly. Stay tuned for more captivating and trending stories.
#drama #fullmovie #lovestory #dramatic #billionaire #ceo #family #relationships #movie #story
Follow a powerful story where relationships are tested, hidden truths are revealed, and lives change forever. From romantic moments to shocking surprises, this drama keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
Featuring stories about CEO, billionaire lifestyles, family connections, and life-changing decisions, this movie delivers strong emotions and unforgettable scenes.
Watch the full movie and discover what happens in the end.
New full drama movies uploaded regularly. Stay tuned for more captivating and trending stories.
#drama #fullmovie #lovestory #dramatic #billionaire #ceo #family #relationships #movie #story
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Art et designTranscription
00:00The summer I turned 18, Asher made me cross a line I could never take back.
00:04I bit my lip through the ache, glowing secretly all night,
00:07convinced that six long years of loving him from a distance had finally, finally paid off.
00:12Then the next morning, I heard his friend laughing outside the classroom door.
00:16Okay, okay, got the nerd to give it up, huh?
00:20My face burned, and I turned to slip away before anyone saw me.
00:23I'm trying to get with Chloe, but she'd think I was too inexperienced.
00:26So I'll use Stella to get some practice in first.
00:29I didn't say a single word.
00:30I just quietly changed my college application from NYU to a school thousand miles away in California.
00:37His words hit me like a thunderclap out of a cloudless summer sky.
00:40No warning at all.
00:41My mind went completely blank.
00:43It was a scorching July afternoon, but I felt like ice was spreading through every inch of my body.
00:48The guys inside kept talking, pausing only for a half second before someone else piped up.
00:54Classic Ashen, even Stella was just a warm-up for him.
00:57Everyone knows how hard it is to get into her pants.
01:03So what does that make her, like a practice dully?
01:07Asher just laughed it off.
01:10Relax.
01:11She got something out of it, too.
01:13I mean, Stella's cute and all, but compared to Chloe, yeah, no contest.
01:16Right.
01:18Asher threw a textbook at him to shut him up.
01:21It was just a vibe, okay?
01:22The moment happened, and honestly, she seemed like she was enjoying herself.
01:26The guys all exchanged knowing looks and started roasting him.
01:30Who knew the Bookberg was that freaky under all those cardigans?
01:34Bro, Asher's just built different.
01:36Why leave free food on the table, right?
01:38She's been chasing him for years.
01:40Technically, she got what she wanted.
01:42The laughter inside the room got noticeably louder.
01:44I pressed my teeth into my lower lips so hard I tasted copper.
01:48Both hands balled into white-knuckled fists.
01:50It took every single ounce of willpower I had to stay upright,
01:54to not just crumple right there in the doorway.
01:56Footsteps echoed down the hall toward me.
01:58I snapped back to reality and bolted,
02:00shoving my way blindly through the corridor.
02:02In my panic, I threw myself into the nearest bathroom stall
02:06and locked the door behind me.
02:11The tears came like a dam breaking,
02:14grief and humiliation pouring out all at once.
02:17Asher's words played on a loop inside my head.
02:19Every single syllable.
02:21They shredded what little self-worth I had left.
02:23If I hadn't heard it with my own ears,
02:25I never could have believed that the guy talking in there
02:28was the same one who had held me
02:30like I was something precious just last night.
02:32Turns out you don't actually need to love someone to do that with them.
02:35Turns out you can look a girl dead in the eyes,
02:38make her feel everything,
02:39and still be lying through every single second of it.
02:42The thing I thought was my happily ever after
02:45was just a punchline someone else got to laugh at.
02:48The more I cried, the worse it got.
02:50But I couldn't make a sound.
02:51My whole body was shaking so hard I could barely breathe.
02:55A long time passed.
02:56My phone buzzed.
02:57It was Asher.
02:58Just grab an Uber back.
03:00My crew's got a party tonight,
03:01and it'd be awkward to bring you.
03:03I didn't reply.
03:04He sent a follow-up.
03:05Also, pick up a morning after pill yourself.
03:08I'm busy today.
03:09Don't forget to take it.
03:10Good girl.
03:10I stared at those two texts
03:12for a very, very long time without moving.
03:15From dusk until nearly sunrise,
03:17Asher had been relentless,
03:18like he had a puke in the morning.
03:20By the end, we were both completely wrecked.
03:22Right before he drifted off from his arms wrapping,
03:25he'd murmured the same thing twice.
03:27We weren't really prepared for the first time.
03:32I got you the pill first thing one morning.
03:35He'd even given me this little lecture
03:37about how he was needed to take care of themselves.
03:39Said the morning after pill was really important,
03:42and that skipping it could mess up my body.
03:44And I had actually thought,
03:45this is it.
03:46He's the one.
03:47He's being so responsible.
03:49I finally got my purse in.
03:51Now, the clarity hit me like a slap.
03:54I dug my nails into my own palm
03:56until the pain forced the tears to stop.
03:58I wiped my face,
03:59straightened my glasses,
04:01and walked out of that bathroom
04:02like nothing had happened.
04:04I was too embarrassed to go to a real pharmacy,
04:06so I ordered the pill online instead.
04:08When the delivery guy left my package at my door,
04:11I waited another long stretch
04:12before I could even freak myself to go get it.
04:15I swallowed it from the mouth of my heart.
04:17and then I just sat down on the floor,
04:20staring at nothing,
04:21completely empty.
04:25Ever since Asher's family had moved next door to mine,
04:28I trailed after the light shadow.
04:30That had been 10 years of my life.
04:32I had genuinely never stopped to think about
04:34what a world without him would even look like.
04:36I couldn't picture it,
04:38but starting right now,
04:39I was going to have to figure it out alone.
04:41Outside the floor-to-ceiling window,
04:43the neighborhood lights blinked on,
04:45one by one,
04:46and then off again.
04:47At some point,
04:48I really didn't know how long I'd been sitting there.
04:51Mia called me on FaceTime.
04:56Stella,
04:57why didn't you come to the party tonight with Ashler?
04:59That girl Chloe from the AP track is here, by the way.
05:01She has been all over him since you did the show.
05:04It's actually disgusting.
05:05In the dark corner of the VIP booth,
05:07Asher and Chloe were sitting so close together,
05:10their thighs were touching.
05:11Chloe had worn a crop top and a curve-hugging mini skirt,
05:14long tan legs,
05:16tiny waist.
05:17Even the way they were talking
05:18looked more like whispering secrets
05:20than having a conversation.
05:22I could feel the charged energy between them
05:24through the screen.
05:25Something in my chest locked up.
05:27He'd only said he wanted to chase her this afternoon,
05:30and apparently,
05:30tonight was all the time he needed.
05:32The game switched to truth or dare,
05:34and Chloe drew a card that said,
05:39Do a push-up challenge with a guy hovering over me.
05:44Predictably,
05:45Asher got on tears before anyone else
05:46could open their mouth.
05:47Chloe blushed bright pink
05:49and lay back against the couch cushions.
05:51Asher planted his hands on either side of her.
05:54He was controlled the whole time,
05:56deliberately keeping his body
05:57from making contact with hers,
05:59until the very last one.
06:01His arms gave out,
06:02and his entire weight came down
06:04directly on top of her.
06:05The room erupted.
06:07Everyone screaming so loud,
06:09the walls practically shook.
06:10Asher's and Chloe's faces went even redder.
06:13With the whole crowd going absolutely feral around them,
06:16Asher just tilted his head down and kissed her.
06:18Not a quick peck,
06:19a full, deep,
06:21for the whole room to see kiss.
06:23Three full minutes before they finally pulled apart.
06:25For all three of those minutes,
06:27I sat completely frozen,
06:28eyes locked on the screen,
06:30barely remembering to breathe.
06:31I wanted to cry so badly.
06:34Oh my God,
06:36Stella,
06:36did you see that?
06:37He literally kissed her in front of everyone.
06:40He is so into her.
06:42Mia shook her head
06:43and stepped out of the booth,
06:45turning the camera as she went.
06:46Don't be mad at me.
06:47If I hadn't shown you,
06:49you never would have let yourself move on.
06:50I'm not mad at you.
06:52I'm only mad at myself
06:54for wasting so many years.
06:56I had always assumed
06:57that the spot beside Asher was mine,
06:59that it would always be mine.
07:00I am so done with him, Stella.
07:02Who does he think he is,
07:03watching you love him for years,
07:05acting all innocent like he had no idea,
07:06just letting you fall deeper and deeper?
07:08You saw what I showed you.
07:10I'm not giving myself the chance.
07:12Mia,
07:13I've already decided
07:14I'm going to California with you,
07:16but you have to promise me
07:17you'll keep it quiet for now.
07:19Right after I said it,
07:20I flipped open my laptop
07:21right in front of her.
07:22Without a single second of hesitation,
07:25I changed my first choice school
07:26to the one in California,
07:28one minute before the deadline.
07:30Mia basically levitated off the ground.
07:32She'd been begging me for months
07:34to apply to the same school as her.
07:36But back when we started high school,
07:38Asher and I had made this pact.
07:39We'd work hard together
07:40and go to his dream school
07:42up in Boston after graduation.
07:44It had his aerospace engineering program,
07:46the one he'd been obsessed with
07:47since we were kids.
07:48So even though I didn't particularly love
07:51the idea of brutal winters,
07:52and even though that school
07:53was a technical institute
07:55that didn't even have my major,
07:57I'd spent three years
07:58treating it like my only option.
08:00Our families had lived next door
08:01to each other for so long
08:02that both sets of parents
08:04thought it was basically a done deal
08:05we'd end up at the same school.
08:07Everyone, including me,
08:09assumed Asher and I
08:10would just naturally become official
08:11once we got to college.
08:13But right now,
08:14I couldn't think of a single reason
08:15to still go to Boston.
08:17Because honestly,
08:18after today,
08:19if I kept following Asher around
08:20the way I always had,
08:22I would never be able
08:23to look myself in the mirror again.
08:25I just needed to go somewhere far away.
08:27It didn't even matter where,
08:29as long as he wasn't there.
08:30He was going east,
08:31so I was going west.
08:33Before bed,
08:34I filled the entire bathtub.
08:35I needed to scrub
08:36every inch of myself clean.
08:39But when I took off my clothes,
08:40the bruises on my skin
08:42were still so vivid,
08:43it made me flinch.
08:44The memories from last night
08:46rushed back
08:47before I could stop them.
08:48The burning heat of his skin
08:50pressed against mine.
08:51The sound of his breath
08:52ragged and warm
08:54against my ear.
08:55The ghost of it all
08:56still seemed to linger
08:57in the air around me.
08:58I shook my head hard,
08:59physically trying to shake myself
09:01free of it.
09:02Then,
09:02I grabbed the roughest loofah
09:03I owned
09:04and scrubbed myself raw
09:06over and over
09:07until my whole body
09:09was flushed pink
09:10and singing.
09:11I was trying,
09:12clumsily,
09:13desperately,
09:14to erase what was officially
09:15the worst night
09:16of my entire life.
09:18The result was that
09:19the pain kept me awake
09:20the whole night anyway.
09:22Asher didn't text.
09:23For the first time
09:24in six years,
09:25ever since we both got phones,
09:27we didn't say goodnight
09:28to each other.
09:28That was fine.
09:29It was going to happen
09:30eventually anyway.
09:31Tonight was as good a time
09:32as any to start letting go.
09:34I didn't fall asleep
09:35until just before sunrise,
09:37drifting in and out
09:38of exhaustion.
09:39Early the next morning,
09:41while I was still
09:41buried in sleep,
09:42I felt,
09:43in that foggy space
09:44between dream and awake,
09:46the soft press of lips
09:47against my forehead.
09:49I jolted awake.
09:50The first thing my eyes
09:51landed on
09:51was a jaw
09:52I knew too well
09:53and the soft dip
09:54of a throat
09:55right above me.
09:56The scent hit me next.
09:57Cedarwood.
09:58That cologne
09:59he always wore.
10:00And underneath it,
10:01the faintest trace
10:02of something new.
10:03Something citrusy
10:04that wasn't his.
10:05Right.
10:06I'd completely forgotten
10:07that Asher still knew
10:08my front door code.
10:09Seeing me awake,
10:11he shifted lower
10:11and tilted his face
10:13down toward my lips.
10:14I shoved him back
10:15with both hands
10:15and scrambled
10:16to the far edge
10:17of the bed.
10:17He blinked,
10:18then let out a short laugh
10:19like I'd surprised him.
10:23Since when are you shy?
10:24I didn't answer.
10:26I just yanked the blanket
10:27over my head
10:28and disappeared under it.
10:29Asher started talking.
10:33Stella, seriously.
10:34You didn't say goodnight,
10:35you turned your phone off
10:36and now you're hiding
10:37under a blanket?
10:38Still avoiding me?
10:40Then he just
10:40lifted the blanket
10:42and slid himself right in.
10:45Hey, how many times
10:46have I told you
10:47you can't skip breakfast?
10:49I ran half a mile
10:51to get you
10:51those croissants
10:52from your favorite place
10:53and he stood in line forever.
10:55Wanna get up
10:56and eat now
10:57or
10:59get eaten?
11:01Reality crashed back in
11:02and I fought
11:03like my life depended on it.
11:05But I'm 5'2
11:06in sneakers
11:06and Asher is literally
11:076'2 of solid muscle.
11:09I honestly could not
11:10figure out
11:11what game he was playing.
11:12He had Chloe now,
11:13so what was he even
11:14doing in my bed?
11:15I tried to push him away
11:17only to be held
11:18even tighter.
11:19Let go of me!
11:21After what felt like
11:22forever of thrashing around,
11:23I was panting
11:24and had accomplished
11:25nothing
11:25except being held
11:26even tighter.
11:27What's the tantrum about?
11:30You're mad because
11:31I didn't bring you
11:32to the party last night
11:33over something that small?
11:34I said nothing.
11:35He buried his face
11:36in the curve of my neck
11:38and actually laughed.
11:39Let me guess.
11:40Mia told you something?
11:42It was a party game, Stella.
11:44Is it really worth
11:45getting jealous over?
11:46You're doing that thing
11:47you always do.
11:49I get slightly close
11:50to another girl
11:50and you go all silent
11:52and sulky.
11:53I was so furious
11:54I couldn't even
11:55form a sentence.
11:56I dredged up something
11:57from a self-defense unit
11:58in gym class,
11:59snapped my knee up
12:00hard between us,
12:01and the second he doubled over,
12:03I launched myself
12:04out of that bed.
12:05Stella.
12:06Asher's jaw went tight,
12:07his whole face going red.
12:09I grabbed a hoodie
12:10off the floor
12:10and yanked it on
12:11over my pajamas.
12:13I did not want
12:14to be in any room
12:15with him,
12:16and especially
12:17not my bedroom.
12:27Hey,
12:28you took that pill
12:29yesterday, right?
12:30Because I really
12:30don't need that kind
12:31of drama,
12:31and I definitely
12:32don't want to have
12:32that conversation
12:33with your parents.
12:42Come on,
12:43be reasonable.
12:43Eat something
12:44before you pick a fight.
12:48You know your stomach's sensitive.
12:58What is actually going on?
13:01Stella,
13:01even a tantrum
13:02needs a reason.
13:03There have to be
13:04some limits here.
13:05I kept my voice
13:06ice cold
13:07and set it flat.
13:08I don't deserve
13:09to have any say.
13:11Asher snapped.
13:12He slammed the cup
13:13down on the coffee table
13:14so hard it cracked.
13:15The plastic split
13:16and the smoothie
13:17spilled out in a wave,
13:19soaking into the rug.
13:20What is that
13:21supposed to mean?
13:23Who do you think
13:24you are, Stella?
13:26Who do you think
13:27you are?
13:29We slept together once.
13:31It was consensual.
13:32And now you think
13:33you own me?
13:35Do you know
13:36how suffocating
13:37that is?
13:38His voice
13:38had a viciousness
13:39to it
13:40I had never heard before.
13:41The second
13:42he finished speaking
13:43my eyes flooded.
13:44No warning,
13:45no buildup,
13:46just instant tears.
13:48Yesterday's humiliation
13:49came crashing back,
13:50hitting me all over again
13:51like a fresh wound.
13:52Asher clearly
13:53hadn't expected me
13:54to cry this hard
13:55this fast.
13:56He looked genuinely thrown,
13:58scrambling for what to do.
13:59He crouched down
14:00and said he was sorry.
14:02I'm sorry.
14:03I drank too much
14:04last night
14:04and I was out of line
14:05just now.
14:06He reached out
14:06to wipe my face
14:07but I twisted away,
14:09putting distance between us.
14:10His hand froze in midair,
14:12hovering there.
14:12He opened his mouth
14:13to keep trying
14:14but his phone buzzed.
14:15He glanced at the screen once
14:17and his entire expression shifted
14:19and he stood up
14:20and moved toward the door.
14:21I've got something urgent.
14:22Take a minute to calm down.
14:24We're going to college soon.
14:26You can't keep throwing fits
14:28like a little kid
14:29who's going to put up with that.
14:36He hadn't been gone 30 minutes
14:38when Mia sent me a screenshot.
14:39Chloe's Instagram story
14:41just said,
14:42I'm hungry
14:42and breakfast appeared like magic.
14:44Pretty sure this is mutual now
14:46with a little heart.
14:47The photo was of the exact same croissants
14:50that were sitting on my kitchen counter.
14:52I didn't respond.
14:53I just quietly wiped my eyes,
14:55got on my hands and knees
14:56and started cleaning up
14:57the smoothie Asher had spilled.
14:59I scrubbed for a long time
15:00before I accepted
15:01with a hollow feeling in my chest
15:03that the stain had soaked
15:05all the way through the wool rug
15:06and wasn't coming out.
15:08So I just threw the whole rug
15:09in the trash.
15:10It didn't matter anyway.
15:11That rug was something
15:12Asher and his parents
15:13had spent an entire afternoon
15:15picking out on a family trip
15:17and he'd lugged it home
15:18in his carry-on himself.
15:19Then I went through everything else.
15:21Every single thing
15:22Asher had ever left at my place.
15:24Every gift he'd given me
15:26over the years.
15:27Every photo of the two of us.
15:28Every small souvenir and keepsake.
15:30It took the rest of the day
15:32but I packed every last bit of it up
15:34and threw it all out.
15:38I doubted he'd want any of it back anyway.
15:41After he left that day
15:42the silence stretched.
15:44Days went by
15:44and he didn't reach out at all.
15:46Things with Chloe were probably going great.
15:48Or maybe he was waiting for me
15:50to be the one who caved first.
15:51In every fight we'd ever had
15:53I was always the one who broke first.
15:55Every single time.
15:57No exceptions.
15:58But this time I didn't go looking for him.
15:59And I didn't have any reason to.
16:01I blocked him on everything.
16:03Text, all social media,
16:05changed my front door code,
16:06and deleted every account
16:07he might use to find me.
16:09After that I called my parents
16:10who were both traveling for work.
16:12I told them I wanted to spend the summer
16:14visiting my aunt on the other side of the country.
16:16My plan was to stay there until school started.
16:19Then head straight to California with Mia
16:20instead of coming home.
16:22Other than Mia, no one else knew yet
16:24that I'd changed my application.
16:26This plan should work perfectly.
16:28There was basically zero chance
16:30I'd run into Asher if I pulled this off right.
16:32My mom actually laughed over the phone.
16:35Ha ha ha.
16:36Ooo, so you and Ashler are taking a vacation together?
16:39I made up a quick excuse
16:41and didn't go into detail.
16:42I just told her I wanted to visit my aunt and grandma.
16:45I begged my dad to book me the first available flight
16:47and I was ready to leave that same night.
16:50Of course, because the universe has no chill,
16:53I ran into Asher's mom right at our front door
16:55on my way out.
16:56She grabbed my arm warmly and started chattering.
17:00Stella, honey, where's Asher?
17:02He's not going to pick you up?
17:03Didn't he say he was taking you on that ski trip?
17:07Go have fun.
17:09I am 100% behind you two.
17:12I was confused.
17:13I had mentioned once during senior year
17:16that I'd always wanted to try skiing in Colorado,
17:19just offhand.
17:20But given everything that had happened between us,
17:22the idea of going on a trip together
17:24seemed completely impossible.
17:26I was running out of time though,
17:27so I said something vague and non-committal
17:30and slipped away.
17:31What I never expected was that at the airport,
17:33I would come face to face with Asher.
17:38He was with a group of friends.
17:40Chloe was there too.
17:41Asher had her designer bag in one hand
17:43and his other arm slung around her shoulder.
17:45They were trailing at the back of the group.
17:47Every so often,
17:48Chloe would lean her head toward him to say something.
17:51And every single time,
17:52without any hesitation,
17:54he would bend down to listen.
17:55He never did that with me.
17:57Asher had always been taller than me,
17:59and the gap had only gotten bigger over the years.
18:02When it was the two of us,
18:03I was always the one bouncing on my toes,
18:05craning my neck up just to catch his eyes.
18:07Turns out, for the right person,
18:10he would be the one who bends.
18:12I breathed in slowly.
18:13I told myself I needed to have some dignity about this.
18:16Whatever he did was none of my business.
18:19If I let myself overthink it,
18:20I deserved to be slapped.
18:22But there seemed to be only one path to the gate.
18:24All I could do was stay far enough behind
18:27that he wouldn't notice me.
18:28By some miracle,
18:29we eventually reached a fork in the terminal
18:31where the path split.
18:33Asher seemed to get distracted around then.
18:34He made a bunch of calls,
18:36none of which seemed to go through,
18:38and then spent a long time staring at his phone.
18:40Eventually, he borrowed someone else's phone,
18:43his face dark and unreadable,
18:44and disappeared into a nearby bathroom.
18:47A moment later,
18:48my phone rang.
18:49Unknown number.
18:51So you've got a real attitude on you this time.
18:53You're just not gonna come to me first?
18:56You actually blocked me?
18:59Fine, keep it up.
19:00See how great you do when we're both in Boston
19:02and you don't know anyone,
19:04and there's no one to look out for you.
19:05Asher came out swinging,
19:06rattling off complaints in one long, irritated breath.
19:10I had absolutely nothing to say to any of that,
19:13but Asher seemed to get angrier at my silence.
19:16I'm done talking about this.
19:17Just unblock me.
19:19I'm heading out of the country for a couple days
19:21with some friends.
19:22Probably won't have great reception.
19:26Don't get all weepy about it.
19:28I couldn't even be bothered to say a single word back.
19:31I hung up and turned my phone off.
19:33From across the terminal,
19:34I watched Asher stalk back to his group,
19:36his expression stormy.
19:38He grabbed Chloe's hand,
19:39didn't hesitate for a second,
19:41and walked toward the left gate.
19:43I let out a long breath,
19:44turned around,
19:45and headed right.
19:47With my family,
19:49I performed happiness.
19:50And honestly,
19:51I got pretty good at it.
19:52I deliberately kept myself slammed with plans,
19:55filling every gap in the day
19:57so I had no room to spiral.
19:58I definitely didn't add Asher back
20:00the way he'd demanded.
20:02But Mia and some others
20:03kept me updated on his life anyway.
20:05Asher and his friends
20:06had apparently been swimming in Colorado for days.
20:09For some reason,
20:10he was suddenly posting on social media
20:12every single day,
20:13which was completely unlike the version of him
20:15who used to go months without posting anything.
20:18Sometimes it was slow motion clips of him
20:20carving down the slopes.
20:21Sometimes it was food and late night parties.
20:24But mostly,
20:25it was big group shots
20:26of everyone clowning around in the snow.
20:28Even though,
20:28I genuinely didn't want to see it.
20:30Somehow,
20:31people kept sending it to me unprompted.
20:33Everyone was very casually curious
20:35about why I hadn't gone with Asher.
20:37I didn't know what to say,
20:38so I just told people
20:39I had family stuff going on.
20:41Mia was the only one
20:42who openly called him a trash human.
20:45Everyone else around me
20:46seemed to be constantly stopping themselves
20:48from saying something.
20:49I knew,
20:49they'd probably figured out something was wrong.
20:53In every single group photo Asher posted,
20:56he and Chloe were glued together,
20:57inseparable.
20:58But that spot beside him
20:59had been mine for years.
21:01Just mine.
21:02Every time I saw one of those photos,
21:04my face stayed completely neutral,
21:05but something deep in my chest would clench.
21:08He was the first person I ever fell for.
21:10Someone I had genuinely,
21:12completely,
21:13embarrassingly loved for such a long time.
21:15In the middle of the night, alone,
21:17I would fall apart a little.
21:18And sometimes,
21:19I felt this stubborn,
21:20stupid feeling
21:21that I wasn't ready to let go.
21:23But every time that feeling started rising,
21:25I'd replay his words
21:26and give myself a mental slap.
21:28I'd repeat it to myself over and over.
21:30Stella,
21:31don't be pathetic.
21:32That's the fastest way
21:33to make yourself even less worth respecting.
21:35Just hold on a little longer.
21:37Once the detox period was over,
21:39everything would be fine.
21:40We went a full month without any contact.
21:43The longest we'd ever gone since the day we met.
21:45Distance and time turned out to be the best medicine.
21:48I ground through the worst of it
21:49and came out the other side.
21:51Just when I'd reached the point
21:52where I didn't think about him
21:53every hour of every day,
21:55he switched to a new number
21:56and called me from across the country.
22:01So you're just that bold,
22:03running off without me
22:04and staying this long?
22:06Summer's almost over, Stella.
22:09Did you forget you promised to go on a trip with me?
22:12Maybe it was because
22:13we'd gone so long without talking.
22:15But underneath all the complaints,
22:17his voice had this edge to it.
22:19Almost careful.
22:20I still didn't want to talk to him.
22:21I was about to hang up
22:22when his mom snatched the phone.
22:24Stella!
22:25Sweetheart!
22:26Are you having fun out there?
22:28This boy won't tell me anything.
22:30I only just found out you two had a fight.
22:33Don't be too hard on him, honey.
22:35When you come back,
22:36I'll make him apologize to your face.
22:39Oh, and Ashler just got his acceptance letter today.
22:42Yours should come soon, too.
22:44Have you thought about when you'll come home
22:46for your going away party?
22:48I've got a little surprise planned.
22:50Asher's mom had been like a second family to me
22:52since I was little.
22:53I couldn't bring myself to hang up on her,
22:55so I stayed on and let her talk.
22:57I'm not really planning to have a party.
22:59My parents are always traveling,
23:01and honestly,
23:02we can just do a video call thing with family.
23:04I probably won't be back before school starts anyway.
23:07I'll just come home right before move in.
23:09I didn't even finish the sentence before
23:11Asher took the phone back.
23:12His breathing was heavy.
23:14I could feel the anger coming through
23:15from 3,000 miles away.
23:19Stella, I'm literally the one reaching out first here.
23:22How much longer are you going to keep this up?
23:25If you don't come back,
23:26don't expect me to wait for you.
23:28I'll head to Boston without you.
23:30He delivered the threat in this cold, flat voice.
23:33Waited and waited without getting the answer he wanted.
23:37My acceptance letter had already arrived at home.
23:39When they saw the school name on the letter,
23:41my parents finally found out I'd changed my application.
23:44My mom video called me.
23:46Hi, baby.
23:47Why didn't you talk to us before changing your application?
23:51Does Asher know?
23:52His mom called this morning asking if your letter had come yet.
23:56I had no words.
24:01Baby, how are we supposed to feel okay
24:02about you going all the way to California alone?
24:04Aren't you the kid who's terrified of bugs
24:07and can't handle heat?
24:09You really think you can manage?
24:10Don't call me to come deal with it for you.
24:13That school has a lot to offer.
24:15And Mia will be going there too.
24:17You don't have to worry.
24:19Is this about a fight with Asher?
24:21Because that's not a reason to switch schools across the country.
24:26What if you change your mind in a week and want him back?
24:29Then what?
24:30It's hard at your caption.
24:32I just decided to say it straight.
24:35Asher has a girlfriend.
24:36Mom, Dad, I have my own life and I don't want to just orbit around his forever.
24:44So please support my choice and please keep it between us for now.
24:49My parents looked at each other for a long time without speaking.
24:53The only thing they asked was that I come home sooner rather than later.
24:57School was starting soon and they wanted time with me.
25:00My mom mentioned that Asher had gone off on another trip with friends
25:03the very next day after getting his acceptance letter.
25:06He'd been gone for days.
25:08His mom was apparently calling my mom regularly asking when I was flying back.
25:12On the day I landed, my parents showed up at the airport, dressed like they were going somewhere formal.
25:17I woke up from my nap on the drive.
25:19I realized they'd pulled up to a five-star hotel.
25:22I was still half asleep when my mom grabbed my arm and steered me through the lobby.
25:27And right there, standing in the middle of it, was Asher, who I hadn't seen in months.
25:32My feet stopped moving on their own.
25:35Asher was in a perfectly fitted black suit, leaning casually beside the lobby fountain,
25:40like something out of a magazine spread.
25:42Just one summer was all it took.
25:44The boyish edge had faded, and he looked exactly like the version of him I used to imagine
25:49when I tried to picture him grown up.
25:51Something complicated twisted in my chest.
25:53I'd avoided this moment for months, and now here it was, sprung on me with no warning.
25:58Stella, it's Ashler's going away party.
26:01We figured we'd pick you up and bring you straight here.
26:04You said you didn't want a party of your own, right?
26:07Ashley asked his parents to set the date for the day you got back,
26:11so you can kind of both celebrate together.
26:13Asher seemed to sense something, because right then, he casually glanced over,
26:17and his gaze landed directly on mine.
26:19My heart lurched sideways, still felt like the floor dropped out.
26:23But Asher moved first.
26:25He took one step toward us, and then Chloe appeared out of nowhere
26:28and slipped her arm through his.
26:30She pulled him along with her, smiling wide, and walked right over to us.
26:35Oh my gosh, Stella, you're back!
26:38I've been wanting to properly meet you forever.
26:41I always saw you around with Asher.
26:44I'm from the AP track, so we never officially met,
26:48and I'm genuinely sad about that.
26:52Yeah.
26:53Asher looked vaguely uncomfortable.
26:54Why would you want to get to know her?
26:57She's just a drama queen who throws fits.
27:00I honestly thought she'd stayed in her aunt's state forever.
27:03The world will keep on turning, and your name will be forgotten.
27:07I had nothing to say to that.
27:08There was genuinely no response.
27:10Chloe's silver bodycon dress was covered in tiny crystals
27:14that caught every bit of light in the room.
27:16I glanced down at myself.
27:17White tea, jeans, sneakers, hair that still had a slight slept-on wave from the plane.
27:22I looked like I'd made a wrong turn on the way to a convenience store.
27:25I brought a dress for you, baby.
27:27You can go change in the powder room.
27:28I nodded, then shook my head.
27:30There was no point.
27:31This wasn't my party.
27:33Asher kept staring at me with this unreadable expression.
27:36Chloe's eyes kept flicking back and forth between the two of us.
27:39Luckily, a few more guests arrived just then,
27:41and Chloe immediately pulled Asher over to greet them.
27:44Like she was already the hostess.
27:46Mom, let's go in.
27:47I'm a little hungry.
27:50It was a small gathering.
27:52Asher had only invited close family and a handful of friends.
27:55Every single person I knew looked visibly shocked when they saw me walk in.
27:59I just smiled and said hello and acted like I didn't notice.
28:03But nobody was subtle about their curiosity.
28:05The people watching energy was off the charts.
28:10I slipped out to the terrace for some air,
28:12and could immediately hear a small group in the hallway cornering Asher for the gossip.
28:18Wait, didn't Stella fall out with you over the Chloe thing?
28:21Why is she here?
28:22Did she come crawling back?
28:24She's just quick-tempered and in a mood.
28:26She always comes around after a couple of days.
28:28We've known each other our whole lives.
28:29She's not actually going to cut me off.
28:30I mean, Stella's genuinely great.
28:32She's been ride or died for you for years.
28:34All of us are low-key jealous of how she treats you.
28:35But like, one is your childhood best friend.
28:38Honestly, Stella's amazing.
28:40But it also feels kind of limiting.
28:43I'm young.
28:44I don't want to only ever have one person.
28:46That's too predictable.
28:47I need to see what else is out there.
28:49But that doesn't mean anything has to end.
28:51As long as I know there's always a light on at home for me.
28:54You're such a player.
28:56I'd heard enough.
28:57I backed away as quietly as I could.
28:59The evening breeze hit my face, and I felt my eyes go hot.
29:02I just hated myself for spending so many years being blind to who he actually was.
29:08I was in absolutely the worst mood of the entire summer.
29:13But Asher's mom was thrilled to see me and spent most of dinner doting on me,
29:17refusing to let go of my hand.
29:19Stella, Boston can get really dry in winter.
29:22Let Asher take you shopping tomorrow and stock up on some good moisturizers.
29:26Oh, it's fine.
29:27There are plenty of shops out there and online shopping is so easy.
29:30She nodded warmly and turned to my mom.
29:32I already picked out all the bedding for the dorms.
29:35Got a set for Asher and one for Stella at the same time.
29:38All four seasons covered.
29:39Boston winters are brutal.
29:41I went with really thick comforters.
29:43And got a few winter clothes for Stella too.
29:45Don't you worry about a thing.
29:47My mom made a face like she'd swallowed something.
29:49All of that would be completely useless in California.
29:52But she didn't want to embarrass anyone.
29:54So she thanked her graciously.
29:56Chloe, sitting nearby, looked like she was biting through her own cheek.
30:00Asher's mom didn't seem to notice.
30:01She kept right on talking, addressing both of us.
30:05Once you're both in Boston, you'll be each other's family.
30:08Asher, you better take good care of Stella and stop making her upset.
30:12You hear me?
30:13Asher threw a glance my way with zero expression.
30:16She doesn't need anyone to look after her.
30:18She's perfectly capable of flying on her own.
30:21The table got a little stiff.
30:22And that's when Chloe smoothly cut in.
30:24Oh, don't worry.
30:25My school is in Boston too.
30:27I'll be there to look after Asher.
30:28And Stella will be all the way in California anyway.
30:31So it's not really practical.
30:34Before she even finished the sentence, Asher and his parents' faces changed.
30:38California?
30:39Every single one of them looked at me and asked it at the same time.
30:45Asher, you didn't know?
30:46It's been on the school's honor board.
30:48Oh wait, you haven't been back to campus.
30:51Every pair of eyes at the table swiveled to me.
30:53Under the weight of all that attention, I quietly nodded.
30:56My mom stepped in to explain.
30:59Stella made a last minute decision to change her application.
31:03She's going to a great school in California.
31:05And it's actually the perfect program for her.
31:09Asher didn't believe it.
31:10He grabbed my hand and made me look at him.
31:13Stella, I literally watched you fill out that application.
31:17We were going to the same school.
31:19His grip was tight enough to actually hurt.
31:21And it pushed me over the edge.
31:23Yeah, I changed it.
31:25What does it have to do with you?
31:26Asher looked stunned for a second.
31:28Then started laughing like I'd said something ridiculous.
31:31You're joking.
31:32You're literally the girl who jumps onto my back at the sight of a bug.
31:36And you're moving to California?
31:38And you're moving to California?
31:40I pulled out my phone, found the crystal clear photo of my acceptance letter, and held it up in his
31:45face.
31:46Asher took the phone, zoomed in, zoomed out, read it over and over, and finally let out a laugh that
31:52had no humor in it at all.
31:54In the middle of everyone's gasps, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the dining room.
32:01He pulled me into a side room and locked the door behind us.
32:04Asher planted himself against it, cutting off any escape, and came at me hard.
32:08Stella, I cannot believe you.
32:10You're so mad that you just forget our whole plan, go behind my back, and commit Mitt to a school
32:15across the country.
32:16I lifted my head.
32:17I took a breath and made myself look him straight in the eye.
32:20I have my own plans.
32:22Since when do I have to build my entire future around what you want?
32:26Asher, be honest with yourself.
32:28Are you actually upset about the plan?
32:31Or are you upset because I'm not available to be your fallback girl anymore?
32:35The color drained from his face.
32:36What is that supposed to mean?
32:38Could you not phrase things like that?
32:40We're adults.
32:41That night was completely mutual.
32:43Are you seriously still bringing that up?
32:45I was embarrassed, but I held his gaze anyway.
32:47Asher, if you liked someone else, you could have just said so.
32:50I'm not so shameless that I would have kept throwing myself at you.
32:53But you knew you didn't like me back, and you just watched me walk straight into the flame.
32:57That was fun for you, wasn't it?
32:58Even now, he still didn't get it.
33:00People don't say goodbye until they've completely run out of hope.
33:03He flushed.
33:04Something in what I said hit.
33:06His face went from white to red, and he visibly swayed.
33:09What do you even...
33:10Listen to what you're saying, you...
33:12He couldn't finish the sentence.
33:15Stella, we've known each other since we were eight years old, and we're 18 now.
33:19If you're choosing to walk away from what we have, then we don't have to be friends either.
33:23And with just that, he turned and walked out of the hotel.
33:34From that day until the day I left for school, I never saw Asher again.
33:38Mia sent me a screenshot of his official couple's post with Chloe.
33:42I deleted it without even opening it.
33:44Every mutual friend connected to him, I blocked.
33:47There was genuinely no point in following any of it anymore.
33:53The only exception was the day I flew out to California.
33:56Of course, because the universe has a terrible sense of humor,
33:59I walked straight into Asher at the airport again, with Chloe still glued to his side.
34:04When we passed each other, he said a stiff hello to my parents and kept walking, clearly still angry.
34:10He didn't look at me once.
34:11We scattered in different directions, and neither of us looked back.
34:14Right before I got to the security line, I glanced over and caught Asher at his gate, about to board.
34:20He gave me one cold, flat look, and then disappeared through the door without turning around.
34:25The person who had been part of every chapter of my growing up.
34:28We were finally, completely done.
34:30Different destinations, at last.
34:32And I hope yours goes well.
34:34I said it only to myself.
34:36After that, a long, long time passed without either of us hearing a single thing about the other.
34:41I specifically asked my parents not to bring up anything related to Asher or his family in front of me.
34:47Over New Year's break, a girl from our high school came to visit.
34:50He's nothing like that cold, focused, straight A guy he was in high school.
34:55He's completely different.
34:59Honestly, if you ran into him now, you might not even recognize him.
35:04I didn't say anything.
35:05Mia kicked her under the table and smoothly changed the subject.
35:08And the girl dropped it.
35:09We did the New Year's countdown by the water.
35:12And Mia told me to make a wish.
35:14Hope New Year, Syria parent healthy, conceding under the world.
35:18I realized it was the first wish I'd ever made that had absolutely nothing to do with him.
35:22For a full six years of my life, every single wish I made had involved Asher in some way.
35:31I felt genuinely happy.
35:33I knew I had finally, actually, completely let go.
35:37The first winter break of college, I missed my parents so badly I couldn't stand it.
35:42The second my last exam was done, I was on the first flight home.
35:46What I didn't expect was that Asher had come to the airport with my parents to pick me up.
35:51After half a year apart, we had both changed.
35:54He was thinner, had dyed his hair, but was still, honestly, annoyingly good looking.
35:59I've always had terrible judgment about people, but my taste has never been the problem.
36:03Why else would I have been trailing after him since we were five?
36:07Hey there, big bro Asher.
36:08He stared at me like I'd spoken a different language.
36:11We ran into him outside.
36:13He insisted on coming along to help.
36:15I smiled and waved her off.
36:17It was fine.
36:20In the car, I immediately launched into all the funny things that had happened at school.
36:24And my parents were the whole ride.
36:26No one was paying any attention to Asher.
36:30You've worked hard.
36:31Please send our regards to your parents.
36:33He seemed like he wanted to come inside when we got home.
36:35But all three of us politely turned him down together.
36:38My grandma and my aunt had both come back to celebrate the holidays that year.
36:42New Year's Eve was loud and packed with family.
36:45After the big dinner, the older relatives parked themselves in front of the TV,
36:48while the rest of us were teaching each other card games.
36:51That's when Asher showed up at the door with his parents, arms full of bags.
36:55Our house is too quiet tonight.
36:57Hope you don't mind us crashing your game.
37:03Our house is too quiet tonight.
37:05Hope you don't mind us crashing your game.
37:06Asher's mom laughed as she walked in.
37:08Every year growing up, the two families had spent the holiday together.
37:12This year, because of everything that had happened,
37:15my mom had turned down the invitation to share the big dinner.
37:18But you can't exactly turn people away once they're at your door.
37:22Asher settled himself naturally.
37:23My cousins had no idea about any of the drama and kept teasing us like they always had.
37:28I laughed it off.
37:30It's not what you think.
37:32Asher's expression went a little flat.
37:34When midnight came and we all went outside for sparklers,
37:38he caught my arm and looked like he was working up to say something.
37:42My phone rang.
37:43My face went a little warm.
37:45It was a guy from one of my clubs at school.
37:48Hi Stella.
37:49I'm just a bit bored and wanted to say Happy New Year to you.
37:52A local California boy named Jake.
37:55He was good looking too.
37:56Not in that cold, aloof way.
37:58More like the guy who's always laughing at everything.
38:01And making you laugh right along with him.
38:03He never ran out of things to say.
38:05And he had a way of making me completely lose it at the most random things.
38:09We talked for a while longer.
38:10And when he finally hung up, Asher was standing right behind me with a face like a thundercloud.
38:17Boyfriend?
38:19Not yet, I guess.
38:23Not yet, I guess.
38:25I thought about it and answered honestly.
38:27I assumed he was done, but then he spoke again.
38:30Long distance guys aren't always reliable.
38:32You should find someone local, someone you actually know.
38:38I nodded.
38:39Something in that seemed to land somewhere tender.
38:41You're right.
38:42You really can't tell with people.
38:44I'll keep my guard up.
38:46Asher went quiet for a very long time.
38:48I assumed he was done.
38:50I didn't think too hard about it.
38:52Thanks for the advice, big bro.
38:54You should figure out your own situation too.
38:56He'd always been unpredictable like that.
38:58After that, I spent the rest of break bouncing around visiting relatives with my grandma and parents.
39:03And then we did a little road trip.
39:05I was barely home.
39:06I didn't run into Asher once.
39:08The break was short, and soon enough I was back at school.
39:11But the very next day after I arrived, Asher was standing outside my campus gate.
39:17Asher, what are you doing here?
39:19I wanted to see what your school looks like.
39:22And check if you're actually doing okay out here.
39:26Really well, actually.
39:27The food here is amazing.
39:28You should look up some spots and try them.
39:30Stella, can't you come eat with me just once?
39:37Sorry about that, man.
39:38I've already got Stella booked.
39:40You'll have to get in line.
39:42Stella, you came back to school this early for him?
39:47Sorry, Asher.
39:49We're heading out to eat.
39:50I'll see you.
39:51Let's go.
39:52Didn't you say the place was far?
39:53Stop standing there.
39:55Asher was still standing at the campus gate watching us.
39:57And under the shadow of the trees, he looked incredibly alone.
40:01He suddenly started showing up in my world constantly.
40:05I never found out what excuse he gave his school, but he kept appearing in California out of nowhere.
40:10He started showing up with gifts, flowers, bags, jewelry, and I turned every single one down.
40:15When there was nothing else to do, he'd just sit outside my dorm building and refuse to leave no matter
40:21how many times I asked.
40:22Whenever he managed to catch me, he'd fallen to step beside me to every single class, then follow me to
40:28the dining hall.
40:29Jake was visibly miserable about the whole thing.
40:31Asher's mom had been calling and messaging me from multiple angles.
40:35She begged me to please talk some sense into him.
40:37I was beyond done.
40:38I genuinely could not figure out what Asher thought he was doing.
40:44Stella, why does Jake get to pursue you, but I don't?
40:48Son of a whitest ass.
40:50He's known you for what, a few months?
40:52How many years have I known you?
40:55No one in this world understands you the way I do.
40:58Not even your parents.
40:59And no one is better for you than me.
41:07Ashler, do you genuinely not remember what you did?
41:11Ask yourself honestly.
41:13Did you ever actually treat my feelings like they mattered?
41:18You just liked the ego boost of having me chase after you.
41:22You knew no matter what you did, I wouldn't leave, so you just did whatever you felt like with my
41:27heart.
41:28Yeah, I did some things wrong back then.
41:31I was young, I thought the whole world was waiting for me.
41:34And I didn't want to feel like I was tied to any one person.
41:37I owe you a real apology, Stella.
41:40I'm sorry.
41:41But even if you treat me like a stranger, can I at least have the chance to start over and
41:45earn it back?
41:46After you left, I realized I don't know how to live without you in it.
41:50I can't imagine going forward and not having anyone to share everything with.
41:54Honestly, since leaving you, I figured out that real, mutual feelings don't require you to shrink yourself down to nothing.
42:01I can just be myself.
42:03My mood doesn't have to orbit around someone else's.
42:05And when I realized that, I started to wonder if what I felt back then was ever real love,
42:11or just something a younger, more naive version of me invented.
42:17But, but, we made promises.
42:23We said we'd go to college together, study abroad together, travel the whole world together.
42:28Are you going to walk away from all of that too?
42:30Stella, are you going to leave all this behind too?
42:33You broke the promises first.
42:36And I've already found someone I want to do all of those things with.
42:42Stop, Stella, please, just stop.
42:49Maybe you're not actually in love with me.
42:51Maybe you just can't stand the idea of losing.
42:54Asher, honestly, it's time for you to move on too.
43:01I didn't wait for a response. Jake had been waiting across the street for a while.
43:05I jogged over, and he immediately reached down and took my hand.
43:10Finally shook the X?
43:13Did you tell him I've got full bug patrol rights now?
43:16He doesn't get a single one.
43:19Everyone is going through their own goodbyes.
43:22As for us, it's finally completely over.
43:26Fading away like the rain.
43:28Everyone in the middle of their own goodbye.
43:30And just like that, the two of us were finally completely over.
43:34Scattered like rain.
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