My Childhood Friends Finally Confessed... But I Was Already Engaged!

Ani Blue Ch

Watch My Childhood Friends Finally Confessed... But I Was Already Engaged! - Ani Blue Ch on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00:00I deliberately score full marks on the college entrance exam, just to get away from my two

00:00:04childhood friends. After I leave the exam hall, they remind me not to forget to put Westbridge

00:00:08University as my first choice. I casually agree, then turn around and enter Northgate University,

00:00:13thousands of miles from home. The moment I finish filling out my application, my phone suddenly

00:00:18buzzes. I pick it up and see a new message in the group chat named, Kai's Two Girls for Life.

00:00:23It's supposed to be a chat for three people, but right now there are four. Adrian has posted a

00:00:27message. Hey, I checked my scores. I'm definitely getting into Westbridge University. I'm so happy.

00:00:33I get to stay classmates with everyone. Please look after me. But the names tagged after that

00:00:38message are only Sophia and Luna. Sophia replies instantly, whenever you need me, I'll always be

00:00:43there for you first. Luna adds, same here. On the first day of school, the whole campus will know

00:00:48you have this young lady's backing. Then they excitedly discuss throwing Adrian a party to

00:00:52celebrate. From start to finish, I don't say a single word, and no one pays me any attention.

00:00:56The glaring group name on my screen now feels like it's mocking me. Sophia, Luna, and I grew up

00:01:01together as childhood friends. Back when the three of them had just met, the two girls clung to me and

00:01:05wouldn't let go, wishing they could be with me every single day. On my 17th birthday, both of them

00:01:10confessed to me at once. I can't choose between them, and I don't want to start dating young.

00:01:14Just as I steel myself to refuse, they immediately grab my hand, stopping me from saying any word of

00:01:19rejection. They humbly beg, just give us some time. Give us your answer on the first day of college.

00:01:24I don't want to hurt either of them, so I agree for the time being. I think I'll have time

00:01:28to figure

00:01:29out my own feelings, until Adrian shows up. Adrian is one of the underprivileged students my family

00:01:33sponsors. Because of his good grades, he transfers to my high school. Using gratitude as an excuse,

00:01:39he gets closer to me step by step. At first, I feel sorry for him and take care of him

00:01:42often.

00:01:43When he says he can't afford food, I swipe my own meal card to take him to eat. When he

00:01:47says he's

00:01:47falling behind, I sacrifice my own time to tutor him. When he says he has no friends, I introduce him

00:01:52to Sophia and Luna. But I never expect that in just three months, Adrian works his way step by

00:01:57step into replacing me. Seeing that line, all four of us are going to Westbridge. I set my phone down

00:02:03with a cold smile, then start clearing out everything at home connected to Sophia and Luna,

00:02:07every memory of them. Before I know it, the pile fills an entire box. I carry the box downstairs,

00:02:13and just as I toss it into the trash, I run into Sophia and Luna, who are coming back from

00:02:17the party.

00:02:17They spot it almost instantly, the two veils sitting in the trash can. Back when we were kids

00:02:22playing house, both of them fought over who would be my bride nearly coming to blows. In the end,

00:02:27I keep both veils, just to ease the tension between them. Still, they insist that whenever the wedding

00:02:31happens, the other girl's veil must be thrown away. Back then I just blink at them. How do you even

00:02:36know

00:02:36that when I grow up I'll definitely marry one of you? Both of them instantly bristle, insisting I must

00:02:41choose one of them. Now, seeing me throw it away, and not just that, every single thing connected to

00:02:45them, I've thrown all of it out. The two of them rush forward. Luna grabs my hand tightly. Why would

00:02:50you throw away what we gave you? Are you still upset about what happened earlier? It's true we gave

00:02:54Adrian your front door code, but aren't you two friends? We figured it wouldn't matter to tell him.

00:02:58Even if he took your things, we transferred you the money for it. You accepted it, didn't you?

00:03:03Sophia, usually cool and reserved, sounds shaken this time. Kai, it's such a small thing. If you're angry,

00:03:09fine, but why throw everything away? Do you really have to go this far? Throwing away their things

00:03:13makes me go too far? That alone breaks them. So what if I told them I'd secretly change my

00:03:17college application long ago, just to leave them forever? Wouldn't that drive them out of their

00:03:21minds? I speak flatly. I'm not angry. These things have just gone moldy, so of course I threw them

00:03:26out. Seeing my eyes as calm as still water, the two of them ask in unison, you're really not angry?

00:03:32I shake my head. No, after all, from now on, neither of you has anything to do with me,

00:03:37so what would I even be angry about? Hearing this, the two of them instantly relax. Well,

00:03:41if they'd gone moldy then good riddance, we'll just buy you new ones. I say nothing,

00:03:45just give a small, mmm, and turn away coldly. For the next several days, neither Sophia nor Luna

00:03:50come looking for me. Through Adrian's endless stream of social media posts I learn they've

00:03:54been spending every moment with him, helping him check off his graduation bucket list,

00:03:58an amusement park he's never been to, a planetarium he was curious about, the great wall he'd only ever

00:04:03seen in books. They accompany him through every single one, while I scroll past each post,

00:04:08even in the mood to leave a like. Until the day I receive my acceptance letter

00:04:11from Northgate University. The moment I put the letter away, Sophia and Luna knock on my door

00:04:15together. Kai, our acceptance letters arrived, did yours come too? Let's go pick them up together.

00:04:20I speak flatly. No need, mine's already here. With that, I move to shut the door.

00:04:24Sophia quickly grabs the door. Wait, I booked a private room,

00:04:27let's have a celebration dinner together. No need, there's a class reunion coming up in a few days

00:04:32anyway, we can eat together then. With that, I turn and close the door, leaving Sophia and Luna

00:04:37frozen in place, staring at each other. Three days later is the already planned class reunion.

00:04:42The moment I arrive, several classmates curiously glance behind me, then look disappointed.

00:04:47Kai, why aren't the school bell and the top student here? Aren't they always wherever you are?

00:04:51Yeah, I heard you all got into Westbridge. On the first day of school, you're supposed to

00:04:54choose between Sophia and Luna, right? Have you decided who? Before I can speak,

00:04:58a few classmates who've always targeted me jump in to answer first.

00:05:01Does he even get to choose anymore? Sophia and Luna like Adrian more now,

00:05:04why are you even asking him? Haven't you figured that out yet?

00:05:07The group bursts into laughter, expecting me to get angry, but I don't say a single word.

00:05:11I don't even spare them a glance. Frustrated, they keep mocking me. I stay silent the whole time.

00:05:17Just then, the door opens. Sophia and Luna walk in, one on each side of Adrian.

00:05:21The group immediately looks at me, laughing again. Even the school bell and top student

00:05:25don't like him anymore. What's he even got to be proud of? That's not pride,

00:05:28that's a stray dog with nowhere to go. Ha, look at him. He's like a dog.

00:05:32The class president wipes cold sweat from his brow, quickly smoothing things over.

00:05:36Everyone's here, let's get the party started. The room fills with noisy chatter.

00:05:41Sophia and Luna dote on Adrian, attentive to his every need, mindful of what happened last time,

00:05:45and don't so much as glance my way. I sit in the corner, calmly eating from the fruit plate,

00:05:50my face showing nothing but indifference. Partway through, someone suggests playing truth or dare.

00:05:54I don't want to join, but I'm dragged in anyway. After a few rounds, I lose.

00:05:57Come on, come on. It's Kai's turn to share a secret. A secret? I laugh quietly to myself,

00:06:03my gaze sweeping past Sophia and Luna, then say flatly,

00:06:06My secret is that on the first day of school, I'm going to throw away two things.

00:06:09No one picks up on the deeper meaning behind my words. Some lose interest.

00:06:13That's not even a secret. Throwing stuff away, what kind of secret is that?

00:06:16We'll let this round slide, but you can't get away with something so half-hearted next time.

00:06:20I nod, but offer no explanation. As luck would have it, I lose the very next round, too.

00:06:24The whole room starts egging me on. Kai, we're not letting you off easy this time.

00:06:29Let's think of something harder. How about we ask about Sophia and Luna?

00:06:32Which one are you actually going to choose as your girlfriend?

00:06:34The moment the question is asked, everyone leans in for the answer.

00:06:37Sophia nervously gulps down water again and again. Luna is just as tense,

00:06:41her fists clenched tight, not relaxing for a second. I glance at them, a little surprised,

00:06:45that they, with eyes only for Adrian now, would still be nervous about my answer.

00:06:49I let out a cold laugh. Both of the-

00:06:51Before I finish, Adrian cries out. Everyone turns to look and sees that Adrian has accidentally

00:06:55spilled wine on himself. Sophia and Luna's expressions shift instantly. One quickly pulls

00:07:00tight the jacket draped over Adrian's shoulders, while the other clears a path so he can go change.

00:07:04The game is forced to a halt, and with him gone, no one has the heart to keep playing.

00:07:08Some quietly murmur about wanting to leave. The class president quickly calls out,

00:07:12Don't leave yet, everyone. The teacher bought a bunch of fireworks. Let's all go set them off by

00:07:16the river to celebrate our new journey ahead. Hearing that, the ones who'd been quietly talking

00:07:20about leaving fall silent. After quite a while, Adrian finally arrives late, along with Sophia

00:07:25and Luna. He's wearing a custom-tailored suit bought by Sophia, and the shoes on his feet are

00:07:29limited edition, priceless collector's items, a gift from Luna. Everyone whispers among themselves,

00:07:34gasping in envy. I'm the only one who glances at it once, and looks away. The group heads noisily

00:07:39off to set off fireworks. Bursts of brilliant fireworks bloom across the pitch-black sky.

00:07:43Almost everyone silently makes a wish, but Adrian shouts loudly toward the river.

00:07:47I hope Sophia and Luna's wishes all come true! Hearing this, Sophia's usually cold eyes can't

00:07:53help but soften with emotion. Luna smiles warmly, and softening, gently touches Adrian's face.

00:07:58Why are you so silly, wishing for someone else? Adrian turns and smiles at the two of them.

00:08:03But you two are the most important people in my heart. Sophia and Luna both can't help but smile,

00:08:07speaking at the same time. You're my most important person, too. Mine, too. All I feel is the air

00:08:13thick with a sickeningly sweet feeling. Unwilling to stay near them any longer, I turn and walk off

00:08:18to a corner watching the fireworks alone in silence. When Adrian notices, he immediately

00:08:22tugs at Sophia and Luna. Kai looks upset. He hasn't even set off any fireworks. Let's go cheer him up.

00:08:28Hearing this, Sophia's eyes darken, her feet rooted to the ground, not moving an inch. Luna turns her

00:08:33head away, too, refusing to look at me, unwilling to move either. Well, if you two won't go, then I'll

00:08:38cheer him up myself, give him a surprise. With that, he smiles and scoops up a handful of fireworks.

00:08:43As he approaches behind me, he quietly lights them and casually throws them at my head.

00:08:47A loud bang, the fireworks explode. Everyone turns to look and sees me completely engulfed in flames.

00:08:53Kai! Kai! Sophia and Luna's hearts clench in horror. They sprint toward me like mad.

00:08:58When I wake up again, I open my eyes. Everything I see is white, and the sharp smell of disinfectant

00:09:03fills my nose. The moment I move, my whole body aches terribly. The nurse changing my bandage

00:09:08as quickly stops me. Don't move. Your burns are severe. Luckily, you were brought in in time,

00:09:12and you had a skin graft so it won't scar. Otherwise, with a face this good-looking,

00:09:16it would have been ruined for good. I think back to the moment before I passed out,

00:09:19and my chest turns cold with dread. I truly don't understand how a person can be so vicious.

00:09:25I try to speak, but the pain wracking my body leaves me too weak.

00:09:28Just then, the nurse continues. Oh, right, it was two very pretty girls who brought you to the hospital.

00:09:32You were unconscious then so you didn't see it, but they were frantic with worry.

00:09:35However long you've been unconscious these past few days, they've stayed by your side,

00:09:39just as long. They just got talked into resting. Should I go wake them? They'll be so happy to

00:09:43know you're awake. I quickly stop her. No, I don't want to see Sophia or Luna.

00:09:47The nurse nods and pushes the supply cart away, but not long after, having gotten the news,

00:09:52Sophia and Luna rush over anyway. Normally, both of them have a bit of a cleanliness obsession,

00:09:56but now their eyes are bloodshot and their clothes haven't been changed in days.

00:09:59Their eyes are full of anguish, and the moment they see me, their voices tremble.

00:10:02Kai, are you okay? I'm sorry. It's our fault for not protecting you.

00:10:06Before I can speak, Sophia speaks again, handing over a thick stack of handwritten apology letters.

00:10:11Kai, I know you're in a lot of pain. This time it really was Adrian's fault,

00:10:15but he didn't mean it either. However long you've been unconscious these past few days,

00:10:19he's been just as guilty, constantly thinking about how to apologize to you.

00:10:22Please just forgive him. Hearing this, my palms break out in a cold sweat.

00:10:25I'm the one who got hurt, and he feels guilty? Am I supposed to be responsible for that too?

00:10:29Kai, that's not what I meant. Adrian just wants to apologize to you.

00:10:33Wants to apologize? Fine. Have him come get burned just like I did.

00:10:36A chill runs through me. I close my eyes, unwilling to look at their faces anymore.

00:10:40Luna furrows her brow, keeping her voice as gentle as possible.

00:10:44Kai, don't be so unforgiving. Adrian really does blame himself.

00:10:47Blames himself? I laugh until tears come.

00:10:50If he blames himself that much, go comfort him then. What are you doing in my hospital room?

00:10:55Sophia and Luna exchange a glance, sighing helplessly.

00:10:57They know there's nothing they can say right now that I'll listen to.

00:11:00Luna says helplessly,

00:11:02Kai, I found the best doctor in the whole city to treat you. Don't worry, you won't scar.

00:11:06Sophia adds,

00:11:07I've left the SU family's bodyguards here. Whatever you want to eat or use, just tell them directly.

00:11:12We'll come see you every day.

00:11:13With that, the two of them cast a long look at me lying in bed with my eyes closed,

00:11:17then turn and leave.

00:11:18After they're gone, I grit my teeth, gasping in pain.

00:11:21Ever since I woke up, the anesthesia has worn off,

00:11:23and my whole body aches like it's being cut by knives.

00:11:26I don't know how much time passes before Mom and Dad rush in.

00:11:29Does your face hurt?

00:11:30The moment their concerned words leave their mouths,

00:11:32the tears I've been holding back for so long finally spill out.

00:11:35Mom gently wraps her arms around me, her heart breaking.

00:11:38Dad's face darkens with fury, and he slams his hand on the table.

00:11:41We really did invite a wolf into the house.

00:11:44That Adrian did it on purpose, I'm sure of it.

00:11:46Starting today, we're cutting off Adrian's sponsorship.

00:11:48We'll find evidence of his crime and hold him fully responsible.

00:11:51After a long while, my emotions finally settle.

00:11:53Mom and Dad have to leave for work again, and the hospital room grows quiet and empty once more.

00:11:58But I don't feel as sad as before.

00:11:59I stay in the hospital for a long stretch of time.

00:12:02Sophia and Luna come to visit almost every single day.

00:12:04Every time, I refuse to see them.

00:12:06With no other options, Sophia and Luna can only leave the gifts they buy each day outside the door,

00:12:10waiting for someone to go in so they can hand them off.

00:12:12But every time, I just give them to the nurse on duty instead.

00:12:15Finally, on the day I'm discharged, Sophia and Luna come to pick me up.

00:12:19Kai, your parents are away on a business trip, so we've come to get you.

00:12:22I don't even look at them, turning to walk off in a different direction.

00:12:26Sophia's expression darkens, and she grabs my hand.

00:12:28Kai, because you were upset, we haven't seen Adrian at all lately.

00:12:31It's understandable if you don't like him, but why has our relationship gotten so distant, too?

00:12:35I can't help but find it laughable.

00:12:37Am I the one who made things distant?

00:12:39Isn't it them who pushed me out, step by step, forcing this distance between us?

00:12:43I just laugh a few times, without answering.

00:12:45Luna pulls the car around, blocking the doorway.

00:12:47If you don't get in, we'll block this spot forever.

00:12:49I guarantee it, not a single car on this road will be able to pass.

00:12:53As if to prove her point, soon the cars nearby start honking in protest,

00:12:57followed by a second, a third, more and more.

00:13:00Not wanting to disrupt traffic, I have no choice but to get in.

00:13:03The moment I do, the two of them start showering me with attention.

00:13:06Kai, look.

00:13:07This is your favorite pastry shop, you've always wanted to try it, right?

00:13:09I waited in line forever for this.

00:13:12Luna holds up the pastry like a puppy, seeking praise, her eyes shining bright.

00:13:15No need, I don't like it anymore, it's too sweet.

00:13:18I refuse coldly.

00:13:19Sophia then holds out a carefully wrapped box, an ointment pushed toward me.

00:13:22It's fine if you don't like the pastry.

00:13:24This is an ointment I got from a famous overseas medical professor.

00:13:28It'll help your wound heal.

00:13:29I push the ointment back.

00:13:31No need.

00:13:31The hospital already gave me medicine, I don't need this.

00:13:34No matter how much they try to please me, I reject it all, one by one.

00:13:37Suddenly I feel something wedged in the seat crack, as if something's been stuffed there.

00:13:41I pull it out.

00:13:42It's a note.

00:13:42It reads, Adrian's personal seat.

00:13:45I can't help but scoff.

00:13:46Luna quickly snatches the note away and tears it to shreds.

00:13:49Kai, don't misunderstand.

00:13:50This is from a game I lost last time.

00:13:52Just her hasty movements seem terrified, I'll misunderstand.

00:13:55I let out a light, indifferent laugh.

00:13:57Nothing to do with me.

00:13:59I close my eyes, uninterested, not caring how they react.

00:14:02Luna's face changes instantly.

00:14:04How is it nothing to do with you?

00:14:06Did you forget what you promised us?

00:14:07That you'd make your choice on the first day of school?

00:14:10Sophia's cool eyes flicker, and she can't help but ask, too.

00:14:13Have you decided?

00:14:14I glance at them.

00:14:15You should go ask Adrian that.

00:14:17That seems more fitting.

00:14:18Both of their expressions shift abruptly, rushing to explain.

00:14:22Why would we ask Adrian?

00:14:23We don't feel that way about him.

00:14:25Kai, are you misunderstanding something?

00:14:27I just close my eyes, unwilling to hear any more.

00:14:30Sophia and Luna don't dare disturb me further.

00:14:32They just exchange a glance, sensing that I seem to have changed a great deal,

00:14:35growing more and more indifferent to them.

00:14:36This was never what they intended.

00:14:38They want to explain but don't know where to even begin,

00:14:40so they can only tell themselves it'll be fine once the first day of school comes.

00:14:44The moment I get home, I receive a call from a teacher.

00:14:47Kai, you did really well this time.

00:14:48You're the top scorer in the whole city.

00:14:50The school would like to invite you back to give a speech to the younger students,

00:14:53sharing some of your study tips.

00:14:54I hesitate for a moment.

00:14:56If I give this speech, the truth about my changed application will come out,

00:14:59but after only a few seconds of hesitation, I agree.

00:15:02They'll find out about my changed application sooner or later.

00:15:04I've only been hiding it to avoid trouble,

00:15:06but it's already set in stone now.

00:15:08No matter how upset they get, nothing will change.

00:15:10More than that, I'd rather focus on sharing study tips with the younger students.

00:15:14With that in mind, I begin preparing thoroughly for the speech.

00:15:16But just as I'm about to go on stage, Sophia and Luna block my path.

00:15:20Luna speaks a little awkwardly.

00:15:22Kai, you don't need to go on stage this time.

00:15:24How about we go grab something to eat instead, or is there anywhere you want to go?

00:15:26We'll take you.

00:15:27I ask, puzzled.

00:15:28What do you mean?

00:15:29Sophia is silent for a few seconds before picking up the thread.

00:15:32Adrian really wants to practice his public speaking,

00:15:34so I had my father step in and hand this speaking opportunity over to him.

00:15:38My father invested in a few of the school's buildings.

00:15:41Swapping the speaker is nothing, just one word from him.

00:15:43Just then, Adrian's voice rings out from the stage.

00:15:46I follow the sound and look up, and there Adrian is, standing on stage.

00:15:50Watching me stand there in stunned silence,

00:15:52Sophia and Luna can't help but hold their breath, bracing for me to explode in anger.

00:15:55But after waiting quite a while, my face stays cold, showing no sign of anger at all.

00:15:59In the end, I just give a small smile, say nothing, and walk away.

00:16:03What a shame, Sophia and Luna.

00:16:05You've just missed your last chance to learn the truth.

00:16:07On the first day of school, Mom and Dad make a special trip home.

00:16:11Kai, is your luggage all packed?

00:16:13Northgate University is so far from the capital, over 3,000 kilometers.

00:16:16Make sure you bring everything you need.

00:16:18Mom worriedly double-checks the luggage count over and over.

00:16:21I shake my head with a smile.

00:16:22No need, Mom and Dad.

00:16:23You're both busy with work.

00:16:24You don't need to worry about me.

00:16:26Even so, Mom still can't quite set her mind at ease.

00:16:28She wipes away tears.

00:16:30You're going alone, so far away.

00:16:32How can we not worry?

00:16:33Westbridge University is right here in the city, yet you insist on going so far.

00:16:37I smile and hug her.

00:16:38Mom, I'm just going to college, and you're already crying like this?

00:16:42If I ever study abroad someday, you'd cry yourself sick.

00:16:45That reminds Mom of something, and she quickly pulls a note from her bag,

00:16:48with a phone number written on it.

00:16:50Kai, actually, when you were little, our family arranged an engagement for you.

00:16:53But since Sophia and Luna, you two clung to you your whole childhood,

00:16:57we always assumed you'd end up marrying one of them, so we never brought it up.

00:17:00But now it seems neither of them is right for you.

00:17:02That other person also attends Northgate University, the same school as you.

00:17:06These days, arranged childhood engagements don't really mean much anymore,

00:17:09but if you two hit it off, that's fine, and if not, you can always turn to them for help.

00:17:13It's good to have someone looking out for you.

00:17:15Mom presses the note into my palm.

00:17:17Just as I'm about to decline, Sophia and Luna suddenly walk in.

00:17:20Uncle, Auntie, don't worry.

00:17:21We'll take good care of Kai.

00:17:22Everyone in the room knows, the two of them misheard,

00:17:25assuming Mom was talking about them, but everyone stays silent.

00:17:28No one tells them the truth.

00:17:29I calmly slip the note into my pocket.

00:17:31Mom, don't worry, I understand.

00:17:33Mom wipes her tears and nods.

00:17:35Dad's eyes reddened, too.

00:17:36Sophia and Luna exchange a glance, not understanding why they're crying like this.

00:17:40Uncle, Auntie, Westbridge is right here in the city.

00:17:43Even though Kai will be living on campus, he can still come home anytime on weekends.

00:17:46If he ever gets homesick, we can even bring him home every day.

00:17:49Mom and Dad just sigh, saying nothing more.

00:17:52Sophia and Luna don't notice anything off, either.

00:17:54They hurry into my room, eagerly helping me pack my luggage.

00:17:57But once inside, both of them are stunned.

00:17:59Sophia asks, surprised.

00:18:01Isn't it right here in the city?

00:18:02You can come home anytime.

00:18:04Why bring so many clothes?

00:18:05I'm sentimental.

00:18:06It's normal for me to have a lot of clothes, I say, brushing it off.

00:18:09Luna chimes in.

00:18:10Right, right.

00:18:11Take however many you want.

00:18:12Once the paperwork's settled, we can always come back for more.

00:18:15Sophia says nothing more.

00:18:16Just casually picks up a suitcase, her usually cool expression now carrying a barely noticeable

00:18:21trace of nervousness.

00:18:22Kai, take my car.

00:18:24She hesitates then continues, haltingly.

00:18:26I've got a surprise waiting for you at school.

00:18:28Luna quickly snatches the suitcase from her hands.

00:18:30Take my car instead.

00:18:32I have a surprise too.

00:18:33The two of them pull me back and forth from either side.

00:18:35In the middle of their tug of war, someone's phone suddenly rings.

00:18:39Sophia, Luna, I got into a car accident on the way to school.

00:18:42It's Adrian.

00:18:43Sophia and Luna's expressions change instantly.

00:18:46They anxiously ask,

00:18:47Are you okay?

00:18:48What happened?

00:18:48Are you hurt?

00:18:49Adrian's pained voice comes through the phone.

00:18:51I'm fine.

00:18:52Just scared.

00:18:53Sophia decides instantly.

00:18:54Don't move.

00:18:55Wait right there.

00:18:56I'm coming to find you now.

00:18:57Luna reassures him too.

00:18:58Don't be scared.

00:18:59I'm here.

00:19:00I'll come find you.

00:19:00After hanging up the phone, they finally remember me standing there.

00:19:04Before they can speak, I cut them off first.

00:19:06No need to walk me there.

00:19:07I'll get to school myself.

00:19:09Sophia hesitates, wanting to say something.

00:19:11Then finally just says,

00:19:12Call me when you get there, Luna adds haltingly.

00:19:15Kai, you said you'd choose between us on the first day of school.

00:19:18Don't forget.

00:19:19I just look at them coldly, without nodding and without answering.

00:19:23Both of them sense something is off, but then Luna's phone rings again,

00:19:26and Adrian starts whining on the other end, claiming he's scared,

00:19:29claiming his leg hurts, forcing the two of them to leave.

00:19:32Before leaving, Sophia and Luna keep looking back with every step,

00:19:35repeatedly reminding me to stay in touch.

00:19:36Yet I never respond, not once.

00:19:39Finally, the two of them each get into their own cars, and I get into mine too.

00:19:43The moment I sit down, my phone buzzes softly.

00:19:45I open it and find a message from Adrian.

00:19:47Kai, do you see it now?

00:19:48With just one phone call from me, they'll still drop everything for you.

00:19:51Even if you became their boyfriend, it'd be the same.

00:19:53If you keep sponsoring me, I might consider giving one of them to you.

00:19:57Seeing this, I let out a scoff and type a few words with my fingertip.

00:20:00No need.

00:20:00I don't want either of them anymore.

00:20:02They're all yours.

00:20:02After sending it, I swiftly block Adrian, then Sophia, then Luna.

00:20:06Finally, I snap my SIM card in half and toss it away,

00:20:09pulling out a new SIM card from my bag and putting it in.

00:20:12Entering the number for the arranged engagement contact mom just gave me.

00:20:15The driver hits the gas, and the car heads off in the opposite direction from the other two,

00:20:19toward the airport.

00:20:20Watching the scenery race by, I give a faint smile.

00:20:23This time, I'm going to start a brand new life, completely.

00:20:26My plane has just taken off, and at the very same moment, back at Westbridge,

00:20:30Sophia and Luna both stand at the university gate holding bouquets of flowers,

00:20:34their faces growing darker by the minute.

00:20:36With the family car nowhere in sight, a growing sense of dread creeps over them.

00:20:40For some reason, one thought surfaces in their minds,

00:20:43that I don't want to accept their confession.

00:20:45No, that can't be.

00:20:46Maybe Kai just took a different route to the gate.

00:20:48They almost don't dare consider the other more unthinkable possibility.

00:20:52The countless bouquets behind them draw the attention of many students,

00:20:55and some onlookers even take photos and post them on the campus forum.

00:20:57Two beautiful freshmen at our school, and they're already putting on a display like this on day one.

00:21:02Who could they possibly be confessing to?

00:21:04I'm dying, whoever it is must be so lucky.

00:21:06Say what you want, but you can't deny it.

00:21:08They each have such a distinct look.

00:21:10One cool and aloof, one fiery and bold.

00:21:12Don't tell me they're confessing to the same guy.

00:21:14Are they still at the gate right now?

00:21:16I want to go see two.

00:21:17Countless people see the forum post and rush over to watch.

00:21:20Meanwhile, Sophia has already called my number more times than she can count,

00:21:23but I never answer.

00:21:24Luna's face darkens like the bottom of a pot.

00:21:26He's blocked me.

00:21:28There's no way to reach him at all.

00:21:29She grips her phone tightly, almost crushing it out of shape.

00:21:32Sophia's chilly gaze reflects the same irritation.

00:21:35Same here.

00:21:36They've never encountered anything like this before.

00:21:38I've never once cut off contact with them like this.

00:21:41Something must have happened to him.

00:21:42The various gifts they'd carefully prepared are all left tossed aside on the spot,

00:21:46as Sophia sprints home without a second thought,

00:21:48while Luna hurries to search the school for me.

00:21:51The Sioux family's front door is knocked on once again.

00:21:53This time it takes a long while before anyone answers.

00:21:56It's the family's housekeeper.

00:21:58Miss Sioux, is there something you need?

00:21:59Seeing the housekeeper, Sophia is momentarily speechless,

00:22:02then after a beat of silence, finally asks,

00:22:04Is Kai still home?

00:22:05As she speaks, her eyes dart past trying to peer inside.

00:22:08The housekeeper looks utterly confused.

00:22:11Miss, the young master left with you two this morning?

00:22:13How could he possibly still be home?

00:22:15Sophia gives a soft acknowledgement, then continues,

00:22:17Are uncle and auntie home?

00:22:19I have something I need to ask them.

00:22:21Oh, the master and mistress left for a business trip out of town right after you all headed out.

00:22:25They're not home.

00:22:26You could try calling them, the housekeeper answers honestly,

00:22:29then slowly closes the door.

00:22:31Sophia's eyes darken.

00:22:32If only I could get through on the phone, that would be nice,

00:22:35she murmurs to herself, feeling an inexplicable pang of loneliness.

00:22:39Could it really be that Kai doesn't want to accept our confessions,

00:22:42and that's why he's avoiding us?

00:22:43After all, once they'd sorted out the situation with Adrian,

00:22:46they rushed to school as fast as they could, surprise in hand.

00:22:49So why were they still one step too late?

00:22:51Just a little bit more, and they could have explained everything.

00:22:54Sophia returns to campus in a daze, utterly lost.

00:22:57Meanwhile, on the other side, Luna isn't faring any better.

00:23:00She asks around everywhere, looking for anyone who knows me.

00:23:03The passing students all just shake their heads.

00:23:05A kind-hearted student speaks up to offer advice.

00:23:08Miss, searching like this won't get you anywhere.

00:23:10If you're looking for someone, go ask the student affairs office,

00:23:13or check with the registrar's office.

00:23:14Isn't that way faster?

00:23:15With that advice, Luna suddenly snaps to it and rushes off to the registrar's office.

00:23:19She finds the staff member in charge of student records.

00:23:22Sir, my boyfriend is a freshman here, but I've completely lost contact with him.

00:23:26I need your help checking whether he's been registered.

00:23:28The staff member hesitates for a long while,

00:23:30until Luna offers to donate an entire library building,

00:23:33and only then does he happily agree.

00:23:35He searches the system several times, but can't find any record of Kai at all,

00:23:38not even someone with the same name.

00:23:40At this point, even the staff member starts to doubt himself.

00:23:42Miss, are you sure this is your boyfriend's actual name?

00:23:45He points at the name on the screen, double and triple checking.

00:23:48Luna nods firmly.

00:23:49That's right.

00:23:50How could I possibly get his name wrong?

00:23:52Now it's the staff member's turn to grow uneasy.

00:23:54He searches over and over again.

00:23:57And together with Luna, they check the screen countless times before he finally concludes.

00:24:01Miss, this Kai you're talking about isn't a student at our school.

00:24:05There's no one by that name among this year's admitted students.

00:24:08Our system's records don't make mistakes.

00:24:11Could it be your boyfriend has been lying to you?

00:24:13If he really has, you should report it to the police right away,

00:24:16the staff member says with concern.

00:24:18Hearing this, Luna feels as if struck by lightning, thunder crashing through her mind.

00:24:23What did she just hear?

00:24:24Westbridge never admitted Kai.

00:24:26Then where did he go?

00:24:27With Kai's grades, no matter which school he applied to,

00:24:30he'd be fought over by admissions everywhere.

00:24:32There's absolutely no way he failed to get in.

00:24:34What on earth happened?

00:24:35In that instant, Luna feels her mind go completely blank, unable to think at all.

00:24:40Just then, Sophia gets word and rushes over to,

00:24:43the air around her turning strangely heavy and cold.

00:24:46Almost no one dares approach her.

00:24:47Everyone wants to stay as far away as possible.

00:24:49So what did you find out?

00:24:51She asks coldly, clearly in a foul mood, pent-up frustration seething inside her.

00:24:55Luna shakes her head and relays everything she's just learned.

00:24:58Sophia's eyes darken, narrowing sharply.

00:25:00Where did Kai actually go?

00:25:02Is he trying to leave us?

00:25:03The same thought rises unbidden in both their minds.

00:25:06For a moment, neither of them can quite accept it.

00:25:08For just a moment, both of them wonder,

00:25:10Did they push me too hard?

00:25:11Is that why I've done this?

00:25:13But the next instant, a young man's voice interrupts their thoughts.

00:25:16Ladies, there's a guy at the front gate who picked up your gifts and flowers,

00:25:19said he knows you.

00:25:20You should go check it out.

00:25:21It's raining outside.

00:25:22It wouldn't be good if he got sick.

00:25:23Hearing this, Sophia and Luna exchange a glance,

00:25:26both seeing the flash of hope and excitement in the other's eyes,

00:25:28and rush toward the gate together.

00:25:29Is it Kai?

00:25:30An impossible hope surges in both their hearts.

00:25:33Maybe it really is Kai, just playing a joke on them.

00:25:35It wouldn't matter even if he's not at the school,

00:25:37as long as Kai is still willing to accept their confessions.

00:25:40Both of them think the same thing at once.

00:25:42As they draw closer to the gate, their hearts pound wildly,

00:25:45until the young man holding the two bouquets at the gate turns around,

00:25:47and both of them freeze on the spot.

00:25:49Why is it you, Adrian?

00:25:50Why are you here?

00:25:51Where's Kai?

00:25:52Luna and Sophia ask, one after the other.

00:25:54Adrian is soaked head to toe in rain,

00:25:56but still tries hard to shield with his own body the flowers and gifts in his arms,

00:25:59keeping them dry.

00:26:00Sophia, Luna, you're finally here.

00:26:02I've been watching your gifts for you.

00:26:04Why hasn't Kai come yet?

00:26:05I've been waiting here for so long.

00:26:07His malnourished frame is battered by wind and rain,

00:26:09yet still carries a stubborn air about it.

00:26:11But neither of them has the heart to appreciate it.

00:26:14Luna dismisses him with disappointment.

00:26:16You don't need to guard these, just go home.

00:26:18Kai isn't coming.

00:26:19Sophia looks at the scattered, flowers strewn across the ground.

00:26:22Neither of them expected things would end up like this.

00:26:24Their hearts full of anticipation collapse into emptiness in an instant.

00:26:27The feeling in their hearts is naturally bitter,

00:26:30and neither has any mood to deal with Adrian right now.

00:26:32Yet he refuses to give up,

00:26:34holding the gifts and smiling as he tries to comfort them.

00:26:36Sophia, Luna, don't lose heart, Kai.

00:26:39Kai just hasn't made up his mind yet.

00:26:41Maybe he'll come around after some time.

00:26:42Look, the gifts you prepared are really nice, I love them.

00:26:45And I'm sure Kai will too.

00:26:46But this speech, unfortunately, falls on deaf ears.

00:26:49Neither Luna nor Sophia is really listening.

00:26:52The two of them,

00:26:53who once couldn't bear to see Adrian suffer even the slightest harm,

00:26:56now can't even bring themselves to care that he's standing in the same rain.

00:26:59Sophia says flatly,

00:27:01He won't like it.

00:27:02We grew up with him since childhood.

00:27:03How could I not understand what he means?

00:27:05What I've done here is a clear, unmistakable rejection.

00:27:08To get away from us,

00:27:09he changed his college application and never once told us.

00:27:12Luna lowers her eyes too,

00:27:13her whole body radiating sorrow.

00:27:15Maybe we made the wrong move.

00:27:17We thought if we treated Adrian well,

00:27:19it would make Kai jealous,

00:27:20make him compete with Adrian,

00:27:21make him figure out whose confession to accept in the end.

00:27:24But instead, he wanted neither of us.

00:27:26Sophia and Luna's eyes are filled with quiet despair.

00:27:29Just then,

00:27:29Adrian suddenly opens two gift boxes,

00:27:31putting on the cufflinks and watch inside them.

00:27:33He grabs their hands,

00:27:34one in each of his,

00:27:35and says firmly,

00:27:35Sophia, Luna,

00:27:37Kai doesn't like you,

00:27:38but I'm still here.

00:27:39I do.

00:27:39You're both amazing.

00:27:40If Kai can't see that,

00:27:41can't you two also take a look at the person right beside you?

00:27:44I'm not bad either.

00:27:45Adrian,

00:27:46heedless of his soaking wet clothes,

00:27:48shouts out these words at the top of his voice.

00:27:50In that instant,

00:27:51the entire campus falls silent,

00:27:52including Sophia and Luna.

00:27:54Luna gives an awkward,

00:27:55forced smile.

00:27:56Adrian,

00:27:57you're not serious,

00:27:57are you?

00:27:57Stop this.

00:27:58Take the watch off.

00:27:59It's not yours to wear.

00:28:00Sophia stares at Adrian's hands,

00:28:02her gaze so cold,

00:28:03it looks like she wants to cut them off.

00:28:04Who gave you permission to wear those cufflinks?

00:28:07Take them off.

00:28:07They were never meant for you.

00:28:09Her icy hand grips Adrian's sleeve tightly,

00:28:11tearing the fabric apart as she rips the cufflinks off.

00:28:14Adrian is nearly frozen in shock.

00:28:15How could this be happening?

00:28:17In almost an instant,

00:28:18his face turns ugly with humiliation.

00:28:20Adrian forces down his shame and apologizes again and again.

00:28:23I'm sorry,

00:28:24I know these weren't mine to have.

00:28:25I misunderstood.

00:28:26I thought you two liked me.

00:28:28I read too much into it.

00:28:29He takes the watch off himself before Luna can reach for it,

00:28:31placing it in her palm.

00:28:33I'm sorry,

00:28:33it's my fault for taking Kai's things.

00:28:35I thought that since he rejected you two,

00:28:37I'd have a chance.

00:28:38Turns out it was all just wishful thinking on my part.

00:28:40Adrian gives a self-mocking,

00:28:42smile,

00:28:42then strides away.

00:28:43But he never hears any footsteps chasing after him.

00:28:46This time,

00:28:46he's truly panicking.

00:28:47He thought Sophia and Luna were already completely under his control,

00:28:51already hopelessly in love with him.

00:28:52Kai had clearly abandoned them on the very day set for their confession.

00:28:55So why do they still love him so much?

00:28:57Is he,

00:28:58Adrian,

00:28:58really so inferior to Kai?

00:29:00The resentment in his heart grows deeper and deeper.

00:29:02He slams his fist against a tree trunk,

00:29:04his knuckles seeping blood,

00:29:06and he doesn't even notice.

00:29:07Meanwhile,

00:29:08Sophia and Luna carefully place the family heirlooms back into their boxes.

00:29:11Neither of them ever had any intention of accepting Adrian.

00:29:14As far as Adrian is concerned,

00:29:16they only ever felt pity for him.

00:29:17More than that,

00:29:18they used him as a tool to make Kai jealous.

00:29:20Now that Kai isn't here anymore,

00:29:22there's no reason to be nice to Adrian anymore either.

00:29:24What's more,

00:29:25because of him,

00:29:26Kai chose neither of them.

00:29:27Sophia and Luna exchange a glance,

00:29:29both seeing the frustration in each other's eyes.

00:29:31If they hadn't made that damned agreement back then,

00:29:34they might have already won Kai over by now,

00:29:36instead of being like this,

00:29:37not even knowing where Kai has gone.

00:29:39Suddenly,

00:29:40Sophia says,

00:29:41Mr. Lu would know.

00:29:42Hearing this,

00:29:43Luna's head snaps up instantly.

00:29:45Mr. Lu was their high school homeroom teacher,

00:29:46he would surely know which university Kai went to.

00:29:49Sophia and Luna quickly pull out their phones.

00:29:51Hello,

00:29:51Mr. Lu,

00:29:52it's Sophia,

00:29:53I wanted to ask which university Kai went to.

00:29:55Mr. Lu on the other end sounds quite surprised.

00:29:57Ah,

00:29:58you three were together,

00:29:59practically every day.

00:29:59Don't you already know which university Kai's attending?

00:30:02Not thinking much of it,

00:30:03Mr. Lu continues proudly.

00:30:04Kai had the best grades of all of you.

00:30:06He went to Northgate University.

00:30:08When our school got the notification,

00:30:09we actually found it a bit odd.

00:30:11Why didn't he stay with you two at Westbridge here in the city?

00:30:13But the matter was already settled,

00:30:14and since you two never asked,

00:30:16we assumed you already knew

00:30:17that you had it all figured out.

00:30:19Check the class group chat.

00:30:20The admissions list was posted there at the time.

00:30:22Take a look and you'll see.

00:30:23Hearing this,

00:30:24Luna quickly opens the class group chat,

00:30:26searching carefully through it.

00:30:27Sure enough,

00:30:28on the admissions list,

00:30:29right after my name,

00:30:30Northgate University,

00:30:31is written in plain sight.

00:30:32In that instant,

00:30:33both of them freeze.

00:30:35Northgate is worlds apart from here,

00:30:36so why would Kai choose to go there?

00:30:38Clearly before,

00:30:39Kai had filled out Westbridge,

00:30:40just as agreed.

00:30:41Why the sudden change?

00:30:43Sophia and Luna both see the same bewilderment

00:30:45in each other's eyes.

00:30:46Could it be that Kai had already been planning

00:30:48to leave them forever,

00:30:49all that time ago?

00:30:50But why?

00:30:51Could it be that Kai truly never felt

00:30:52even the slightest flutter for either of them?

00:30:54If I were there,

00:30:55I would tell them,

00:30:56perhaps once there really had been

00:30:57a flutter of feeling,

00:30:58something that could even be called affection.

00:31:00But that affection was destroyed

00:31:02by their own hands.

00:31:03No guy can accept betrayal

00:31:04from the people closest to him,

00:31:05not even from friends.

00:31:07I gave him countless chances.

00:31:08But I never expected

00:31:09that the two childhood friends

00:31:11who once stood so firmly by my side

00:31:12would,

00:31:13time and time again,

00:31:14choose someone else instead.

00:31:16After so many chances,

00:31:17I finally give up.

00:31:18The moment I step off the plane,

00:31:20I see a woman holding up a sign

00:31:21with my name on it.

00:31:22Her features are sharp and striking,

00:31:24tall, long-legged,

00:31:26with a stunning figure

00:31:27that draws plenty of eyes.

00:31:28Kai.

00:31:29As she walks closer,

00:31:30I hear her earnestly reading

00:31:31my name aloud,

00:31:32her voice husky and alluring,

00:31:34followed by a soft laugh.

00:31:35I'm caught off guard for a moment.

00:31:37I'm Freya,

00:31:38your arranged fiancée.

00:31:39She calls over the Jiang family's driver

00:31:41to help load the rest of my luggage

00:31:42into the car.

00:31:43I just stand there, dazed,

00:31:45letting Freya lead the way,

00:31:46until the cool northern climate registers,

00:31:48and I instinctively flinch.

00:31:49My mind's snapping back to clarity.

00:31:51I haven't mistaken you

00:31:52for someone else, have I?

00:31:53Are you really the arranged fiancée

00:31:55my mom told me about?

00:31:56The instant my question leaves my mouth,

00:31:58a trench coat is draped over my shoulders.

00:32:00I don't think I'd mistake you

00:32:01for anyone else.

00:32:03Freya,

00:32:03as if performing a magic trick,

00:32:05pulls out a photo

00:32:05and holds it before my eyes.

00:32:07I take it and see that

00:32:08the person in the photo is myself.

00:32:09For a moment,

00:32:10I laugh a little sheepishly.

00:32:12Sorry, I shouldn't have doubted you.

00:32:13It's fine.

00:32:14Let's head to campus.

00:32:15Freya curves her lips understandingly

00:32:17and continues.

00:32:17I'm in the finance and management program

00:32:19at Northgate's business school,

00:32:20a year ahead of you.

00:32:21Come to me if you need anything.

00:32:23She holds up the QR code on her phone.

00:32:25Add me?

00:32:26I nod quickly,

00:32:27pulling out my phone

00:32:28and scanning the code successfully.

00:32:29Freya takes me to the front

00:32:30of the dorm building

00:32:31and instructs the driver

00:32:32to carry all my luggage up to...

00:32:34Back in the dorm,

00:32:35before I can even refuse,

00:32:37she's already packed my luggage.

00:32:39Even the bedding.

00:32:40She notices the instant

00:32:41anything is missing.

00:32:42She rushes someone off to buy it

00:32:43and for a moment

00:32:44I'm almost too flattered to speak.

00:32:46She's honestly a little too thoughtful.

00:32:48Watching Freya's busy figure,

00:32:49I get this illusion

00:32:50that she's really my girlfriend,

00:32:51but I snap back to reality

00:32:53in an instant.

00:32:54Sophia and Luna

00:32:55are proof enough

00:32:56of where that road leads.

00:32:57I have no wish

00:32:58to hand out a real heart again.

00:33:00This,

00:33:00just as it is,

00:33:01is good enough.

00:33:02Thanks for today, Freya.

00:33:04I'll treat you to a meal sometime,

00:33:05I say,

00:33:06out of politeness.

00:33:07Freya senses my distance,

00:33:08lets out a soft laugh,

00:33:09and simply says,

00:33:10sure.

00:33:11By the time I've fallen

00:33:12into a deep sleep

00:33:13back at Westbridge,

00:33:14neither Sophia nor Luna

00:33:15can sleep at all.

00:33:16With me gone,

00:33:17everything at Westbridge

00:33:18seems to have lost its shine.

00:33:19Sophia loses all interest,

00:33:21turning down every class activity.

00:33:22She even pulls strings

00:33:23to get out of

00:33:24freshman military training.

00:33:25Standing on the balcony,

00:33:26she calls her father,

00:33:27Dad,

00:33:28I want to transfer to Northgate.

00:33:30On the other end of the line,

00:33:31there's a long stunned silence,

00:33:32then a furious voice roars back,

00:33:34Sophia,

00:33:35have you lost your mind?

00:33:36College isn't high school.

00:33:37You don't just go

00:33:37wherever you please.

00:33:38Don't be naive,

00:33:39I won't allow it.

00:33:40You know what the Sophia family

00:33:41standing demands.

00:33:42Every move you make

00:33:43has to be careful.

00:33:44Transferring schools

00:33:45is out of the question.

00:33:46Unless you drop out

00:33:47and retake the exam.

00:33:48The line clicks dead

00:33:49the moment he finishes.

00:33:51Sophia already knew

00:33:51this would be the answer.

00:33:53She feels no disappointment at all.

00:33:54This call was never meant

00:33:55to ask her opinion.

00:33:56It was only ever a notice.

00:33:58At the same time,

00:33:59Luna is in the exact same position,

00:34:01getting chewed out

00:34:01by her own father without mercy.

00:34:03Luna's eyes go dark,

00:34:04but she says nothing.

00:34:05To them,

00:34:06which university they attend

00:34:07makes no difference at all.

00:34:08Once they thought

00:34:09I loved Westbridge,

00:34:10so they made a point

00:34:11of bringing me to its gates,

00:34:12promising to enroll here together.

00:34:14They never imagined

00:34:15I'd make such a reckless choice

00:34:16just to get away from them.

00:34:17Sophia and Luna

00:34:18barely sleep that night.

00:34:19The next day,

00:34:20when they should be heading

00:34:20to freshman orientation

00:34:21with the other students,

00:34:22they walk straight

00:34:23to the registrar's office instead.

00:34:25The registrar frowns,

00:34:26asking again and again,

00:34:27Isn't Westbridge good enough?

00:34:28Why withdraw?

00:34:29The registrar tries everything

00:34:31to keep these two prize students,

00:34:32but Sophia cuts in,

00:34:33cold and flat.

00:34:34Sir,

00:34:35with my grades,

00:34:35getting into any school

00:34:36is effortless.

00:34:37Kai isn't here,

00:34:37so there's no reason

00:34:38for me to stay.

00:34:39Luna chimes in.

00:34:40Same for me,

00:34:40it's just the entrance exam.

00:34:42A little effort is all it takes.

00:34:43I don't want to be apart from Kai.

00:34:44The registrar hesitates.

00:34:46Outside the door,

00:34:47Adrian has heard every word.

00:34:48He'd assumed that

00:34:49with all three of them

00:34:49at Westbridge

00:34:50and only Kai missing,

00:34:51this was finally his chance.

00:34:52But he never expected

00:34:53they'd drop out entirely

00:34:54for Kai's sake.

00:34:56No.

00:34:56Sophia, Luna,

00:34:57please don't withdraw.

00:34:58I don't want to be apart

00:34:59from you either.

00:35:00Won't you even look at me

00:35:01standing right here?

00:35:02I'm not worse than him.

00:35:03I like you both

00:35:04more than he ever could.

00:35:05Adrian shouts,

00:35:06resolute,

00:35:07his face nearly begging.

00:35:09Listening to this,

00:35:10Sophia and Luna's expressions

00:35:11twist with visible disgust.

00:35:13The office falls

00:35:13into dead silence.

00:35:15After a long moment,

00:35:16Sophia is the first

00:35:16to break it.

00:35:17Adrian,

00:35:17I believe you promised

00:35:18us something.

00:35:19At those words,

00:35:20Adrian's heart turns to ice.

00:35:22Luna,

00:35:22barely holding back her fury,

00:35:24drags him out of the office,

00:35:25then a slap cracks

00:35:26through the air.

00:35:27Adrian,

00:35:27we had a deal.

00:35:28You'd play along with us.

00:35:30The Kai Jolis,

00:35:31that's the only toward us.

00:35:32That's the only reason

00:35:33we chose you.

00:35:34Luna's voice is razor sharp,

00:35:36her eyes burning red.

00:35:38Sophia's clear voice

00:35:38cuts in too.

00:35:39You promised you'd

00:35:40help us win Kai over,

00:35:41but instead you used us

00:35:43to drive him away,

00:35:44and now you want

00:35:44to confess to us?

00:35:45I warned you more than once.

00:35:47Don't you dare develop

00:35:48feelings you have no right to,

00:35:49so how do we settle this now?

00:35:51Between the two of them,

00:35:52Adrian is pinned to the wall

00:35:53word by word

00:35:54as if he's about to be

00:35:55executed on the spot.

00:35:56Panic floods through him,

00:35:58and he can't get out

00:35:58a single complete sentence.

00:36:00All this time,

00:36:01he'd been so wrapped up

00:36:02in their kindness

00:36:03that he'd forgotten

00:36:03the deal entirely.

00:36:04He still remembers

00:36:05the first time he met

00:36:06Sophia and Luna.

00:36:07He'd thought they were

00:36:08dazzling beyond belief.

00:36:09Again and again,

00:36:10I brought him along

00:36:11to meet them,

00:36:12and Adrian watched firsthand

00:36:13how much they cherished

00:36:14and protected me.

00:36:15Slowly,

00:36:16a greedy little thought

00:36:17took root.

00:36:17What if they looked at him

00:36:18the way they looked at me?

00:36:19What if they were

00:36:20that good to him instead?

00:36:21He'd be the luckiest man alive.

00:36:23And how pathetic

00:36:24would I be then,

00:36:25he wondered.

00:36:25Just imagining it

00:36:26thrilled him.

00:36:27He dreamed,

00:36:28again and again,

00:36:29of taking my place.

00:36:30So he made a bold decision.

00:36:32Adrian approached

00:36:32Sophia and Luna with a deal.

00:36:33They'd pretend to be good to him,

00:36:35making me jealous

00:36:36while he'd help them

00:36:36win me over in return.

00:36:37To make them believe

00:36:38the plan actually worked,

00:36:40he deliberately threw away

00:36:41the love letters

00:36:41they'd prepared for me

00:36:42and forged one himself

00:36:43in their names.

00:36:44When I found those two letters

00:36:46signed with Sophia

00:36:47and Luna's names,

00:36:47the shock and panic

00:36:48on my face,

00:36:49Adrian still remembers it

00:36:51vividly to this day.

00:36:51Sure enough,

00:36:53I confronted them

00:36:54with the letters

00:36:54and just as they'd hoped,

00:36:55I got jealous.

00:36:56After that,

00:36:57they believed him

00:36:58and decided that on the day

00:36:59we all started at Westbridge

00:37:00they'd tell me everything.

00:37:01But none of them ever guessed

00:37:02I'd already smothered

00:37:03any feelings I shouldn't have had

00:37:04and changed my application.

00:37:06Adrian,

00:37:07thinking back on everything

00:37:08that happened,

00:37:09laughs like a man

00:37:09losing his mind.

00:37:10Ha ha ha.

00:37:11If Sophia and Luna

00:37:12hadn't found out early,

00:37:13he might still be lost

00:37:14in the fantasy

00:37:15he built for himself.

00:37:16Their eyes,

00:37:17now cold and merciless,

00:37:18make it seem as if

00:37:19their kindness toward him

00:37:20never existed at all.

00:37:21Adrian reaches out

00:37:22on instinct,

00:37:23trying to touch their arms

00:37:24but Luna cuts him off

00:37:24without hesitation.

00:37:26You lied to us

00:37:27and worse you drove Kai away.

00:37:28Her voice carries

00:37:29a quiet, dangerous edge.

00:37:31If it weren't for this,

00:37:32they might not have

00:37:32dealt with him yet,

00:37:33but since he's determined

00:37:34to throw himself in the fire,

00:37:35they won't hold back anymore.

00:37:37Sophia's voice turns to ice.

00:37:39If it weren't for you,

00:37:40Kai never would have left us.

00:37:41Weren't you always so worried

00:37:42about your own future?

00:37:43We'll cut off your funding

00:37:44and everything you did

00:37:45to hurt Kai before,

00:37:46we'll pay it all back

00:37:47one by one.

00:37:47At those words,

00:37:49Adrian laughs until he's crying.

00:37:51Sophia,

00:37:51Luna,

00:37:52stop lying to yourselves.

00:37:53All this time you had

00:37:54countless chances to win Kai back,

00:37:56but you never took them.

00:37:57If you're the ones

00:37:58who pushed her away,

00:37:59I told you already,

00:38:00she never loved you.

00:38:00The one who loves you most

00:38:02is me,

00:38:02it's me.

00:38:03He screams himself hoarse,

00:38:05desperate for them to turn back,

00:38:06but Sophia and Luna's eyes

00:38:07hold nothing but contempt.

00:38:09Enough.

00:38:10Kai must still care about us,

00:38:11somewhere.

00:38:12With that,

00:38:12the two of them leave Adrian

00:38:13right where he stands

00:38:14and go without a moment's

00:38:16hesitation to file

00:38:16their withdrawal papers.

00:38:18Adrian collapses to the ground,

00:38:19panic tearing through him.

00:38:21Losing his funding alone

00:38:22is enough to ruin him.

00:38:23He's grown used to

00:38:24a life of luxury.

00:38:25Falling back into the mud

00:38:26is simply not an option.

00:38:28Without money,

00:38:28even surviving

00:38:29becomes a struggle.

00:38:30For a moment,

00:38:31Adrian feels a flicker

00:38:32of regret.

00:38:32He scrambles to his feet,

00:38:34grabs the cards Sophia

00:38:35and Luna once gave him

00:38:36and rushes to the bank.

00:38:37I want cash,

00:38:38as much as possible.

00:38:39His hands shake

00:38:40as he types in the pin,

00:38:41needing several tries

00:38:42to get it right.

00:38:43Right now,

00:38:44only a mountain of cash

00:38:45can settle the panic inside him.

00:38:46But then the ATM

00:38:47malfunctions,

00:38:48flashing.

00:38:48Your card has been frozen.

00:38:50Adrian panics completely.

00:38:51How can this be?

00:38:52Not this fast.

00:38:53No matter how many machines

00:38:54he tries,

00:38:55the message stays the same.

00:38:56Impossible.

00:38:57Impossible.

00:38:58Adrian mutters like a madman,

00:39:00slamming the card down

00:39:00in front of a bank teller.

00:39:02Give me cash.

00:39:03He shouts.

00:39:04As much as this card holds,

00:39:05all of it.

00:39:05The teller checks again and again,

00:39:07then says,

00:39:08patient but firm,

00:39:09I'm sorry, sir.

00:39:10Both of these cards

00:39:10have been frozen.

00:39:11You can't withdraw anything.

00:39:13At those words,

00:39:13every ounce of strength

00:39:15drains from Adrian's body.

00:39:16He crumples to the floor

00:39:17like a heap of mud.

00:39:18It's over.

00:39:19Everything's over.

00:39:20He tosses both cards aside,

00:39:22sinking into total despair,

00:39:23and he can't even remember

00:39:24how he makes it back outside.

00:39:26As he walks,

00:39:27a mischievous kid runs by

00:39:28holding a firework,

00:39:29laughing and roughhousing

00:39:30with a friend,

00:39:31not watching where he's going,

00:39:32and slams straight

00:39:33into Adrian's shin.

00:39:34Get lost.

00:39:35Don't touch me,

00:39:36Adrian snaps,

00:39:37kicking the kid away.

00:39:38The boy bursts into tears

00:39:39and glaring at the firework

00:39:40in his hand,

00:39:41lights it and hurls it

00:39:42at Adrian's back.

00:39:43It explodes with a bang.

00:39:45Adrian's clothes catch fire

00:39:46from the sparks,

00:39:47patches of his hair burning away.

00:39:49Ah!

00:39:50Help!

00:39:50Somebody help me!

00:39:51Adrian rolls on the ground

00:39:53in agony,

00:39:53but unluckily there are

00:39:54no cameras here

00:39:55and hardly anyone passes by.

00:39:57The two kids who'd been playing

00:39:58are already gone.

00:39:59In the shadows,

00:40:00a red dot flickers

00:40:01and a bodyguard in black

00:40:02murmurs quietly,

00:40:03Boss,

00:40:04it's done.

00:40:04He won't have an easy time of it.

00:40:06The stepfather stands by the window,

00:40:08gazing out over the river,

00:40:09and gives a low,

00:40:10satisfied,

00:40:11mmm.

00:40:12Adrian thrashes for a long while

00:40:13before finally putting out

00:40:14the fire on his back,

00:40:15then limps toward the hospital.

00:40:17Even without looking,

00:40:18the burning pain across his back

00:40:19leaves him drenched in cold sweat.

00:40:21Adrian,

00:40:22pale as ash,

00:40:22collapses face down

00:40:23after only a few steps.

00:40:25A stranger takes him

00:40:26to the hospital,

00:40:27and when Adrian wakes again,

00:40:28every inch of him aches

00:40:29like it's been torn apart.

00:40:30A nurse,

00:40:31seeing he's awake,

00:40:32presses him to call someone to pay.

00:40:33Adrian,

00:40:34none of the contacts in your phone

00:40:35are picking up.

00:40:36The surgery and hospital fees

00:40:37need to be settled soon,

00:40:38or the procedure can't go forward

00:40:40and you won't be able

00:40:41to stay for treatment.

00:40:42Adrian groans in pain,

00:40:43calling Sophia and Luna

00:40:44one after another,

00:40:45begging for one more chance.

00:40:47He can't count on his own family.

00:40:49They haven't asked him for money,

00:40:50and that's already more

00:40:51than he deserves.

00:40:52There's no way they'd cover

00:40:53his medical bills.

00:40:54He loses count of how many times

00:40:55he calls Sophia and Luna

00:40:56before anyone finally answers.

00:40:58What is it?

00:40:59Sophia's voice comes through,

00:41:01cold and distant.

00:41:02Sophia,

00:41:02please,

00:41:02I'm begging you,

00:41:03save me,

00:41:04a kid burned me with fireworks,

00:41:06I'm at the hospital

00:41:06with no money for surgery,

00:41:08please help me

00:41:08just this once more.

00:41:10What I did before was wrong,

00:41:11but I never could have predicted

00:41:12how Kai's heart would turn.

00:41:14You tried it once before

00:41:15and it worked,

00:41:16didn't it?

00:41:16I'm begging you.

00:41:17Adrian loses count

00:41:18of how many times he pleads,

00:41:19his voice turning hoarse,

00:41:21before Sophia finally speaks.

00:41:22Come to think of it,

00:41:24I nearly forgot everything

00:41:25you did to hurt Kai.

00:41:26We went far too easy on you,

00:41:28that's exactly why

00:41:29you'd still dream

00:41:29of coming back to beg.

00:41:31Beside her,

00:41:32Luna adds,

00:41:32cold and sharp.

00:41:33Whatever you did

00:41:34to hurt Kai,

00:41:35you'll pay it back

00:41:35a thousandfold.

00:41:36The line clicks dead.

00:41:37The last flicker of hope

00:41:38in Adrian's eyes

00:41:39goes out completely.

00:41:40He doesn't want to become

00:41:41a monster,

00:41:42so he spends every cent

00:41:43he saved that year

00:41:44on the surgery.

00:41:45But because of the money

00:41:46he's lost even after

00:41:47the operation,

00:41:47he can never fully return

00:41:48to who he was.

00:41:49After withdrawing,

00:41:50Sophia and Luna

00:41:51enroll in a cram school

00:41:52right away,

00:41:53and before long,

00:41:53word of what happened to them

00:41:55spreads across

00:41:55the whole Westbridge campus.

00:41:57Nearly everyone

00:41:58is talking about

00:41:58how foolish they were,

00:42:00confessing on the very

00:42:00first day of school,

00:42:02only for the person

00:42:02they loved,

00:42:03to not even attend.

00:42:04Someone even leaks

00:42:05Adrian's story on top of it,

00:42:07and countless people

00:42:08talk about him

00:42:08with open contempt.

00:42:10Though lying in his

00:42:10hospital bed,

00:42:11he has no idea

00:42:12any of this is happening.

00:42:13Sophia is confident

00:42:14in her own grades.

00:42:16Even without attending

00:42:17the cram school,

00:42:18she's sure she can get

00:42:18into Northgate next year.

00:42:20Retaking the exam

00:42:21is just a formality.

00:42:22Even though Luna's grades

00:42:23fall short of Sophia's,

00:42:24she isn't worried either.

00:42:25If she can't match Sophia,

00:42:27she can always hire a tutor.

00:42:28So the two of them

00:42:29rush straight to Northgate.

00:42:30At Northgate,

00:42:31the roommates I've met

00:42:32are all kind.

00:42:32Everything about this campus

00:42:34is so good

00:42:34it almost makes me

00:42:35forget Sophia and Luna.

00:42:36Right after military training

00:42:37ends,

00:42:38my phone buzzes.

00:42:39My roommates tease me

00:42:40right away.

00:42:40That gorgeous senior's

00:42:41asking you out to dinner

00:42:42again, huh?

00:42:43Seriously,

00:42:43when are you two

00:42:44finally getting together?

00:42:45Can we get a free meal

00:42:46out of this too?

00:42:46Yeah, yeah,

00:42:47plenty of people

00:42:48are shipping you two already.

00:42:49The three of us

00:42:49have a bet going on

00:42:50how long it'll take

00:42:51Freya to win you over.

00:42:52Everyone's talking

00:42:53over each other

00:42:53and my whole face

00:42:54turns red.

00:42:55Alright, alright,

00:42:55I haven't decided yet.

00:42:57Besides,

00:42:57I'm just thanking her

00:42:58for all the help

00:42:58she's given me lately.

00:42:59I brush off my roommates

00:43:00then stand outside the dorm

00:43:02glancing around

00:43:02but I don't see Freya anywhere.

00:43:04Just as I start to wonder,

00:43:05a girl I once helped

00:43:06during military training

00:43:07appears in front of me,

00:43:08holding a bouquet

00:43:09of red roses.

00:43:10Kai,

00:43:10I have real feelings for you,

00:43:12would you be willing

00:43:12to be with me?

00:43:13The girl stammers out words

00:43:14she's clearly kept buried

00:43:15for a long time.

00:43:16Behind her,

00:43:17a crowd of classmates

00:43:18cheers her on,

00:43:19urging her to say yes.

00:43:20But I refuse firmly.

00:43:21I'm sorry,

00:43:22I don't like you,

00:43:23I can't be with you.

00:43:24The girl's face

00:43:24falls instantly,

00:43:26her lips trembling

00:43:26as if she wants to say more.

00:43:28And that's when Freya

00:43:29appears behind me,

00:43:30her warm hand slipping

00:43:31around my arm.

00:43:32Kai's already turned you down.

00:43:33I think it's time

00:43:34for you to go.

00:43:35The moment Freya appears,

00:43:36the girl's face

00:43:36goes completely pale

00:43:37and she leaves,

00:43:38crushed.

00:43:39The crowd quickly disperses too.

00:43:41Watching all this,

00:43:42I'm a little stunned.

00:43:43They all seem terrified of you.

00:43:44Freya lets out a soft laugh.

00:43:46Of course,

00:43:47I'm basically their instructor

00:43:48after all,

00:43:49it makes sense

00:43:49they'd be scared.

00:43:50Hearing that,

00:43:51my confusion only deepens.

00:43:53Instructor,

00:43:53you're only one year ahead of me.

00:43:55Hmm.

00:43:56Back in the second half

00:43:57of last year,

00:43:58I already finished

00:43:58all my undergraduate coursework

00:44:00and moved on to graduate study early.

00:44:01This past semester,

00:44:02I was given early standing

00:44:04as an acting advisor,

00:44:05serving as a teaching assistant,

00:44:06and taught part of the course load

00:44:07for some students.

00:44:08Maybe that's why

00:44:09they're all so afraid of me.

00:44:11Hearing this,

00:44:11my jaw nearly hits the floor.

00:44:12In most people's lives,

00:44:14a record like hers

00:44:14would be the highlight

00:44:15of a lifetime.

00:44:16Yet she brushes past it

00:44:17like it's nothing at all.

00:44:18You're incredible.

00:44:19They're probably just in awe of you,

00:44:21that's all.

00:44:21I quickly make an excuse

00:44:22for what just happened.

00:44:24Freya only smiles faintly,

00:44:25offering no explanation.

00:44:26Back when she first arrived last year,

00:44:28a swarm of admirers confessed to her,

00:44:31and every single one

00:44:32was turned away,

00:44:33coldly and without mercy.

00:44:34Plenty of people

00:44:35were left wanting to crawl

00:44:36into a hole

00:44:37after she was done with them,

00:44:38and word spread.

00:44:39Naturally,

00:44:40a lot of people fear her now.

00:44:41On our way to a private restaurant,

00:44:43we run into two people

00:44:44I'd rather not see.

00:44:45Who is he?

00:44:46Who is he?

00:44:46Sophia and Luna ask

00:44:47at the same time,

00:44:48both instantly on guard.

00:44:49My heart jolts.

00:44:50I never imagined

00:44:51I'd run into them

00:44:52here in Northgate.

00:44:52What are you two doing here?

00:44:54He has nothing to do

00:44:54with either of you.

00:44:55Shouldn't you be with Adrian right now?

00:44:57I ask,

00:44:57cold and blunt,

00:44:58assuming almost by reflex

00:45:00that they're here again

00:45:01to blame themselves over Adrian.

00:45:02At the mention of his name,

00:45:03Sophia and Luna's expressions

00:45:05falter for a moment.

00:45:06Sophia clears her throat

00:45:07and pulls up a recent photo

00:45:08of Adrian in his hospital bed.

00:45:10We're not with him.

00:45:11He's already gotten

00:45:11exactly what he deserves.

00:45:12I can explain

00:45:13everything that happened.

00:45:14In the photo,

00:45:15Adrian is wrapped in bandages,

00:45:17ugly wounds

00:45:17exposed in several places,

00:45:19but I feel nothing

00:45:19looking at it.

00:45:20So you're here

00:45:21to ask forgiveness

00:45:21on his behalf?

00:45:22There's no need.

00:45:23I don't think there's anything

00:45:24left that needs explaining.

00:45:25I take Freya's hand,

00:45:27signaling that we can leave,

00:45:28but Luna grabs

00:45:29my other hand tightly,

00:45:30rushing to explain.

00:45:31We're not here

00:45:31for Adrian's sake.

00:45:32What happened to him

00:45:33is exactly what he deserves.

00:45:35Before,

00:45:35we were the ones fooled

00:45:36into being cold to you

00:45:37and kind to him.

00:45:38Luna and Sophia

00:45:39finish each other's sentences,

00:45:41explaining everything

00:45:41that's happened since,

00:45:43but none of it moves me

00:45:44even slightly.

00:45:45If anything,

00:45:45I only find it laughable.

00:45:47This is your explanation?

00:45:48It's almost funny.

00:45:49Even if everything

00:45:50you're saying is true,

00:45:50the pain I went through

00:45:51was real too.

00:45:52I can't forgive you.

00:45:53We grew up together,

00:45:54so of course I know

00:45:55they're telling the truth,

00:45:56but that's exactly why

00:45:57it disgusts me even more,

00:45:58knowing what they call love.

00:46:00They swore over and over

00:46:01that they loved me

00:46:02yet spent an entire year

00:46:03doing nothing but hurting me.

00:46:04How laughable is that?

00:46:06I laugh,

00:46:07wiping away the tears

00:46:07that slip from the corners

00:46:08of my eyes,

00:46:09mourning the sincerity

00:46:10I once wasted on them.

00:46:12Freya gives my hand

00:46:12a comforting squeeze.

00:46:14Sophia,

00:46:14Luna,

00:46:15anyone mature enough

00:46:16to truly love someone

00:46:17would never treat them

00:46:18this way.

00:46:19If you really loved Kai,

00:46:20you wouldn't have

00:46:21heard him like that.

00:46:22And allow me to

00:46:22introduce myself,

00:46:23I'm Kai's fiancé.

00:46:25At those words,

00:46:26Sophia and Luna

00:46:27freeze on the spot,

00:46:28barely able to believe

00:46:29what they've just heard.

00:46:30Something breaks

00:46:30in Sophia's eyes.

00:46:31She forces the words

00:46:33out through clenched teeth.

00:46:34Kai,

00:46:34tell me.

00:46:35Tell me if this is true or not.

00:46:36If you say it's fake,

00:46:37I'll believe you.

00:46:38I glance at Freya too,

00:46:40a little caught off guard myself.

00:46:41She gives me a reassuring look,

00:46:43and I understand it once,

00:46:44pulling her into my arms

00:46:45and naturally lacing our fingers together.

00:46:47Haven't we made it obvious enough?

00:46:49My parents arranged an engagement

00:46:50for us when we were children.

00:46:52She's already my fiancé.

00:46:53Luna's eyes turn red with anger.

00:46:55Let go, Kai, please.

00:46:57A childhood engagement

00:46:58doesn't have to count.

00:46:58We really do love you.

00:46:59Stop finding people

00:47:00to make us jealous on purpose.

00:47:02She reaches out,

00:47:03trying to pry our hands apart.

00:47:05Sophia's face darkens

00:47:06as she steps closer.

00:47:07This joke isn't funny at all.

00:47:09Whatever we did wrong,

00:47:10punish us however you want.

00:47:11Just not like this.

00:47:12We can't lose you.

00:47:13My expression shifts slightly.

00:47:15I tell Freya,

00:47:16almost on instinct,

00:47:17go ahead without me.

00:47:18Seeing the wariness in my eyes,

00:47:20Sophia and Luna both falter.

00:47:22Freya steps in front of me,

00:47:23makes a single phone call,

00:47:24and within a minute

00:47:25several bodyguards appear,

00:47:27escorting Sophia and Luna away.

00:47:29Sophia struggles,

00:47:30breaking free to reach me,

00:47:31grabbing my hand.

00:47:32Come with me.

00:47:33Let's leave this place.

00:47:34Let's go home.

00:47:34We dropped out for you.

00:47:36If you like Northgate,

00:47:37we can retake the exam

00:47:38and come here too.

00:47:38Just don't be with him.

00:47:40Her voice turns ice cold.

00:47:42Luna tries to lunge forward as well,

00:47:43but the bodyguards

00:47:44hold her back completely.

00:47:45Her eyes stay locked on me

00:47:46as if I'm the only thing

00:47:47that matters in her entire life,

00:47:48but I know that isn't true at all.

00:47:50I don't need that kind of love

00:47:51from either of you.

00:47:52Let go.

00:47:53I'm not going with you.

00:47:54Whatever you gave up,

00:47:55that was your own choice,

00:47:56not mine.

00:47:56I don't love you anymore.

00:47:57How is that still not clear to you?

00:47:59The blunt rejection

00:48:00cuts both of them to the core.

00:48:01My resistance is impossible to miss.

00:48:04Freya's deep blue eyes

00:48:05darken further,

00:48:05and the bodyguards

00:48:06quickly step forward,

00:48:07restraining Sophia.

00:48:08Kai doesn't want to go with you.

00:48:10Don't force him.

00:48:11Right in front of Sophia and Luna,

00:48:12Freya takes my hand

00:48:13and leads me into the private restaurant.

00:48:15Are you all right?

00:48:16Her gentle voice smooths away

00:48:17all the panic left inside me.

00:48:19I shake my head.

00:48:20I'm fine now.

00:48:21Thank you for stepping in.

00:48:22We sit at the table,

00:48:23eating quietly,

00:48:24our tastes matching perfectly.

00:48:26Every dish on the table

00:48:27is something we both genuinely enjoy.

00:48:29Freya keeps noticing what I like,

00:48:31adding food to my plate,

00:48:32refilling my tea.

00:48:33Seeing the corner of my mouth

00:48:34lift slightly,

00:48:35Freya's own lips curve up

00:48:36just as subtly,

00:48:37and without a trace

00:48:38she glances toward a hidden corner.

00:48:40There's a little something on your lip.

00:48:41Let me get that for you.

00:48:42Her fingertip brushes gently

00:48:44against my cheek,

00:48:45leaving behind a lingering sensation.

00:48:47For a second I freeze,

00:48:48caught off guard,

00:48:49not quite processing it.

00:48:50It's fine now.

00:48:51Freya laughs softly

00:48:52and goes back to eating.

00:48:53But in that hidden corner,

00:48:55mouth sealed shut with tape,

00:48:56Sophia and Luna's eyes

00:48:57burn red with fury.

00:48:58How could he do this?

00:48:59The ropes binding Luna

00:49:01pull tighter and tighter,

00:49:02leaving marks all over her skin,

00:49:03though she doesn't seem

00:49:04to feel any of it.

00:49:05Sophia's no different,

00:49:06frantic,

00:49:06straining every muscle

00:49:07to break free.

00:49:08They're determined to take me back.

00:49:10In their minds,

00:49:11behind the half-hidden screen,

00:49:12what just happened between us

00:49:13was a kiss.

00:49:14Freya must have started it.

00:49:16Kai would never make the first move.

00:49:18Kai would never actually like him.

00:49:19The two of them repeat these lies

00:49:20to themselves over and over.

00:49:22After struggling for a long while,

00:49:23they're almost free,

00:49:24only to be tied up again

00:49:25by the bodyguards.

00:49:26On the other side of the screen,

00:49:28the two of us are getting along beautifully,

00:49:30sharing small,

00:49:30intimate gestures now and then.

00:49:32The mood's so easy

00:49:33it feels like we've loved each other

00:49:34for years.

00:49:35But on their side,

00:49:36Sophia and Luna

00:49:37can only look at each other

00:49:38with irritation,

00:49:39and seeing how disheveled

00:49:40and helpless the other looks,

00:49:41they can only hate

00:49:42their own powerlessness.

00:49:43Northgate belongs

00:49:44to the Freya family's territory.

00:49:46The Sophia and Luna families

00:49:47refuse to lend a hand.

00:49:49Right now,

00:49:49Sophia and Luna

00:49:50are no different

00:49:51from ordinary college students.

00:49:52No one knows

00:49:53how much time passes before.

00:49:54Once my meal is finally over,

00:49:56they're escorted back

00:49:57to the capital by the bodyguards,

00:49:58dumped unceremoniously

00:49:59outside their own front doors.

00:50:01Before leaving,

00:50:02one bodyguard adds

00:50:02a final warning.

00:50:03You'd both better not

00:50:04come bother Kai again,

00:50:05or you'll find out

00:50:06exactly what happens

00:50:07if you do.

00:50:08Sophia quietly picks herself up,

00:50:10not taking a single word

00:50:11of it to heart.

00:50:12Meanwhile,

00:50:13Luna is barely home

00:50:14before her father

00:50:14locks her away.

00:50:15Dad,

00:50:16I won't give up on Kai.

00:50:17Didn't you support me

00:50:18liking him before?

00:50:19Why can't you keep

00:50:20supporting me now?

00:50:21Her father's hand

00:50:22cracks across her face

00:50:23and he roars,

00:50:24That was before,

00:50:25you know exactly

00:50:25how you treated Kai

00:50:26this past year.

00:50:27Have you already forgotten?

00:50:29Do you know how many times

00:50:30your mother and I

00:50:30went to the Hale family

00:50:31to apologize?

00:50:32Wronging Kai was bad enough.

00:50:34Getting tangled up

00:50:34with Adrian was bad enough.

00:50:36Why after all that

00:50:36are you crawling back now?

00:50:38You've dragged the whole

00:50:38family's name through the mud.

00:50:40Starting today,

00:50:41you're staying home

00:50:41and studying,

00:50:41no going out.

00:50:42But Luna still refuses

00:50:43to back down.

00:50:44Dad, Mom,

00:50:45what I did to Kai

00:50:46was my mistake

00:50:47and I can carry

00:50:48the weight of it myself.

00:50:49I'll earn her forgiveness

00:50:50eventually,

00:50:50but I will never let him go.

00:50:52She kneels stubbornly

00:50:53before the family shrine.

00:50:54Her father slams the door

00:50:56and storms out.

00:50:56If you won't give it up,

00:50:58don't give her

00:50:58a single bite to eat.

00:50:59Luna kneels in the shrine

00:51:01and no one knows

00:51:02how much time passes

00:51:03before she's on the verge

00:51:04of fainting.

00:51:04Then a brick in the corner

00:51:05of the wall

00:51:06loosens slightly

00:51:07and she snaps back

00:51:08to alertness at once.

00:51:09Gritting her teeth,

00:51:10she pulls herself up

00:51:11and yanks the brick free.

00:51:12Ready to go?

00:51:13On the other side

00:51:14of the wall

00:51:14stands Sophia.

00:51:15Luna nods,

00:51:16resolute,

00:51:16and with Sophia's help,

00:51:18escapes the shrine.

00:51:19The Sophia household

00:51:20stands empty,

00:51:21but the floor

00:51:21is piled with things.

00:51:22Every single one

00:51:23holding a memory

00:51:24of the three of them

00:51:25growing up together.

00:51:26Building blocks

00:51:26the three of them

00:51:27once played with

00:51:28as children.

00:51:29Diaries filled

00:51:29with secret feelings.

00:51:31Kai's always been

00:51:31soft-hearted,

00:51:32he'll forgive us.

00:51:33We just use

00:51:33the wrong methods,

00:51:34that's all.

00:51:35He'll forgive us,

00:51:35I know it.

00:51:36Sophia digs through

00:51:37the pile of keepsakes,

00:51:38a flicker of madness

00:51:39rising in her eyes.

00:51:41Luna watches in silence

00:51:42for a long while

00:51:43before finally forcing

00:51:44the words out.

00:51:45Let's work together.

00:51:46Not long ago,

00:51:47neither of them

00:51:48would have ever said

00:51:48such a thing.

00:51:49They'd been rivals

00:51:50through and through,

00:51:50never allies.

00:51:51But now,

00:51:52facing the same enemy

00:51:53in Freya,

00:51:54joining forces

00:51:55is their only shot

00:51:55at winning me back.

00:51:57Sophia glances at Luna

00:51:58and gives a firm nod

00:51:59in return.

00:52:00Over the next three

00:52:01short days,

00:52:02Sophia and Luna

00:52:02gather every scrap

00:52:03of the past

00:52:04into a pile,

00:52:04and staring at the boxes

00:52:06they've filled to the brim,

00:52:07they suddenly freeze,

00:52:08a memory surfacing

00:52:09without warning.

00:52:10That day,

00:52:11the things I threw

00:52:12into the trash,

00:52:13the veil,

00:52:13the stuffed toys,

00:52:14was it really

00:52:15because they'd

00:52:15gone moldy?

00:52:16Theirs are all

00:52:17still in perfect condition.

00:52:18How could his

00:52:19have possibly rotted?

00:52:20Everything that happened

00:52:21in those two short months

00:52:22before the semester

00:52:23began replays

00:52:24over and over

00:52:25in their minds.

00:52:26Deep down,

00:52:26a vague answer

00:52:27has already begun

00:52:28to form,

00:52:28but they push

00:52:29the thought away,

00:52:30refusing to admit it.

00:52:31The three of them

00:52:31grew up together.

00:52:32This bond can never

00:52:33be truly severed.

00:52:35Kai wouldn't

00:52:35completely let go of them.

00:52:36Both of them cling

00:52:37to that comfort.

00:52:38Barely back in the capital,

00:52:39they sneak off

00:52:40to Northgate once again.

00:52:41Inside the library,

00:52:42there's a small room

00:52:43reserved just for Freya

00:52:44where she sits

00:52:44across from me,

00:52:45each of us studying quietly,

00:52:46exchanging a word

00:52:47here and there.

00:52:48Once I discovered

00:52:49just how sharp

00:52:49Freya's mind really is,

00:52:51I started coming to study

00:52:52with her almost

00:52:52every single day.

00:52:53The things textbooks

00:52:54never cover,

00:52:55the things even professors

00:52:56can't fully teach,

00:52:57she can explain effortlessly.

00:52:58Her knowledge makes

00:52:59her the perfect guide.

00:53:00I'd stay glued to her side

00:53:01every waking hour

00:53:02if I could,

00:53:02just to keep learning

00:53:03from her.

00:53:04And for Freya,

00:53:04I'm the first person

00:53:05she's met who can

00:53:06actually keep pace

00:53:07with her thinking,

00:53:07so naturally,

00:53:08she holds nothing back.

00:53:09But this scene,

00:53:10watch through Sophia

00:53:11and Luna's eyes,

00:53:12drives them nearly mad

00:53:13with jealousy.

00:53:14They build an enormous

00:53:15castle out of building

00:53:16blocks and flowers

00:53:16and have it delivered

00:53:17right outside the library.

00:53:19Inside,

00:53:20countless gift boxes

00:53:21are filled with years

00:53:21of shared memories,

00:53:22surrounded by candles

00:53:23glowing like scattered

00:53:24starlight,

00:53:25making the whole castle

00:53:26look like something

00:53:27out of a dream.

00:53:28Sophia and Luna

00:53:29have both dressed

00:53:29to perfection,

00:53:30drawing every eye

00:53:31around them,

00:53:32standing there with

00:53:33flowers in hand,

00:53:34waiting,

00:53:34nervous.

00:53:35But they wait,

00:53:36and wait.

00:53:37Several classmates

00:53:38go up to fetch me,

00:53:39yet I never come down.

00:53:40Finally,

00:53:41Luna can't wait any longer,

00:53:42she shouts up

00:53:42toward the building.

00:53:43Kai,

00:53:44it's Luna,

00:53:44I'm here to make good

00:53:45on my promise.

00:53:46You didn't hear me

00:53:47confess last time,

00:53:48this time you won't miss it.

00:53:49A crowd of students

00:53:50gathers,

00:53:51craning their necks to see.

00:53:52Sophia speaks up too.

00:53:53Kai,

00:53:54you promised me before,

00:53:55that you'd choose

00:53:56one of us to be with.

00:53:57It's time to choose now.

00:53:58Watching all of this

00:53:59from above,

00:54:00I feel not even the smallest

00:54:01flicker of being moved.

00:54:03Instead,

00:54:03I call the police directly,

00:54:05citing a fire hazard,

00:54:06plus noise disturbance.

00:54:07Freya helps out too,

00:54:08calling in the campus

00:54:09administration,

00:54:10and even arranges

00:54:11for a water truck.

00:54:12I head downstairs

00:54:12and stand facing

00:54:13Sophia and Luna.

00:54:14Remember that game

00:54:15of truth or dare

00:54:16at our class reunion?

00:54:17I said that on the first day

00:54:18of school I'd throw away

00:54:19two things.

00:54:19Those things were you two.

00:54:21No matter how many times

00:54:22we start over,

00:54:22I'd choose neither of you.

00:54:23The moment I finish speaking,

00:54:25the water truck rolls forward

00:54:26and a stream of water

00:54:27crashes down,

00:54:28snuffing out every candle

00:54:29instantly.

00:54:30Sophia and Luna

00:54:31are both soaked to the bone,

00:54:32and what had been

00:54:33a beautiful,

00:54:33dreamlike confession scene

00:54:34is instantly reduced

00:54:35to a soggy mess.

00:54:37The flowers,

00:54:37battered by the water,

00:54:38shed countless petals

00:54:39across the ground.

00:54:40The gift boxes

00:54:41are drenched through,

00:54:42along with everything

00:54:43inside them,

00:54:43still dripping steadily.

00:54:45Water drips from the strands

00:54:46of hair stuck to Sophia's forehead.

00:54:47Her face,

00:54:48once ice cold,

00:54:50now looks utterly wretched.

00:54:51Her pale lips tremble slightly.

00:54:53Her voice drops

00:54:54to barely a whisper.

00:54:55Kai,

00:54:55I'm sorry,

00:54:56what we did before was wrong,

00:54:57but can you give me

00:54:58one more chance?

00:54:59I've loved you for so,

00:55:00so many years.

00:55:01Look,

00:55:02every one of these things

00:55:03is proof of how much

00:55:03I love you.

00:55:04Please,

00:55:04don't be this cruel.

00:55:05But I feel absolutely nothing.

00:55:07Luna quickly speaks up too.

00:55:09Kai,

00:55:09I'm not asking you

00:55:10to choose between us anymore.

00:55:11Just leave Freya,

00:55:12and we're both willing

00:55:13to love you together.

00:55:14You don't have to choose,

00:55:15we're both yours.

00:55:16In Luna's dark eyes,

00:55:17an unquenchable obsession burns.

00:55:19The crowd murmurs

00:55:20among themselves,

00:55:21but I'm unmoved.

00:55:22If anything,

00:55:23I find their words

00:55:23utterly absurd.

00:55:24Have you lost your minds?

00:55:26Whatever I once felt for you,

00:55:27you snuffed it out

00:55:28with your own hands long ago.

00:55:29Don't talk to me

00:55:30about forgiveness

00:55:30and don't talk to me

00:55:31about staying together.

00:55:32It's not happening.

00:55:33Give up on this now.

00:55:34With that,

00:55:35I turn away

00:55:35without a second thought.

00:55:37Luna's face goes deathly pale,

00:55:38humiliated beyond words,

00:55:40and she loses her footing entirely,

00:55:41collapsing straight toward me.

00:55:43But I step back

00:55:43without hesitation.

00:55:44I let her fall to the ground.

00:55:46My indifference

00:55:47cuts straight through Luna's heart,

00:55:48and even Sophia

00:55:49flinches in shock

00:55:49for a moment.

00:55:50This is the last time

00:55:51I'll ever say this to them.

00:55:53Sophia,

00:55:53Luna,

00:55:54don't come looking for me again.

00:55:55I let go of this long ago.

00:55:57As far as I'm concerned,

00:55:58you're just people

00:55:58I used to know.

00:55:59I might marry someone else someday,

00:56:00but that person

00:56:01will never be either of you.

00:56:02With that,

00:56:03I walk away

00:56:04without looking back.

00:56:05Sophia stares hard

00:56:06at my retreating figure,

00:56:07still unwilling to accept it,

00:56:08still ready to chase after me.

00:56:10But that's when

00:56:10a few police officers

00:56:11step out of their car.

00:56:12Who called this in,

00:56:13and who's responsible

00:56:14for all of this?

00:56:15After some questioning,

00:56:16the police take Sophia

00:56:17and Luna in.

00:56:18One squad car

00:56:19can't fit everyone,

00:56:19so Freya and I

00:56:20offer to drive over

00:56:21separately

00:56:21and give our statements.

00:56:23The group heads

00:56:23toward the station,

00:56:24but just then,

00:56:25a beat-up old van

00:56:26comes barreling

00:56:26straight toward the police car.

00:56:28Freya's driver,

00:56:29a former Special Forces soldier,

00:56:30reacts instantly,

00:56:31swerving the car

00:56:32out of harm's way.

00:56:33But the police car

00:56:34isn't so fortunate.

00:56:35The van seems to have

00:56:36singled it out,

00:56:37ramming recklessly

00:56:37straight into its rear.

00:56:39If anyone had gotten

00:56:40a good look inside that van,

00:56:41they would have seen

00:56:41Adrian behind the wheel,

00:56:43his face and body

00:56:43still wrapped in bandages.

00:56:45Adrian has completely

00:56:46lost his mind.

00:56:47Every last wish

00:56:48to keep living

00:56:48has drained out of him.

00:56:49He wants to take me

00:56:50down with him.

00:56:51Ever since Sophia

00:56:52and Luna

00:56:52cut off his funding,

00:56:54the little savings

00:56:54he has left

00:56:55aren't nearly enough

00:56:56to finish his

00:56:56reconstructive surgery.

00:56:57Even after selling off

00:56:59every gift

00:56:59they'd ever given him,

00:57:00he still couldn't afford

00:57:01the best surgeon.

00:57:02The results

00:57:02were only mediocre.

00:57:03The doctors told him

00:57:04recovery would take

00:57:05a long, long time.

00:57:06His injuries

00:57:07weren't even that severe.

00:57:08But Adrian simply

00:57:09cannot accept

00:57:10this disfigured version

00:57:11of himself.

00:57:12Back at Westbridge

00:57:13he could feel

00:57:13every eye filled

00:57:14with scorn and disgust.

00:57:16Eventually he stopped

00:57:17showing up to class

00:57:17for so long

00:57:18that the school

00:57:19issued warning after warning

00:57:20before finally expelling him.

00:57:21He has nothing left.

00:57:23Why should Kai

00:57:23get to keep everything?

00:57:24So he decided

00:57:25to throw it all away,

00:57:26determined to make

00:57:27everyone regret it.

00:57:28He watches me

00:57:29talking with the police,

00:57:29agreeing to head

00:57:30to the station

00:57:31to give a statement.

00:57:32And he rushes

00:57:32to his car at once,

00:57:33already prepared.

00:57:35Adrian drives

00:57:35that worthless

00:57:36broken down van

00:57:36slamming it

00:57:37into the police car.

00:57:38But he never expects

00:57:39that the person

00:57:39in that back seat

00:57:40isn't me at all.

00:57:41It's Sophia and Luna

00:57:42instead.

00:57:43He crashes into it

00:57:44without a second thought,

00:57:45crumpling the entire

00:57:46rear of the car,

00:57:47shattering the back

00:57:48windows completely.

00:57:49Sophia, Luna,

00:57:50and even the

00:57:51accompanying officer

00:57:52are all knocked

00:57:52unconscious.

00:57:53Adrian,

00:57:54in the old van

00:57:54behind them,

00:57:55isn't in any better shape,

00:57:57slumped over the wheel,

00:57:58unconscious.

00:57:59Sirens fill the air,

00:58:00ambulances and

00:58:00police cars alike.

00:58:02Even I feel shaken

00:58:02to the core,

00:58:03quickly checking

00:58:03whether Freya's alright.

00:58:05I pull her into my arms,

00:58:06patting her back gently.

00:58:07It's okay,

00:58:07we're both fine,

00:58:08they'll be fine too.

00:58:09After giving our statements

00:58:10at the police station,

00:58:11we wait outside the hospital's

00:58:13emergency room

00:58:13for Sophia's

00:58:14and Luna's parents

00:58:14to arrive.

00:58:15Days pass

00:58:16before Luna

00:58:17finally wakes up.

00:58:18Her injuries

00:58:18turn out to be minor,

00:58:20since she'd already

00:58:20lost consciousness

00:58:21and had an officer

00:58:22shielding her.

00:58:22The damage isn't severe.

00:58:24Just one leg

00:58:25crushed and broken.

00:58:26Sophia and the officer

00:58:27beside her,

00:58:28however,

00:58:28aren't nearly as lucky.

00:58:29Shattered glass

00:58:30pierced Sophia's skull,

00:58:31leaving her in critical condition.

00:58:33Not fatal,

00:58:34but the long-term effects

00:58:35remain uncertain.

00:58:36Adrian suffers a concussion,

00:58:37both legs broken as well.

00:58:39When Luna wakes,

00:58:40she refuses to see me.

00:58:41Dad let him go.

00:58:42What happened that day

00:58:43wasn't his fault,

00:58:43it was Adrian.

00:58:44And now,

00:58:45I'm not worthy of him anymore.

00:58:47Luna,

00:58:47always so proud,

00:58:48feels humbled and defeated

00:58:49for the first time in her life.

00:58:51She can't bear the thought

00:58:52of limping in front of me,

00:58:53even though the doctors

00:58:54say it will heal in time.

00:58:55But she still can't quite believe it.

00:58:57What if,

00:58:57what if it never heals?

00:58:58Then she'd be limping in front of me

00:59:00for the rest of her life.

00:59:01Once she's fully recovered,

00:59:02she'll come find me then,

00:59:03Luna decides,

00:59:04resolute.

00:59:05Her parents sigh,

00:59:06one after another,

00:59:07but there's nothing they can do.

00:59:08So they let her have her way.

00:59:10That's when Luna suddenly remembers Sophia.

00:59:12Wait,

00:59:13why haven't I seen Sophia?

00:59:14Which room is she in?

00:59:15How badly is she hurt?

00:59:16Her parents go quiet for a long moment

00:59:18before finally answering.

00:59:19Sophia has woken up,

00:59:20but something's wrong with her mind.

00:59:21The moment she tries to focus on anything,

00:59:24her head throbs with waves of pain.

00:59:26Lying in her hospital bed,

00:59:27she stays silent for a long while,

00:59:29then refuses to see me at all.

00:59:30Kai?

00:59:31Who's that?

00:59:32I don't know him.

00:59:32I don't want to see him,

00:59:33Sophia says coldly.

00:59:35Standing outside her room,

00:59:36hearing this,

00:59:36I quietly walk away.

00:59:38A flicker of guilt settles over me.

00:59:40After all,

00:59:40Adrian only crashed into Sophia and Luna

00:59:42because he'd been trying to hit me.

00:59:44Still,

00:59:44I haven't done anything wrong,

00:59:45so I leave some compensation and go.

00:59:47The moment she senses I've left,

00:59:48Sophia begins crying silently

00:59:50in her hospital bed.

00:59:51Everything she just said was an act.

00:59:52She hasn't lost her memory.

00:59:54But her current state

00:59:55might as well be the same thing.

00:59:56A mind that was once razor sharp

00:59:58can no longer think properly,

00:59:59reduced to a blank, empty shell.

01:00:01The agony of it is unbearable.

01:00:03Even with Adrian locked away,

01:00:04his skull cracked open in return,

01:00:06nothing can undo the damage

01:00:07done to either of them.

01:00:08And like this,

01:00:09how could she ever compete with Freya?

01:00:11Not to mention everything

01:00:12she'd already done wrong.

01:00:13Sophia's eyes stay downcast,

01:00:15every inch of her radiating,

01:00:17quiet suffering.

01:00:17If her injuries had only been minor,

01:00:19she might have used them

01:00:20to play the victim,

01:00:21to try winning Kai back.

01:00:22But now,

01:00:23she's nothing but broken.

01:00:25Sophia sinks into that thought,

01:00:26abandoning all hope.

01:00:28Not long after,

01:00:29Luna is wheeled in,

01:00:30both of them carrying

01:00:31the same quiet despair

01:00:32in their eyes.

01:00:32If it weren't for Adrian,

01:00:34they never would have

01:00:35ended up like this.

01:00:35They exchange a single glance,

01:00:37and in each other's eyes,

01:00:38they see the same burning hatred.

01:00:40Under pressure from both families,

01:00:42Adrian,

01:00:43now behind bars,

01:00:44suffers a living hell,

01:00:45unable to find relief in life,

01:00:47and denied even the mercy of death.

01:00:49Sophia and Luna both make

01:00:50the same choice,

01:00:51to hide the truth

01:00:52and avoid seeing me,

01:00:53since at least this way

01:00:54they can still earn my guilt.

01:00:55Maybe,

01:00:56a few years down the road,

01:00:57once they've recovered,

01:00:58they can use that guilt

01:00:59to try one last time.

01:01:00But because of their injuries

01:01:01and the years spent in recovery,

01:01:03both of them missed

01:01:04the college entrance exam entirely.

01:01:06Not until the following year

01:01:07do they sit for it again.

01:01:08Luna gets into Northgate.

01:01:09Sophia, however,

01:01:10only manages to get into

01:01:11a different school in Northgate.

01:01:13And even that took everything

01:01:14she had left to achieve.

01:01:16The injury to her head

01:01:17might heal today,

01:01:17might heal tomorrow,

01:01:18or it might never heal at all.

01:01:20On the first day of the new semester,

01:01:22Luna arrives on campus

01:01:23with another surprise prepared.

01:01:24But that day,

01:01:25crowds of students

01:01:26are streaming toward the sports field

01:01:27saying there's something

01:01:28exciting happening.

01:01:29Apparently someone's holding a wedding.

01:01:31Excuse me,

01:01:32could you help me find Kai?

01:01:33Luna stands outside the dorm,

01:01:34asking a passing student for help.

01:01:36The guy's bashful expression

01:01:37instantly shifts

01:01:38into something impossible to read.

01:01:39Um,

01:01:40you're a new student, right?

01:01:41Senior Kai is getting married today,

01:01:42you didn't know?

01:01:43Bringing me up

01:01:44seems to open a floodgate of gossip.

01:01:45Senior Kai is just as amazing

01:01:47as Senior Freya.

01:01:47He skipped several grade levels too,

01:01:49he's already been granted

01:01:50early standing as a graduate student,

01:01:52and might even end up

01:01:53teaching here someday.

01:01:54The two of them

01:01:54are always seen together,

01:01:56perfect for each other.

01:01:57Around this time last year,

01:01:58he confessed and proposed,

01:01:59and honestly,

01:01:59the whole thing was so romantic

01:02:01everyone was jealous.

01:02:02Now,

01:02:02this year,

01:02:03they're getting married.

01:02:04It's really moving fast.

01:02:05If you head to the field now,

01:02:07you might still catch the ceremony.

01:02:08Hearing this,

01:02:09Luna nearly freezes on the spot.

01:02:11She doesn't even remember

01:02:11how she ends up

01:02:12walking toward the field.

01:02:13In a quiet corner,

01:02:14Sophia appears beside her.

01:02:16Together they watch the young man

01:02:17standing in the distance,

01:02:18dressed in a crisp,

01:02:19white suit.

01:02:20The longing in their eyes

01:02:21has never once faded,

01:02:22but they both know

01:02:23it's already too late.

01:02:24Now,

01:02:25will the bride and groom

01:02:26please exchange rings?

01:02:27Freya and I exchange our rings,

01:02:29and in the next moment,

01:02:30we're wrapped in a kiss.

01:02:31The crowd cheers wildly

01:02:32as I sweep Freya up into my arms

01:02:34and run off,

01:02:34away from the crowd.

01:02:35Marrying me,

01:02:36are you happy?

01:02:37I'm happy,

01:02:38she answers laughing.

01:02:39Two entirely different souls,

01:02:40and the instant they touched

01:02:41they knew,

01:02:42they'd found the right one.

01:02:43At some point,

01:02:44Sophia and Luna quietly slip away,

01:02:46walking off in two different directions.

01:02:48The three of them,

01:02:49once so close,

01:02:49drifted apart in the end.

01:02:51Even living in the very same city,

01:02:53Luna and Sophia often heard stories about us,

01:02:55yet never once crossed paths with us again.

01:02:57They heard I'd graduated with my master's degree,

01:02:59sweeping a string of international awards.

01:03:01They heard Freya had built

01:03:03the Freya family's business

01:03:04into something even greater,

01:03:05and that our marriage was happy and whole.

01:03:07Then,

01:03:08one day,

01:03:08Luna and Sophia happened to see a news segment

01:03:10about me on television.

01:03:12Countless people admired our love story,

01:03:14and admired even more our talent,

01:03:15and the trust and understanding we shared.

01:03:17Only then did they finally realize,

01:03:19I had reached a place they could never touch,

01:03:21and any chance they once had was long,

01:03:23long gone.

01:03:24You

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