The 99th time I woke up in a hotel room with my childhood best friend, Liam Hayes, he was still just as wild.
The next morning, my body was covered in hickeys. The slightest movement sent a sharp ache through my lower back. The lingering scent of intimacy still hung heavy in the air. Liam’s long arm wrapped around me, savoring the soft warmth of my body. “Dress formally tomorrow,” he said, his voice casual. “Come home with me.”
I shot up, a surge of hope swelling in my chest. “Are you finally going to… make us public?”
Liam arched an eyebrow, glancing at me sideways. “Public? About what? I have a date at my place tomorrow. I need you to help liven things up. Make sure the girl doesn’t feel awkward.”
Each word landed like a thunderclap, echoing in my ears. My heart threatened to stop. My mind went completely blank. “You have a date? Then what am I to you?”
Liam was already getting dressed. He spared me a lazy look. “You? You’re my go-to for everything. My dinner buddy, my gaming buddy, and, you know, my *bed buddy* for when we need to unwind.”
A chill spread through me, draining the color from my face. My lips trembled.
Seeing my expression, Liam’s smile slowly faded. He leaned closer. “No, Maya. You didn’t actually think we were, like, boyfriend and girlfriend all these years, did you?”
His playful tone pierced my heart like a sharp knife. I fought back the stinging in my nose, my voice fracturing, barely coherent. “Wh-what are you talking about? I-I’m going to take a shower.”
I scrambled off the bed, my legs shaky, and stumbled into the bathroom. The moment the door clicked shut, all strength left me. I collapsed onto the floor. His words still rang in my ears. I stared at the dense array of hickeys Liam had left all over me, and tears streamed down my face.
We’d known each other for over twenty years, grown up together. We’d shared the same juice box, flipped through the same comic books. When we turned eighteen, one drunken night, we even ended up in bed together. Once became twice, then thrice…
At night, our bodies fit together perfectly. During the day, we did everything a couple would. We walked hand-in-hand through crowds, kissed at New Year’s promising to be together next year, and spent hours on the phone every day to keep the spark alive… I always thought we were together, just not officially public. And now Liam was telling me we weren’t a couple?
The pain was suffocating. I turned the shower on full blast with trembling hands, finally daring to cry out loud. I don’t know how long I stayed there, tears flowing until they ran dry. Only then did I compose myself and step out.
Liam was already dressed and sitting on the sofa, talking on the phone.
“More people are coming tomorrow, so book a bigger private room at the restaurant. Chloe prefers light flavors, so upscale Mediterranean cuisine will be perfect. A Red Velvet Cake, and pink and white roses for flowers. Send me pictures when it’s set up so I can check. And prepare a dozen suits for me to choose from, all black. Chloe only likes that color.”
Hearing that name, my heart seized. Involuntarily, I glanced over and saw the sweet smile playing on Liam’s lips.
Chloe? His date was Chloe Peterson? The light in my eyes dimmed. If it was Chloe, then I understood why he was so happy.
In high school, Liam had a massive crush on Chloe. He’d drone on about her name in my ear dozens of times a day. But before he could ever confess, Chloe moved abroad. Since then, I’d never heard him mention her again. Later, after our own reckless night, we grew closer, and I thought he had long forgotten about Chloe. But it seems that perfect ideal, that first love he never spoke of, he’d never truly forgotten.
The sharp pang in my chest returned, so intense I almost dropped my phone. *Bang!* Liam turned at the sound, a playful smile on his face. “All showered? Good. Can you check out later? I already paid for the room.” He picked up his jacket and headed for the door. Just before stepping out, he turned back, a half-smile on his face.
“Maya, I’ve always thought of you as my best friend, like a brother. Don’t give me that heartbroken look again. Otherwise, I might think you’re getting some ideas about me.”
“I know you inside out. You can tell what I’m thinking with just one look. Don’t you think that kind of life would be boring? If we were actually together, it would feel like the end of everything.”
His voice faded with his footsteps, but his words echoed endlessly in my heart. I sat on the cold bed, then I started to laugh, and the laughter turned into tears. So, all these years, that’s what Liam thought of me.
I sat there alone until late into the night before finally going downstairs to check out. A heavy rain was falling outside, but I barely registered it as I numbly walked home. My parents rushed over, dry towels in hand, their voices laced with concern when they saw me drenched to the bone. “Such heavy rain, why didn’t you take a cab?”
I looked at them, my eyes vacant, my voice hoarse. “Dad, Mom, with the group’s business changes, haven’t you always wanted to move abroad? I’ve made up my mind. Let’s immigrate. Let’s never come back.”
They’d been trying to convince me for months, and now, finally hearing me relent, my parents were surprised. “You’ve really thought it through? Did you break up with your boyfriend?”
Recalling Liam’s words, my heart ached. I forced a bitter smile and shook my head. “There was no boyfriend. Never was. I just made it up to avoid getting hounded about marriage.”
Though unsure if I was telling the truth, my parents were overjoyed. They immediately began preparing the immigration paperwork, urging me to pack. I hummed in agreement and went to my bedroom, throwing away everything related to Liam. Years of carefully preserved photo albums, all the jewelry, dresses, and handmade figurines he’d given me… Now, all of it went into the trash.
“Miss Sterling, so many good things. You don’t want any of it?” The housekeeper’s voice held a touch of regret. I simply nodded, my voice flat. “No, I don’t.” Not just these things, but this relationship, and Liam himself – I wanted none of it anymore.
The next day, I was woken up by Liam’s SnapChat messages. Dozens of them, asking when I was coming over. My heart felt bitter. Liam, do you even see how cruel you are? With trembling fingers, I typed out a reply: “Not feeling well today. Can’t make it.”
A moment later, my parents knocked on my door.
“Maya, even if you’re upset with Liam, don’t pick now to be difficult! Get dressed and go to his house. You have no idea how important this date is to Liam. He’s liked Chloe Peterson for years, and as soon as he heard she was back in the country, he practically begged your father to set them up!”
“That’s right,” my mom chimed in. “Chloe took piano lessons from me for a while, and I personally went over to make this meeting happen. From gifts to dinner, everything is so formal! He’s asking you to go just to liven things up. With a girl your age there, Chloe won’t feel awkward. Liam is serious about this one, and you two are so close, how can you not help him?”
Liam, upon hearing I wouldn’t come, had even called my parents! Listening to their earnest pleas, I could only swallow my tears, get ready, and head downstairs. The two families lived close by. Ten minutes later, I stood at the Hayes’ front door and opened the shoe cabinet in the entryway. It was completely empty. My little bunny slippers weren’t there. I searched high and low, finally finding them in the trash can outside the door. Besides the slippers, there was my water bottle, toothbrush, towel, pajamas… all my things.
“Miss Sterling, these were all thrown out by the young master. Please use these shoe covers for now.”
I stared at the trash can, silent for a long moment. Because the Sterling and Hayes families had always been close, I used to drop by almost every day and often stayed overnight. Liam had even set aside a bedroom just for me and bought me all sorts of daily necessities, specifically picking out the little bunny designs I liked. He told me the Hayes’ house was my home, and I shouldn’t be a stranger. We’d kept secrets from our parents, embracing and kissing at the front door, intertwining our fingers under the dinner table, sharing intimate moments in his study. Now that Chloe was here, he was afraid his crush might misunderstand. So he’d thrown out everything connected to me.
It took me a while to compose myself and put on the shoe covers. The moment I stepped inside, I saw Liam peeling fruit for Chloe. They were laughing and chatting happily. He sat on the sofa, dressed in a custom satin suit, his hair meticulously styled, wearing cologne. He exuded a forbidden allure, like a dark academic with a hidden edge. Back in school, I’d heard countless girls say how handsome he was, that he’d look good even in a sack. If he actually dressed up, no celebrity idol could compare. But Liam was naturally wild and carefree, usually just wearing a T-shirt and jeans, not bothering with dressing up. So, he *did* fluff his feathers for the person he liked?
The man who had been tangled up with me in bed just yesterday now acted like he didn’t even know me. He glanced at me once, then his gaze slid away, completely focused on Chloe. They talked about everything from hobbies to the weather, from work to jewelry brands, from childhood anecdotes to their school days. Watching Liam tirelessly find topics and chat animatedly, I lowered my eyes in self-mockery. So, he *did* take the initiative like this for the person he liked.
“It’s funny, in high school,” Chloe laughed, recalling old times, “you were a year ahead of me, and we weren’t even in the same building, but we’d often run into each other at school. It felt like destiny.”
I watched Liam’s ears turn red, smiling silently. Destiny? No. Those “chance encounters” were all carefully orchestrated by Liam. Back then, I’d followed him, watching him pull out all the stops for his crush, my heart aching. Later, when Chloe moved abroad, I thought I’d finally gotten what I wished for. But now, it seemed Liam was the one getting his wish.
Lost in thought, I suddenly heard my name. “I heard in high school that you had a very close childhood friend. That must be Maya, right?” I paused, looking up to meet Chloe’s probing gaze. Before I could speak, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes chimed in cheerfully.
“They’re incredibly close! Inseparable since birth, practically grew up joined at the hip. We were even thinking of arranging an engagement between them…”
Mid-sentence, Liam’s face darkened, and he abruptly cut them off. “Mom, Dad, stop talking nonsense. I would never fall for Maya Sterling, no matter who else I liked.”
I lowered my gaze, hiding the disappointment in my eyes, and forced a smile. “Me neither. Out of everyone, I would never get together with Liam Hayes.”
Liam’s expression froze for a split second, then quickly returned to normal. He slung an arm over my shoulder, as if embracing a brother, and said casually, “Exactly! We have a purely platonic friendship.”
Suddenly, the tension in the living room eased. I joined in the laughter, vaguely hearing Liam whisper a relieved “Thanks.”
I didn’t say anything, just subtly moved a few steps away from him, creating distance.
Liven up the atmosphere? No, what I said was the truth.
As evening approached, the Hayes family’s car was ready to take us to the restaurant. The three young people sat in one car. Throughout the ride, Liam, who sat in the middle, lavished attention on Chloe. He adjusted the AC, fetched a blanket, and even helped unscrew her water bottle. I sat on the left, watching their lively conversation, and silently turned to gaze out the window.
Halfway there, a torrential rain began to fall. The road was dimly lit, and the car in front suddenly switched on its high beams. As we drove downhill, the driver was momentarily blinded, couldn’t make the turn, and crashed directly into the guardrail.
In that split second of danger, Liam instinctively pulled Chloe into his arms, shielding her.
*Bang!*
The car windows shattered, glass flying. I, sitting on the inner side, was left bleeding profusely. A searing pain spread through my entire body. I felt like I was coming apart. My consciousness faded, but I saw the car door on the right open. Liam, frantic, carried Chloe out of the car, calling the hospital while gently comforting her. He seemed to have completely forgotten there was another person in the car, showing no concern for me at all.
When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics suggested treating the more severely injured person first. But caught between me, lying in a pool of blood, and Chloe, who was merely shaken in his arms, Liam hesitated for only a few seconds before choosing to take Chloe to the hospital first.
Watching the ambulance drive away, my vision blurred, and tears I could no longer hold back streamed down my face. Liam, oh Liam. Twenty years of history, and it still couldn’t compare to one look from her! My eyelids grew heavy. The relentless pain that had tortured me dissipated like smoke. I couldn’t wait for the next ambulance. Everything went black, and I lost consciousness.
I don’t know how much time passed. I heard a cacophony of voices. Opening my eyes, I saw my mother clutching her chest, her voice a mix of worry and relief.
“Thank goodness, Maya, you’re finally awake! It’s a miracle the ambulance got here in time. You lost so much blood, the hospital almost ran out. You three were in one car, how is it that Chloe only scraped her hand, but you’re so badly injured?”
My father sighed with relief, taking a sip of water. “That’s because Liam protected her, of course. True feelings are revealed in times of trouble, and that girl was incredibly moved. I just visited her in the next room. Liam was spoon-feeding her porridge. Just seeing the tenderness in their eyes, I’d say they’re practically official.”
I listened silently. After they finished their gossip, I finally spoke, my voice hoarse. “How long was I asleep? Are the immigration papers ready?”
“You slept for two days! You scared us half to death!”
“Don’t you worry about the paperwork. It’ll be finalized in less than a month. Just focus on recovering.”
Hearing it was less than a month away, a sense of liberated relief washed over me.
For the next two or three days, I kept hearing nurses talk about all the things Liam was doing for Chloe. He stayed by her bedside constantly. If he heard her cough in the middle of the night, he’d fret for ages, then go find a nurse for hot water. He’d personally test the temperature of all her medicine and have candied fruit ready, afraid the poor girl might find it bitter. Fearing she’d be bored cooped up in the room, he’d go to great lengths to find all sorts of fun toys to cheer her up. I listened in silence, saying nothing.
When the nurse pushed me for a recheck, I heard a commotion in the hallway. Passing the room next door, I glanced over and saw Liam, holding a huge bouquet of roses, confessing his feelings to Chloe.
“Chloe, I fell in love with you eight years ago. All those ‘chance encounters’ were actually me deliberately trying to get close to you. I remember all your favorite things, and I know your dreams. I never got to confess back then. Will you give me a chance now?”
Listening to his voice, filled with anticipation and nervousness, I couldn’t help but recall how Liam had been preparing this confession a month before Chloe moved abroad. Though it was missed due to a twist of fate, it had only been delayed by a few years. Hearing Chloe say “Yes, I will,” I gave a soft smile and walked towards the examination room.
The moment I turned away, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause. Liam turned at the sound, and his eyes landed on my solitary, somewhat forlorn figure. The smile on his face froze, a flicker of something unsettling stirring within him. But the discomfort lasted only a moment, quickly drowned out by a tide of joy. He reached out, openly and unapologetically, pulling Chloe into his embrace.
That night, I opened a booking app and searched for direct flights from Seattle to Barcelona. Just after I completed the payment, Liam arrived with Chloe.
“Maya, good news! Chloe agreed to be my girlfriend. See? I’m a good friend, telling you first.”
I looked at their tightly clasped hands, nodded, and said flatly, “Congratulations.”
Chloe’s eyes overflowed with happiness. She smiled shyly. “Thank you for your blessings. Mrs. Sterling said you were seriously injured. Are you feeling better lately? I brought some fish soup for you. You should have some.” She spoke while urging Liam to quickly serve the soup. Seeing him obediently comply, I paused for a moment before realizing what was happening.
“Thanks, but no need for the fish soup.”
At my words, Liam’s face instantly turned cold. He looked at me with displeasure. “This soup was personally cooked by Chloe. I was already reluctant to give it to you. It’s because Chloe cares about your injuries that I reluctantly agreed to let you have some. How can you be so ungrateful?” He said, pouring a bowl and thrusting it into my hands, insisting I drink it now. I tried to explain, but he grabbed my wrist. In the struggle, the bowl spilled, and the hot soup splashed all over my wound.
“Ah!”
Pain made cold sweat break out on my forehead. My face crumpled, pale as paper. Chloe gasped, startled, and pulled out tissues, looking apologetic, trying to help wipe it away. Fearing she might get burned, Liam quickly shielded her behind him. “Chloe, this has nothing to do with you. She’s always been tough, it’s nothing serious. Don’t blame yourself.”
My hand, holding the tissue, trembled several times. My heart seized. The next second, my father burst into the room. Seeing my wound start to bleed again, he quickly called for a nurse. My mother, though heartbroken, patiently put away the fish soup and explained to Chloe. “Chloe, Maya is allergic to seafood. She can’t drink fish soup. We appreciate your kindness, thank you.”
Liam froze, his face turning unnatural. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?”
Looking at the blood-stained bandage, my heart was filled with bitterness. He used to remember all my dietary restrictions. Every time we went to a restaurant, he would repeatedly emphasize to the waiter: no seafood, no onions, no cilantro. But now that Chloe was here, his eyes were only on her. Of course, he wouldn’t remember such a small detail about me. A person’s heart is only so big. It can only truly hold one person. The one he loved most.
After a long silence, I finally pulled at my lips and replied. “You never gave me a chance to speak.”
The hospital room fell silent. Chloe looked so guilty she was almost in tears. Liam, pitying her, said nothing more and left with her.
Due to the wound infection, I stayed in the hospital for three more days before being discharged. Immigration day was drawing near, and the Sterling family was busy packing. My parents were too occupied, so they prepared a generous gift and asked me to visit the Hayes’ house.
As soon as I entered, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes pulled me aside, apologizing profusely.
“Maya, we’re so sorry. After all these years between you and Liam, in such a dangerous car accident, he only protected Chloe and didn’t even care about you. It caused you such serious injuries. We feel absolutely terrible, and we’ll make sure he apologizes to you.”
I shook my head, gently comforting them. “Chloe is Liam’s girlfriend. It was right for him to protect her. I’m fine, nothing serious happened. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, please don’t worry.”
Seeing that I wasn’t taking it to heart, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes finally eased their worries. After a brief chat, I brought up the real reason for my visit, informing them about my family’s immigration plans. Hearing the news so suddenly, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were shocked.
“So sudden?”
“Our company’s business adjusted. We actually started preparing about six months ago, but it was only recently finalized. My parents specifically asked me to come and tell you.”
Sad at the thought of their old friends leaving, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’ voices were filled with reluctance. “Will you ever come back?”
I smiled, my voice remarkably clear in the quiet living room. “Once we leave this time, we won’t be coming back.”
Just then, Liam returned, pushing open the door. He frowned, looking at us. “Who’s not coming back?”
↓ ↓ Download the Novel Master app, Search 【 285467 】reads the whole book. ↓ ↓
NovelShort
