ni

n't me. He met my gaze without any shame, only

mbled backward, trying to compr

at me, as though I was the intruder. My heart raced like an a

the man I was meant to feign affe

? How am I supposed to cope with this guy? H

hing-or someone-bumped into me. My suitcase teetere

out a sharp "Ow!" a

d, taking off his headphones,

Wilson..... I'm Ares

g what I just witnessed," I attempted

oticed you ar

witness that. Well, I'm not really

option," I said, taking my luggage and w

I love having you around already

p away from Malakai felt like inhaling clean air. The hallway buzzed faintly

ound yet still make you feel acknowledged. He glance

autiful atmosphere and the queen-sized bed. The room had a b

dorned with f

nd the large, thick, te

my fully packed

er shoes and bags, accessories

y did I pack my clothes

***

la

g for my whole life. Will you do

d, her eyes beaming with jo

he witnessed yesterday, that wasn't a good introduction

re ou

hts. A chaotic scene filled with f

a hundred lifetimes. But what was I really

n a dark room, with thousands of white lily petals

m the shape of a heart, with rope lights

now, her proposal not being magical... gettin

id, and everyone cut the vide

a kissing pose. She looked straigh

t go

her in again with

t wasn't how it seemed." She look

tect your repu

making it clear if we're gonna be around each

er heart beating fast. I started to

king her lipstick all smudged, and p

y facing the crowd to see if t

how's it going? ..... and this must be the one and only Anni

s chest as h

know her m

m. Ares walked up to us with a plate of finger foods

yone so cas

uys, h

ean is Ann

all took fr

day guys". The

d to record and publish my

here at the dinner table was so tense that it could h

d to initiate a genuine conversation. I surveyed each guest

ke we were. A gathering full of individ

my brother after noticing his e

you se

e rushed to open the door, panting, showin

d, and all of us shifted our attention to him to

spotlight," Ares sa

for a goo