Time to Part Ways

st love returned, I bro

want anything in return; I just want

sed. I paused for a moment but e

her, "You have to wear

tte and leaned lazily against the headboar

o take them as a keepsake," he replied, his

him over, "Come here,

nd clean, almost the pe

I might have stayed with

real deal was back, and the

ether, I knew Ma

rting his sophomore year, and

a pure romance with a young gi

eeling an apple for me, looked up in a p

my firs

point, he lunged

eled face, even making his tousl

planted a kiss, prai

d up to see Maverick standing at the en

ved in, and now, as he left, he took no

Maverick refused my offer to drive him back to sc

words to me were, "I wasn

im standing by the open car door, his eyes slightly re

ve you,"

mplex emotion flashing in his eyes, a mix of

moment of softne

y interrupted by

familiar, cool voice, "C

o keep my tone calm, "Alright, find a

the airport, I k

rs of my youth, Jared was al

compassionate, saving me from

s, it was Jared who happened by, smashed the camera, and pulled me b

bully

dorm after a shower, it was Jared who found me, made

n, and I hesitate

ozy slippers from the shoe cabinet, and pla

m for th

e off to pay his gambling debts, I ran

ano, were clenched into fists, lan

ying, "Your clothes a

charge

tepfather, along with his credit

n, I finished high scho

feelings for him could

tcy, bringing him back to handle affai

place his luggage and settle into the passenger seat.

sed, "You

med innate, with no hint

ofile, a bit entranced, "

l on me, "Cara, yo

all

e steering wheel as I started t

yet firm, "I thought you we

softly, say

but also vulnerable, u

development earned me a bad

s gratef

h his luggage, and showed him to the

m, stopping at the clo

y, "Has anyone e

ourse

othes, tossing them aside,

n't l

oved in, he insisted on

t room, instead thoughtfully preparing ginger tea and

y ear, "Cara, no matter if you had a boyfrie

was more pleasan

had just turned eighteen, he seemed l

vealed he still retained his youthful

the bathroom, his lips were tig

asked, "Wha

or a moment but quickly

around my waist, shaking his head gent

I found an electric shaver in the tr

ng the scene when I

amatically hugging me and pla

haven't said i

e replied, "I love ev

but retrieved the shaver from the tr

verick and return it to him;

ntil Jeffrey called, and I had to return

ark, even you have days when you

in my company and

sive investment, along with introducing a major order,

he was holding his girlfriend and didn't even gla

is renowned i

his flawless decision-making record even

t that he wouldn't allow himself

ooking up, "Your first love is back, you

I looked up, puzzled, only to find Jeffrey standin

ove... the on

d again to sign the last contract

fiancée. Don't tel

ime between J

all it a casual fling be

ught Jeffrey saw

his hand. His charming eyes held a casual smile, yet

agreed to the old man

ed slightly, and

cold kiss landed on my lips. "What

pushed him away. I turned my head, wiped m

wouldn't f

s I had signed. "Alright, if there's nothing else, you can

ck to handle family ma

brow. "Then, how

nto Maverick at the bar J

rey followed my gaze and laughed. "Cara, isn'

ressionless in a booth, swirling a

ly hair leaned in, o

averick. Cara isn't playing with you anymore, and yo

ut

gentle and obedient boy now appeared rebelli

beside me. "Cara, even yo

he obedient, inno

ertently looked up, his gaze sweep

hen he saw Jeffrey beside me, it

and walked over to me. "Car

my Baileys. "I

ced at Jeffre

usiness

sed an eyebrow, let out an ambigu

glass on the table, leaned down, and c

ffrey extended a hand to him with

in the city, and Maverick

he still reached out to

look quite young. Are

omore

all, Cara doesn't

and downed his

nd less complicated. If I just wanted to

eeth, nearly crushing

lake is not ex

ning with interest as they exchang

smile unchanged, but

that

n't learned anything else, b

e old man I'll be bac

regretful smile. "I promised to drink with you to

id lightly. "I'm

ng his arm around mine, and shot

"See you the day after tomorrow. Don't forget, we still n

oked up again, Jeffrey's tall and upright figure

le and turning to Maverick. "Now,

tly. "Babe, are you really

. I recalled many nights when I lazily leaned against the cushion

im, watching as he coughed and teared up, then

k never

ed, he'd come back, playf

reating a delicate, vulnerable silhouette, a

igh

to find someone your own age for a typic

't wan

me. "Babe, I don't

temples, waving over the bartender. "A Long Isla

e drink, a wave of

"You left something at my place

, and Maverick immediately s

o young men wafted from him as I

ed, "Cara, I mi

only ni

was a clean slate

very bone fitting p

erness and softened, leaning into Mave

ink, he hadn't touched a drop, and he

rushed in, but his warm arm wrapped around m

n't

, I was lost

the first t

, and a younger friend had invited me seve

ed outside the court,

averick made a three-point shot. The crowd cheered, b

imson glow, reflecting in his eyes

f water, and walked straight to Maverick, who was wipin

h other?" "No,

lightly, smiling a

bottle, and thus began

at I was searching for tr

dragged me back into memories, reminding me of my past self-humble

between Maverick and Jared

but he was cold, rar

traightforward and passionate, shining

major business deal that had bee

I took Maver

smiled. "Today, the sky's the lim

took out a card from hi

ou like, within

p, so let me treat

rsed in his sincere affection, and in his unreserv

er said h

quiet, his love rest

llar dress. When I came out of the fitting room, he rushed over, hugging m

ly lik

ountless times, even murm

at me earnestly, "can I

promise I won'