One day, while the girls were out shopping, Miku unexpectedly ran into Dave—a guy she hadn't seen in months.
He intercepted them, cutting off their conversation, and addressed her:
"I know you don't want to see me, but give me five minutes. I just want to talk," Dave said, raising his hands.
Miku looked him over carefully. She was about to say something, but he spoke first:
"I know what you're thinking. But I've spent the last few months in rehab. My father put me there right after what happened. Don't worry, I won't do anything to you. We'll just talk."
Nodding, Miku turned to Yuno and Deya:
"Go ahead. I'll catch up."
"If something goes wrong, you know what to do," Yuno said calmly, and the girls moved on, leaving Miku.
"Talk fast," Miku said. "I don't have much time."
"First of all… I want to apologize. For being such a stupid asshole," the guy's voice held sincerity. Miku was sure that the person standing before her was the same one she had once fallen in love with. And if it weren't for her constant conversations with Ray, from whom she sought wise advice while trying to adapt to her new life—she might have forgiven him. But this was no longer the Miku he had known a few months ago.
"I'm really glad you decided to get yourself together. But those words are no longer enough for me to forgive you. If that's all you wanted to say—I'll go. I have things to do."
"Wait! I don't know how close you are with that guy…"
But Miku cut him off sharply:
"If you're going to accuse me of sleeping with him again—yes, I am. And he's very good. Thanks to him, I realized I like big, strong men. Next to him, I feel like a little girl. And right now, he's the only one who can give me a sense of security."
Hearing those words, Dave lowered his head. His face twisted in pain:
"That hurts to hear," he said quietly. "But I realize now that I lost you a long time ago. After the first time I cheated, a couple of years back. So I have no right to demand loyalty. But that's not what I wanted to talk about."
"The guy you're working with now… he could be very dangerous. Please, be careful around him."
"You've decided to go a different route?" Miku sneered coldly. "Whatever you say, I won't believe you."
"I know I lost your trust a long time ago. But please, just hear me out. When I woke up in the hospital, the first thing I asked my father to do was send his men to 'teach that guy a lesson.' Instead, he hit me and told me never to mess with that man."
"You know my father isn't afraid of anyone. But that night, he was scared. I've never seen him like that. He even got into a fight with your father over it."
"I don't know who that guy is. But the fact that my old man is afraid of him… that should tell you something. From what I've managed to find out—he doesn't have anything that could really frighten my father."
These words made Miku think. If it hadn't been for the past few months with Ray, she might have been worried. But during this time, she had understood one main thing: as long as people don't touch his loved ones—Ray doesn't make the first move.
"I understand your concern. But I'm not in danger. Tell our parents: if they don't want trouble—they just shouldn't touch his family."
Hesitating a little, Dave finally asked:
"I understand. And about us… I know I'm rushing things. You don't have to believe me, but I really do love you. I need to know: do I have a chance?"
Miku looked at him. In his eyes, she saw the boy she had once loved. But between them lay pain and betrayal.
"Honestly, I don't know. Looking at you now, I see the person I once fell in love with. But we both know: there's no guarantee that the one I started to hate won't come back. If our relationship continued, we might have children. I'm not going to play Russian roulette with my kids' futures."
"The chances of us getting back together are close to zero."
"I understand," Dave said quietly. "But your father won't be happy to hear that."
"I know. But it's my life. And no matter how it ends—from now on, I want to make my own decisions."
"I hope we can at least stay friends."
"Maybe," Miku said. "But this will be your last chance. If you ever betray my trust again—you'd better not let me see you."
As Miku walked back to the girls, thoughts swirled in her head. But the moment she saw the two who had become like sisters to her, her mood lifted dramatically. The rest of the day, the three beauties spent in a warm, friendly atmosphere.