Morning light slipped quietly into the room.
Xu Ming stirred.
A dull ache lingered in his head.
He frowned slightly, sitting up, trying to recall what happened the night before.
Then—
His gaze shifted.
Lin Ya.
Asleep on the couch.
Curled slightly, as if she had stayed there all night.
For a moment—
He just looked at her.
Quiet.
Still.
As if afraid the moment would disappear.
Slowly, he stood up and walked toward her.
Careful.
Silent.
He stopped in front of her.
His hand lifted—
And gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
Soft.
Familiar.
Her eyes opened.
Suddenly.
Xu Ming froze.
His hand retreated immediately.
"…Morning," he said, his voice low.
Lin Ya sat up quickly.
Her expression—
Confused.
Shaken.
She grabbed his wrist.
"Explain this."
She pushed the photo frame into his hands.
Xu Ming looked at it.
The picture.
The past.
Then at her.
He exhaled slowly.
A quiet sigh.
"What were we?" she asked.
Her voice trembled.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Tears gathered in her eyes.
Something in him snapped.
"Lin Ya!"
His voice rose sharply.
"Fine—you want the truth?"
A bitter laugh escaped him.
"I'll tell you."
"We went to the same high school."
His voice shook.
"We sat at the same desk."
"We were together."
Each word landed heavier.
"We promised… we would never leave each other."
His eyes reddened.
"No matter what."
He stepped back, his breathing uneven.
Then—
He sank down near the wall.
"…But on your birthday."
His voice dropped.
"April."
He let out a broken breath.
"You said you got accepted to study abroad in Japan."
His eyes lifted to her.
"And that you didn't believe in long distance."
A pause.
Heavy.
Painful.
"You left."
His voice cracked.
"You sent a text."
His fists clenched.
"You didn't even say it to my face."
He stood up suddenly.
Walked toward her.
Grabbed her shoulders.
"Do you know what that felt like?!"
His voice broke completely now.
"You loved me—then you left me—"
"And now…"
His grip trembled.
"You don't even remember me."
His eyes burned with unshed tears.
"If I hadn't heard from a friend that you had an accident on your way to the airport…"
His voice dropped.
"…I wouldn't have known anything."
He let go of her.
Stepped back.
Laughing bitterly.
"Am I just… disposable to you?"
He pointed at himself.
"Look at me."
His voice rose again.
"Look at what you did to me!"
A breath—
Shaky.
Unstable.
"And still…"
His voice softened, almost helpless.
"I still want you."
Silence.
Heavy.
He stepped forward suddenly—
And pulled her into an embrace.
Tight.
Desperate.
"Don't leave…"
His voice broke near her ear.
"…please."
"I loved you."
A pause.
"…I still do."
Lin Ya froze.
Her hands slowly lifted—
Then stopped.
She gently pushed him away.
Xu Ming let out a hollow laugh.
"…I knew."
"I can't believe this…" she whispered.
"I—"
"Can't believe what?" he cut in sharply.
"That you made me fall for you?"
"That you made me feel everything…"
"And then left like it meant nothing?"
Lin Ya lowered her gaze.
"I'm sorry…"
Her voice was barely there.
"…I don't remember."
The words landed.
Like a blade.
Xu Ming went still.
Then—
He laughed softly.
Cold.
"Of course you don't."
"For you…"
His voice quieted.
"I'm just an actor you admire now."
"Our past…"
A pause.
"…was something only I carried."
He turned away.
"Just go."
Lin Ya took a step forward.
"Xu Ming, I—"
"Go!"
His voice snapped.
His fist slammed against the wall.
"Just go!"
She flinched.
Tears blurred her vision.
And slowly—
She turned.
And left.
The door closed.
Silence filled the room.
Xu Ming stood there.
His hand still pressed against the wall.
Breathing uneven.
Eyes hollow.
"…I told you not to leave."