The café was quiet for a Saturday evening.
Soft amber lights glowed overhead, reflecting off the polished wooden tables. The scent of roasted coffee beans mixed with vanilla syrup hung in the air. Through the glass windows, cars could be seen driving down the road.
Braelyn sat opposite Genny, her fingers wrapped tightly around her milkshake glass. She hadn’t taken a sip.
Her mind was a storm. The weight of everything that had happened this past month stayed heavy on her shoulders as she studied her friend. As she stared at Genny, she realized there was sothing different about her today.
Genny sat stiffly in her seat. She had been curious about why Braelyn called. She looked tired and worn at the edges. It was no secret among the elites that New Horizon and Volkov Apex were in conflict. She was deeply concerned about her friend.
The waiter ca and took their orders. "Good evening, ladies. What can I get you?" he asked with a friendly smile.
Genny glanced at him and ordered without checking the nu. "I will have what she got."
The waiter nodded. "Your order will be ready shortly," he chid before walking away.
After he left, the silence grew heavy.
Braelyn broke it first. "Why did you let Alora go to Joey’s place?" she asked quietly, curious about her friend’s troubles. "I thought you hated him."
Genny’s fingers froze around her napkin. "I don’t really hate Joey," she said after a pause. "It’s complicated," she admitted, leaving Braelyn stunned. She didn’t know what to label her relationship with Joey.
Braelyn frowned. Her confusion deepened, and for a mont she beca more concerned about Genny’s problems. Genny looked like soone whose life was going off track and she had no control over it. Braelyn reached for her hand, and Genny glanced up.
"Is there sothing weighing you down? You know you can always talk to ," Braelyn offered.
Genny’s eyes watered.
She didn’t deserve a friend like Lynn. Lynn’s life was falling apart and she was still worried about her. She sniffed. "I can’t do that. I ca here to hear you rant, not the other way around," she argued.
Braelyn laughed, offering her a napkin. "We can both rant. It’s not that urgent," she urged. "You should go first."
Staring at Lynn’s soft smile, Genny felt a weight lift from her chest. She inhaled slowly, as if bracing herself.
"I have a confession," she started, her voice trailing. "I lied to you," she admitted quietly.
Braelyn’s brows drew together. "About what?"
Genny lifted her gaze. There was no defensiveness there, just vulnerability. "That night, he didn’t ghost ," she said, her voice trembling. "I ghosted him."
Braelyn blinked, confused. "But you said..."
"I know what I said." Genny cut in, her lips pressing together. "And I’m sorry. I was going to tell you. I just didn’t know how."
Braelyn’s confusion deepened. Why would Genny lie about sothing like that?
Genny’s heart squeezed painfully as the mories flooded back.
"Yes, I had a crush on him," she admitted softly. "For a long ti. That night when I helped him, I didn’t have any ulterior motives. I just didn’t want him to fall into sothing reckless. I didn’t understand why he was acting like that."
Her voice shifted, distant now, almost like she was narrating a mory.
******
The mories from that day were foggy. She had always wanted to forget but couldn’t. From the original version, Genny had told Lynn about the race, how he was almost taken advantage of, and how she didn’t have a choice but to take him to the hotel. Those parts were all true.
She rembered the hotel hallway that night. The way it slled faintly of disinfectant and expensive perfu. The way Joey’s cologne wrapped around her as she helped him to his room.
He was dead drunk, muttering sothing about his head pounding. Even in that state he looked gorgeous. His hair was tousled, and he had that careless grin that made her heart race.
Genny’s mission was simple. Send him to his room and rush back to her apartnt before she died from embarrassnt. Her face was so red it felt hot.
With Joey’s help, she was able to find the room. He handed her the card, and she managed to open the door. She dragged him inside. He was heavy.
Inside the dim hotel room, the air felt thick. She dragged him toward the bed and helped him sit on the edge. He was still holding his head, complaining about a headache. She should have left then, but she was too naive and kind, so she decided to get him a glass of water.
Luckily, room service had dropped so bottles in the room. She hurried to grab one and brought it to him.
"Drink so water," she had murmured gently, crouching in front of him.
But instead of reaching for the glass, his hands suddenly grabbed her wrists.
"Don’t go," he had said, his voice breaking in a way she had never heard before.
Her heart had skipped.
Before she could react, she was pulled into his hold. He hugged her from behind, burying his face in her neck.
Her heartbeat roared in her ears. She cleared her throat. "Please, can you let go? I need to leave."
His shoulders hunched, and he slowly looked up at her.
His intense blue eyes stared into her dark ones like he was looking into her soul. They weren’t just glossy from alcohol. They were fractured.
"Your eyes..." he murmured hoarsely, his thumb brushing lightly against her cheek. "They’re beautiful."
Heat rushed to her face.
"You..." she blurted as her cheeks burned. She knew it was just drunk talk, but it was the first ti anyone had complinted her eyes. She had always thought they were plain and boring, but the look in his eyes seed genuine.
Before she could gather her thoughts, his hand slid to the back of her neck and he pulled her forward.
He kissed her, and her mind went blank.
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