Hugo sat across from Lily, his expression like a stone statue carved by the gods of indifference.
He looked like he was completely unbothered, maybe even a little bored, but inside? Inside, Hugo was an absolute ss.
His brain was in complete chaos.
'Why isn't she saying anything? Does she hate ? Does she think I'm ugly? Or worse—boring?! Oh no, what if I co off as desperate? No, stay cool, Hugo. You're calm. You're collected. You're... oh my god, what is she even thinking?!'
His heart was pounding so hard he thought it might actually be louder than the clock ticking on the wall.
But still, he kept his face completely still, like so sort of emotionless action hero.
Lily, anwhile, looked like she might combust. Her face was so red that Hugo briefly wondered if she might be allergic to him.
She stamred, her fingers fiddling with her sleeves, her eyes darting everywhere except at his. She looked like she would give anything to leave this room.
She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Then opened it once more. "I-I… um… I think…" Her voice broke off into a barely audible squeak as her cheeks flushed even brighter.
Hugo's heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest.
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What was this useless suspense?!
'Just say sothing already!' He scread internally. 'Anything! Even if you're going to reject , just rip the Band Aid off and let know my fate! Oh no, what if it's worse than rejection? What if she pities ? Should I prepare myself for rejection? Oh no, I didn't even co up with a backup plan for this!'
Finally, after what felt like a million years, Lily managed to squeak out, "I'll drink again!"
The words hung in the air. Hugo blinked. His brain went completely blank for about three seconds before everything ca crashing down.
The words hit him like a punch to the gut. His calm expression remained frozen, but his internal monologue went off like an airhorn.
'What! Drink AGAIN?! Are you kidding ?! Is this so sort of cruel joke? She'd rather down another shot of that super strong drink than answer the question?'
'This isn't just rejection—this is a humiliation combo! She's probably trying to spare my feelings, but honestly, this hurts more! This is worse than rejection! Worse than death! Why didn't I just block her number and leave it at that?'
His mind spiraled into a dark, gloomy pit of lodramatic despair as he gave her a deadpan stare.
'I pray soone else wastes her ti like this in the future! Soone who makes her sit through an awkward dinner, only to tell her nothing! May her next crush be allergic to flowers and chocolate!'
Without a word, Hugo stood. He activated his Aura of Zen, suppressing every shred of emotion that might betray him.
His movents were smooth and confident, like a man who had just sealed a business deal worth billions.
Not a single twitch of emotion showed on his face as he slowly stood up.
Turning to Collins, who had been quietly observing the situation from the corner, Hugo delivered his final line with the cold detachnt of a drama protagonist.
"I'm leaving. Will be back tomorrow."
Or never.
The room fell silent. Collins gave him a look like he was witnessing sothing tragic and extraordinary at the sa ti.
Even Tily seed at a loss for words, and she usually had sothing snarky to say about everything.
Hugo didn't even glance at Lily. He simply strode toward the door like a man on a mission. His footsteps were steady, his posture perfect.
He told himself he was walking away from the situation with dignity, even though his heart felt like it had been crushed into tiny pieces.
He reached the door, placed his hand on it, and was about to push it open completely when—bam! The door slamd shut right in front of him.
"Hugo, wait!" Lily's voice was shaky but loud, and when Hugo turned around, she was standing there, looking completely panicked.
Her cheeks were still red, and her chest heaved as if she'd just run a mile.
Her hands were flat against the door, blocking his way. She looked like a mix of nervous, scared, and determined, all at once.
Hugo raised an eyebrow, his expression still cold. His heart skipped a beat, but he quickly suppressed it. "Why? Don't waste my ti, Lily." His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.
She flinched at his tone but didn't back down. Her hands curled into fists, and her lips trembled for a mont before she spoke.
"I… I need to tell you sothing first. And then… then you can leave if you want."
Hugo stared at her, his face unreadable, but inside his mind, chaos reigned.
'Oh great, here it cos. She's probably going to tell she has a boyfriend. Or worse, that this was all 'her' fault. Maybe she's going to lecture about how I 'misread the signals' or sothing. Just get it over with already!'
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine," he said, his tone laced with fake indifference. "But make it quick."
Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked toward his room. His steps were steady, but inside, he was bracing himself for the worst. Lily followed him, shutting the door behind her.
Once inside, Hugo turned to face her, his arms crossed over his chest. He gave her the sa cold, unreadable stare he'd perfected over the years. "Alright," he said, his voice firm. "What do you want to say?"
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Feels like I'm watching a drama... XD
rry Christmas Y'all! This is our first Christmas together and hopefully many more!
P.S: Still expecting my Christmas gifts, hehe.
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Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapters
200 PS (Quite an achievent as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.
Castle - 20 Bonus Chapters!
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