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    Liam’s POV


    Emily didn’t answer, just stared out the window. But the way she bit her lower lip and intertwined her fingers told me… the answer


    was yes


    I hated the fact that I might be one of the reasons she felt that way.


    As the car entered the location area, the atmosphere started to feel different. The ce was quite busy. Several production tents


    stood along a wide field that had been set up with various props for the photo shoot. Models walked back and forth, some getting


    their makeup done, others discussing with the photographers.


    As soon as we got out of the car, several faces turned towards Emily and quickly approached her. Some of them were young models


    who seemed to know Emily well.


    “Emily! Wow, it’s so good to see you again! You’re looking even more beautiful.”


    “Emily, you still look so young, you and Liam look perfect together,” one of them said while ncing at me.


    “You make a perfect couple, right?”


    I just gave a small smile in response to theirments, while Emily chuckled softly, sounding a little awkward. “Thanks. I’ll join


    you all in a bit.”


    The models left us and ran toward their respective teams.


    Emily took a deep breath, then turned to me. “Thanks, Liam. For bringing me here.”


    I nodded, looking at her face, which seemed strong, though her eyes were a little red. “Take your time, Emily. Do what you really


    want to do. I… will think about everything.”


    She fell silent. The wind blowing through her hair made her silhouette appear fragile, though she tried to remain strong in front of me. Emily then lowered her head briefly before stepping closer and giving me a gentle hug. Her body felt cold, but her embrace


    contained sincerity that I might never have fully appreciated before.


    “I’ll wait,” she said in a hoarse voice. “Not because I have no other choice, but because I want to wait for you, until you truly


    know where your heart wants to go home.”


    I couldn’t answer immediately. Her hug felt like a goodbye that had been dyed, but also like a hope that hadn’t faded. I raised my hand, returned her hug for a moment before slowly letting go.


    “Take care!” I said softly.


    She nodded, then grabbed her suitcase and walked toward her team waiting near the tent I stood there, watching her back grow smaller. The faces around her greeted her warmly, cameras began to be prepared, and the world Emily came from sucked her back


    into it.


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    But I was still standing outside that world.


    The car felt empty when I got back in and sat behind the wheel. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, but my mind was in turmoil. I couldn’t ignore everything that had happened. My feelings were tooplicated to be exined by simple words.


    Emily was right. Maybe she wasn’t my ce to return to, but she was someone who always kept the door open, hoping I would truly choose her, not just because of the circumstances.


    Sienna…


    That name still felt heavy in my chest. Herst look, her cold words that carried the weight of old wounds that hadn’t healed. I had hurt her too deeply. And maybe I had lost my chance.


    I took a deep breath and stared at the road ahead. I felt like I had to be honest, not with anyone else, but with myself.


    Because how could I choose the right path if I hadn’t truly been brave enough to look into my own heart?


    Slowly, I pulled my phone from my jacket pocket. My thumb hesitated for a moment, but eventually, I pressed the name that was so familiar on my contact list.


    Sienna.


    My heart raced just from seeing her name on the screen. I took a deep breath, hoping there would be a miracle this time.


    I pressed the phone to my ear.


    The dial tone rang. Once… twice… three times… Just like before, there was no answer. The tone stopped. The call was redirected to voicemail. I lowered the phone from my ear, staring at the screen that had gone dark again. Empty. Just like how I felt inside.


    Sienna truly didn’t want to speak with me. Not even once since that day. I lowered my head, gripping my phone tightly. Maybe I did deserve to be ignored. But foolishly, I still hoped she would pick up-just once.


    I tried to hold back the tightening breath in my chest. In this quiet parking lot, only the sound of the wind and my own heartbeat echoed loudly. Just seconds ago, I had been so sure I’d reach her-or at least hear her voice. But as usual, that hope fell and shattered into pieces.


    My hand trembled slightly as I set the phone down on the dashboard. How many times had I tried? Five? Six? I didn’t know anymore. Every missed call felt like a p in the face, a cruel reminder-Sienna didn’t want me in her life anymore.


    But… why is it so hard to let go? 1


    I closed my eyes. Her face appeared clearly in my mind, especially thest look she gave me before she left. There was pain there. Not just hers, but mine too. The difference was-she chose to walk away. While I… I stayed. Waiting.


    I forced myself out of the car. The evening air greeted me with a biting chill. But it was nothingpared to the cold that had frozen my heart.


    I walked slowly toward the small park across the street. The ce was exactly as it had been thest time we sat there, sharing


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    it was all still there.


    But Sienna wasn’t.


    I sat down slowly, staring nkly ahead. The sun was beginning to set, leaving behind a sky painted with aching shades of orange.


    I pulled my wallet from the pocket of my jacket and opened the smallpartment that held a tiny photo of us. A photo taken


    spontaneously, when we bothughed after dropping our ice creams at the exact same time.


    A faint smile formed on my lips. Isn’t it strange-howughter and pain often walk side by side?


    “Where are you now, Sienna?” I whispered. “Are you happy… without me?”


    The question hung in the air, never to be answered.


    I knew-maybe this was the time to give up. To let go. But what if my heart was still bound too tightly? What if every breath I took


    still whispered her name, even in silence?


    I closed my eyes again. Just for a moment, let me stay here. In the ce where our memories lived, Where I no longer had to hide


    my longing. Because even if the world demanded I move on, Part of my heart was still left behind, In the ce where Sienna once


    held me in her warm embrace.


    11:20 AM Tue 2 Sep