"You did that on purpose, didn''t you?" Vrie cut Brandon off, her gaze sharp with usation.


    Brandon hesitated, caught off guard for a moment.


    After a brief pause, he nodded. "Yes, I did. Because I don''t like how much attention you''re giving Stefan. If it had been any other server handling the bill, would you still be questioning me like this?"


    "There''s no ''if.'' I chose to be with you again, which means I''m not holding onto anything with Stefan. So, there''s no reason for you to single him out," Vrie replied.


    Brandon''s expression darkened slightly. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then held back. "Alright. I understand."


    "Good. Let''s go home," Vrie said, and the car fell into silence.


    When they finally arrived at the Weir residence, Brandon broke the quiet. "Vrie, don''t you think... things between us aren''t the same anymore?"


    They were supposed to be a couple, yet they tiptoed around each other-testing boundaries, afraid to say the wrong thing.


    Vrie pressed her lips together, lowering her gaze. "We''re back together, but what happened before doesn''t disappear. It''s going to take time to get things back to how they were."


    Brandon let out a bitterugh, the fear lingering in his chest.


    No matter how much time passed, he couldn''t shake the feeling that things would never be the same.


    "Alright. Go inside. Good night," he said quietly.


    Vrie nodded, stepped out of the car, and walked inside.


    Once in her room, she sank onto the couch, feeling drained and lost.


    She had hoped that giving Brandon another chance would mean they could return


    to how things used to be. Now, she realized that was impossible. Being with him felt exhausting.


    Her phone suddenly vibrated.


    She unlocked the screen to see a message from Stefan.


    Stefan: [Veevee, did you and Mr. Sumner get back together?]


    Vrie hadn''t expected him to notice so quickly. After a moment''s hesitation, she typed back.


    Vrie: [Yes.]


    Almost immediately, Stefan transferred 250,000 dors to her.


    Stefan: [This is the hospital bill you coveredst night. I nned to return it over dinner, but now that you''re back with M Sumnerit Mr.


    doesn''t feel right anymore. Thank you for everything during this time.]


    Vrie stared at his message, pursing her lips. After a long pause, she replied.


    Vrie: [You don''t have to. Your mother will still need money for her treatments. Keep it.]


    Stefan: [But I''m not your family. I can''t just take your money. I don''t want to owe you too much. If you


    ba


    don''t ept it, I go to the tomorrow and transfer it directly to your ount.]


    Vrie could almost picture his stubborn, slightly aggrieved expression.


    The first time they met...


    Stefan was walking alone in the pouring rain, drenched and looking as if the world had abandoned him.


    She had just broken up with Brandon. Seeing Stefan in that state, she felt an overwhelming urge to help. She stopped and gave him a ride to his university.


    She hadn''t expected to see him again the very next day—this time, at a bar. He was working as a server, bringing drinks to her booth.


    He recognized her immediately, noticing the five or six empty bottles on the table. Without a word he


    cleared them away and ot


    next drink with juice instead.


    her


    She took a sip and immediately sensed something was off. Looking up to question


    him, she was surprised to realize it was the same rain-soaked boy from the night before.


    That was how they got to know each other.


    At first, Vrie had been drawn to Stefan''s face. Over time, though, she realized


    they were never meant to be.