Nicholas hurried down the street, scanning shop after shop with restless eyes. The air was cool and pleasant, but his anxiety left no room for enjoyment. A few shops ahead, he finally spotted Yong and Helen in a small, colorful store selling traditional jewelry.
He smiled and turned to Mary.
"I found them—they're right there. Come on, let's go."
They entered the shop together. Mary headed straight to Helen, while Nicholas swiftly approached Yong and whispered:
"Why'd you wander off like that? I've been looking everywhere for you."
Yong, still examining a necklace, didn't look up.
"With the way you're panicking, it's obvious you told her. So? What did she say?"
Nicholas sighed.
"I don't know… I told her to think it over and give me an answer later."
Yong chuckled.
Nicholas frowned.
"What's so funny?"
With a sly grin, Yong replied,
"I just always wanted to see you like this. Dream come true."
"Like what?"
"Like a nervous high school kid confessing to a girl for the first time. You used to be so direct—never cared what the answer was, just said your piece and moved on."
Nicholas scowled.
"Cut it out. I'm still the same. You just like teasing me."
Yong smiled.
"Come on, let's see if Helen and Mary found anything."
When they joined the others, Helen was holding a necklace, and Mary was trying on a bracelet.
Helen looked up, excited.
"Yong! I was about to call you. I picked this necklace for myself—it's so pretty! Are you getting something for Diana?"
Yong shrugged.
"Nah, she's not into this kind of stuff."
Mary held up a bracelet.
"What about this one?"
"It's beautiful," Yong said with a nod. "But I don't think she'd wear that either."
Nicholas smirked.
"She only wears stuff that empties your wallet."
Yong gave Nicholas a sharp look but said nothing. Instead, he grabbed two steel rings from the display.
"Excuse me, how much are these?" he asked the shopkeeper.
Helen blinked.
"Rings? Are you buying matching rings for Diana?"
Without a hint of emotion, Yong replied,
"No, I'm not. Nicholas wants them. Not sure for who."
Nicholas's eyes widened in shock. Mary quickly looked down, pretending to focus on the bracelets, while Helen gave them both a mischievous smile.
Nicholas muttered,
"Yong... seriously?"
Yong winked.
"Alright, guys—let's go pay."
After leaving the shop, Nicholas quietly kept his distance from Mary as they walked back toward the hotel. Yong and Helen couldn't help giggling at his awkward behavior.
Later, in her room, Mary was still in her day clothes when she heard a knock at the door. She opened it to find Helen standing there.
"Hi Mary!"
"Hi... is everything okay?"
Helen walked in uninvited and sat on the bed.
"I couldn't wait. Tell me—what happened? What did Nicholas say?"
Mary sat down slowly.
"Not much. He just said he wanted us to be... more than just friends."
Helen frowned.
"What does that even mean? He didn't ask you out?"
"He said he didn't want us to be like some teenage couple. Just... a step above regular friendship."
Helen looked frustrated.
"Nicholas always does this. He never gives you a straight answer. But I think it's different this time."
"Different how?"
"I don't know… he seems different. Like he's serious but doesn't know how to show it. What did you say?"
"Nothing. He asked me to think about it and tell him later."
Helen leaned forward and took Mary's hand.
"I'm really happy for you. I'm sure you'd make him so happy."
Mary laughed.
"It's not like he proposed. I'm not even that hopeful. Honestly, I just want to follow my dream. Only after that will love really mean something to me. I don't want to attach myself to anyone just out of fear of being alone—whether it's Nicholas or anyone else."
Helen smiled.
"And that's why any guy who ends up with you is the luckiest man alive."
Mary looked at her.
"What about you? You never talk about love."
Helen raised her brows slightly.
"It didn't go well for me... I told you before."
"It must be hard to forget. Especially if you still see him sometimes."
"It is. But I've made peace with it. You can't change fate."
"You're really strong…"
Helen got up.
"I just wanted to be sure."
"Sure of what?"
"That Nicholas means it this time. I hope you don't break his heart."
Helen smiled faintly, but there was something heavy behind it as she quietly left the room.
That night, Mary lay in bed, thoughts swirling between Nicholas's words and Helen's voice. At last, she made a decision. She picked up her phone and typed:
> "Hi… I just wanted to thank you. From the moment I joined the art school, you've always been there for me—from defending me when I messed up Yong's painting to the group project and even bringing the students on this trip. Thank you. I hope we can continue working together... with feelings stronger than before."
She hit send.
Nicholas, half asleep, was awakened by the buzz of his phone.
"Who's messaging me at this hour... oh—it's Mary."
He opened the message, read it, and sat up in bed, a grin spreading across his face.
"She thanked me… does that mean yes? She said 'with feelings stronger than before'—that's gotta be a yes!"
He pumped his fist in the air before remembering it was the middle of the night.
"Woo-hoo!" he whispered with a huge smile, then lay back down, still staring at the message.
The next morning, Mary opened her door, ready to leave for work—and there stood Nicholas, smiling, holding a single red rose.
"Going somewhere, ma'am?"
"Nicholas? What are you doing here?"
"First of all, from now on, call me Nick. Second, I'm taking you to your office today. And after work, we're going to a fantastic restaurant. Then there's a place I want to show you."
Mary laughed.
"Why are you like this today? Did you forget we're here for painting? Not sightseeing."
Nicholas sighed dramatically.
"Oh, come on. That mural will never be done. Let's go—I'll drop you off first."
"I can go by myself. You should focus on your work."
Nicholas gently took her hand.
"This is my priority now. You're my number one task."
Mary looked at him, half smiling.
"Are you being serious?"
"Not really. I just wanted to see how that felt. But hey, not bad for a first try, right?"
"With a start like this? Not bad at all."
Nicholas gave her a triumphant look.
"Then let's go. Breakfast is on me."
Mary smiled, took his hand, and together they walked toward the elevator. A new sense of calm and excitement surrounded them both.
As the elevator doors opened into the lobby, they stepped out—and right at the entrance stood a familiar, unexpected face.
Diana.
Mary smiled warmly.
"Diana! Hi. How are you?"
Diana walked over confidently. Her eyes flicked down to their joined hands. Her smile was small—and not entirely sincere.
"I'm good... but it looks like you two are doing even better."
Mary pulled her hand away, a bit flustered. Nicholas frowned slightly.
"What are you doing here, Diana?"
"I came to see Yong."
"Does he know you're here?"
"No. I wanted it to be a surprise."
Nicholas raised an eyebrow.
"Lucky guess on the hotel?"
"Let's skip the small talk. Actually, I wanted to speak with you."
She turned to Mary.
"Mary dear, could you give us a minute?"
"Of course," Mary replied politely. "I'll wait outside."
Once Mary stepped away, Nicholas glared.
"You must be used to giving orders at the company—now you're doing it here too?"
Diana narrowed her eyes.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself quite a bit here."
"That's none of your business."
She stepped closer.
"Seems like you've forgotten what we had."
Nicholas's voice was cold.
"There was nothing. And if there ever was, it ended years ago. You know very well that Yong is your husband, not me."
"I'm just trying to fix things in my life—"
"Then fix them with your husband. Stop pretending this is something else."
Her eyes sharpened.
"So you meet one pretty girl and suddenly forget everything?"
Nicholas's tone turned deadly serious.
"Don't you dare drag Mary into this. One more step out of line and I won't be this calm."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and stormed out of the hotel.
Outside, Mary was waiting. Her eyes filled with uncertainty. Nicholas forced a smile, took a deep breath, and walked over.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we go?"