Her heels clicked softly with every step as she made her way toward the park where she'd been invited.
The one-piece dress she wore hugged her curves in all the right places, the fabric tracing the lines of her body like it was made for her. The neckline dipped low enough to reveal a tempting hint of cleavage, and the light breeze teased the hem around her thighs.
Her pale skin carried a faint blush from walking too fast, and a few beads of sweat glistened on her forehead—making her look effortlessly seductive, even without trying.
She usually didn't wear dresses like this. But tonight was different—an event she couldn't show up to looking ordinary. Besides, her boyfriend liked it when she dressed boldly.
Her boyfriend… Troy.
Until a few months ago, that spot in her heart had belonged to someone else—Nathan.
She'd known him since high school. Back then, he used to help her with homework, patient and quiet, always explaining things until she understood. Over time, she started spending more time studying with him than in class itself.
They fit together easily—her laughter balanced his silence. During their first year at university, she finally gathered the courage to confess, and to her surprise, he said yes.
They were the kind of couple people admired. She was the bright, confident girl everyone noticed; he was the calm, brilliant type who didn't need to speak much to draw attention.
She loved his quiet presence—it always made her feel safe.
But slowly, things began to change. He had to take on four jobs to support his brother while juggling his studies. The little time they once had together grew shorter and shorter, and each time she saw the guilt in his eyes, it tore at her heart.
So she ended it.
She told herself it was for his sake—that she was freeing him from the weight she had become. Still, even knowing that, it didn't make the pain any easier.
'But why now… why call today, after four months?'
Nathan was never the kind of man to reach out after something ended. Once he closed a chapter, he never looked back. He'd once cut off his best friend—years of friendship—simply because of a single betrayal. And he never spoke to him again.
That was just who he was—proud, private, and stubborn. Which was exactly why Mira never expected to hear from him again.
Yet, here she was, walking toward him, her heart restless and her mind full of questions.
'I just hope Troy doesn't find out about this…'
She'd told him her mother had called her home because her aunt had fallen down the stairs. A clean, believable lie.
Because how could she tell her boyfriend she was sneaking out of his birthday party to meet her ex?
And deep down, she knew why she lied.
The reason Nathan had asked to see her—the thing he wanted to say—was the one thought that had never truly left her mind.
Reaching the park where he'd asked her to come, she found no one around. Of course—it was late.
She took a few steps forward, glancing around… but there was no trace of him.
Just as she was about to call, a familiar voice called out, "Here."
He waved his hand. He was sitting on a bench beneath a tree.
She huffed and approached him. "Who told you to sit in such a deserted corner? I was about to leave."
Nathan lazily looked up from behind his glasses, his red eyes meeting hers. "Oh, but would you have?"
She froze.
He… was right.
She wouldn't have come here if she didn't want to hear what he had to say.
No—she was here for one reason only. To finally get her answer. The answer she had been searching for nearly two long years.
Nathan slowly rose to his feet and faced her.
The sudden closeness made her heart race, stirring a flood of memories—the days they spent together, the silly dates, the arguments, the kisses… everything.
But his next words snapped her back to reality.
"You always wanted to know why I chose you over your twin sister, Amaya, right?"
Mira drew in a deep breath and nodded.
Yes… she had been dying to hear it.
Why, when both of them confessed at nearly the same time, did he choose *her*?
That question had been eating at her for years.
And now, at last, he had decided to answer it.