"Ryan, as long as you're with me, everything tastes wonderful." Celeste Carter leaned gently against my shoulder, her voice soft and sweet, like a tender caress.
"Silly girl, are you planning to eat me too?" I teased, giving her a light pat on the head, though my heart felt a twinge of bittersweet emotion.
"Ryan, do you believe me when I say this is my first time being in love?" She suddenly lifted her gaze to mine, her eyes filled with a mixture of vulnerability and hope.
"Really? You're already twenty-four and never had a relationship before?" I asked, surprised, though my chest tightened with an unspoken emotion.
"Ryan, do you think we'll stay together forever?" She avoided my question, instead posing one that carried the weight of her deepest fears.
"We will," I replied with conviction, though uncertainty lingered in my heart. I didn't want to let her down.
"They say first loves are unforgettable but rarely last. Is that true?" Her voice softened, tinged with melancholy as though the question itself was a harbinger of doubt.
Scratching my head, I confessed,"I wouldn't know." The truth was, I didn't. I had never truly been in love either, though a name resurfaced in my mind—Sophie Summers. My feelings for her were twisted, selfish. I had demanded her love at the expense of her own happiness. A wave of guilt washed over me as I silently whispered,"I'm sorry, Sophie Summers."
"You've never been in love either?" Celeste Carter's wide eyes sparkled with curiosity, laced with a playful hint of mischief.
"Of course I have! How could I not?" I chuckled, attempting to mask the turmoil within.
"Who was she? What was she like? Was she prettier than me?" Celeste persisted, her tone teasing but her eyes betraying a flicker of jealousy and insecurity.
I hesitated, memories flooding back like an unstoppable tide. The image of that girl reappeared vividly in my mind. Celeste, noticing my silence, tugged on my hand, pouting,"Tell me, Ryan, please!"
"She… she was a beautiful girl," I began, my voice hoarse with emotion."When I first saw her in that white dress, I was captivated. Her smile was like the sun in spring—warm, radiant, and impossible to forget. I told myself she was the one."
Celeste listened intently, though a shadow of tension crossed her features, as if bracing herself for a painful revelation.
"But I made so many mistakes," I admitted, my voice cracking."I hurt her… I broke her heart. In the end, we went our separate ways." A lump formed in my throat, and my eyes grew moist with unbidden tears.
Celeste gazed at me, her expression filled with compassion. She moved closer, wrapping her arms around me."Ryan, let the past rest. Let's focus on us and make the most of what we have now," she murmured, her fingers gently tracing soothing circles on my back. Then, she stood on tiptoe and placed a delicate kiss on my lips.
Drawing a deep breath, I steadied myself and met her eyes."You're right. We'll make it work."
Celeste's face lit up with a smile, her usual cheer returning. She grabbed my hand and exclaimed,"Let's go get some barbecue!" Without waiting for my response, she dragged me eagerly toward the nearby stalls.
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As we strolled down the bustling street, Celeste suddenly paused and turned to face me, her tone playful."So, tell me, who's prettier—me or her?"
Caught off guard, I laughed and replied,"You're both unique in your own ways. But in my heart, you the most special."
Satisfied with my answer, Celeste grinned and looped her arm through mine, resuming her excited march forward. The streetlights cast a golden glow on her face, accentuating her warmth and vitality.
When we arrived at the barbecue stand, we settled into a small table. Celeste eagerly scanned the menu, her enthusiasm childlike as she pointed at various skewers."I want this, this, and that one too!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight.
After we finished the barbecue, the clock had already struck past eleven. The city, veiled under the quiet embrace of night, appeared unusually tranquil. I took Celeste Harrington home—not because I didn't want to linger, but because I felt things were moving too quickly.
Celeste Harrington seemed visibly displeased. A flicker of disappointment and reluctance danced in her eyes, as though she wished for just a little more time together. Outside her apartment complex, she suddenly grasped my hand, her gaze burning with intensity. Beneath the glow of a streetlamp, we shared a soul-stirring kiss that seemed to halt the flow of time, leaving only the two of us locked in each other's embrace. At last, she reluctantly retreated home, her silhouette appearing especially solitary against the backdrop of the night.
As I walked back, my phone vibrated incessantly. Messages from Celeste Harrington poured in, one after another. Experiencing her first love, she seemed to have opened the floodgates of her emotions, pouring out her affections and longing in an endless stream. Warmth swelled in my chest as I replied to her messages, step by step.
Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Sophie Summers. Her voice carried a strange edge as she asked,"Where are you?"
"Out and about," I replied, bewildered.
"With Celeste Harrington?" Her tone carried a subtle provocation.
"I just dropped her off at home," I answered honestly.
"Come here. I'll send you the location," she said curtly before hanging up.
Moments later, her message came through, marking a spot not far away, still near the square—a bar, to be precise. My mind raced. So, she must've accepted the proposal and is now celebrating at a bar? Perhaps she plans to introduce Lucas Steele with grandeur and take this chance to mock me, humiliate me, and settle old scores. Amused by my own cynical musings, I decided to go. After all, I had a girlfriend now, too.
Stepping into the bar, the dim lighting and cacophonous music immediately put me on edge. Navigating this unfamiliar terrain to find someone was no easy feat. After several rounds, I finally spotted her sitting alone in a corner, empty glasses scattered on the table before her. Her expression bore traces of loneliness.
"You saw me wandering past multiple times and didn't even call out?" I remarked with a hint of exasperation.
She lifted her head, her eyes glazed with intoxication."Why are you here? Weren't you busy with your new flame?"
"You're the one who called me," I explained, helplessly.
She shook her head, her gaze distant and unfocused."Oh, right. I did call you. How obedient of you. Sorry to interrupt your date with your girlfriend."
Seeing her in this state, I could tell she'd had too much to drink."Let me take you home. What's the point of drinking so much?" I said, rising to help her.
Suddenly, she slapped at me, her voice sharp."Go away. Just go!"
I took her hand and pulled her up from her position,"Go back."
At this time, a guy next to me looked at me with ill intentions and said,"Brother, you are awesome. You came to the bar to pick up beautiful girls."
I ignored him, but Sophie Summers grew even more agitated."Get lost! I don't want to see you!" she screamed.
"I'll take you home first. We can talk once you sober up," I coaxed her patiently.
"No! I'm not going home!" She shook her head stubbornly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I asked,"Sophie Summers, what's wrong? Why are you drinking like this?"
Suddenly, she collapsed into my arms, sobbing like a child."I hate you. I hate you!"
I froze, then slowly began to stroke her back."Alright, alright. Don't cry. Let's go home, okay?"
But she clung to me tightly, her cries growing louder and more uncontrollable. The people around us began casting curious, judgmental glances our way.