After dinner with Miya and their parents, Liam couldn't shake the unease that had been following him since the night before. No matter what he did, the echoes of their words kept replaying in his mind.
"…just to secure the future…"
"…the agreement…"
"…to marry Miya…"
He froze at the stairs before finally entering his room. A heavy weight pressed against his chest. Every time he thought of Freya, the pressure tightened even more. He wanted to speak the truth, but he knew he wasn't ready—and above all, he didn't want to hurt her.
---
The next day, the three of them—Liam, Freya, and Leiyah—met at the plaza for some summer bonding. They walked and chatted, excitedly sharing their plans for the vacation.
"Let's get fries!" Leiyah said cheerfully. "It's my belated gift to Freya, so it's on me!"
"Wow, thanks! I'll grab the drinks," Freya added, smiling.
Liam stayed quiet, forcing a smile. He didn't want them to notice the heaviness in his thoughts. He wanted to savor the time with them, especially knowing he would be flying to Japan in the first week of June.
"Liam, are you sure about leaving?" Freya asked suddenly.
He paused for a moment before answering. "Yeah… but… maybe not until the first week. I still have some paperwork to settle."
Freya nodded, and even without words, Liam could see the sadness in her eyes. Leiyah quickly chimed in, trying to lighten the mood.
"Then we should make the most of this summer! Road trips, hanging out, anything—just the three of us together!"
Liam smiled faintly. "Of course. We'll make it count." But deep inside, he knew it wasn't that simple.
---
From that day on, Miya began visiting more often. Always with food, gifts, or some excuse to be near Liam.
"Liam, can you help me with math?" she asked one afternoon, holding a thick notebook. "You know I'm terrible at this. Can you tutor me while it's still vacation?"
Liam had no choice but to nod. "Sure… I'll help."
And from then on, they met almost every night. Sometimes in the living room, sometimes on the veranda, sometimes in Liam's room. She was always close, leaning on him, holding his arm as if she couldn't be apart.
---
Gradually, Liam's time with Freya and Leiyah was affected. There were moments when the two would invite him out or just hang around, but Miya always got there first.
"Liam, let's hang out tomorrow, okay?" Leiyah once asked in their group chat.
For a moment, Liam couldn't respond. He knew Miya had already scheduled a study session for the afternoon. So all he could type was, "Sorry, I have something at home. Next time."
"Such a waste," Freya replied. "But it's okay, maybe you're really busy."
Liam sighed. He didn't know how long he could keep all of this hidden.
---
One evening, while tutoring Miya, Liam heard soft voices from the kitchen.
"Miya is always around. They're getting closer," his mother said.
"Yes… their future is set," his father added.
The world seemed to stop for Liam. He wanted to rush in and declare that he didn't want their plan, but he remained silent. He didn't know where to start—and more than anything, he thought of Freya.
Watching Miya lean happily against him, he felt the dream of a simple, happy life with the one he truly loved slipping farther away.
---
That night, walking home from Leiyah and Freya's, the weight on Liam's chest was unbearable.
"How long can I keep this hidden?" he whispered to himself.
In his mind, two clear images stared back at him: Freya, his longtime companion and the girl he loved; and Miya, the childhood friend now returned with a promise he had never made.
In the quiet of the night, he knew one thing for certain: as the days passed, the struggle would only grow heavier.