CALI
I almost lost my balance on the stairs when our eyes collided.
For a split second, the world tilted, and I had to grip the railing to steady myself. Even Steve looked just as shocked—his brows furrowed, his lips parting slightly as though he couldn't believe I was standing there. It had been years since we last saw each other, years filled with silence, loss, and unanswered questions. Seeing him again stirred emotions I thought time had erased.
But it hadn't.
Nothing had prepared me for this moment.
With everything unfolding so quickly, Bryan's reaction caught me completely off guard. His face was unreadable—cold, controlled, dangerously calm. If not for the charged atmosphere pressing down on all of us, I might have laughed at how rigid he looked. But this wasn't funny. Not at all.
After what felt like forever, Bryan finally broke the silence.
"What the fuck is happening here?"
The words sounded almost amused, but the tension beneath them was unmistakable. No one answered.
The two men beside Steve—clearly Bryan's friends—exchanged confused looks, just as lost as I was.
Then Steve turned sharply toward Bryan.
"What is she doing here?" he asked.
His tone startled me. Anger simmered beneath his calm exterior, threatening to erupt at any moment. From the way his eyes narrowed, I could tell Bryan must have mentioned me before—just never expected me to be this woman. The realization seemed to push Steve to the edge.
"I asked a fucking question, Bryan," Steve snapped.
Bryan slammed his palm against the bar stand, the sound echoing sharply through the room. I flinched, my heart racing. I couldn't tell what was going through Bryan's mind, but whatever it was, it wasn't good.
"At least answer me," Steve said again, his voice calmer now—but somehow more dangerous.
Bryan scoffed.
The tension became unbearable. Acting on instinct, I stepped forward and hugged Steve.
"It's been a long time," I said softly.
I didn't see Bryan's reaction, but I felt the sudden shift in the air—thick, heavy, suffocating. Steve hugged me back, smiling warmly, and for a brief moment, memories of our past rushed in like a tidal wave.
One of Bryan's friends sat down. Then the other. Moments later, Steve followed, leaving Bryan and me standing awkwardly, exposed.
"So," one of them—Jason—said casually, "now that you're here, Bryan, won't you introduce your girlfriend?"
He winked.
My chest tightened.
I suddenly felt like all eyes were on me. Steve's gaze sharpened, filled with curiosity and something unreadable. Before I could react, Bryan pulled me against him, his grip firm and possessive.
"Guys," he said evenly, "meet Cali. My girlfriend."
The word hit me like a slap.
Girlfriend?
I almost choked.
"You have a girlfriend?" one of the men asked, stunned.
Steve didn't say a word. He simply stared at me, deep in thought, his jaw tightening as though he was struggling to process the revelation.
"Obviously," Jason replied with a smirk.
My hand clenched into a fist. Bryan noticed immediately and gently pried it open, his fingers lingering as if to remind me who was in control. I shot him a glare, but he ignored it.
Soon, Bryan found a polite excuse to send me away. His tone was calm, deceptively gentle, masking something darker beneath.
As I turned to leave, Steve asked for my contact information.
Before I could respond, Bryan spoke for me.
"I'll give it to you."
Final. Absolute.
I walked away without looking back.
The moment I entered my room, I kicked off my shoes, collapsed onto the bed, and inhaled sharply. Tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them.
Steve and I had once been inseparable. People thought we were dating. I had been hopelessly in love with him—always by his side, always waiting, always hoping.
But to him, I was just a sister. Familiar. Safe. Never someone to love.
I never got the chance to confess. College pulled me away, and after my parents died, we lost touch completely. I never imagined I'd see him again—certainly not like this, not while I was trapped in a situation I barely understood myself.
What would he think if he learned the truth about why I was here?
Why was the world so cruel?
I lost my parents. Lost everything they owned. My brother fell sick. And now, fate had dragged my past back into my present.
What else could go wrong?
As I clutched my chest, sobs wracking my body, one thought haunted me relentlessly—
Seeing Steve again wasn't an accident.
And whatever was coming next would be far worse.