Ren walked toward Orakh and Sharina with a blank face. His mind was a tangled mess of thoughts, but he hid it behind his usual calm expression. Hearing Saya say the very words he used to long for years ago now made his stomach churn.
It was strange how time changed everything.
Back then, he would've given anything to hear those words from her—to be wanted, even if only a little. But now? The same words felt empty. Disgusting, even.
It would have been easier if Saya had just wanted to be friends, or even casual acquaintances. He could have lived with that. He wasn't holding grudges, not really.
Deep down, Ren knew he was partly to blame too. Saya wouldn't have used him if he hadn't let her. He'd been naive once, blinded by feelings he mistook for love.
But that was in the past.
Now, he only wanted peace—a quiet life far away from her and Mike.
