James and Hazel became inseparable.
Every morning at school, James waited for her by the gate with coffee in one hand and flowers in the other. Sometimes roses. Sometimes daisies. Sometimes random wildflowers he claimed he picked "just because they reminded me of you."
Hazel would laugh, cheeks turning pink, every single time.
After classes, he came to her apartment, leaning against the doorframe with a lazy smile and a small gift hidden behind his back.
"For my favorite girl," he'd say.
They went everywhere together.
The beach, where Hazel chased waves and James pretended to complain while secretly filming her smile.
The pool, where he pulled her into the water and laughed when she splashed him.
Late-night convenience store runs. Midnight walks. Quiet study dates where she rested her head on his shoulder.
Hazel felt safe.
She felt chosen.
She felt loved.
Weeks passed.
And somewhere between his laughter, his warmth, and the way he looked at her like she was the only girl in the world… Hazel fell deeply in love.
Meanwhile…One night, James sat in the dorm lounge with Mat, Daniel, and Edward.
Mat smirked. "So… Hazel. How long you think this one's gonna last?"
James leaned back, spinning his phone between his fingers.
"Not much longer."
Edward frowned. "You serious? She looks different. Not like the others."
"That's the problem," James said. "She's too safe. I'm already bored."
Daniel laughed. "So when you dumping her?"
"Soon," James replied calmly. "Haven't had enough fun yet."
Mat whistled. "You're cold."
James shrugged. "She knew what she was getting into."
But Hazel didn't.
Back to HazelHazel listened to James talk about his past relationships the girls, the mistakes, the bad choices.
She believed his soft voice when he said, "I used to be stupid… but I'm trying to change."
She believed him.
She told herself she was different.
That what they had was real.
Every night, she held her phone, rereading his messages with a smile.
Every morning, she woke up excited just to see him.
Hazel didn't know she was already standing on the edge of heartbreak.
The dining table was quiet except for the soft clink of cutlery.
James sat there with his phone in hand, barely touching his food, a small smile playing on his lips as his thumbs flew across the screen. His eyes were warm in a way Morgan hadn't seen in a long time.
She studied him carefully.
Josh noticed too.
"Hey," Josh snapped. "Young man, put that thing away. This is the dining table, not your bedroom."
James didn't even look up.
Morgan gently tapped Josh's arm. "Leave him. He's clearly talking to someone special."
James finally looked up, smirking.
"Special? My foot. She's just… a pet. Like the others."
Morgan frowned. "You don't talk about the others. You don't even reply to their messages in front of us. But you're doing it now. That means she's different."
James shrugged. "I don't like her, okay?"
Josh scoffed. "He? Serious? This boy? He's full of surprises. No wonder Ashley left him. I bet she already found the perfect man."
The words hit James like a slap.
His spoon clattered against the plate as he slammed his hand on the table.
"Why do you always do this?" James shouted. "Why do you always bring her up?"
Josh met his eyes coldly.
"How many hearts are you going to break to punish yourself for what Ashley did to you? You think I don't see it? You do this because you still love her."
James laughed bitterly. "What do you know?"
Morgan hurried between them. "Both of you, stop it."
Josh stood. "I don't know why you allow him to act like this. Being a bad boy doesn't make you a man. At this rate, you'll destroy this family's name. Face yourself. No matter what you do, Ashley isn't coming back to you. She's already in Korea and even then, she'll never come back to you."
Morgan's fingers clenched.
James froze.
"What?"
His voice broke. "She… she's back in Korea? Wh-when?"
His hands trembled as a smile spread across his face wide, broken, desperate tears slipping down his cheeks.
Josh shook his head in disgust. "You're insane."
He turned and walked out.
Morgan stood quickly and grabbed James's hand. "No… she's not here because of you."
James pulled his hand free. "Mom… you knew?"
She hesitated. "Since yesterday. She came to greet me."
James swallowed. "Did she… ask about me?"
Morgan looked away.
"Don't lie," he whispered.
"…Yes."
James laughed softly, painfully, then stood and walked away, the sound of his footsteps echoing down the hall.
Inside his room, he shut the door, slid down against it, and stared at the ceiling smiling through tears.