Serena tried to pull her hand back, but he caught it in his own.
Her cheeks instantly flamed, turning a shade of red rivaling a ripe apple.
"Y-You... what are you doing?"
His handsome face inched closer, their noses nearly touching.
He let out a soft sigh. "Serena... do you know what I've been thinking since just now?"
"W-What?"
Serena turned her face slightly, trying to put some space between them-space she desperately needed just to breathe properly.
"Watching you in the kitchen, busy with a simple bowl of pasta... I suddenly felt something I've never felt before-happiness. The kind of quiet, ordinary happiness I used to think only existed in novels."
"I realized... if I could spend my life with you as just an average couple, even if we ate plain pasta every day, I'd still think I'm the luckiest man alive."
"You... you're overthinking it."
"Serena..." His voice dropped low, "Are you really not planning to give me... a name?"
"A name?"
Now that was a new one.
Usually it was women pleading with men to make their relationship official. She had never in her life heard a man asking a woman for that.
And besides, for that kind of talk, there had to be something between them.
In truth, they had... nothing. At most, they were classmates. Maybe friends.
She didn't respond, but Xavier didn't back down either.
She instinctively stepped back, but he followed, determined and unrelenting.
Serena hated this feeling-like her heart had lost its footing, suspended in air with nowhere to land.
Frowning, she finally said the words she had buried deep inside for far too long.
"Xavier... I hope you can understand one thing. I'm not like most women."
He raised an intrigued brow, lips curving into a slow smile.
"Why would you think I see you as just like anyone else?"
She ignored him and went on. "You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Life has been smooth, easy. No real setbacks. I guess... I'm the first hurdle you've never quite gotten past, huh?"
His smile faded.
His tone turned cold. "Serena, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"I just..." She braced herself, then met his eyes squarely for the first time.
"I know I'm divorced, but I'm not someone who takes feelings lightly. If the reason you've been chasing me all this time is because I've never said yes, and that gave you some sense of challenge-then I'm sorry. But if you're looking for something to toy with, find someone else. I'm not the right person. Don't waste your time on me."
The look in Xavier's eyes darkened to a storm.
He stared at her, long and unblinking, every word forced through clenched teeth.
"So this is how you see me?"
"I..."
The pressure radiating from him was suffocating. She felt it wrap around her like a net, each breath more difficult than the last.
She inhaled deeply, steadied herself. "I'm just being rational."
He gave a bitter laugh. "There it is again-rational judgment. What a load of crap."
Suddenly, he took a step forward and pulled her into his arms, catching her off guard.
Their bodies collided, chest to chest, no distance left between them.
Xavier narrowed his eyes, voice low and dangerous. "What if I cut my heart out and placed it in your hands? Would you finally stop doubting me?"
"..."
"We've known each other for over twenty years. I thought... you understood me."
"I..." She faltered, not knowing what to say.
Her hands hung awkwardly at her sides, her head bowed, not daring to meet his eyes.
A moment passed.
Then came a sigh.
And just like that, he let go.
The abrupt release left Serena feeling strangely empty.
She looked up on instinct, only to meet his gaze-eyes filled with pain.
Her heart clenched. A thin thread of ache spread from her chest, reaching every corner of her body.
He turned and walked to the door, his back still tall and proud, but somehow so, so lonely.
That quiet, aching kind of lonely.
Her heart hurt. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, but it didn't stop the sharp sting blooming in her chest.
His hand landed on the doorknob, just about to turn it when-
"Xavier!"
His hand paused.
He didn't turn around. Didn't speak. He simply stopped moving.
Serena bit her lip. She didn't even know why she called out to him.
Still, she didn't speak further.
After a long silence, he let out a bitter smile and reached for the door again.
"Wait!"
This time, he turned to look at her. "What do you want to say?"
"I..." She hesitated, tangled up in her own thoughts.
"Just say it," he said, his smile twisted with self-deprecation. "Go ahead. Whatever it is, even if it's going to hurt-just let me have it all at once. It won't matter anyway, not after you already told me you think I just want to play around. Nothing else could hurt more than that."
That crooked smile stung her eyes.
She walked toward him, slowly. "If I do keep talking... will you give up?"
He laughed, a sound more bitter than sweet. "Give up? If I could give up, don't you think I would've already? If I could, I would've let go when you married Clint."
"Serena, I've told you before... you're the one thing I can't walk away from. Maybe I owed you something in a past life. From the moment we met, I just... I just wanted to be good to you."
"You're right. I've always gotten what I wanted in life, so I never had to stick with anything for too long. But the one thing I've held onto the longest-longer than anything else-is loving you. But in your eyes... I'm just playing games."
His words twisted in her chest like a knife.
"I don't get it," she murmured. "What about me is worth all this?"
"You don't see yourself clearly, Serena. To me, you're a treasure-every part of you."
"I'm stubborn."
"That's called having backbone. You know what you want."
"I'm too blunt."
"That's honesty. No hidden games. It's actually refreshing."
"I'm not even that pretty."
"What?! You must be looking in the wrong mirror. I'll buy you a new one tomorrow."
"My family's average. I'm not from some elite background. We're not even in the same league."
"Your dad's a mayor. Your mom's a university professor. That's hardly dragging me down. And anyway-when have I ever cared about things like status?"
"I..." Serena had run out of retorts, her brows furrowing.
Xavier crossed his arms. "Got any more excuses? Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."
***