Carissa is a beautiful college girl who has long liked Dylan, her brother's best friend. Dylan is Raihan's best friend and Carissa's brother. He also likes Carissa and accepts his family's matchmaking, even though at first it was only to save the company. However, over time, he genuinely develops feelings for Carissa.
view moreCarissa's POV
"Uhh..." I groaned while holding my head, which felt heavy. "My head hurts so much..."
As I grumbled with my eyes closed, I tried to remember what had happened the night before.
Last night, I was invited to a reunion by some friends at a five-star hotel. At first, I thought the gathering was just a dinner at a restaurant to catch up, especially since I had just returned from studying abroad after graduating.
Unfortunately, I was too foolish to think it through, and I completely forgot that this group of friends preferred to spend our time drinking at the bar.
As a result, here I am now, cursing my foolishness for joining that event, getting caught up in a silly game of "Truth or Dare," and ending up drunk after being forced to drink when I lost.
As if that wasn't ridiculous enough, I suddenly remembered the worst punishment I received last night, which was... kissing a stranger.
‘Ah! A stranger!’
That thought hit me out of nowhere. When I faced that punishment, I was too drunk to think clearly. The only thing I remember is that after losing the game and accepting the punishment, I walked up to a man who was sitting alone with his back to us, and without hesitation, I kissed him!
“Fool!” I exclaimed as I recalled that moment, smacking my head in frustration, my heart racing at the crazy memory of what I did last night!
After I kissed that man, I intended to back away. However, he pulled me closer and kissed me even deeper!
My memories of the moments that followed are hazy and jumbled, swirling in my head.
I remember moaning and enjoying what I was doing with that man. I don’t know when we moved, but I felt my body thrown onto a bed, even groaning as he explored every inch of me!
Though it's only fragmented memories, I’m sure I acted out a wild scene like in a steamy movie with that stranger!
“It’s a dream; it must be a dream,” I said as I tried to dismiss those memories.
I opened my eyes, and … I was shocked.
“What … what is this?” I murmured, my body trembling.
The ceiling I was looking at … it wasn’t my bedroom ceiling!
I sat up straight and looked around.
‘Hotel, this is a hotel room!’ I gasped internally as I realized where I was.
My gaze slowly swept across the surroundings. My clothes were scattered on the floor, and the room looked messy, indicating the heated struggle that occurred last night until, finally, I saw a solid back lying next to me!
I gasped, immediately covering my mouth to stifle a scream.
“No… no!” Tears began to flow down my face.
The purity I had preserved for 24 years vanished in the hands of this stranger?!
With a surge of emotions—sadness, disappointment, and anger—I glared at the man who was turned away from me.
The man who had taken the most precious thing from my life.
I had just raised my hand with the intention of hitting that jerk when the man, still asleep, turned toward me.
And… the face of the man I had slept with last night was revealed!
Thick, sharp eyebrows, a prominent nose, tempting thin lips, and a strong, authoritative jawline. With thick, dark brown hair, he could be called the most handsome man I had ever seen.
But there was one problem. I recognized that face. I knew it very well.
“Dy—Dylan?!” I gasped in shock as I mentioned his name. How could I not? That angelic face, sleeping soundly, truly belonged to Emperor Dylan Drake, commonly known as Dylan—the man I hated the most in this world and… my brother’s best friend!
Memories flooded my mind, each one sharper than the last. I recalled the countless times he had teased me, his smug smile always getting under my skin. How could he be here, in my home, in this vulnerable state? My heart raced as confusion and anger battled within me. What was he doing here, and how would I handle this unexpected encounter?
***
I had arrived home. After fully regaining my senses, I left without thinking much, abandoning my brother’s friend, who was still sleeping soundly.
“What am I going to do? What am I going to do? What am I going to do?!” I kept repeating that phrase like a mantra, covering my face in frustration. My mind raced, overwhelmed by the absurdity of the situation.
In my whole life, I had never imagined I would be burdened with such a huge and crazy problem! The thought of having Dylan, my brother’s best friend and the person I despised, in my house felt surreal. How could I face him? What would I even say? I paced back and forth, each footstep echoing my anxiety as I tried to think of a solution.
Fortunately, my parents were out of town with my brother, taking care of their family business. So, besides the servants—who wouldn’t dare ask—no one really knew why I didn’t come home last night!
However, the fact that I not only kissed my brother’s friend but also slept with him and lost my purity was a disaster!
“Ahhh!” I covered my face with both hands in frustration.
How could I have spent the night with my brother’s friend? As if that wasn’t bad enough, why did it have to be Dylan? My first love, who had cruelly rejected me in the past!?
“I’m not interested in elementary school kids.”
Recalling Dylan’s reply after I confessed my sincere feelings back then made me even more heartbroken and angry.
The man who once rejected me ended up being the one who took my purity? What kind of bad luck is this?!
I curled up in a ball, burying my face in my knees.
“A nightmare… yes, I’ll just consider it a nightmare and forget everything…” I repeated over and over like a prayer, hoping it would somehow come true.
Carissa's POV I wondered if Dylan had ever imagined such a simple life—flowers on the table, small laughs in the living room, light conversations without the shadow of secrets?Until finally, I sat down on the sofa, writing again in my diary. I wrote about Dylan, about how one small sentence from him could change the feeling in my chest. About how I learned to love not from grand promises, but from the small presence he gave me.The writing stopped when I heard the key turn in the lock. My heart pounded. Dylan rarely came home early, but this time was different.He walked in slowly, setting his bag on the table. His face was serious, but there was a sense of determination in his eyes.“What’s wrong?” I asked.He sat beside me, looked down for a moment, and then said, “I can’t promise I can tell you everything now. But I don’t want you to continue to feel like a stranger in my life.”I was stunned. Those words were more profound than anything he had ever said before.“Dylan…” my voic
Carissa's POV A small smile appeared on his lips, a smile I’d rarely seen lately. A smile that made me want to believe that whatever he was hiding, I could bear it with him.We finished our meal in a warmer silence. Afterward, Dylan reached for my hand across the table, his grip tightening. There were no additional words, just a touch that spoke louder than anything else.I let the silence envelop us, feeling that perhaps this was his way of showing love, even in secret, even in fear.His hand remained in mine as he took a deep breath. For a moment, I thought he would return to his usual silence. But then, he loosened his grip, looked down, and then looked up hesitantly.“I was thinking,” he said, his voice heavy. “About my work.”I raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress my surprise. Dylan rarely talked about his work directly. Usually, it was just a brief, necessary answer.I waited without interrupting. “Sometimes…” he paused, his finger tapping lightly on the table surface, “…some
Carissa's POV I paused for a moment in front of the door, feeling the cool air from the slowly rotating fan. My heart felt as if I had just found something I had been searching for.“Welcome,” a woman’s soft voice greeted me. She stood behind the counter, wearing a simple cream-colored apron. Her smile was friendly, her eyes serene.I nodded slowly.“Hello. The flowers are beautiful.”“Please take a look around. If anything catches your eye, let me know.”I walked slowly, down the small aisle between the shelves. My eyes moved from one flower to another. There was something serene about the room. It was as if the world outside had stopped for a moment, replaced by a mix of colors and fragrances.My hand stopped on a white rose. Its petals were tight and soft. I imagined it on the table in the living room. But I felt hesitant, roses were too formal, too full of symbols I might not be ready to embrace.I shifted, and my eyes fell on a sunflower. The yellow was so bright, the stem sturd
Carissa's POVI just smiled faintly, staring at my reflection in the mirror in front of me. My hair was wet, sticking to my skin. The faint circles under my eyes were becoming more visible.“But your hair is nice,” she said again, “thick, easy to manage. It’s just a bit dry at the end. You straighten it often.”I turned my head slightly.“Rarely. I tie it up more often. Sometimes I forget to use vitamins.”“Yeah, that’s normal. Most people do that. We’ll give it vitamins to make it softer. It’s a shame to let your hair dry out if it’s long.”I took a deep breath.“Yes, you can. Thanks.”There was a moment of silence. I felt strange because I usually don't like to talk much during treatments. But there was something about the
Carissa's POVDylan left early today. The shirt he’d ironed the night before still clung to his shoulders, his hair neatly combed, his face focused. I could only watch from the dining table as he sipped his coffee, his steps occasionally hurried as if something were chasing him.“I’ll go now,” he said curtly.I nodded, trying to hide my mixed feelings. “Be careful, okay?”He paused briefly in front of the door, looking at me as if wanting to add something. But then he just smiled faintly, then left. The door closed softly, leaving a long silence.I sat in the chair for a long time, staring at his coffee cup, still faintly steaming. There was a part of me that wanted to chase him, hug him from behind, tell him I could be his home anytime. But there was also a part that chose to remain silent, to let Dylan have his space.Since Raiha
Carissa's POVI woke up later than usual. The bed was still warm beside me, a sign that Dylan hadn't moved long ago. From the kitchen came faint sounds, plates touching, spoons scraping against glasses. I smiled slightly, got up, and walked over.Dylan was pouring hot water into two cups. His back was straight, but his movements were slow, as if he was careful not to make a loud noise.“It’s rare for you to go first,” I said, sitting down in the chair.He glanced over briefly, a faint smile appearing. “Take turns. You looked tired last night.”I chuckled. “I’m not that strong. Talking a lot, laughing a lot, can actually make you tired.”“Seems,” he replied briefly, then placed the cup in front of me. The aroma of tea wafted warmly. I stared at the steam rising, feeling a comfortable, if slightly awkward, sil
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