CHAPTER 3

MAYA

“He just sent me a message. We’re meeting him at twelve tomorrow. You’ll come with me as my lawyer.”

I cut Lilly off before she could start another lecture.

She stared at me for a moment, then sighed.

“Fine. I know how you get when you’ve already made up your mind.”

She stepped closer and took my hands.

“But I’m not giving up on you, Maya.”

I forced a small smile.

I’ve been doing that a lot lately.

“I’m going to bed,” I said quietly. “Goodnight.”

When I opened my eyes again, sunlight was already slipping through the curtains.

Morning.

The migraine hit immediately.

It felt like someone was hammering inside my skull.

Then I smelled it, blood.

I touched under my nose and sighed.

Another nosebleed.

At this point, it almost felt routine.

“May…”

Lilly stopped the moment she walked into the room.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh, my God. Are you okay?”

She rushed toward me.

“We should go to the hospital. Did you bring your medication?”

What she didn’t know was that I had already decided to stop taking those pills.

If I’m going to die anyway, why drag it out?

The faster it happens…The easier it will be.

“Good morning to you too,” I said casually while wiping my nose.

“I’m fine.”

She didn’t look convinced.

“I heard voices earlier,” I added, trying to sound normal. “Was I dreaming?”

Lilly hesitated.

Then she sighed.

“No. Ray is here.”

My brows shot up immediately.

Before I could speak, she raised both hands.

“Before you ask me to send him away, he already knows you’re here. He saw your car outside.”

My stomach twisted.

“I’ll be in my room,” she said quietly before leaving.

The moment she disappeared, my heart started racing.

Ray.

The stupid butterflies in my stomach were suddenly awake again.

He was my first love, still is.

How am I supposed to face him now?

I washed my face quickly and wiped the remaining blood.

My reflection looked pale, but I ignored it.

Then I slowly walked out.

Ray stood up the moment he saw me.

Before I could even say anything, he rushed toward me and grabbed my hands.

“I styled my hair the way your favorite K-drama actor does,” he said quickly.

He tried to smile.

My chest tightened.

“I’m sorry, sugar,” he continued. “I must have done something to hurt you.”

He squeezed my hands tighter.

“Just tell me what it is. I’ll fix it. I’ll change if I have to.”

His voice cracked.

“I can be the man you want. I’ll do anything.”

His eyes searched my face desperately.

“I can’t live without you, Maya. I love you so much.”

My throat closed.

I love you too.

I love you so much it hurts.

But I couldn’t say it.

I wanted to throw myself into his arms.

I wanted to bury my face in his chest and breathe him in like I always did.

It took everything in me just to speak.

“I… I’m sorry.”

The words felt heavy.

“This isn’t about you.”

“It’s me.”

I took a slow breath.

“Forget about me, Ray. Find someone who will love you the way you deserve.”

His grip on my hands loosened.

But I wasn’t done.

And the next words nearly killed me.

“I don’t want to see you around me again,” I said quietly.

“If you do… I’ll be forced to file a restraining order.”

The silence that followed was unbearable.

“Best of luck… Ray.”

I turned and rushed back to my room before he could say anything.

The moment the door closed, I collapsed to the floor.

I shoved my face into a pillow to stop the scream that tore out of my throat.

This was harder than I imagined.

I don’t know how long I sat there crying before Lilly knocked again.

This time I opened the door immediately and threw myself into her arms.

The sobs came out uncontrollably.

“You’re hurting too,” she said softly while rubbing my back.

“This isn’t right, Maya.”

She sighed.

“You should have seen his face when he walked out.”

That made the pain worse.

I wiped my tears and grabbed her hands.

She looked at me suspiciously.

“What is it this time?”

“Lilly,” I said slowly, “you’re like the sister I never had.”

Her eyes narrowed immediately.

“You’re kind. Your heart is pure. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”

“Maya…” she warned.

I bit my lip.

“I want Ray to be safe when I’m gone.”

She froze.

“And I trust you with his heart.”

Her expression hardened.

“I want you to get close to him,” I continued.

“Make him fall in love with you.”

She yanked her hands away and stood up.

“Are you even hearing yourself right now?”

“This fake boyfriend contract thing is already insane enough, and now this?”

My chest tightened.

But I didn’t back down.

“Are you in a hurry to leave me?” she snapped.

“Do you know how hard it is waking up every morning knowing my best friend is dying?”

Her voice cracked.

“Get some rest, Maya.”

“L…”

But she had already walked away.

Convincing her won’t be easy.

But I’m not giving up.

**********

Time moved faster than I expected.

Lilly barely spoke during the drive.

Now we stood at the entrance of the children’s park.

I still didn’t understand why someone would choose this place for a meeting.

“Go ahead,” Lilly said suddenly.

“I need to use the restroom.”

Finally.

Her first words since we left the house.

“Okay,” I said. “Don’t be long.”

I walked into the park alone.

It was mostly empty because of the time.

And then I saw him, Jay.

He was sitting on a swing like he didn’t have a care in the world.

His usual smirk was there.

But his outfit looked completely different today, expensive.

“You’re ten minutes late, Ms. Maya,” he said while gently swinging.

“I hate lateness.”

He looked at me and smiled.

“But because you’re pretty, I’ll forgive you.”

I rolled my eyes.

“So tell me,” he continued.

“Did you come alone?”

“We agreed to bring our lawyers.”

Before I could say anything else,,,

“Maya.”

I turned.

Lilly had returned.

But the moment I looked at her, something felt wrong.

She had frozen.

Her eyes were locked on Jay.

She looked like she had just seen a ghost. She started fanning herself.

What is wrong with her?

Then she stepped forward slowly.

Her voice was shaking.

“Is this really you?”

She stared at him like she couldn’t believe it.

“Jay Naire…”

She swallowed hard.

“Tell me this is real.”