Chapter 1

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Happy Birthday, Dianne!"

"Happy Birthday!"

"Woah!"

"Let’s get party!"

We’re celebrating our best friend, Dianne, on her 19th birthday. My friends and I are having the time of our lives at a private resort we rented exclusively for her special day.

"Babe, I’m sorry. I came late," I turned instantly upon hearing the familiar voice of my boyfriend, Draken. Right after saying that, he leaned closer and kissed me on the cheek.

"Where have you been? You came so late tonight, huh?" I asked him curiously.

"Ahmm... Something important came up. Anyway, where’s Dianne? Oh wait, let me greet her first," my boyfriend said, and then headed straight toward Dianne. They’ve always been close, so I didn’t mind.

We spent the night immersed in celebration. Laughter echoing through the place, bottles of wine and beer scattered around the tables. The poolside glowed under soft lights as we sang, shouted, and danced without a care in the world.

"So, Dianne, you’re 19 now. And I heard you’ll be studying in America soon? Is that true?" one of our friends asked teasingly.

"Not in America, silly. In Japan. You never listen carefully," Dianne replied with a playful laugh.

"So, when are you leaving?" I asked her curiously.

"Hmm... that depends. You all know I can’t seem to leave my boyfriend behind," she said, pouting playfully.

"Why don’t you just bring him along? Tsk!"

"You’re crazy. That’s not possible. Anyway, it’s complicated!"

"But hey, what if you leave him here and then find out he’s seeing someone else? Nowadays, that's the problem with being in a relationship," another friend teased.

"Huh! He better not even dare. If he ever does, I’ll make him realize exactly what he lost," Dianne said confidently, tossing her hair as we all laughed.

I couldn’t stop giggling at our conversation... typical girl talk. Meanwhile, our boyfriends were busy drinking near the mini-bar, while the rest of our friends were dancing wildly like there was no tomorrow.

We partied until around three in the morning, and one by one, people started heading back to their rooms.

"Babe, let’s go. Babe," I said softly to Draken, who was already too drunk to even sit properly. "Babe, come on, let’s go back to our room."

"H-Hmm... Wait... D-Drink first, b-babe," he murmured.

"Draken, no more," I said, sighing.

"Tsk! Just a little. Come on," he insisted, still holding the half-filled glass of liquor. Because he wouldn’t stop bugging me, I took the drink myself, gulped it down, and set the glass back on the table.

I slowly helped him up, placing one of his arms over my shoulder as we walked together. He was heavy, but thankfully, our room was only on the second floor, so we reached it without much struggle.

Once we were inside, I closed the door and gently laid him down on the bed. The smell of alcohol lingered on him. But as I looked closer into his eyes, I noticed something unusual tears forming at the corners.

Was he... crying?

"I-I love you..."

My heart began to race with affection the moment he said those words, even though he was drunk.

"I love you too, babe," I replied softly, sitting beside him as I gazed at his face. He looked incredibly handsome even in his intoxicated state. But beyond that, what truly made me fall for him was how caring and gentle he always was. We wouldn’t have lasted more than three years if he weren’t—

Wait.

It suddenly hit me that our fourth anniversary was approaching soon. My heartbeat quickened. I couldn’t believe we had lasted this long four amazing years together.

We started dating back in our third year of high school. Now that we’re both in college, nothing has changed between us.

Gently, I placed my palm on his cheek and rubbed my thumb against his skin. "I love you very much, Draken Luzevia," I whispered softly before pressing a light kiss on his lips.

There were countless times I had kissed him without his knowledge, usually when he was asleep.

But then, something shifted. I suddenly felt a hand on my head. Wait! Was that his?

Before I could think, Draken’s lips began to move against mine. It wasn’t just a soft kiss anymore. It was deep, fervent, and full of longing.

"H-Hmm..." I moaned quietly, overwhelmed by the intensity of his kiss. I couldn’t control myself; it felt like I was completely drawn into his rhythm.

He gently turned our positions, laying me down as he hovered above me, our lips still locked in that unbroken connection. Yet, after a few moments, he paused, his gaze piercing through the silence.

"Babe..." he whispered, looking straight into my eyes. His expression was indescribable. A mix of tenderness and something deeper I couldn’t name.

My chest tightened as warmth spread inside me.

"Continue, please," I whispered, almost pleading. And he did exactly as I asked.

He kissed me again, but this time more deeply and more passionately. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. This time, every breath, every heartbeat, every exchange of kisses felt like the universe itself had stopped, and the only thing that mattered was us.