Prologue

'The sunset is beautiful, isn't…?'

'I love you…'

Not all love wanted us back. We might be happy or feel complete, but that moment will just remind us that every happiness will end up being sad. Doing the right thing for someone else means doing something that feels wrong to you, but I guess that's just part of loving people; you must give things up. Sometimes, you even must give them up.

A person who seeks true love will always take the relationship seriously. They'll make it unbreakable and perfect that everyone would be insecure of. They'll make themselves perfectly destined for each other. But not all perfect fairy tales will end up either sad or happy. Some perfect tale ends up between sadness and happiness. A love that you desperately want but can't have. A love that you want but doesn't want you back. A happy, tragic ending—A favorite pain.

"Thanks for the temporary happiness." Those words remind us that some memories are maybe asleep, dreaming about something else while temporarily forgetting the real one. But does those sleeping memories will be awake soon? With the same memories that love made and collected?

Do those words mean this is the epilogue of our story? Or does that mean we will find someone better?

I know this might be the end of us. The last page. The last flip.

I know that, but I'll keep loving you, even until the last pain.

Katia's POV

"HI, babe! Did you wait for so long?" a gentle voice asked me. I immediately look right and smile at him.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he said while sitting and fixing his tux.

"No, it's okay! I've just arrived early," I respond.

"Have you ordered yet? Excusez monsieur! Le garcon de café." He calls the waiter and immediately orders our food.

Anyway, hi! I'm Kathrina Deveraux. I'm not too old and not too young. Just guess it. I'm now living here in France for almost three years. I just went here for personal reasons. That guy I'm with is Liam. He's Liam Timothee.

"Et Vous, Madame?" / "How about you, Ma'am?" The waiter asked. I just smiled.

"Donnez-moi aussie ce qu'il a commande" / "Just give me what he ordered too," I said, then he left.

"So, how's your work, babe?" He asked while looking at his phone. I'm used to it, so I just answer.

"Work's fine! Were you doing great at the company? How about you? Do you still have other clients?" I asked while he was still looking at his phone.

"Me? No! I don't have any clients as of now. Good thing I'm not bust today. Good thing we find ways to meet outside."

Liam and I don't meet outside often. If you're asking me why, just don't ask. It hurts to say it. You'll figure it out soon.

I met Liam Timothee months from now. We just met, that's it. All I know is what I entered is too complicated. But don't get me wrong. I'm happy when I'm with him.

"Liam!" A familiar woman's voice shouted. I turned around without hesitating, and I was right. It's Agathe Timothee. I guess I don't need to explain, right?

"Agathe! What are you doing here, honey?" Liam asked her with unknown emotions.

"Who is she, Liam‽ Tell me!"

"Don't shout, Agathe! She's just my client!" Liam said. I just sigh deeply.

"What? I thought she was," she uttered.

"Why are you thinking that way, honey?" I secretly rolled my eyes. It's time to respond.

"Anyway, thanks for your time, sir! I should go first." Then I reach my hand to him. He just simply shakes my hands back, and guess what? He just smiled at me.

Thank me later, Liam.

I professionally walk outside the restaurant. I flipped my hair and smelled the breeze of the air. Now that I'm alone ask me anything you want to know. Who's Liam? Well, Liam is my—I don't know. Liam is a good man, and he is always there beside me.

When I first landed here in France, I was very lonely and alone for years. I'm sad, hurt, and in pain. But a few months ago, I met him. And that was the time that I thought I should just go with the world's flow. He has a wife, and I have known that since we met. I'm generally not like this, and I'm really not this kind of woman. I just found someone who can ease my loneliness. We both found someone who could ease our loneliness. That's why we find it this way. We never share the same bed nor share the same saliva. That's why I'm still staying. We don't love each other. We just need one another. 'Babe' is just our endearment, but it doesn't mean anything.

Yes, I'm happy and comfortable when I'm with him. But is this really what I want? To be satisfied knowing someone will be hurt? Even I know that I can hurt someone like the way Red wounded me before?

I went straight to my condominium. I indubitably lay on my bed, but just in seconds, someone knocks. I wonder who it is.

"Hey, open up!" Someone whispered.

"It's me, Liam." I run towards the door and let him in.

"What are you doing here? Your wife might follow you!" I firmly whispered while closing the door.

"No, she won't follow me. I saw her going home. Don't worry!"

"Okay! Okay! I'll calm down! But why are you here this late?" I asked.

"I just want to say sorry about what happened earlier." I just smiled, showing that it was okay.

"Juice or coffee? Wait! Did you eat your dinner already?"

"Yup! I need to calm Agathe's nerves. So, I treat her outside for dinner. I just told her that I needed to go back and check some paperwork, but I went straight here. Just coffee. It's cold outside." I just nodded in an awkward atmosphere.

I blend his coffee immediately and lean at the wall beside the coffee blender.

"Liam?" I seriously called him.

"Hmmm?"

"I just thought. Why can you just take your wife seriously? I mean, just focus on her," I seriously asked him while looking at the floor.

"Why you suddenly ask that?" He questioned and sipped his coffee.

"I'm not your mistress Liam. We don't love each other; we just need each other's shoulders to cry because our past ruins our present. But we're talking about our future, Liam! We have already healed ourselves with the past. Maybe not that healed, but we have already learned from our mistakes. It's time to let our past go and live again."

"Kath—" I didn't let him finish.

"I don't want to hurt your wife, Liam."

Why he just sighed heavily? We have already talked about this before. He knew what I was saying.

He wanted to say something, but I know he doesn't also know how to end something that you didn't even know how it started; to let go of someone you didn't even know if that someone holds you back.

A small smile ends it. But this is not the beginning of my story; this was just a glimpse of my favorite pain.