Chapter 5: Officially Dating

Just a week prior, she had eagerly selected a new outfit, anticipating their special day together, hoping to impress her boyfriend. And now, she found herself held by someone else's embrace. What was once a perfect romance had now devolved into a twisted mockery, staining her sweet memories with shadows and chaos.

Fake love!

Fake happiness!

What a big joke!

"Regret?" Qilin tenderly helped cleaning Andrea's body with wet tissues, then gently wiping the tears that had unconsciously escaped her eyes with his thumb.

He didn't mind her silence as he helped her dress herself, his actions so tender that one might wonder if she was indeed his girlfriend. He didn't question why she did it, nor did he get angry or blame her.

She lost in thought for a moment, fasinated how she didn't feel shy at all. The one who's feeling it might as well the boy in front of her. The red ears were still evident. She retrieved her phone and snapped a picture of Qilin as he buttoned up his shirt. He possessed no defined abs, appearing neither overweight nor overly skinny. In essence, he resembled an average high school student, albeit with the added enhancement of a beauty filter on his face.

"I... don't know. Shouldn't I be sad or something? I felt nothing. No happiness, no regret," Andrea confessed.

"I will take responsibility."

"What responsibility? I was the one who forced you," Andrea protested, her voice tinged with shame.

"You didn't put a dagger to my neck. I did what I did, so it's my responsibility. Go out with me, let's date!" Qilin's proposal remained firm, his determination shining through.

Andrea couldn't shake the weight of guilt pressing down on her. She knew she had manipulated him, drugged him even. Yet, here he was, offering to take responsibility for their actions. Did he not realize the extent of her deception? Did he truly believe his feelings were genuine? She wondered if he thought he was straight just because his body reacted to her.

"I'm really sorry. That was... your first, right?" Qilin's question cut through the tension, revealing a vulnerability that tugged at Andrea's conscience.

It was indeed her first time. But in the midst of it all, she couldn't muster any genuine emotions. The person in front of her wasn't the one she truly desired, so the significance of the moment felt lost on her.

As Qilin grappled with the realization that Timothy likely ended things with Andrea because of his influence, a heavy sense of guilt washed over him. He hadn't considered Andrea's feelings in his actions, and now he bore the weight of responsibility for the pain she had endured.

Regret gnawed at him as he reflected on his role in the situation. He had acted rashly, without fully understanding the consequences of his words and actions. Now, seeing the aftermath of his interference, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of remorse.

It infuriated him to think that Timothy had used Andrea as a mere facade to conceal his true sexuality.

As these thoughts swirled in Qilin's mind, a wave of anger surged through him. He couldn't fathom how someone could toy with another person's emotions in such a callous manner. Moreover, the one he played with was someone so dear to Qilin. The betrayal cut deep, leaving Qilin seething with a sense of indignation and resentment.

"I thought you really liked her, that's why I let you get close to her! Why her? You knew I liked her first!" Qilin confronted Timothy, his voice tinged with frustration and betrayal.

Timothy met his burning gaze with bitterness. "Maybe because I knew you liked her."

"Break up with her! I don't mind if she's with someone else as long as he could make her happy. But this person would never be you... So, break up with her," Qilin demanded sharply, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Qilin sat beside Andrea, gently clasping her hands in his own. "Andrea, Timothy... He's not coming back to you. Let him go, okay?"

Qilin's words hung in the air. Andrea pondered his statement, feeling a mixture of conflicting emotions swirling within her.

Yet, despite knowing that, Andrea couldn't help but feel a sense of bitterness and disappointment. She had invested so much of her feelings into their relationship, only to be left with nothing but shattered dreams and broken promises. Qilin's presence beside her offered a glimmer of solace, a reminder that she wasn't alone in her pain. She wondered if Qilin was truly kind or just plainly stupid. But she couldn't deny the truth in his words; Timothy was indeed a lost cause, a chapter of her life she needed to close.

So, why not stir up some discomfort in Timothy by dating someone he admired? It was a reckless notion, but the thought of ruffling his feathers appealed to her in that moment. After all, why should she continue to suffer silently while he moved on without a second thought? No, he didn't even need to move on, because he had never once loved her in the first place.

"Can you give me a chance? I promise, I will never do anything that make you sad." Frustration mingled with his regret as he struggled to come to terms with his actions.

What happened, happened. He knew he couldn't undo what had been done, but he resolved to make amends for the hurt he had caused Andrea. If she could give him a chance, he would always make her happy and would never let her go.

"You don't even like me. Why?" Andrea questioned, her voice tinged with skepticism.

"Why wouldn't I like you? You're so nice, so kind, and so wonderful. Who wouldn't like you?" Qilin replied confidently.

Nice? Kind? And what? Andrea's heart fluttered at Qilin's unexpected praise.

Never before had she imagined that someone like him would see her in such a positive light. There were always some kids prettier than her. There were always some kids smarter than her. Even her taekwondo's skill... There were so much people stronger than her. She was an average girl, with average beauty and average scores academically. Growing up, the highest praise she received was from her mother, who commended her for her patience and resilience in the face of her own aggressive tendencies.

Maybe dating him wasn't such a bad idea after all.

"Well..., if you don't mind the fact that I was your friend's ex, then... okay. Let's give it a try!"

"Thank you...," Qilin smiled, his expression made Andrea stunned for a moment.