118 Beach (4)

Liam closed his eyes and sighed, trying his best to keep his composure. When he opened them again, he found Aki staring at him wide-eyed. Aki's expression flickered between frustration and annoyance. Liam opened his mouth to speak to his roommate again when a hand snaked around his arm.

"Hi, Aki! You don't mind if I borrow Liam for a while, right?" Nancy said with that sickening sweet smile of hers.

Aki looked affronted. "I do mind act—"

"Nancy! We're low on drinks!" One of the girls called out.

Nancy mouthed a 'sorry' towards Aki and looked really sad. Liam tried to break free from her grasp, only for her to cling to his arm one more time and drag him away from Aki.

"Come on! Why are you both so slow?" Nancy's friend hollered at them.

Someone caught Liam's other arm that made him look back. He turned around and saw Aki's face close to his. Liam tamped down the urge to kiss the other guy right then and there.

"Can we talk? Later? Once you're done with all of these?" Aki gave Liam a fixed steady look.

"Yes," Liam said, pouring out all of his eagerness and feelings in just one word.

Aki smiled and blushed which in turn made Liam smile too. He smiled like a fool in love because he was. He felt like he could stand there and stare at Aki's face all day.

A strong pull on his arm brought him back to reality. His eyes met Aki's, and he said, "Later."

The restaurant Nancy's family-owned was located right by the beach. When they reached the back room, Liam took the cooler Nancy told him to get while she stood in the background.

"There are other boys out there who can do it. You could have asked for John or Jared," Liam grumbled.

Nancy gazed at him and smiled. "No one would do. Only you."

The tone of her voice made Liam pause. It felt like they were no longer talking about coolers. Liam studied her. Nancy looked the same when he first met her — petite with long, wavy hair. Only she changed her black hair with a blonde.

Her coquettish look remained the same after all these years. The same look that hooked Liam and the other boys their age. She resembled a princess, and everyone dreamed to be her knight.

Despite her fragile appearance, there was always something mature in her eyes. Liam always felt that she was wise for her age that was why her opinion always mattered to him.

But now, all he could see was a shrewd mind behind those eyes, always calculating, always trying to take advantage of Liam's feelings.

Why did he fall in love with this kind of person?

"Oh, come on. Stop it, Nancy. We're never getting back together," Liam said sternly.

Big crocodile tears threatened to fall from her eyes, and Liam just lifted his eyebrows at that.

He scoffed. "What? Now that Warren dumped you, you think you could crawl your way back to me?"

"You've been saying some horrible things, Liam!" As a tear fell from her eye, a look of shock passed through her face. "I've--I've realized how much I love you. I know, I was wrong to be swayed by Warren when we were dating but—"

"Swayed?!" Liam laughed dryly. "That's how you're calling it, huh. Is that what you've been saying to your friends? Everyone with eyes knew that you were crushing on my best friend since we were kids. I was so stupid for not realizing that before."

"Of course not! I've always liked you! Anyway, I was young. I did stupid things!"

"And you're still doing them." Liam snorted. "You liked me because I was an easier catch, and you thought, you would have an easier time hanging out with Warren if you are with me. More discreet too because no one would suspect."

Nancy was lost for words. When she collected herself, she roughly brushed the tears in her eyes. "Why are you being so difficult?!"

Liam only stared at her as if the veil was lifted from his eyes. This was Nancy, everyone's princess. She was rich, beautiful, and talented. The one who grew up pampered, with everyone telling her that she was the most beautiful human being ever to grace the earth. That the people in this small country was blessed to have her breathe the same air as them. Everything and everyone was at the palm of her hand.

But Liam only wanted to stay far away from her claws.

"Stop deluding yourself, Nancy. Get over yourself."

"I saved your grandmother!"

"Oh wow, you're using that against me? I'm thankful for what you have done, but that's it. You can't make me do things because you wanted me to. I'm not your puppet."

With that Liam left, leaving a livid Nancy.