Chapter Eight

Blaze looked at the box containing the ring he had bought a long time ago. Then yesterday's events flashed through his mind again. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It seemed he had never thought before that Hailey didn't like him anymore. Oh wait, has the woman ever said directly that she also likes him?

He opened his eyes and laughed sadly. He laughed at his stupidity for six years. His relationship with Hailey wasn't even real. They just happen to be together and match each other in some aspects. Never more than that. Only he stated that he liked the woman.But

Hailey? The woman never said it.

Blaze slowly removed the blanket and got up from the bed. He then threw the box in his hand into the trash and walked over to the large window of his infirmary.

Since childhood, he really liked cold weather. But now the cold breeze has almost chilled him to death.

"Blaze..."

He closed his eyes when the voice sounded in his ears. He wanted it so badly that he was hallucinating, but in fact, his voice was very real. He didn't want to turn around.

"Blaze, I'm sorry."

Blaze didn't give any response, and he restrained himself from turning around. Because he knew, if he turned around, then he would be weaker than before.

"Blaze, turn around. Please? "

"Y-you don't need to apologize, Hailey. I guess it was my fault for never realizing it. Don't feel guilty about my own stupidity. If you want to go, then go," he finally said.

Hailey, who was standing no less than three steps away from him, just stared at the man's back. The woman felt a little guilty because she didn't check whether the man had returned to his room or not that night.

She walked back to Blaze. She touched his back carefully and then hugged the man's waist. Suddenly, the man's body became tense when she hugged him. He didn't predict that Hailey would do it. But he just kept silent.

"I'm sorry, Blaze. You are the best friend I ever had. However, my selfishness made you suffer. I'm sorry for not saying it sooner. B-but can we still be friends, Blaze?"

Blaze couldn't hold himself back anymore. He let go of Hailey's hand and turned to look at the woman. He touched her cheek with his cold hand again. "I don't think friendship is the right relationship after what happened, Hailey. I don't blame you for my stupidity, but I can't be friends with you," he said.

"Blaze..."

"No, Hailey. This time I'm begging you. Go if you want to go. When I let you go," the man said.

Hailey then took a distance away from him. She looked at the man, who smiled at her. It's just that, that smile is no longer the same as Blaze's smile before.

"Goodbye, Blaze."

Then Hailey left the hospital room with her suitcase. Blaze himself, looking out the window again. The chill came back and made his body shiver. But he still stood up straight.

"Goodbye, Hailey Reyes."

*****

Kevin didn't like his mom's dinner. Especially if he has to sit opposite Jacel, who is always smiling. After a surprise meeting in the school hall at the annual festival, the music class wins in the end. Oh, no... hell, Kevin didn't care about the festival because his life changed completely from that day. Now his mom forced him to come to the restaurant for dinner.

Kevin ate his asparagus soup in silence. He didn't even plan to take a close look at Jacel to his heart's content. Not in a situation where they would become brothers. He is also not interested in getting into the conversation between his mom and the man who will become his stepfather and the young lady who will become his sister rather than his lover. Yes, Kevin knows that what he wants is too high regarding Jacel as his lover.

Kevin sighed, and it made the Kim man look at him. "It looks like Kevin is really bored with this dinner."

Suddenly, he raised his head. He noticed that his mom was giving him a displeased look, and Jacel was also looking at him intently. "Ah, no. I'm not bored, I'm just disappointed."

The Kim man frowned. "Disappointed? Why?"

"Maybe because of yesterday's annual festival. Art class lost to music class this year," said Jacel.

Kevin glanced at the girl briefly, then looked down at his soup bowl again. He didn't even want to remember the matter of the festival yesterday. His mother took a deep breath. "So what if you lose? You didn't go to that school to compete with each other, Kev. Jacel, is it always like that every year?"

Jacel looked at his mom and nodded. "I don't know what the reason is. But ever since I entered, the school system has been like that. Even the teachers has no intention of changing it."

His mom looked at her lover. "John, why did you let your daughter enter that school? The system is so bad. Schools should provide knowledge and experience, not that kind of competitive tradition,"

John just smiled. "That's her choice, Sara. I just followed her will. If she feels comfortable in that school, I won't say anything about the school's curriculum or traditions. At the very least, the school knows what is best for its students."

Sara snorted, but finally smiled. "You always see things only from the bright side."

Jacel smiled as her father returned to chat with Sara. But when she saw Kevin's expression, she felt something different from the boy she had met when she accidentally walked into the art class exhibition area. Kevin seemed to avoid the conversation, even as if he didn't want to look at her. Jacel begins to wonder if she made a mistake with Kevin. Only, she couldn't ask about it right now. So, she would just refrain from knowing the real reason.

*****