Lying in bed, I watched Liam towel-drying his hair after his shower. His long fingers brushed through his hair, and the butterfly tattoo on his finger fluttered with his movements.

"Are you staring at me because you can't get enough of my good looks?"

I didn't respond, just blankly stared at the butterfly tattoo. "Liam, I remember you didn't use to like wearing blue scarves."

His expression flickered for a second. He rubbed his hands together and chuckled awkwardly.

"People need to try new things, right? If you don't like it, I won't wear it."

He gently urged, "Nina, you're hurt. Go to sleep, okay?"

I watched him fidget the way he always did when he was lying, but I didn't call him out. I just replied bitterly.

"Okay, let's sleep."

In the middle of the night, Liam softly called my name, "Nina, are you asleep?"

He used such a gentle tone. After confirming several times that I was asleep, he tucked me in and quietly got up to go to the living room.

"My little princess, I've booked our tickets to Brittonia."

"Of course, just the two of us. Don't worry, my girlfriend won't mind."

"I love you."

I stood at the door, listening as Liam whispered sweet nothings to another girl just a few steps away. He must have forgotten that this apartment didn't have very good soundproofing, or maybe he forgot that Brittonia was the place I had always dreamed of going.

I turned on the lights, and the dim living room instantly became brightly lit. Liam sat on the couch, surrounded by a cloud of smoke. Hearing the noise, he turned to look at me, his voice still soft.

"What's wrong? Can't sleep?"

I stared at him for a moment, my voice hoarse. "Liam, who are you going to Brittonia with?"

"It's not me. The company has a business deal that needs to be handled in Brittonia."

He stood up, stubbed out his cigarette, and walked toward me.

His eyes were full of sincerity and love.

As if this situation was something he had rehearsed countless times in his mind, without any worry of being caught.

I followed his lead, sitting on the couch as he handed me a warm glass of milk.

I met his gaze, which was tinged with curiosity, and slowly spoke.

"You still have the habit of warming up milk for me, just like before."

He laughed softly at my words and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Nina, go to bed."

I nodded quietly, and just as I was about to step into the bedroom, Liam called out to me.

"I love you."

Looking at him, relaxed and leaning against the couch, I smiled faintly.

"Get some rest too."

Back in bed, I stared blankly at the ceiling.

Half-asleep, half-awake, I found myself back in the summer when I was eighteen. The cicadas buzzed loudly, an annoying but unavoidable sound in the heat.

That was the first time I met Liam, appearing in front of him in a very embarrassed way.

"Hello, everyone, I'm Liam. Today's broadcast will feature a special presentation from me..."

Liam's voice echoed through the school speakers, and the girls in my class gathered together, chattering about him. Listening to his voice, I blushed unconsciously, not even realizing when I had scribbled his name onto my notebook.

He was the school's star—top of the class, handsome, and kind. No one could resist being drawn to him.

I was no different, secretly admiring him as my idol. But that innocent admiration became the reason I was bullied.

"Oh, look! Isn't that our class's little pock-marked girl, and she's crushing on the great Liam too!"

I clutched my faded school uniform tightly, feeling a mix of shame, helplessness, and fear, all magnified in that moment.

In the face of Joanna's taunts, I chose to ignore her.

But she, as if finding some new source of amusement, yanked me up from my seat. Standing in front of me, her presence overwhelmed me. I tried to escape, using the excuse that a teacher was calling for me. She smiled sweetly, stepping aside as if to let me pass.

But just as I turned, she pushed me from behind, and I fell hard onto the ground.

The other students gathered around, whispering and giggling, their mocking eyes and glee bearing down on me.

That was when Liam appeared.

He shoved those bullies aside and draped his jacket over my shoulders. Under the gaze of everyone, he led me away.

Later, I don't know what he did, but somehow, we ended up as desk mates. I still remember the day he smiled at me and extended his hand,

"Hello, Nina. I'm Liam. Looks like we'll be sitting together from now on."

The sunlight bathed him in a golden glow—it was such a beautiful sight.

And just like that, we became desk mates for two years. For two years, he protected me.

When we applied for college, I chose the same university as him. At freshman orientation, even among the crowd, he instantly recognized me.

With the same bright smile, he walked over, just like when we were eighteen, and extended his hand again, "Hello, Nina. We'll be together for the next four years. Let's take care of each other."