Things would be a lot easier if Mark was just an ordinary classmate for me and yet...

I bit my lips so hard that I almost drew blood, but the image of my aging parent flashed in my mind. Their hair had turned gray because of me. I couldn't let pride get in the way and waste any more time.

With that renewed resolution, I called my collegemate and best friend, Anna Huttington.

"Anna," I started then paused a moment. Then I forced myself to tell her my request, "Do you have Mark Ruffus's contact information? You do? Can you send me his number?"

I did not wait long before Anna sent me a string of numbers to my WhatsApp. I looked at them and dialed the number. The call connected and it rang once, twice, three times.

My heart thumped in time with each ring and clenched my fists nervously. However, the tone went dead, replaced by an automated message. Mark did not answer her call.

I sure did not flatter myself by thinking he would recognize my number and choose to ignore it. More likely, he did not pick up the call from an unknown number.

I sighed and then transferred my last fifteen thousand dollars from her card to her parents. Just as I completed the transaction, Mark's call came in.

"Hello?" His voice was casual and slightly husky, carrying the same nonchalant drawl he’d had when they were younger. I could almost picture him leaning back, long legs crossed lazily, completely at ease.

My heart raced. I was more nervous now than during my first job interview.

"Mark," I began with an unsteady voice. "It's been a long time. This is Bella."

There was a brief pause then with a click he hung up.

When we finally met face-to-face again after all these years, I felt completely stripped of the confidence I once had. Mark sat across from me after he draped his black coat over the chair beside him. He wore a simple white sweater that hugged his broad shoulders and his exposed forearms showing off his muscles.

Time had been kind to him. His slightly messy hair fell softly over his brows and his sharp nose and thin lips remained unchanged. His deep, almond-shaped eyes, always a bit mischievous, had only grown more compelling, the upturned corners dusted with a hint of rouge-like warmth. Though he dressed with more maturity, his face still carried a hint of youthful recklessness.

I sipped my coffee and took a contract from my bag.

"Mr. Ruffus," I said and pushed the contract across the table. "Here's the contract draft. Please take a look."

Mark picked it up and flipped through a few pages without much interest.

“I remember you used to hate coffee,” he remarked. Although his tone sounded almost casual his gaze remained fixed on me without blinking.

The intensity of his gaze made my scalp tingle and I almost broke my finger under the table.

“I drink it now,” I replied. “If there’s anything unreasonable in the contract, we can discuss it.”

Mark scanned the document for few times before putting it down. His brows furrowed and his voice dropped, edged with irritation, "Are you still with Sonny?"

His question made my face burn with embarrassment and did not manage to give him a reply. Memories rushed back in my mind about how our last encounter had ended. Mark was livid at that time, his veins was bulging as he yelled at me, while calling me ungrateful.

Even after all these years, the memory of his angry expression was seared into my mind.

Back in university, Mark had pursued me relentlessly for two years. Even though he knew I had been going steady for a year, he would follow me around like a lovesick puppy, only to be rejected repeatedly.

It would have been easier to bear if I had been happy, but Sonny had come from a poor family and spent most of his time working part-time jobs. Sometimes, he even needed me to lend him money for his living expenses.

When Mark found out about this, he was furious. He cornered me when I was heading to a part-time job, demanding to know what I saw in Sonny and why he wasn’t good enough for me.

At that time my response had never changed, even after all those years, "I believe in my boyfriend. He’ll be successful and I’ll be even happier in the future.”

My declaration along with a few sarcastic remarks, broke Mark's heart. No matter how much effort he put in, my heart remained cold to him. Frustrated, he lashed out, called me foolish and ungrateful and soon after, he turned away. He chose to leave for his studies abroad. That day, we parted ways, never to see each other again.

Now, even though Sonny had indeed become successful, I was far from happy.

“We’re no longer together,” I admitted honestly. With a steady voice, I added, “Mr. Ruffus, my family’s company is on the brink of collapse. Your help would mean everything to us.”

Mark was happy with my reply. He stretched his tense body and folded his long and slender finger. He looked at me with a thoughtful expression on his face. Although he didn’t want to take advantage of my misfortune, he also wasn’t about to let this opportunity pass just like that.

“I can sign this contract,” he said.

Mark looked at me with expectant eyes and since I was an adult, I knew perfectly well what that look meant. Yet, I did not have the slightest hesitation.

“What’s your condition, Mr. Ruffus?” I asked directly.

“You’ve always known what it is, haven’t you?” he asked back.

I studied the man in front of me. Once upon a time, he had liked me for pure, selfless reasons, without ulterior motives. However now, given my situation, I couldn’t afford to indulge in wishful thinking.

“Please be explicit,” I said. “I don’t want to misunderstand.”

“You haven’t misunderstood,” he replied.

I nodded, a sign that I agreed.

Then I informed him, "In three months, I’ll be moving to Lagado City. I have been transferred there."

“That’s fine,” Mark said. My decisiveness caught him off guard, but afraid I would change my mind, he hurriedly signed the contract.

“Our branch office is also in Lagado City. I’ll send you the address later,” he added.

With Mark’s resources, my family’s furniture business soon received the necessary materials and resumed operations.

Not long after, Sonny got wind of my arrangement with Mark from a mutual acquaintance. For the first time in a month, he called me.

“Why didn’t you come to me when your parents’ company ran into trouble?” His tone was accusatory, devoid of any guilt for his long absence.

“Why would I contact you?” I replied. I was genuinely puzzled by his sudden display of concern. “It’s my parents’ company, not yours.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he demanded.

“I didn’t want to disturb you,” I said coldly. “You should stay by your dear little sister’s side at the hospital.”

The words came out with no trace of bitterness or sarcasm, just a simple statement of fact. A month was more than enough time for a clear-headed woman to mend her emotional wounds.

“Bella, I know you’re angry because I’ve neglected you,” Sonny said. He softened his voice, trying to sound gentle. “Nicole’s condition is improving. Once she’s out of the hospital, we can start planning our wedding again. Then ….”

“There’s no need,” I cut him off with a calm icy voice, “I forgot to tell you that I had decided not to marry you. I’ve already informed my family that the wedding is off. Make sure you let your relatives and friends know as well.”

Before he could erupt in fury, I ended the call and immediately blocked his number.