I didn't expect to run into Zac again, especially not at a restaurant.

What was supposed to be a quiet dinner with just Megan and me turned into a full-blown group gathering from our old circle.

I sat calmly on the couch, no longer clinging to Zac like I used to.

There was a girl sitting next to him. The moment the two of them arrived, they tucked themselves away in a corner of the private room the group had booked. They were deep in conversation and laughing like no one else existed.

Everyone else kept steering the conversation toward Zac and me. After all, everyone knew I'd chased after Zac for over twenty years.

Truth be told, the whole reason for this gathering was so our friends could convince Zac to give me another chance.

No one had expected him to show up with another woman.

I coughed a couple of times without thinking. There was a faint smell of smoke in the air.

Everyone knew I had asthma. Usually, when I was around, they'd avoid smoking altogether. Everyone except Zac. He was puffing away and making out with the woman in his arms.

Megan finally snapped and shot him a glare. "Zac, you know Nancy has trouble breathing. Could you at least have some decency in a closed room like this?"

He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke straight into the girl's face and looked directly at me.

"If the smoke bothers her, maybe she should stay away. Wouldn't want her gasping for air and blaming me for it."

Megan looked like she was about to go off on him again, but I stopped her. I quietly asked a friend to switch seats with me and moved to the farthest corner from Zac.

Under the dim lights of the room, I noticed Zac's expression change for a moment.

"Sorry, Nancy," someone murmured beside me. "We really didn't think Zac would–"

"It's fine." I cut in with a smile. "It's been a while since I saw everyone. Who knows when the next time will be?"

We all started chatting about childhood memories, laughing and teasing like the old days.

At some point, Zac wandered over. He stubbed out his cigarette and leaned against the wall like he had all the time in the world.

"What's this about who knows when the next time will be? Are you moving abroad or something? Or just pretending we don't exist anymore?"

The room fell silent.

I paused before finally telling everyone I was preparing for an arranged date and likely marriage too.

I didn't want Zac to keep thinking I'd be chasing him around. I didn't want him believing, even for a second, that I still loved him.

Everyone exchanged stunned looks.

"Nancy, you're still so young. Why are you suddenly thinking about an arranged marriage?"

I held my cup with both hands and took a quiet sip. "I'm not that young. I'm turning thirty soon."

Zac, who had been standing beside me the whole time, suddenly looked furious. I could feel his gaze burning into me, even without looking up.

"Cheap trick," he muttered coldly. "Nancy, you really think I'm buying this? If you've got the guts, then go get married. Don't think some half-baked move like this is going to get my attention. You know me. I never fall for this kind of stunt. And honestly? It doesn't suit you."

I had no idea what was going through Zac's mind.

Ever since I confessed to him, he'd always kept me at arm's length. But tonight, he was oddly talkative. He was almost too talkative.

I stood up and met his gaze head-on.

"Zac, don't worry. I won't chase after you anymore, and I'm done trying to get your attention. If anything I've done before ever bothered you, then I apologize."

This time, Zac said nothing. His lips were pursed, and his brows furrowed. His expression was hard to read.

I picked up my purse and turned to the group with a smile.

"Sorry for ruining the vibe tonight. When I get married, you'd all better be there."

Then I walked out of the room.

Zac stayed frozen where he was.

Just as I stepped into the hallway, I heard his voice behind me.

"Tsk. What an act. She just wants me to chase after her now. Does she really think she's special? I don't fall for crap like that."

I shook my head and returned to my apartment. I grabbed my suitcase and went home.

When I shut the door behind me, I shut the door on every last bit of feeling I ever had for Zac.

As soon as I stepped back into my parents' house, mom threw her arms around me. She hugged me tightly, eyes already brimming with tears.

I hadn't been home much in the past three years.

Every time I came back, I worried my parents would pressure me again about dating, marriage, and settling down.

But this time, I brought it up myself.

"Mom, that blind date you mentioned the other day, is it all set? I'm free to go tomorrow."

Mom beamed and said everything was arranged. She even pulled out her phone and showed me a photo album.

"Nancy, take a look. See if there's anyone you like."

I couldn't help but laugh. I picked two at random.

"Take your time setting them up," I said. "I'm serious about getting married this time."

-

The next morning, I went to the spot mom had arranged. It was a tea house. I'd never liked coffee, but tea? I've always had a soft spot for it.

There was something about the process of brewing it that made me feel completely relaxed.

"After all these years, you still love tea just as much."

I looked up and saw Steven Warhammer sitting across from me.

For a second, memories flashed through my mind like a reel of film.

"Steven? When did you get back?"

Steven had been a senior when I was in college, and we had studied under the same lecturer for a while. Not long after, he had gone abroad.

"Just got back recently," he said with a warm smile. "Didn't expect the first familiar face I'd run into would be yours."

The joy of reuniting made me overlook the lingering brightness in his eyes.

Suddenly, the door to the tea room burst open.

Zac stormed in. His expression was a strange mix of fury and panic.

"Nancy, what are you doing here? Who is this guy?"

I blinked at him in confusion, not understanding why he looked so upset.

Then I remembered the Warhammer and the Jesselton families were longtime family friends. I forced a smile and introduced Steven politely.

"Spare the introductions. I know exactly who he is." Steven stood up, still calm, with a slight smirk on his face. "Long time no see, Zac."

Zac's eyes widened. He gasped as if someone had knocked the wind out of him. "Steven? What are you doing back here?"

"You really don't know? Or are you just pretending not to? You promised me certain things, and you haven't followed through on a single one."

The room suddenly went quiet.

Steven and Zac stared at each other, locked in some unspoken standoff.

I had no interest in digging into their secrets. A quick glance at my watch told me my actual blind date was about to arrive.

I politely asked the two of them to leave.

"Steven, Zac, I have some personal matters to attend to. Would you mind giving me some space?"

I didn't expect Steven to pull a bouquet of roses from his coat. He slid them into the table’s vase.

"Nancy, I am your blind date."

I sat there, stunned and awkward. I poured myself another cup of tea, hoping it would hide my discomfort, and cleared my throat lightly.

"Well, I didn't see that coming. It's you, after all," I said. "But since it's you, I don't think we need to go through with this. If my memory serves me right, you already have a girlfriend."

"I don't! I've never had one!" he interrupted immediately. His gaze was fixed on me. "It's not for lack of trying. But the girl I want never said yes."

Suddenly, I remembered that night before Steven went abroad.

He'd been drunk, clinging to me and saying all kinds of things. The gist of it was simple. He liked someone. From the way he described her, it didn't sound like me.

I didn't have short bangs. I wasn't top of the class. Honestly, I'd been so caught up in Zac back then, I hadn't paid close attention to who he was talking about.

But now, my gut told me he'd meant me all along.

Before I could find the right words to respond, Zac, who had stubbornly stayed behind, suddenly threw a fit.

"Nancy, what the hell do you think you're doing?"