Revenge in the Shining Years

th, his so-called friend Mia Brown s

, you have everything you need. Could you pleas

nd threw it on the g

ht a glimpse of Bran's

eement -if anything went wrong with this

altar. Everyone around us seemed to envy what we had-our love was th

A handsome man and a beautiful

before, but I nev

truth: Bran's heart

years-five years long

r "buddies," as if their relationship was so pure it coul

jor. But for some reason, Bran decided to chase after me-a girl

naive enough to belie

emper and a polite demeanor. He wa

e out for the secon

I noticed something-or rather,

looking, with a delica

d Bran's shoulder and say, "Bran, you're amazing! You found such a be

she hooked her arm around his shoulder,

e, yet Bran seemed completely unfazed, as if

and then agai

after having a girlfriend, still

thinking it and mentioned it t

t, Bran's response

nteracted like this. I can't just distance myself from her because I ha

ed to Mia a

made her seem

s. How did that turn into 'sticky love' in your mind? That kind of

ulous it sounded to call me a "lovely girl" when

et involved in their "p

ested breaking

d never see each other again, but Bran,

day?" Besides, It's one thing for you to block me alone," I pointed at Mia, my voice sharp, "but why do you br

ne breath, my anger spil

s head, pretendin

h girls, she'd understand y

ed in, "Yeah, Wendy, please

rstand?

d in a fit of anger, I hurled the bas

s thing in the world, and s

ogize to Bran, it turned out th

hat little girl Wendy? You've grown so much! I held you

best buddies since college. If the Smith family hadn't gone overseas

l's expression towards

d Jack, unusu

Jack didn't

the adults quickly became awar

't know how to sweet-talk his girlfriend. If he ever does

be. Let him learn a good lesson. But..." he added, his tone shiftin

of disinfectant filling my nose, staring irrit

lind ba

think this gu

d look like

le, polite -but his gaze, sharp and cal

nt to Sonia's ro

ous bedroom, silently crying

dn't say a word during din

nd now this villa was the only place where

was just reminded of some painful memories from the past. Don't worr

thing today. Bran..." As soon as I mentioned his name, she shu

t!" she cried, her

y fell asleep, her breathing steady b

n, thanks to Hank's oddly

said to him, but Mia started ap

ed, Bran surprised me with

as I leaned into his embrace

ed Mia standing in the distance, tea

while watchin

n at the rose

ran I didn't

that suggeste

ci-fi blockbuster. Want to go see it?" Bra

king softly, "Sure, y

d in circles, grinning like a

g; she was gone, her absence marked only by

ent to buy popcorn, and I left

I unexpectedly

surprising a

of guys who usually

's like a goddess!" they teased from across t

ovie with Bran too? Which

n, Bran

't you know it, we were seeing the same m

d it among the guys. "Share some popcorn with us, will you? Th

laughed and headed

g box of popcorn, look

like that, Bran? Let's go

leading him inside. The dim

esign, Mia's seat was

corn. "Hey, let's grab dinne

head, not wanting

yed, because towards the end, Bran and the othe

as so sleepy I

they were, I decided

again, the movie's end

as enthusiastically discussin

on that they soon walked far ahead, leaving me with

t. Someone started telling jokes to cheer me

ong time. They share a lot of interests, so when they start tal

"I understand, they'

had left me with his friend

rely apologizing. "We

off his

en each other in a while, right? A little chat

back to his friends and affecti

hungry. Let

spoken so sweetly

it worked

, while his friends te

ng her fists, her eyes sli

tark contrast to her

e room, I onl

yone, was busy encouraging ever

ed a bit guilty, glancin

ely; Mia had asked th

fluence, getting so many

each other much longer

suddenly hugged me and kissed me. "Wendy

and between his alcoho

too. He insists

at Smith old bastard wa

kiss, but Mia suddenly st

t. She's had

anaged it, but Bran ende

im away, causing him to fall to the floor, just

h, he sobere