A/N

Saya’s POV. Only one chapter. So don’t worry 🤣

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Looking at herself in the mirror, Saya couldn’t recognize herself without makeup. Her skin was ashen, almost ghostly. A cold sweat glistened on her forehead and her sunken cheekbones. Her once lively eyes were getting duller like it was clinging to one last bit of life.

She looked tired. Sick.

Saya took a deep breath feeling so weary that she was practically dragging her body to move. Being in Black Lion, constantly competing and grinding and following Mike all around, was tiresome.

They no longer go on dates. Eat in fancy restaurants. Shopping. Watching movies. Spend some time together. All Mike thought about was the game and Black Lion, which got on her nerves.

She was no longer happy, and everything was taking a toll on her mental and physical health. Being with Mike was making her mad. Tired.

She needed alone time.

She needed to be away from him. A cool-off, maybe?

If this went on, she needed to rethink about her relationship with him.

Maybe she would talk about it with Mike later after their lunch with Ren and Leonel.

At the thought of Ren, Saya’s depression intensified.

Ren became famous overnight for defeating Black Lion. For defeating Scar no less, and Mike hadn’t slept ever since. And thanks to him calling her about his problems, how jealous he was to the point that he talk badly about Ren the whole night – thanks to all that she didn’t sleep a wink.

Only now that Saya picked on Mike’s negative attitudes when she was having second thoughts about their relationship. He was so insecure, jealous, arrogant, and easily angered. He was also a mediocre player who bragged about his upbringing and personally knowing Scar.

Saya would have nothing of it.

She was tired of babysitting him.

What about her needs?

Saya took deep, calming breaths and prepped her skin for makeup. She scrolled on her phone as she waited for the serums and creams to settle. And without thinking, she read the forums about Ren.

Most messages contained admiration for him, and a lot of women liked him for his looks and prowess with his fight with Scar.

Saya didn’t know what happened that Ren suddenly became famous overnight and they even got hold that Ren and Leonel were staying in Diamond Palace.

Compared to Ren from before . . . the Ren now had everything. The looks, the money, the fame. And Saya was swallowed by regret.

Ren was nothing but kind to her, and she had to admit that he did everything that he could to please her in the past. But she still chose Mike because the one thing that Ren couldn’t give her was the most important to her –lifestyle.

Ren would make all her assignments and projects. All she asked, he would comply. He would get her favorite dessert even kilometers away on a weekend. When she was sick, he would take notes for her and even visit her with fruits and flowers.

Those little things mattered, but Mike’s purse mattered more.

But now . . . Saya’s dull eyes regained their shine. Ren could provide both love and money. He was perfect now.

Maybe she could rekindle what they had in the past?

Saya got excited at the prospect, and she covered her face with makeup, making sure that she would look her best.

Satisfied, she got downstairs and was about to leave when she stopped by her mother.

“Saya . . .”

Saya closed her eyes tight and didn’t look back at her mother’s call.

“Are you and Mike going out?”

“. . . Yes.”

“Good. Lately, you’ve been coop up in your room playing that game.” Her mother released a deep sigh. “I’m beginning to worry about you two. Are you sure that you’re doing your part as his girlfriend?”

Saya’s brain hurt from how hard it pounded. Why was she always the one who should adjust and always work hard in a relationship? Why was she always at fault when all she asked was love?

“Yes. Everything is fine,” she said, controlling the anger in her voice.

“Make sure that it is. Mike is a good catch. We have money but not enough to be called filthy rich. Look at your father and me. I couldn’t have the lifestyle that I wanted because his income was limited. Now, I’m frustrated every day . . .”

Saya took a large intake of air before she cut her mother off. “Mom.”

She faced her mother and couldn’t control the waves of words purring from her mouth. “Ren is also rich now. Have you heard the news?”

“Ren? You mean that guy living in the slums? Are you still friends with that guy?”

“. . .”

“Saya . . .” Her mother closed their distance and jabbed a finger at her. “Don’t you dare break up with Mike for that peasant in the slums!”

“He’s no longer a peasant. He owned a unit in Diamond Palace now.”

Her mother was silent before she faked a laughed. “Big deal! He is now a man with money, so what? It wouldn’t last.”

Her mother reached for her shoulders and firmly squeezed them tight that it was beginning to hurt.

“That money wouldn’t last, Saya. That money he owned was just a spare pocket of Mike’s family. Mike’s family is old generation rich. He is just starting. Do you think that he could sustain the lifestyle that you wanted? For years?”

“. . .” Saya couldn’t retort back since what her mother said was true. Ren’s money was like a pebble compared to the real estate businesses of Mike’s family. And soon, it would be Mike and hers as well if she persevered.

But . . . her heart was screaming for Ren, but her mind was giving her seconds thoughts. Love was just temporary, just like with her parents. Love didn’t last when her father couldn’t give her mother the life that she wanted. And now, she was living as a wife of a medium-earner man.

They live in comfort, yes. But what her mother wanted was to spend millions every week, and her father’s business couldn’t match that kind of spending.

Saya was afraid that she would be trapped like her mother. Frustrated and always angry.

At least with Mike . . . even if she couldn’t have the love that she wanted, at least she was happy with the things that she could have.

“I got to go,” Saya said instead and didn’t wait for her mother to reply. She went out of the house going to her car, where her driver awaited.

On the way to Diamond Palace, Saya was thinking about his relationship with Mike. Before, she was decided that she would break up with him and get together with Ren.

But now . . .

Because of her mother, she was having second thoughts.

Until Saya arrived inside Diamond Palace, her mind was in a mess. She even forgot to call Mike that she was already inside the building.

She went inside the restaurant, and without thinking about it, her eyes shot to the man that was nothing but the constant topic of her brain.

Ren . . .

His dark hair was cut short at the back while his fringe almost reached his eyes. He wore a long v-neck shirt under a cotton vest paired with black pants. His long limbs were straight but not stiff, and he held his head high.

He sat comfortably while laughing with Leonel. Saya might have seen things, but there were sparkles around him. It was like he belonged to the place. He fit perfectly well at the expensive interior like he was the lord.

And when he looked at her, his eyes were completely blank.

Ren wasn’t like that before. Sure he was a looker in their high school, but he didn’t have the confidence and body he had now. He was filling out . . . nicely. He suddenly had grown into a person that she could no longer reach.

How did that happen in just a few weeks that they didn’t see each other?

“Saya!” Leonel waved his hand at her and ushered her to their table.

Saya took another rounds of breath before she placed her hair beside her ear and beamed her brightest.

“Hi, guys.”

Saya sat opposite Ren and noticed how the latter turned silent and serious at her appearance. She was hurt that Ren seemed like he was always on guard in front of her.

“How are you? Have you been well?” Leonel tried to defuse the awkward silence and offered Saya some complimentary bread. “Here. Eat first. And pick anything on the menu. My threat.”

Saya timidly smiled and joked. “It looks like you two struck big. Congratulations. I saw your fight. You’re remarkable.”

She then stared at Ren and flashed her dimpled smile that she knew Ren liked. “The both of you are.”

“Thanks,” said Ren without offering any ongoing conversation.

Saya felt embarrassed and worse than a stranger at the moment. She didn’t know why Ren had changed so much. She couldn’t fault him because she always took Mike’s side, but how could the change be so overwhelmingly fast and drastic?

She wasn’t prepared.

“Is Mike coming?” Ren asked, impatience hidden in his tone.

At the mention, Saya gasped. She forgot to call Mike!

Saya was about to call her boyfriend when the guy in question arrived together with Scar.

Saya was genuinely surprised at Scar’s appearance because she thought this would be a lunch date between friends.

Leonel looked at her in disappointment while Ren only smirked, his expression portraying nothing but indifference. Like he already knew that this was going to happen.

But she didn’t, and she couldn’t even explain herself when Mike sat beside her and threw an arm over her shoulder.

She suddenly felt trapped.

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