...The Beginning of It All...

The café smelled of fresh espresso and caramel, a comforting warmth against the cool evening breeze. Scarlett sat by the window, fingers wrapped around her latte, staring out at the city lights. She loved nights like this—quiet, simple, and free of drama. At least, that was what she had thought before tonight.

“You’re zoning out,” her friend Lily teased, nudging her shoulder. “You know, this is supposed to be fun, not some deep-thinking session.”

Scarlett let out a small laugh. “I know, I know. I just—” Her voice trailed off when her gaze landed on him.

Valen.

The guy Lily had been so eager for her to meet. He walked in with an air of quiet confidence, dark hair falling slightly over his eyes, dressed in a fitted black jacket that made him look effortlessly cool. His presence demanded attention, but he didn’t seem to seek it.

He glanced around before spotting them. His lips curved into a smirk as he approached, hands casually tucked into his pockets.

“You must be Scarlett,” he said smoothly, his voice rich with amusement.

Scarlett blinked, caught off guard by his directness. “And you must be Valen.”

“I like how you say my name,” he remarked, pulling out a chair and sitting across from her without waiting for an invitation.

Lily giggled, obviously enjoying the interaction. “I told you he was charming.”

Scarlett arched a brow, leaning back slightly. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

Valen chuckled, tilting his head as if studying her. “Fair enough. So, tell me, Scarlett—what kind of boyfriend do you need?”

The question caught her completely off guard.

Lily gasped. “Valen!”

“What?” He shrugged. “I like knowing what a girl wants before she even realizes it herself.”

Scarlett narrowed her eyes, intrigued but cautious. “That’s a bold assumption.”

“Not really,” Valen countered, his gaze never wavering. “Think about it. Everyone has an idea of what they want. So, what’s yours?”

Scarlett hesitated. No one had ever asked her that before—not like this, with such directness, as if he actually wanted to know.

She set her cup down, meeting his gaze. “Someone who doesn’t lie. Someone who doesn’t play games.”

Valen’s smirk softened, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “That’s rare these days.”

“That’s the point,” she murmured.

For a moment, there was silence. Not awkward, but charged—like something had shifted between them. Valen leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. “I like that answer.”

Scarlett wasn’t sure why, but the way he said it made her heart race.

Lily sighed dramatically. “Wow. I feel like I’m third-wheeling already.”

Scarlett rolled her eyes, though she couldn’t hide the small smile that tugged at her lips. Maybe Lily had been right to push her into this meeting.

As the night went on, their conversation flowed effortlessly. Valen was witty, confident, and had a way of making Scarlett feel like the only person in the room.

And that was how it all started.

A few days later, Scarlett found herself in an unexpected situation.

She had barely mentioned Valen to her other friends, yet somehow, they already had opinions about him.

“You’re not actually thinking about dating him, are you?” One of them, Mia, asked, arms crossed.

Scarlett frowned. “Why does it sound like that would be a bad thing?”

Mia sighed. “Scar, listen. Valen is… complicated. He’s a playboy, a heartbreaker. He’s had so many exes I’ve lost count.”

Another friend, Jake, chimed in. “Yeah, he’s the type of guy who loses interest fast. You’d just be another name on his list.”

Scarlett’s stomach twisted slightly. She wasn’t naïve—she knew Valen had a reputation, but was it really that bad?

Lily, who had set them up, scoffed. “Come on, guys. He’s not that bad.”

Mia shook her head. “You don’t get it. He knows exactly how to make a girl fall for him, and then—boom, he moves on.”

Scarlett bit her lip, their words lingering in her mind.

That night, as she lay in bed, she replayed everything. Valen did seem too smooth, too effortless in his charm. But wasn’t that just confidence? Was it fair to judge him based on his past?

Or was she making a mistake?

She just didn’t know yet.

And that uncertainty was exactly what made everything spiral out of control.

... A Secret No Longer...

Scarlett sat across from Lily in their favorite café, absentmindedly stirring her iced coffee. The hesitation in her voice was unmistakable, but she needed to say it out loud—at least once.

“I think… I like him.”

Lily smirked, propping her chin on her hand. “You think?”

Scarlett groaned, pushing her drink aside. “Fine. I do. I like Valen.”

Lily’s smirk widened. “I knew it.”

Scarlett sighed. “It’s just—he’s not like I expected. Everyone says he’s a player, a heartbreaker, but when I’m with him, it feels… different.”

Lily hummed thoughtfully. “That’s how they get you.”

“Lily.”

“I’m just saying,” she teased before softening her tone. “So, are you gonna tell him?”

Scarlett shook her head. “No way. I don’t even know if he likes me back.”

Lily tilted her head, as if debating something. “You never know. He might surprise you.”

Scarlett didn’t think much of those words at the time. But later that evening, she realized exactly what Lily had meant.

—

She was heading to the library when her phone vibrated.

Valen: Where are you?

Scarlett hesitated before replying.

Scarlett: Library. Why?

Valen: On my way.

Her heart pounded as she stared at the message. She hadn’t expected to see him tonight. Was it just coincidence, or was there a reason?

Fifteen minutes later, he found her near the back shelves, leaning lazily against the bookcase. His dark eyes held a mischievous glint.

“You and I need to talk,” he said, his voice smooth but unreadable.

Scarlett closed her book. “About?”

Valen smirked and took a step closer. “Lily told me.”

Her stomach dropped. “Told you what?”

His gaze flickered with amusement. “That you like me.”

Scarlett’s breath hitched. Lily told him?!

She opened her mouth, but Valen moved before she could speak. He leaned in, closing the space between them, his lips mere inches from hers. His hand brushed against her arm, sending a wave of heat through her skin.

“Tell me, Scarlett,” he murmured, his voice low, teasing. “Is it true?”

Her throat went dry. “I… I—”

His smirk deepened. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Before she could even process what was happening, Valen’s fingers grazed her chin, tilting her face toward him. The air between them crackled with tension. He wasn’t just playing—he was testing her.

“Do you know what you’re getting yourself into?” he asked, his voice softer now.

Scarlett swallowed, trying to steady her pulse. “I don’t know. Should I?”

For a second, something flashed in his eyes—hesitation, maybe even conflict. But it was gone just as quickly.

“I guess we’ll find out,” he murmured before pressing his lips to hers.

—

But was it really dating?

That question haunted Scarlett over the next few days. They spent more time together, texting late into the night, stealing glances across campus, sharing moments that felt almost unreal.

But there was something about Valen—something unsettled.

One night, she finally asked.

“Are we dating?” she said, watching him carefully.

Valen exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I guess.”

Scarlett frowned. “That’s not an answer.”

He looked away, suddenly tense. “It’s just… complicated.”

“What’s complicated about it?”

Valen hesitated before speaking. “I haven’t been in a relationship since my ex two years ago. And after that, I—” He stopped, rubbing his temple.

Scarlett leaned in. “You what?”

His jaw tightened. “I liked Lily. For a year.”

Scarlett’s stomach dropped. “Lily?”

He nodded, his expression unreadable. “I told her. But she was dating someone, so she rejected me.”

Scarlett sat in silence, the words sinking in.

Valen had liked Lily. A lot.

But Lily had been taken. And now, she wasn’t.

A strange thought crossed Valen’s mind—one he couldn’t shake.

Should I go for Scarlett… or wait for Lily?

And just like that, what had started between them no longer felt simple.

...A Goodbye in the Rain...

Scarlett sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone screen. Her friends' words echoed in her head.

"Valen is a playboy."

"He’s had so many exes—he won’t take you seriously."

"Don’t fall for him, Scarlett. You’ll regret it."

But despite everything, she had chosen to believe in him. Deep down, she felt that maybe Valen wasn’t a bad person—maybe he just portrayed himself that way. And if he really was bad, then I’ll change him. That’s what she told herself when she first started liking him.

But now, after what she had just learned, doubt crept into her heart.

Lily had confessed something shocking—Valen still had lingering feelings for her. Scarlett felt like the ground had been ripped from under her. Was I just a rebound?

To clear the tension, Lily suggested that all three of them meet and talk things out. Scarlett agreed, hoping for answers. But when she arrived at the meeting place, Valen barely even looked at her.

It was as if she was a stranger.

Scarlett swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to find her voice. "Valen, can I have a word with you?"

He didn’t even hesitate. "No."

Scarlett felt her heart crack a little. He wasn’t ignoring Lily—only her.

Valen focused all his attention on Lily, desperate to speak to her. But to Scarlett’s surprise, Lily refused him.

"Valen, how many times do I have to tell you?" Lily sighed. "I don’t have feelings for you. I never did. And I won’t betray Scarlett. She’s my friend, and she likes you. She’s sensitive, kind, and you are her first love. I can’t let you hurt her."

Scarlett clenched her fists, holding back her tears. She hated that Lily had to defend her like this. She hated feeling like an outsider in a conversation that involved her own feelings.

After hearing Lily’s words, Valen finally turned to Scarlett. "Let’s talk."

Scarlett followed him in silence, her heart racing. She didn’t know if she wanted to hear what he had to say, but she had to.

When they stopped walking, Valen took a deep breath. "Scarlett, this won’t work out between us."

She felt her stomach drop.

"I still have lingering feelings for Lily," he admitted. "And my ex."

Scarlett’s hands trembled. Why did you come into my life if you still loved someone else?

"I don’t want you to get hurt," Valen continued. "You’re a nice person, Scarlett. And you’ll regret loving someone like me."

Scarlett bit her lip, her chest tightening. She refused to believe that. Even if this love ended in pain, she wouldn’t regret it.

A tear slipped down her cheek as she whispered, "I won’t regret meeting or loving you, Valen."

As soon as her tear hit the ground, the sky opened up, and rain began to pour.

Scarlett didn’t care. She didn’t bother to move. She let the rain mix with her tears, hoping it would wash away the ache in her chest.

Lily and Scarlett decided to drop Valen off at the bus station. But sensing the weight of the moment, Lily gave them privacy. "I’ll wait for you guys near the entrance," she said before stepping away.

The walk to the bus station was silent except for the rain. Scarlett could barely see through her blurred vision. Her heart was shattering, but Valen wouldn’t see it—the rain masked everything.

As they reached the street, Scarlett hesitated for a moment. She wanted to hold Valen’s hand just once before they said goodbye. But before she could, Valen took her hand himself.

"You’ll get hurt if you don’t hurry," he muttered, guiding her across the road.

Scarlett felt the warmth of his palm against hers and wished—just for a moment—that this feeling would last forever.

The bus station was only a few steps away now. Scarlett knew this was it. Their last meeting. Their last words.

Before Valen could leave, she finally spoke. "Before you go… can you give me a goodbye hug?"

Valen didn’t hesitate. He pulled her into his arms, and Scarlett shut her eyes, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. She wanted to freeze this moment. Just for a little longer.

The sound of the arriving bus broke her heart even more.

Valen pulled away and walked toward the bus without looking back.

And as soon as he was gone—Scarlett broke into silent tears, standing alone in the pouring rain.