Liam's POV
 
We're currently on the field, taking a break after our practice. I tossed two bottles of water to Ken and Ace, which they caught.
 
"Liam." Ken called as I sat down next to him.
 
I simply looked at him in response.
 
"Does Hailey know you're courting Mira?" He asked me straight up.
 
I shifted my gaze from them and let out a sigh. "Not yet. To be honest, ever since I got close to Mira and realized she likes me too, I've forgotten all about Hailey. All my attention has been focused on Mira."
 
"Bro, I think it's time you talk with Hailey," Ace replied.
 
"I need some time, guys. I'm just waiting for the right moment to talk to her," I responded. The truth is, I have no idea how to explain everything to her, especially knowing that it will only hurt her.
 
Ken placed his hand on my shoulder. "Now is the time, bro. If you only knew what Mira did."
 
I furrowed my brow in confusion. What could Mira have possibly done? "What do you mean she did?" I asked, eager to understand the situation.
 
They exchanged glances before Ken spoke. "Mira told us not to tell you this but we're your friends Liam, and I think you need to know about it."
 
"Just tell me. What did she do?" I suddenly felt nervous. Ken was being so intense about it, not giving me any straight answers.
 
"Hailey asked Mira to help her get back together with you, and Mira agreed." Ace replied.
 
"What?!" I exclaimed. I thought Mira also had feelings for me, so why would she agree to help Hailey? I'm so confused.
 
They recounted their entire conversation from yesterday at the canteen while I was away. So that's why they were so serious and Mira couldn't look me in the eye because they were talking about me. Now, everything makes sense. Mira likes me, but she thinks it's wrong to love me in return because she's considering Hailey's feelings and doesn't want Jhea to be angry with her.
 
This can't be happening. Yes, maybe I fell for Mira too quickly, but I'm serious about my feelings for her and I've never felt this way about anyone else. It scares me how deeply I've fallen for Mira. But I can't deny the truth of my emotions. My heart tells me that what I feel for her is genuine, surpassing anything I've ever felt for Hailey. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, but I know in my heart that Mira is the one who I truly love now.
I need to make this right.
 
I quickly stood up and walked towards the parking lot to get my car. I have to talk to Hailey. I'm not sure if our conversation will go smoothly or if she'll understand me, but I'll still give it a shot for the sake of Mira and me.
I pulled over the car at a coffee shop where we agreed to meet. As I entered, I immediately spotted her sitting there, even from a distance I could see the traces of a smile on her lips. I hope that after our conversation, I'll still see that same smile on her lips.
 
I sat in front of her. "Hi."
 
She simply smiled in response. "I'm so happy that you invited me for a drink."
 
"Actually, I invited you because I wanted to talk to you."
 
She smiled even brighter at my words. "Are you getting back together with me?" Her voice was filled with joy.
 
"No, Hailey." I said softly, looking directly at her.
 
Her brows furrowed. "Then what? I don't understand."
 
"Why did you ask Mira to help you get back together with me?" I asked her directly, wanting to know the reason behind her actions.
 
She let out a sigh. "So you already knew." She said. After a brief pause, she continued. "I thought that if I did that, you would listen to her and come back to me."
 
"Hailey—" I tried to interject, but she cut me off.
 
"Liam, please, come back to me. I still love you." Why is she like this? I'm the one who's at fault for our past breakup, but why is she the one begging for reconciliation? She's only making the situation harder.
 
"I love you too, Hailey, but I've realized that my feelings for you have changed. It's no longer the intense romantic love that I once felt. Instead, it has transformed into a deep platonic love. A cherished love for a friend."
 
Her eyes narrowed at what I said. "What are you talking about? You told Jhea that you love me, so why are you saying this now?"
 
"I did. But not until..."
 
"Until what, Liam?"
 
I took a deep breath. "Not until Mira came. I didn't realize that as time went on, you weren't the one on my mind anymore, you weren't the one I longed for, Hailey. I've come to realize that Mira has become everything to me." I paused for a moment before speaking again. "I'm sorry, Hailey, but it's Mira that I love now."
Tears quickly welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall. I wanted to hug her, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.
 
She let out a bitter laugh. "I knew it. I was right that you had feelings for someone else. But why did you lie to me?! And I never realized that it was Mira all along. I feel so stupid. Liam, I'm such a fool!"
 
"I am so sorry. I was confused that night and didn't want to hurt you. I'm really sorry. It would only cause you more pain if I insisted on getting back together with you despite my changing feelings."
 
"But you already did, Liam. You're already hurting me." Tears started streaming down her face.
 
I moved closer to her, intending to comfort her, but she quickly pushed me away and slapped me. "I hate you! Don't you dare show your face to me again. I never want to see you ever! You messed with my feelings, Liam! You led me on. I was convinced you've changed, but you never did. You're still the same old Liam who enjoys causing me pain!"
 
She stood up, ready to leave, but I tried to stop her. "I didn't mean to, Hailey. I didn't mean to—"
 
"Stop it already. I don't wanna hear your explanation!" She removed my hand from her arm and walked out of the coffee shop.
 
I noticed that people were now staring at me. "The show is over. You can stop staring at me now." I finally walked away from there. I tried to chase after her, but I couldn't find her anymore.
Mira's POV
 
The words of the three of them still linger in my mind, refusing to fade away. I realize now that they were right all along. I shouldn't let other people's opinions affect me. It's become a habit, but maybe it's time for me to break free and take control of my own thoughts.
 
As long as Liam remains unaware of my agreement with Hailey, I need to make things right and clear the air between us. I have to be honest with myself and confront her about my decision.
 
I know it's a risk, but I have to take it. Whatever happens, I just have to accept it.
 
Before I could even tell the taxi driver to stop at my house, I caught a glimpse of Hailey getting out of her car and heading towards the park where I was. I quickly paid the fare and got off.
 
I hurried to the park where Hailey entered, but I couldn't find her. I searched all around and finally spotted her sitting on the side, crying. Why is she crying?! I immediately approached her.
"Hailey?" I called out to her.
 
She lifted her face to see who called her, but when she saw me, she seemed disappointed.
 
"What do you want from me?" She asked me, devoid of any emotion in her tone.
 
"I saw you come here, so I followed you. I was actually on my way to your place. Why are you crying?" I sat beside her.
 
She turned to face me. "Why? To rub it in my face that Liam doesn't love me anymore and it's you now?! Is that it, Mira?"
 
I furrowed my brows at her response. I suddenly felt nervous. "W-what do you mean?"
 
"You know what I mean, Mira. I know everything. Liam already told me." My eyes widened at her words. Liam knows? Damn it, Ken and Ace! I told them not to say anything.
 
"Hailey, please hear me out. Allow me to clarify everything."
 
"No need to explain. You only agreed to my request to manipulate me, right? Or maybe to get back at Chris because I hurt him," she said, her voice filled with anger and pain. "I believed in you because you're my cousin's best friend. I trusted you right from the start, and I'm so stupid for doing that. I didn't even realize that you were the reason why Liam changed towards me." She said, clearly annoyed.
 
"Hailey, that's not true. I genuinely wanted to help you back then because I believed that you deserved him more than I did," I clarified.
 
"Liar." She hissed. "I've been hurt, and I guess you're happy about it?"
 
I was about to speak, but she suddenly stood up. "Liam is all yours, and congratulations because you even take revenge for Chris as well. I guess I deserve it." I looked at her, unable to say anything. She forced a smile. "Don't worry, you can be sure that I won't bother you and Liam. But don't ever think that I will forgive the two of you, ever." She left after saying that. I tried to stop her, but I couldn't do anything.
 
Guilt washed over me. Why is it so difficult for Liam and me to be together? It feels so forbidden, and it's tearing me apart.
I stayed in the park for a while to gather my thoughts. I was about to call Sophie to tell her what happened between Hailey and me when I was startled by a ringing phone in my bag.
 
I checked it, and I was right, it was her phone. She asked me to hold onto it earlier, and I forgot to return it to her when I went home.
 
Instead of going back to school to return her phone, I decided to go to her house to drop it off. Luckily, it's nearby, and maybe I can also get a chance to check on Chris. I messaged Ace to tell Sophie that I'll just leave her phone at their house.
 
"Oh, Mira, it's you. What are you doing here?" Chris greeted me as the maid let me inside their house.
 
"I just came to return Sophie's phone. She left it with me earlier." I said, handing him the phone to be taken to Sophie's room.
 
"Are you heading home right away?"
 
I smiled at him. "Actually, not yet. I wanted to check on you."
 
He smiled back at me. "Let's go to the gazebo. We can talk there."
 
"So how are you? Are you okay now?" I asked him as we sat in their gazebo.
 
He chuckled before responding, "If you think I cried, then you're wrong. It hurt me, but I accepted it. Maybe Hailey and I are not meant for each other. Maybe we're destined to be just friends. We were brought together, but not necessarily for each other."
 
He's always been so strong and positive, and he knows how to handle and accept situations even if they're painful.
 
"Like us?" I joked.
 
He laughed at what I said. "Yeah, maybe just like that." It's heartwarming to think that we're no longer awkward with each other. We're an ex-couple, but we're still friends.
 
"But Chris, are you just giving up on Hailey like that?" I asked him because I can see how much he truly loves her. He may deny it and hide it, but I can see the pain in his eyes.
 
"Even if I want to fight for her, I can't do anything. I respect her decision, even though I know she'll also get hurt in the end. But if she needs me, I'm just here."
 
I smiled in response. "And how about you? I heard from Sophie that Liam is already courting you."
 
And with that, I told him the whole story.
"You're not to blame, Mira. You did what you thought was right. Yes, you may have hurt Hailey, but that doesn't make you a bad person. She'll be fine, and everything will be okay eventually. It's just a matter of time and healing. You know, sometimes things just don't work out the way we want them to, and that's okay. It's not a reflection of who we are as individuals. It simply means that we have to keep moving forward and find what truly brings us happiness."
 
I remained silent as he spoke. He looked into the distance, as if drawing all his words from there. I was amazed by how mature he was. I wished I could think the way he did.
 
He paused and shifted his gaze towards me. "So don't beat yourself up too much about it, Mira. You're a good person, and you deserve to be happy too. Just keep being true to yourself, and everything will fall into place."
 
At that moment, I felt like crying. The way he said those words made me feel at peace. He knew exactly what I needed to hear.
 
"But I'm scared. What if Liam gets angry at me for accepting Hailey's offer before and then changes his mind about courting me?" I voiced my concern.
 
"But it didn't happen, right? And don't be so paranoid. If he truly loves you, he'll understand. And I know he will. So go."
 
I furrowed my brow at his words. "Go where?"
 
"Go talk to Liam. Go find him and have a conversation with him." He commanded me.
 
I was about to speak, but it seemed like he anticipated my excuses, so he quickly dragged me out of the house.
"Wow, you really don't want to talk to me anymore and you're kicking me out?" I exclaimed as we stood outside their gate.
 
"Yeah, so leave! Get out!" He joked.
 
"Come on, Chris."
 
"Go home and talk to him, or do you want me to call him to come here?" he threatened.
 
"You don't even have his contact." I glared at him.
 
"I can use Sophie's phone. Come on, Mira, you already talked to Hailey, so why get scared to talk to Liam?" He had a point. Why was I being so dramatic?
 
While I was riding a taxi, my phone rang. It was Liam calling, and I suddenly felt nervous. I could sense that he was looking for me and wanted to talk. I prepared myself before answering, but my phone suddenly died. Damn, it run out of battery. He would definitely get even more annoyed, thinking I purposely turned it off.
 
As soon as I got out of the taxi, I saw Liam sitting in front of the gate. There was no escaping now, damn it.
 
He gave me a nasty look. What was his problem? "Why did you hang up on me?" Just as I thought, he thought I hung up on him.
 
"My phone died." I explained, but he didn't seem to believe me, so I showed him my dead phone. He even tried to turn it on just to make sure. It's like he thought I was lying.
 
"Fine, I believe you. But don't you have something to tell me?" I think I know what he means.
 
"I know you already know, so why ask? I talked to Hailey earlier, and she even told me that she talked to you too."
 
He asked me what Hailey told me, and just like I did with Chris earlier, I told him everything we talked about, including what Chris said to me.
 
He let out a sigh after I finished telling him everything.
 
"I hope that like Chris, Hailey will also come to understand soon. I didn't intend to hurt her, I was just being honest with her."
 
I just looked at him in response. We were silent for a few seconds before he spoke again.
 
"So what now, Mira? Are you okay with me courting you?"
 
At that moment, I was taken aback. I wondered if it was really okay, if we should really continue this. I love him, and I know he feels the same way about me, but is it really okay?
 
"Is it really right?" It's hard for me to agree because even though I promised myself not to care about what other people think or feel, I just can't help it.
 
Especially when it comes to Hailey, who I know has been hurt. I can't bring myself to be happy, especially if it means causing pain to someone else.
 
On one hand, I want to be true to myself and pursue my happiness, to be with Liam. But on the other hand, I don't want to hurt someone else in the process. It's a tough situation to be in, and I wish there was an easy solution.
 
Liam let out a sigh. "Don't let your feelings for me stop just because you know someone will get hurt. Please, Mira." I forced myself to look at him even though I felt awkward. I regretted looking into his eyes because they were filled with hope and pain.
 
Suddenly, Ace's words came to mind. Have I ever thought about how Liam feels? No.
 
Maybe I do need to stop thinking about what other people will feel or think, especially since Liam and I are just starting out. I know that there will be more people who will disapprove and get angry once they find out about our situation. It's not fair for Liam to face it alone; we both need to face it together.
 
I forced a smile and looked straight into his eyes. "Yes, Liam. I'm giving you permission to court me."
 
Then, out of nowhere, I felt his arms wrap around me in a tight embrace. It was a warm and comforting feeling.
 
And for a moment, I forgot about all my worries and doubts.