Liam's POV
I still can't believe that Mom really meant what she said about us moving to a new house. I thought it was just her emotions talking after Dad's death, but it's not. Every corner of our old house holds memories of Dad that I know Mom remembers. I feel the same way, but I can handle the sadness better than Mom. I understand that she's struggling immensely with Dad's loss. I get it, really. That's why even though I didn't want to move, I still followed Mom's wishes because I love her and I know it's for the best for both of us.
I stepped outside the house to wait for Ace and Ken. They said they're coming to our new house, for some reason. They want to cause trouble, I guess. I tried to stop them, but they wouldn't listen. They're itching to go out and have some fun.
They said they're on their way now. Maybe it's okay that they come here. I also need someone to talk to. Ever since I lost my diary, I haven't been able to express myself. I wanted to start a new one, but I think it's pointless now. It might get lost again, just like before.
While I was taking a breath of fresh air outside, I saw one of my classmates, Mira. That girl who annoys me sometimes for no reason. Oh yeah, she lives here too. How did I know? I just know. But what is she doing outside at this hour? It's risky to be alone. "Yuan! Where are you?" She shouted.
"What are you looking for?" I asked her. I think she was surprised. She probably didn't know that there's someone else outside with her.
"Are you okay?" I asked again. She doesn't seem okay.
"My dog is missing. I'm just looking for him." She said. She seemed a bit irritated talking to me. I don't know why, but it's obvious in her eyes that she wants to avoid me. She was about to leave, but I stopped her.
"Do you want me to help you?" I know she was taken aback by what I said. Actually, I was surprised too. I don't even know why I said that.
But what surprised me even more was that she declined my offer. "No thanks, I can handle it."
"But Mira—" Before I could finish my sentence, she already left.
Seriously? She just turned down my offer to help her. How could she do that? A girl like her rejecting help from me? Is she crazy? I was the one who wanted to help her, and now she's pushing me away? With my handsome looks, she's rejecting my help. It's her loss, by the way.
Wait, why am I overreacting? What does it matter if she rejected me, right?
Just a few minutes later, there I was, aimlessly wandering, looking for her dog. I didn't get it. It felt absurd, looking for something that I already knew was found.
"What am I doing? I should head home. Ace and Ken might already be there."
I was about to leave when something rustled in the nearby bushes. I quickly checked it out and a shih tzu appeared before me. Could this be the dog she's looking for? I immediately checked the dog tag hanging around its neck. "Yuan." If I'm not mistaken, that's the name she was shouting earlier. I left the park with the dog. But damn, I realized I don't know where to return it. I just walked home, towards the area where I saw Mira earlier.
Just then, a woman in her early 40's came out of a house nearby. The dog I was holding seemed to recognize her and struggled from my grip. I let go, and it ran towards the woman.
"Yuan! So you were here all along. Where have you been?" she asked. As if the dog would answer. Tsk.
"I found him at the park." I answered the woman.
She seemed not to notice me at first, so she was a bit startled. "Oh dear, thank you. How did you know this dog is ours?"
I told her everything that happened, including how her daughter turned down my help. Actually, I couldn't believe that this is Mira's mom. She's incredibly beautiful, unlike her daughter who doesn't know how to dress up.
They invited me into their house to wait for Mira. So she could thank me when she arrives. I insisted it wasn't necessary, but I couldn't do anything about it.
While inside their house, I found myself looking at the picture frames displayed in their living room. A picture of her as a child with her mom and dad. I hate to admit it, but Mira does have a hidden beauty. It's just not obvious because she doesn't know how to dress up. In all the pictures I saw, she was with her parents and they looked happy together. But in one picture, it was just her and her mom. Maybe her dad was overseas or they're a broken family, or gosh, whatever. Why should I even care?
I was about to return to my seat when suddenly, Mira came running from outside towards her dog, who was near the spot where I was sitting earlier.
"Where have you been? Do you know how worried I was? I was so scared." She said to her dog. Like I said, as if the dog would answer.
She looked exhausted from her search and it's useless because I was the one who found him. If she had agreed to let me help her from the start, she wouldn't have wasted her energy.
"Mira, aren't you going to thank him?" Her mom said.
Mira stood up and turned to where I was. She seemed not to expect that it was me standing there because she looked surprised. "Liam?"
"Do you know each other?" Her mom asked, surprised.
"He's my classmate." She answered.
"Oh really, what a small world."
Mira looked me straight in the eye. "Thank you, Liam. It really means a lot to me." I could sense her shyness towards me in her tone, but there was also a genuine sincerity behind her words.
"No problem." I said modestly. Then I turned to her mom. "I'll go ahead, ma'am." But before I left, I smiled at Mira. I don't know why I did it, maybe I'm going crazy.
I just felt like smiling at her. There's probably nothing wrong with that, right? And it doesn't mean anything.
I stepped out and headed straight home. I saw a car outside, and it seemed like the two nuisances in my life were here.
"Bro, you're here. Where were you?" Ken greeted me.
"Who let you guys in?" I asked.
"Your mom. She said to wait for you here. So where were you?" Ace chimed in.
"Someone just needed my help."
"Wow, bro! We didn't know you're a superhero now." They teased and laughed.
"You guys are crazy! No, I'm not. Mira lost her dog, so I found it and returned it to her."
"Mira? The messy Mira who's friends with Sophie and Jhea?" Ace asked.
I nodded as I leaned against my bed.
"Don't tell me you like her?" Ken remarked.
"No. I don't. I just helped her find her dog. There's no ulterior motive there. But to be honest, she's innocent and kinda intriguing."
"Intriguing? Like you can easily win her over like the other girls just because she's interesting?" I don't know why, but Ken's comment annoyed me. I didn't show it though. I didn't want them to think anything else.
"No. She's different." I answered.
"If she's different from your usual type, should I invite her to the ball? Mira is kinda cute though. Just fix her up and she'll be chic for sure." Ken suggested, and they both laughed.
Different. When I say she's different, I don't mean she's my type. What I mean is that she's not someone who should be hurt or deceived because she's incredibly innocent and unique, I suppose. But let me clarify something, she's not my type, I swear.
"Good idea. I will be going with Sophie, you with Mira, and Liam with Rhian." Ace said.
I couldn't help but grimace in annoyance. "No way! I will never go with Rhian." I paused, then turned to Ken and gave him a stern glare. "And Ken, stay away from Mira."
"Why not? You really like her, don't you?" Ken asked, teasingly.
"No, I don't. Let's just stop talking about her or that ball. Let's just chill." I left the room before they could say anything. I didn't want to discuss whatever we were talking about. It irritated me.
I went straight to the kitchen to grab some drinks before returning to my room. We chatted for hours about random things. I also opened up about my dad's disappearance, even though it's been months and I still can't accept that he's gone. But instead of sympathy and serious responses, all I got were jokes from them. That's one reason why I used to write in a diary, even though it's considered a girl's activity. But since it's gone, I have no choice but to let it all out to them, even if they're idiots and crazy.
After the two left, I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I couldn't help but think about Ken's question earlier.
Do I really like that girl?
I chuckled slightly. What am I thinking? Why would I like that girl? I just helped her, and that's it. I just didn't want Ken to invite Mira to the ball because there are still plenty of beautiful girls out there. She might just get embarrassed if he asks her.
That's really it. I will never like her, not at all.
Because until now, I know that there's only one woman I love, and that's Hailey.