Everyone talks about the bad boys—the ones who smoke and party relentlessly, with voices so deep they can bring girls to their knees. But what about the good ones?
The ones whose smiles don't quite reach their eyes. The ones who treat everyone with respect and prioritize others above themselves. The truly shattered souls, desperately longing for affection. They don't yearn for love, but they need it.
They laugh at jokes and ensure everyone's happiness, while secretly wishing they could experience the same. They don't require fixing, just a comforting shoulder to lean on when their smiles fade and tears become inevitable.
Wade Callahan was that boy
He was a good, yet undeniably broken boy. The one whom no one feared, but rather loved. The one who could effortlessly bring smiles to others' faces, but what happens when he yearns for a smile? Who is there to reciprocate and make him smile? No one.
But then someone appeared. Someone who could genuinely make him laugh and embrace him when he felt weary—weary of his family, weary of his fake friends, weary of himself, weary of life.
That someone was Sage. Unknowingly, she became his everything, and he couldn't have been happier. He felt alive, as if his mere existence had finally gained purpose. He was truly content.
However, that happiness only endured for a few years. It was then that he realized she now despised him. It was all his fault. His very presence seemed to drive people away. He would have done anything to win her back, to simply kiss her forehead once again, but alas, he couldn't.
SAGE SINCLAIRE
He was stunningly gorgeous. His eyes, once shining with happiness when we were together, now held a hollow emptiness. His hair, a rich and dark brown reminiscent of ancient mahogany, cascaded in waves, reflecting the gentle sunlight.
He wore a simple grey t-shirt adorned with random designs. Surprisingly, he had on a thin black chain, similar to the one he used to wear when we were dating. (Note: Outfit mentioned above, but he wasn't smoking at the time <3)
Realizing I was staring, I stood up, ready to leave with Alisia. However, before departing, I heard Ryan say, "Alisia, wait! This is my big brother, Wade." He glanced at Max and smiled. Wade reciprocated the smile, but it lacked its former genuineness.
"Wade, bro, this is my best friend Alisia, and that beautiful lady over there is her sister. Isn't she pretty?" Ryan asked Wade.
Wade gazed over, his eyes scanning my figure as if he were trying to commit every detail to memory. Shamelessly checking me out for about a minute, he then flashed me a wide grin and remarked, "She is indeed very pretty."
Strangely, I didn't blush. I couldn't simply forget what he had done to me. It was impossible. Every time I looked at him, all I could see was my dark past. I offered a small smile to Ryan, and with Alisia in tow, we departed, not before Ryan and Wade embraced each other as if it were their last meeting.
I was on the verge of falling asleep when I received a call from my dad's secretary. It was around 3 am. I hastily answered the call, and Rodrick, the secretary, said, "Sage, you have to come to the hospital quickly. Your dad is very sick, and he has requested your presence." I swiftly changed my clothes and rushed to my car.
While my relationship with my dad wasn't particularly close, we maintained an okay-ish connection. He wasn't the talkative type, but I knew he loved me deeply. He had proven it to me countless times, with the biggest demonstration being because of him.
Within approximately 10 minutes, I arrived at the hospital and froze upon witnessing the scene in front of me. Wade was there. He and my dad were engaged in laughter over something that I couldn't care less about.
Anger surged within me. What the hell was he doing here? Why was he with my dad? And why was my dad laughing with him as if nothing had happened six years ago? I approached them, and their conversation came to a halt. Dad gave me a faint smile, while Wade stood there, his face devoid of any emotion.
I was about to unleash my anger at Wade when my dad intervened, stopping me in my tracks. He said, "Come, both of you, sit here. I need to talk." Without hesitation, I went and took a seat, driven by my burning curiosity to understand why he had called Wade here.
"Listen to me, but please don't freak out, okay?" he requested, and both Wade and I nodded in agreement. Dad took hold of both our hands and continued, "Wade, please marry my daughter."