PROLOGUE

Tears were still welling on her cheeks. She didn't know where to go now, and she was unsure if she would stay longer sitting on this bench while watching the calmness of the ocean. 

She was at the beach just five hundred meters away from the school where she's been studying. Her class just ended two hours ago. 

Imagine she was sitting and crying here for almost two hours? She doesn't even care if people would see her crying! She wants to let this unwanted feeling be released. 

Kirsten was now in fourth-year college; that would be her last year. Kirsten was content and happy with her life, but it was not enough. She still has to break all of it. 

Her hobbies, her dreams, and her boyfriend's heart, she doesn't want this. She was stunned when she noticed the guy walking toward her in her peripheral vision. 

Kirsten realized that he was looking straight at her. She immediately wiped her tears. 

"Kirsten?" he asked after approaching her. 

He also sat on the bench where she was sitting. He faced her, and then he cupped her face. Sam kissed her on her forehead. 

She tried to smile. "Why are you h-here?" 

"I'm worried, Kirsten. You aren't answering my calls, and your mother told me that you aren't home yet, so I decided to find you. You told me that you will head home." 

Kirsten knew that Sam had already noticed that she was from a cry. He has just remained quiet. 

"Yes. I am so sorry for that." 

She would no longer wonder how Sam found her. He knew she had nowhere else to go but to the seaside. Kirsten doesn't like to travel far. She may vomit throughout the trip. 

"Why are you crying?" he whispered. 

"I am done crying. I have a problem…." 

"Problem in… what? Come on, tell me. I would never want to see you cry again. You know that you can lean on my shoulder, right?" 

"Yeah… yeah, I know," she whispered back. She couldn't even look at Sam's eyes at this moment. She was devastated. Definitely, and no one can heal this feeling, even herself. 

Samuel Anderson was her boyfriend and her best friend. Until now, Kirsten couldn't imagine that their relationship was now six years, and they were still counting. They loved each other. 

No one could ever change that fact. 

Samuel is a pleasant guy. She first met him in high school, and they've been together ever since. They became close friends for months. Then they became lovers. 

He was just too gentlemanly, loving, and caring best friend. Kirsten knew his backstory, and he knew hers. They're always comfortable. 

Kirsten was happy with where they are right now. She wants to spend her golden years with Samuel. 

But things got to their place. Kirsten had no other choice but to break Samuel's heart. She knew that it would break his heart because he loved her. Sam always told Kirsten how much he loves her, but not just Samuel speaks; he does. He constantly shows her his love. 

Kirsten loves him as well. He accepts all of her imperfections. He said that he loved everything about her. 

She felt millions of blades stabbing her chest as she feared his heart would break. 

"So, what is it? I need to know. Please, tell me." 

Should she say it now? Should she tell him directly what she's planning?

She was so scared to tell him. She doesn't know-how. 

"Maybe, I am just overreacting because this is just a petty reason. I-I only want to be alone for an hour or two to think about what I want in life. I don't know, but I'm having difficulty in school these days." 

That was definitely a lie. 

She thinks that this wasn't the right time to tell him those. 

Sam caressed her cheeks. "It wasn't petty. Your emotional, mental—all about you matters. Okay? I understand now. It would still be best if you had told me that you're experiencing that. I might help," Sam said.

Only then did she look Sam in the eyes. He does seem genuine and concerned. 

How could she break his heart? She cursed herself. 

They hug after that. 

"Thank you, Sam. I am so lucky to have you." 

"So do I, love," Sam smiled and then kissed Kirsten. It was hot and sweet. 

Kirsten didn't say anything but smiled silently. His kisses and hugs? She will miss that. 

Their kiss hardly lasted a minute or so. After the kiss, Sam and Kirsten burst out laughing.

"I will help you now with your schoolwork. Don't say no!" 

Kirsten just frowned. "I won't…." 

Her boyfriend took his hand then they started walking on the road. They are now going to Sam's car—where he parked it. Sam told her that he would lift her into their house. She felt happiness again, but she still feels guilt.

Just thinking that she'd break upon him, she felt terrible. 

When they arrived at where his car was parked, they were surprised to see her boyfriend's elder brother leaning on the side of the vehicle.

Charles Anderson. 

"What do you want?" Sam immediately asked. 

"Ytsaneh wants me to come here. Then she told me that she would need your permission to use your car today." 

Kirsten remained silent. She's not close with this guy—she hated Charles for being arrogant. The two of them are distant from each other. They just talked once in a blue moon. They have not bonded since then. 

"Why don't you lend your car instead?" Sam didn't release her hand. Charles doesn't care, of course. When did he care for his brother? 

"I am going out tonight. I can't."

"I will visit Kirsten in their house later. I need my car," Sam said with annoyance in his voice.  

Charles gave his brother a playful grin. "Ytsaneh will get mad at you once you disagree." 

"Then, why the heck is she asking me for my permission?" 

"Because you have your car right now. So, I am going to take this, okay? Give me the fucking keys." 

"Fine. But let me drive my Kirsten home." Sam could do nothing about this. They would fight if Sam disagreed because Charles would never be humble to his brother.  

Charles diverted his gaze to her. He even looked at him from head to toe. Kirsten furrowed, and she could not help but ask. 

"Why are you looking at me like that?" 

"You don't have boobs." 

Oh! Her mouth parted. 

"Hey! Watch your mouth, brother. You're talking to my girlfriend!" Sam hissed. 

Her eyes just widened, and she didn't know how to react. What the hell was that?! 

She despises him so much!

"Yeah. Whatever," Charles turned his attention to his brother again. "You can use my car then bring it to the house before six o'clock. Ytsa needs your car now, so put the keys on me." 

"And your keys?" Sam asked. 

Charles raised her hand that had car keys on it. Sam threw the key toward her brother, and Charles did it too. They both caught it.  

Charles jumped into Sam's car and drove away. Her boyfriend led her to Charles' car, and they got in.

"You have to be patient with him. He can't always keep his mouth shut."

Kirsten chuckled. "I understand, and I am already fond of it. Remember when he said that I looked like a dwarf. I hate him being judgmental sometimes." 

Charles usually has something to say about her whenever they meet each other. That is rare since they seldom meet. So, when he said earlier that she had no boobs, she was shocked and didn't know how to react appropriately because that was the first time someone had told her about her boobs!  

"You need to get used to him," Sam mumbled. "You'll be part of my family, so, yeah." 

Sam reached for her hand. She simply gave him an alluring smile before she nodded. 

They have long planned to get married after they graduate college. But Kirsten guessed that it would also break. She felt miserable about it. 

Even though she wanted to make that happen—there's a reason not to happen. 

They were being quiet on their way home to Kirsten's house, and just now did she comprehend that this was the first time she rode Charles' car. 

She didn't know, but she decided to explore the inside of the car merely.

Sam immediately notices her act. 

“Are you looking for something?” Samuel asked. 

Kirsten shook her head. “Nothing. I feel a little weird because this is the first time I've been in your brother's car.

He laughed. He squeezed the back of Kirsten's palm.