Reading Between (the line)

"Noon."

I looked up when I heard Ms. Pram's voice calling my name. I had been waiting for her inside a café as I couldn't bear to meet her at the company building.

In her hand was the envelope I had asked her to bring. She was holding it tightly, her eyes fixed on me.

I gave her a smile before gesturing for her to sit in the chair in front of me. "I already ordered you a drink, Ms. Pram. It's your favorite," I told her.

She let out a sigh before sitting down. "Are you really sure about this?" she asked right away.

I nodded. "Yeah. I've been thinking about it for months, Ms. Pram. This decision is final," I told her sincerely.

Seeing my determination, Ms. Pram could only manage a sad smile. Then she handed me the envelope. I took it and placed it on my side.

"Thank you, Ms. Pram. For everything. I really appreciate all the work you've done for me, for us, all these years." I thanked my manager/older sister sincerely with a smile.

Ms. Pram quickly looked up, but I could see the tears already forming in her eyes. "Stop it," she scolded me while wiping the side of her eyes. "It's not like we're never seeing each other after this, anyway. So don't say things like that," she said.

I looked away. "Right."

"And besides, I'm not accepting just words as a form of thanks. You should treat me to something, a meal, for example," she joked, which made me chuckle.

"Of course. Not a problem," I agreed.

"And I mean right now, Noon," she added, quickly raising her hand for a server. I just shook my head, giggling.

While she ordered her food to her heart's content, I opened the envelope she brought. Inside were my contract and other documents that severed my ties with my entertainment company.

Yes, that's right. I left. The entertainment company. My career. Cosmos.

And her.

---

[Praewa's]

The car entered the parking lot and finally came to a stop.

I was removing my seatbelt when Mai spoke. "Until when should I wait, Praewa?" she asked seriously, causing me to stop moving. I didn't turn to her; afraid that she might see the answer written in my eyes.

P'Mai and I were not together. However, she had been pursuing me, all on her accord. I had told her several times that I couldn't return her affection and love, but she insisted.

She was there that night when I told Noon that lie—that she was my girlfriend. I had apologized to her for it, but she suddenly proposed that we let Noon think that way. I didn't want to. I don't like lies. I hated them.

But the pain caused by Noon's lie of falling for me made me agree to her plan.

Yes, I didn't believe her. And even if I did, she was already damn too late! How dare she take my feelings so lightly. My love?

So what if she realized she felt the same for me? She had already broken my heart, for goodness' sake! What about the things I did to forget her? My sleepless nights full of the sound of my own crying? What about them?

I was so mad at her—no, even the word "mad" is too light. I loathed her. Not because she was late in falling for me, no. But because she disregarded my feelings so easily and just thought only about her own.