Suddenly Looking Back, The Lights Grow Dim

1

I saw Grayson Stewart again on the 1,388th day after our breakup. It was in a KTV private room downtown.

By the time he arrived, the drinking session was already halfway through.

In the dim light, Grayson stood straight and tall. His clean-cut hair and tense jawline highlighted his sharp, defined features.

My breath caught instinctively.

Grayson greeted everyone familiarly. Nora's voice came to my ear. "They all grew up in the same compound. Except for this new one, the rest are all taken."

"Oh." I sat in the corner. I watched him in a daze, maybe shielded by the dim, scattered light.

After four years, he was still so dazzling that I couldn't take my eyes off him. Truly, the good-looking ones belong to the country.

Grayson keenly sensed my gaze and lazily looked over at me. Our eyes briefly met. In his eyes, there was nothing but unfamiliarity and indifference.

Soon after, Grayson stood up and said, "Going to the restroom."

I had drunk a lot of wine and felt uncomfortable, so I used the excuse of going to the restroom. But the real reason was that Grayson had been gone for fifteen minutes and hadn't returned.

Either his kidneys were failing, or he was smoking.

Sure enough, I guessed right.

Grayson leaned against the shiny wall at the end of the hallway. His head slightly bowed. The ashtray was littered with cigarette butts. Between his bony fingers, there was a faint, flickering spark.

My heart betrayed me again. Seeing Grayson always made it flutter, no matter how long it had been.

I asked, "Does it take that long to use the restroom? Are you avoiding me?"

He raised his head and glanced at me but didn't reply.

His silence only fueled my determination.

I reached out to take the cigarette from his fingers. Grayson suddenly grabbed my wrist. His eyes flashed with impatience. He said, "Not just anyone can tell me to stop smoking."

I said, "How am I just anyone? We at least know each other."

He said, "Don't bring up the past." His expression showed seventy percent displeasure and restraint.

After saying that, he brushed past me.

When I returned to the room and sat down, a girl brought a drink over to Grayson. They talked, and the girl looked shy.

I felt suddenly irritated, so I downed the wine before me and said, "I have a shoot tomorrow, so I'm leaving."

Nora said, "Let someone take you home."

I said, "No need. I'll just take a cab."

Nora's boyfriend said, "Let Grayson give you a ride." He turned to Grayson and said, "Didn't you just say you're heading back to the station?"

Grayson didn't respond or refuse. He walked to the door and suddenly stopped, looking at me with disdain. He said, "Aren't you leaving?"

In that instant, my heart skipped a beat.

2

Grayson and I left the KTV one after the other. He walked straight to a Jeep Grand Cherokee and pulled over beside me. He was clearly waiting for me but he didn't say a word.

I hesitated for two seconds before opening the door and sitting in the backseat. I spoke without pretense, "No. 88, Riverside International Apartments, Uranica Road, please."

The car drove onto the main road. The streetlights on either side kept moving back, and the dazzling neon lights were left behind.

Ding...

A WhatsApp message came in. It was from Nora.

"I've got reliable info. Grayson just retired this year and transferred to the city fire department near your place. He's handsome, fit, and currently single. Go for it! His family arranges blind dates, so you better seize the opportunity."

I couldn't help but glance at the man diagonally across from me. Grayson's cold profile was all I got in return. He didn't say a word. His one hand was on the steering wheel, with no intention of speaking.

Back then, our breakup had a lot to do with his job. Now, here he was, out of the organization and planning to settle down.

There was some bitterness, even though I was the one who initiated the breakup.

I said, "I heard you transferred to the city fire department?"

Grayson didn't respond, clearly not planning to engage with me.

I said, "Wouldn't staying in the organization be good? Maybe your future wife would like the uniform?"

The car was as quiet as ever. The silence was almost eerie.

The old me would've cringed with embarrassment by now. But now...

Any bit of restraint would be a disservice to the new and improved Susan.

I curled my fiery red lips and said, "I do like seeing you take off your uniform. Very strong."

"Screech..."

Grayson hit the brakes, and my body lurched forward uncontrollably. I felt like I was about to fly out, so I grabbed onto his neck but was thrown back into the seat.

My fingertips brushed against the skin of his neck, and a faint scratch appeared.

Grayson unlocked the door and said, "Get out." He didn't even turn around.

I glanced outside. We hadn't reached the apartment complex yet. I sighed and got out of the car.

In an instant, the car shot out like an arrow, leaving me in a cloud of exhaust.

His vengeful nature hadn't changed one bit.