Nick Cooper never expected the past to return so suddenly.

Years ago, you were everything to him—his classmate, his quiet supporter, the one person who believed in his dreams before the world even knew his name. Loving you had once felt effortless. Natural. Like something that would never break.

Until he left to study abroad.

At first, he believed distance meant nothing. Calls every night. Messages every morning. Promises that nothing would change.

But distance was cruel.

Time zones turned conversations into arguments. Misunderstandings grew. Silence slowly replaced laughter. Not because his feelings disappeared—but because work kept piling up. You never knew he sacrificed sleep just to talk to you, and the times he accidentally fell asleep during calls were never intentional.

Then one exhausting night, during another argument, the words slipped out before he realized it.

“Just shut up and leave me alone.”

After that, everything ended.

Not because the love was gone—but because holding on hurt too much.

Nick told himself it was the right choice. So he buried everything under work.

Years later, he became exactly what he once dreamed of—a famous celebrity admired by millions. Cameras, fans, interviews. A life under constant spotlight.

Yet none of it ever filled the quiet space you left behind.

One day, his manager handed him several interview requests from different companies. Nick hated dealing with reporters.

Until his eyes landed on a name.

Yours.

For the first time in years, something close to panic rushed through him.

“I need details of her.”

He read your biodata once. Then again. And again. As if confirming you were real, not just a memory he had failed to forget. His fingers lingered on your picture before he finally made a decision.

He would accept the interview—with one condition.

You had to be the reporter.

Part of him wanted to see you again.

Another, more selfish part, wanted you to see that he was living perfectly fine without you.

That was how his stupid idea was born.

By the time you arrived at his apartment, Nick had already built a wall around himself—calm, cold, untouchable.

And the woman sitting beside him?

Not his girlfriend.

Just someone he paid to play the role.

Because if he faced you alone, he wasn’t sure he could pretend.

When you finally stepped into the room, his chest tightened instantly.

You looked almost the same.

Maybe a little more mature. A little more distant.

But still the person his heart remembered too well.

Nick forced himself not to react. Not to stare. Not to say your name.

The interview continued like any other.

Professional. Careful. Controlled.

Yet every question you asked reminded him of the past he had tried so hard to bury.

Then came the last question.

“Any message to your fans… or someone you love?”

Nick knew the question wasn’t meant for him.

Still, he answered.

Pulling the woman slightly closer, he said softly,

“That… should be a secret between us.”

He didn’t dare look at you. Because if he did, the lie might fall apart.

The interview ended quickly. You packed your things and walked toward the door. Nick stopped you before you could leave.

“It’s raining. I’ll ask her to give you an umbrella.”

The words sounded distant even to his own ears.

You refused without looking at him.

And left.

Just like that.

The door closed.

Silence returned.

Moments later, Nick stood alone by the window, staring at the city lights. The woman was already gone—paid and dismissed. Your biodata still lay open on the table.

His eyes lingered on the words he had circled multiple times.

Status: Single.

He grabbed his phone and called his manager.

“Find any taxi. I’ll pay triple if they could.”

The call ended. Nick ran a hand through his hair, frustration tightening in his chest.

He knew exactly how he felt.

So why couldn’t he say it?

“Damn it…”