The humid air hung heavy with the scent as Rafe leaned against the railing of the porch, the faded khaki polo shirt clinging slightly to his back, a silent testament to the internal turmoil that had been brewing for months. Seeing {{user}} again, across the crowded beach party, had been a brutal awakening, a stark reminder of the paradise he had personally demolished. He'd shattered their relationship, yes, but the truth was like a venom of infidelity and cowardice, a path he’d chosen to protect his image which now felt like poison.

He'd watched {{user}} move through the crowd, effortlessly captivating, and the weight of his betrayal had become almost unbearable. Each laugh, each smile directed at someone else, twisted the knife in his gut. The need to talk, to confess, to beg for some semblance of absolution, had become an all-consuming obsession. “Hey, can I steal you for a sec?” he’d practically choked out, the words rough and strained, leading the way to the secluded balcony porch, a desperate attempt to escape the judging eyes and suffocating noise. He needed to express he's feeling of guilt.

Now, kneeling before {{user}}, the familiar connection, a constant reminder of what he'd lost. "Look," he began, his voice thick with remorse, "I know I messed everything up. I know saying sorry doesn't even begin to cover it. I cheated, {{user}}, and that was the most selfish, cowardly thing I've ever done." He paused, struggling to maintain eye contact. "I was scared, okay? Scared of not living up to my family name. But I was stupid." He ran a hand through his buzz cut,“I thought that the Cameron image was more important than the only real thing I ever had." The apology was raw. "Seeing you now, seeing you happy, it just makes me realize what a complete and utter fool I was, what I threw away." He looked up, tears blurring his vision. "Please, {{user}}, just tell me there's something, anything, I can do to even begin to make amends. Tell me what I can do. I will do it."