"You know, Vivienne, you're really starting to piss me off," Rain greeted me the moment our video call connected. I was in the middle of removing my makeup when she raised an eyebrow and scolded, "You've already graduated and everything—maybe it's finally time for you to come home?"
I laughed because, honestly, I had no excuse anymore. After the ceremony, Noah had already flown home ahead of me. He managed to get a plane ticket, while I completely forgot to book mine. He had given me an earful when he found out he'd be traveling alone.
I tossed my white dress into the laundry bin, exhaling deeply.
Finally.
After everything I had been through, all the hard work was finally paying off. I wasn’t even halfway through my journey yet, but I was proud of how far I’d come. Next on my list: Residency.
Noah and I had already decided to continue our residency at St. Luke’s. I didn’t agree just because of the idea of seeing him—I was simply done with moving around. And besides, my sister needed me, too.
"Alessa’s wedding is coming up soon. If you don’t come home for it, I swear—" Rain warned.
Right. The wedding was in two days. I still needed to buy souvenirs and a wedding gift. But what would be a good one?
"I’m flying home tomorrow. And you—make sure the apartment is clean. If I come home to a mess, I swear—" I warned her back.
She just rolled her eyes at me and hung up without warning.
I scoffed. The audacity.
It was only six in the evening, and this was the perfect time for a walk. The trees that lined the streets looked even more beautiful under the soft glow of the winter lights, their branches dusted with fresh snow.
I changed into as many layers as I could manage to keep warm and headed out. I still had energy left after the ceremony, so I figured a little last-minute shopping wouldn’t hurt—both for souvenirs and gifts. Besides, I wanted to take in the city one last time before leaving.
The first store I entered was an antique shop. They had old paintings that I was sure Rain would love, but I didn’t want to carry anything too big and risk damaging it during the flight. Instead, I picked out three small framed paintings that were just the right size. I wasn’t exactly an art expert, but I knew Rain would appreciate them.
For the wedding gift, I wandered through the aisles until I spotted a stethoscope on display, neatly placed inside an elegant box.
"You can have it engraved, ma’am," the saleslady offered.
Since it was a combination of stainless steel and wood, it could indeed be personalized. I nodded and handed it over, writing down Nathan’s name for the engraving.
As for Alessa, I kept searching, hoping to find something more personal. I eventually stopped by the accessories section—and that’s when I saw it.
A necklace shaped like a blueprint.
I pointed at it so the saleslady could bring it out for me. After examining it up close and approving the design, I paid for everything and left the store.
After shopping, I decided to treat myself to a nice pasta dinner. Consider it a mini-celebration—for everything I had been through, for all the struggles I had endured. It felt like I was taking a deep breath before diving into the next chapter. Residency would start in a month, and I knew it wouldn’t be easy.
I savored the feeling of being alone. At first, I had been scared of it. But now, I realized there was nothing to fear.
In fact, it was calming. When you’re alone, you think about things you wouldn’t usually dwell on when surrounded by people—realizations, thoughts, moments of clarity.
Being alone wasn’t scary.
But maybe what was truly frightening… was getting too comfortable with it.
I slowly opened my eyes upon hearing the flight attendants speaking, announcing that the plane was about to land. I straightened myself up, ran a hand through my still slightly wavy hair, and did a quick touch-up to avoid looking like a mess.
As soon as I stepped out of the airport, reality hit me. I was back in the place I once called home.
Wow, it's been... four years. I hadn’t even realized how long I'd been away. It was only now that everything was finally sinking in.
"So, the great Vivienne finally decided to come home," a familiar, irritating voice greeted me, making me turn in its direction.
After four years apart, I could see how much had changed. My sister’s features had matured, though her sharp tone and teasing grin remained exactly the same. Standing beside her was Cloud. Their relationship seemed to be going strong, but I still hadn’t heard any news about them getting married—or if they even had plans for it. They've been together for so long, though. Since college, actually.
I also heard that Rain had transferred to a new firm—the same one where Alessa was working.
"So? Why haven’t you been coming home for the holidays? Don’t tell me you’ve got a guy over there?"
If I weren’t so tired, I would’ve smacked Rain on the head.
"Idiot. Who would even feel excited to come home because of you?" I teased.
She grinned mischievously, as if gearing up for an attack.
"Just admit it—you’re scared to see Lucas. What? Still not over him?"
It was like he hit a nerve. I shot him a glare, but that idiot just flashed a peace sign.
Cloud, being the sane one, helped me load my luggage into his car. Once everything was settled, we finally drove off.
When I opened the apartment door, a familiar scent greeted me—the scent of home, something I had grown up with.
A lot had changed—the paint, the decorations—it was obvious that Rain had experimented with the apartment’s design. But I liked it.
She had told me she would add a little twist to our place, so I just let her be. After all, she was the one paying for everything. The only thing I didn’t let her touch was my room. And just as I had left it years ago, it remained exactly the same. Well, except it was clean—Rain wouldn’t have let it get messy.
"I'm exhausted. You guys figure it out. I brought some souvenirs in one of my suitcases—go check it out," I said, pointing at my luggage.
Leaving them in the living room, I headed straight to my bed, collapsing onto the soft mattress.
Right now, I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness, wondering what would happen in the coming days, especially with my residency approaching. But before that, there was something even more immediate—the wedding.
"Are you seriously going to the wedding?" I asked Noah, my voice laced with concern.
We had just finished shopping for what we would wear tomorrow. My head was still aching from jet lag. The wedding was set on a beach, which I found incredibly romantic. We had bought formal outfits with a touch of beach vibes to match the setting.
"What do you think? That I haven't moved on?" he teased.
"I mean… wouldn't it be awkward?"
We were at a café on the ground floor of the mall, taking a break before heading home.
He chuckled before turning to me. "Not for me and Alessa. I don’t know about you and Lucas, though."
And just like that, the realization hit me—I was going to see him again at the ceremony. I had no intention of avoiding him, so why did the thought of it suddenly make my stomach twist?
It had been four years since we last saw each other.
That night, we set off for the beach resort since the venue was far.
According to Rain, Alessa and Nathan had spent a vacation here before she left for New York, which made the place special to them. And when I saw the beach the next morning, I understood why.
The fine white sand was soft beneath my feet, and the water shimmered in a stunning shade of crystal blue.
"It's beautiful," I whispered as I walked toward the spot where the wedding would take place.
I wore a blue floral tube dress, the fabric flowing like a fairy’s gown. The top of the dress clung to my chest, revealing a subtle hint of cleavage, while the high slit on the side exposed my leg with every step. I paired it with lace-up sandals that wrapped around my calves. Feeling a little self-conscious, I adjusted the tube slightly higher and let my long hair cascade over my shoulders to act as a shield over my chest.
"Damn, honey, Boston air really does wonders. It even enhances the boobs," Rain commented, grinning.
I shot her a glare from the shore.
She was dressed in a blue halter maxi dress, the tie elegantly wrapped around her neck. Her hair was neatly styled in a big bun, while Cloud stood beside her, wearing a sheer white button-down shirt left partially open, exposing a glimpse of his chest. They would be walking down the aisle later as part of the entourage.
I was about to respond when Noah appeared, walking toward us.
Like Cloud, he was dressed in a light, airy button-down shirt paired with white shorts. Both of them were barefoot, wearing handmade ankle accessories.
"Damn, Vivienne," Noah exclaimed dramatically. "You look like a mermaid who just grew legs."
I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be a compliment or not, so I just ignored him as more guests started to arrive.
Rain and Cloud took their positions for the ceremony, while Noah and I opted to sit near the back. The guest list was small, only close friends and family.
At the front, I spotted Nathan, smiling widely as he greeted the arriving guests. I didn’t bother going up to him since the ceremony was about to start any minute. I'd just greet him later.
He was dressed in a dark blue sheer button-down, the top buttons left undone to reveal a white inner shirt. His sleeves were neatly rolled up to his elbows, and he wore loose white slacks that swayed with the ocean breeze.
Even from a distance, I could see how genuinely happy he looked.
The live band began to play, their soft, melodic tune blending perfectly with the romantic atmosphere of the wedding.
Everyone turned their attention to the aisle, watching as people walked down one by one. A smile tugged at my lips when I saw Rain and Cloud making their way forward, moving gracefully, their expressions filled with happiness. My sister, especially, looked radiant—her joy for her best friend was undeniable.
With each person who passed, my nerves tightened. Because any moment now, Lucas would appear.
And then, my heart—silent and steady for months—began to race.
He stepped out, walking with his usual unbothered confidence. He wore a lightweight button-down with five buttons undone, the sleeves rolled down, and a pair of loose slacks that shifted slightly with the breeze. His dark hair was tousled, just like the first time I met him at the start of my internship. He still looked the same, yet somehow sharper—his features more defined, his presence even more striking.
I couldn't tear my eyes away as he moved closer. And when he reached Nathan’s side, our gazes locked.
My breath caught. I expected some kind of reaction—surprise, hesitation, anything—but there was none. He just looked at me, steady and unreadable, as if he had already prepared himself for this moment.
I should’ve looked away first. I should’ve broken the eye contact before my heart completely unraveled.
But I didn’t.
And in the end, he was the one who looked away first.
I blinked, my chest tightening.
God, I’ve missed him.
And now, seeing him again, I knew the truth—I never really stopped.