My Love, My Muse

Sipping my coffee, I stare at the wedding invitation: Jamie Chang, my childhood best friend and the guy I've been in love with for so long, is getting married to someone else. I regret not confessing my feelings. Seeing him so happy with her and how he looks at her makes my heart ache. He's always seen me as his best friend, his "twin flame" as he'd say, while Alyssa is the one who completes him. When he came to tell me he was proposing, I genuinely felt happy for him. I never found the courage to reveal my feelings. This secret is gnawing at me, becoming more painful by the day.

I can't let anyone see my pain. Alyssa is the sweetest person I've ever met, and they're truly in love. There's no changing that.

After finishing my coffee, I head to the library. It's been six months since graduation, and I'm now working as a librarian. It wasn't what I envisioned, and my father disapproved, but I've long stopped caring about his opinions. I've harbored resentment towards him since I was a child. Being a librarian has its perks: I read as much as I want in a peaceful environment, away from the noise of immature kids.

I walk over to my desk.

As I sit down, Anna approaches. She's always been a cheery, beautiful presence. With her olive skin and dark curls that cascade to her waist, she's strikingly different from my pale skin and red hair. We became friends on the first day of college and have been inseparable since. Though she moved in with her boyfriend after graduation, she now works at the café near the library. I missed her, but we still hang out whenever we can, mostly listening to her vent about her boyfriend, Evan.

"Hey! Ready to dive into your thrilling library work?" she says, taking a seat on my desk. I struggle to force a smile.

"Ready as ever," I reply, but the forced cheerfulness doesn't escape her notice.

"What's wrong, Mia?" she asks, concern evident in her tone.

I wish I could maintain the facade that everything is okay when, in reality, I feel like a million shattered glasses falling to the floor. I pull the invitation from my bag and hand it to her.

"He's getting married..." I murmur, staring down as tears threaten to fall.

Anna knows about my feelings for Jamie; she's the only one who does. I regret not following her advice to tell him how I felt, but deep down, I knew Jamie never saw me as anything more than a friend. It was always a platonic love from his side. Despite knowing this, I continued to love him. I knew this day would come, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. I need to accept it, whether today or tomorrow.

"I'm so sorry, Em. I didn't know," she says, gently wiping away my tears.

"Don't be, Ann. I was the first he told. He proposed three days ago, and they're getting married this week," I say, taking the tissue from her and drying my face.

"So soon? What's the rush?" she asks, scanning the invitation.

"Jamie said he couldn't wait to start a new life. I'm happy for him and Alyssa," I say, mustering a smile.

"But what about your happiness?" she asks, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"He was never meant to be mine. I was just lost in my fantasy. I can't stay like this forever, feeling this way about a married man," I tell her, frustration seeping into my voice.

Anna seems lost in thought before she says, "Take the day off. We're going shopping!"

I look at her in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

"Absolutely. You need to take your mind off things. Plus, you need a new dress for the wedding. You're going to get a plus one right?" She pulls out her phone and calls her boss to arrange the day off for me.

"Uhh- I don't have anyone and you'll probably get the invitation by today. So, no." I say to her.

"No way, you have to take a guy with you. Trust me, Jamie knows that you love him. You need to show him that you're over him."

I shake my head but realize she's right. I need a break and a date and a dress. I get up and walk to Mrs. Dove's office, knocking softly before entering.

"Is everything okay, dear? Take a seat," Mrs. Dove asks with concern.

"I just needed the day off," I explain, feeling guilty. Mrs. Dove, an elderly woman in her 50s, would be left with all the work if I took the day off. I almost reconsidered when she started laughing.

"Finally! A day off, you say? Take the whole week if you want. I could use the rest too," she says cheerfully.

"Thank you, Mrs. Dove," I say, smiling. Mrs. Dove has been like a mother to me, taking care of me with kindness and warmth. I wish her children were around; they should be the ones caring for her.

"Just remember to take your medicine and call me if you need anything," I say as I leave her office and head back to Anna.

We left the library, and I quickly changed into more suitable clothes before heading to the mall. Near the entrance, a young woman is handing out leaflets. I take one and scan it.

"What's that?" Anna asks, peering at the leaflet.

"It's for a painting workshop tomorrow. You can bring a partner for your model," I explain. Since I love art as much as reading, this caught my interest. I need a distraction, and Anna is the only person I can ask.

"That sounds fun. Let's go! I'll finish my shift early," Anna says before I can ask her.

"Perfect. Mrs. Dove already gave me the week off, so it would be a waste not to go," I reply, still examining the leaflet.

"Great, let's find you a dress," she says, taking my hand and leading me further into the mall.

We spend hours trying on countless dresses before finally finding one we both like. After shopping, we grab some food and head home.

When I return to my apartment, I close the door and collapse onto the floor. It's becoming harder to pretend. I pull my knees to my chest and cry until I'm exhausted, then take a shower and collapse into bed. The comfort of the silk mattress welcomes me, and I fall asleep almost instantly.

I woke up to my alarm, realizing I had forgotten to turn it off the night before. When was the last time I had slept in on a workday? I couldn't remember. My routine had become a monotonous cycle: go to the library, read and arrange books, spend free time with Anna or Jamie, and then head home. That has been my life ever since I started this job. While I still loved my work, I had neglected my hobbies and fun. I needed to change that, and the workshop was a start.

I spent a few hours doing laundry and giving my small apartment a much-needed deep clean.

After tidying up, I prepared lunch boxes for Anna and me. Just as I was about to leave, Anna called.

"Hey, I'll be there in 20 minutes. Don't be late!" I said as I locked the door.

"Um, about that, I don't think I can make it on time. But I can come to hang out with you after the workshop," Anna replied.

"Why? What's wrong?" I asked.

"Evan's mom is sick. We were at the hospital all night. I'm so sorry, Mia. I really wanted to go with you," she sighed.

"Don't worry about it. Get some rest. I'll see you later," I said, feeling a bit down. Going to a crowded place alone was out of my comfort zone, something I had never done before. I admired people who could do that, and today, I had to be one of them.

"Alright, have fun, Em. Love you," Anna said.

"Love you too," I replied before ending the call.

"It's okay, Mia. You can do this," I told myself.

After leaving my apartment, I walked to the metro station and hopped on the train. About 15 minutes later, I arrived at my destination. It took me 20 minutes to realize I had no idea where the venue was. I was running late. I pulled out my phone and typed in the location, staring at the GPS. Suddenly, I bumped into something solid. Initially, I thought it was a pole. Looking up, I saw it wasn't a pole but a tall, muscular man. He didn't look angry, just surprised. I opened my mouth to apologize when he spoke.

"Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" he asked with concern.

"What? No! I-I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," I said, blushing. Why was I blushing? He was attractive, but I shouldn't be blushing and stuttering like a teenager. I tried to regain my composure.

He glanced at my phone screen and noticed the GPS.

"Are you lost?" he asked, looking down at me.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment. Admitting I was lost in the city I'd lived in my whole life wasn't something I wanted to do, but I was already running late.

"Yes, I think so," I admitted.

"I live in that building over there," he said, pointing to a building a block away. "I can show you the way."

Despite his attractiveness, I was skeptical about following a stranger to an unknown place. But I had little choice. I showed him the location on my phone.

"Oh, are you going to the painting workshop?" he asked.

"Yes, are you?" I blinked. He didn't seem like the type to attend such an event, especially since he was wearing a suit. Who wears that to a painting workshop?

"Of course. I like to paint sometimes. It's a hobby of mine," he said.

"Oh, great! Lead the way. Oh, no, we're already late. Let's go," I said, glancing at my watch.

He led me to a building across the street and stopped in front of it. "We're here," he said with a small smirk.

My jaw dropped in disbelief. I had been circling this building, and it was right here all along. How could I have missed it? I sighed, feeling foolish, and walked toward the entrance.

"Thanks for showing me the way," I said without looking up.

"Let's go in," he said, sounding amused.

I didn't respond, just walked in, too embarrassed to talk. Once inside, I was overwhelmed by the crowd, but then I noticed him approaching me. Before he could say anything, a guy in an apron walked over, waving his hands.

"Will! What are you doing here?" he asked the man beside me.

"I organized this. I told you last week, remember? What are you doing here?" Will replied.

"Oh, right. I'm here to participate," the man said casually.

Will then looked at me. "I see! And who's this lovely lady? Did you get a girlfriend without telling me?" he teased.

"No, she's not my girlfriend. We met on the street," the man said, rolling his eyes.

"You can call me Mia," I introduced myself.

"Well, Mia, nice to meet you. I'm Will, the owner of this building and the organizer of the painting workshop, which I'm guessing you're here for," Will said, extending his hand for a handshake.

I shook his hand with a smile. "Yes, I am. Nice to meet you, Will. I hope I'm not too late."

"Not at all! We're just getting started. Since you two came in together, let's pair you up," Will said, leading us to a pair of seats.

We sat down opposite each other with canvases between us. The silence was awkward until he finally spoke.

"I'll go get the aprons," he said before standing up.

"Well, this is awkward," I muttered to myself as he walked away. Despite his good looks, he had an aura of mystery that intrigued me. I didn't feel this way about Jamie. This was different. I found myself imagining his touch and blushed at the thought.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him returning with two aprons and snapped back to reality. What was wrong with me? I couldn't think like this about someone I had just met.

I straightened up and put on the apron silently, as did he.

"Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Will Thompson, your instructor for today's workshop. Don't worry, ladies, I'll be here every day just for you," Will said with a cheeky wink, eliciting laughter from the room. The man sitting across from me didn't react at all.

"As you can see, you've been paired up. Today's assignment is to sketch the person in front of you and then color them as you see them. Don't worry about being perfect. We have a special gift for the pair who captures each other the best, which will be revealed at the end," Will announced, and the room buzzed with excitement.

"If you need any assistance or have questions, feel free to ask. Art is subjective, so do what you like, but avoid anything that might offend your partner. Get to know each other if you don't already. Remember, we're here to have fun. Let's begin!" Will said before moving to assist another pair.

I picked up my pencil and glanced at the man across from me. He was already looking at me. My cheeks flushed again, and I quickly looked away. This attraction was unusual for me. I needed to pull myself together. I focused on his features. Sharp jawline, a hint of beard, almond eyes, and striking eyelashes. It struck me then: I didn't even know his name yet, and here I was, lost in fantasies.

"So, what's your name again? I didn't catch it earlier," I asked, trying to sound casual. Our eyes met.

"Henry," he said, returning to his sketching.

Henry's Pov:

Another day passes, and my pursuit of vengeance draws nearer. I had sworn to my father that I would destroy the William family, and nothing would stop me from fulfilling that promise. Not a single day goes by without me reliving his final moments. They were too young to die, and they weren't ill or anything and everything was perfectly fine until that man took everything from us. He's the reason I'm an orphan. As I heard my phone ring, I forced myself to relax.

"What is it, Kyle?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

"We've tracked her down, but she's using a fake name, which delayed us. We managed to get her picture from the undercover maids at her family manor. All our men are out looking for her now," Kyle reports over the phone.

"You've been working for me for three years. You have until tonight to find her. Fail, and I'll put a bullet through your head," I say, ending the call abruptly.

Kyle is a trusted ally. I've known him since his college days. Besides Will, he's the only person I trust. Will and Kyle have been my family since I lost everyone else.

A few hours later, Kyle calls again.

"We've found her. One of my men followed her home. We'll have her new name by tomorrow," Kyle says.

I smirk.

"Good work. It wasn't that hard. Now, get me everything about her by tomorrow," I instruct.

"Thanks, I'll get you everything," Kyle replies. He rarely uses my last name.

"Is everything okay?" I ask, sensing something off.

"Grammam's sick again," he says, hesitantly.

"Get her admitted to the hospital now!" I command, pulling out my second phone to dial the doctor's number. He's helped her before and can do so again.

"She refuses to go. I spoke to her just now," Kyle says, his voice thick with emotion.

"I'm coming over. I'll convince her," I say, heading for the coat hanger.

"Come tomorrow. She's asleep now," Kyle sighs. Grammar is close to all of us. Though related by blood to Kyle, she's like the grandmother I never had.

"Alright, I'll be there tomorrow. Take care of her. And don't worry about the rest right now," I say.

"Yeah, I will," Kyle responds, and I end the call.

I throw my phone onto the bed and lie down beside it. Sometimes, I wish I could sleep more than an hour. Every time I close my eyes, I see them. It's a pain I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. As the hours pass, sunlight creeps into my room, and my eyes grow heavy.

"Henry! Suzy! Come inside, the cookies are ready!" Mom calls from the kitchen.

Suzy and I rush inside, the smell of fresh cookies filling the house. We giggle and wrestle over the cookies.

"Henry, let your little sister have one first," Mom says. Suzy sticks her tongue out at me.

"It's not fair! You always favor her over me," I pout.

"Henry, you know that's not true. I love you both equally," Mom reassures with a gentle smile.

"No! Mom and Dad love me more!" Suzy laughs.

I don't believe her, but I can't hold back tears. I run out of the house and head straight for the arcade, my eyes still wet. Before I leave, I hear Mom calling after me. I felt guilty for running away, but Dad had said she was carrying our siblings, and I just needed a moment to myself.

At the arcade, I sit and cry for a bit, and after two hours, hunger drives me home. Standing at the door, I realize I need to apologize. I grasp the doorknob and find the door already unlocked. As I enter, the house feels eerily quiet and dark.

"Mom? Suzy?" I called out. I hear muffled sounds from the living room and find blood covering most of the floor. Mom and Suzy lie on the bed, clinging to life.

"MOM!" I ran to her side.

"No! Suzanna, stay with me!" I plead, holding their hands. Suzy remains still as Mom strokes my hair, and I try desperately to stop the bleeding.

Suddenly, I'm no longer a twelve-year-old boy. I wake up, sweating and breathing heavily from the nightmare.

I get up and shower, trying to wash away the sweat and calm myself. It's been nineteen years, and the past still haunts me.

After getting ready, I head to Grammam's. After hours of convincing, she finally agrees to go to the hospital. Once her tests are done, I leave to get the files. Though I'm an orphan, I've built a tech empire from scratch using skills learned from Dad. My company is now worth billions. Power and wealth are crucial for my revenge, and it's within reach.

As I exit the building, I decide to take a walk. Turning a corner, I bump into someone. A woman falls with a startled cry.

"Are you okay? Did you get hurt?" I ask as she looks up. Our eyes meet, and I feel a warmth I've never felt before.

She's flustered, apologizing while stuttering. I notice her perhaps she's a tourist. She's looking for a painting workshop across the street. I decided to help her, though I had to wait for work.

I regret my decision when I see Will at the workshop. He'd mentioned something before, and now I understand. Of course, he'd pair us up. I would have preferred he didn't tell the others. As we sit down, my phone vibrates. I tell her I'm going to get the aprons.

It's Kyle.

"Is she okay?" I ask, concerned.

"She is. I didn't get her new name before, but we've just received her picture. Her name's Mia. I'm sending you her picture," Kyle says.

I try to ignore the coincidence, but when the picture arrives, I smirk. It's her. Fate seems to be pushing me toward my revenge. She walked right into her doom.

This makes things easier. The way the world works can be amusing. I plan to make her life as miserable as I can. Returning to the table, I hand her the apron. Our hands touch lightly, sending jolts through me. I need to understand why this is affecting me. Does she know what's coming? It doesn't matter. Because one thing is certain: I'll ruin her sooner or later just as her family ruined me.