Chapter 128 Happy
Mia's POV
I hated the feeling of hiding things from the people who cared about me.
Seeing Liam secretly felt both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Every time I received his message or met him somewhere no one would notice, my heart would soar with happiness. But the moment I returned home or faced my friends, guilt would slowly creep in.
I had not told anyone about us. Not Daniel, not Dina, and not even Josh.
Josh already knew Liam and had always been kind to him, and Liam himself told me that it was alright if I shared the truth with him. He said there was nothing wrong with letting Josh know that we were seeing each other again.
But I still kept it to myself. The truth was, I was afraid that if everything fell apart again, the way it once did, my friends would look at me with pity. I did not think my heart could survive that kind of embarrassment twice. I had worked so hard to rebuild myself after Liam hurt me before. I had forced myself to stand up again, to move forward, to pretend that I was strong.
If I told them now and things ended badly again, it would feel like proving that I had learned nothing.
Still, despite all those fears, a small stubborn part of my heart continued to hope.
Every night before I fell asleep, I whispered the same quiet prayer. Please let this time be different and make everything be alright.
I tried my best to act normal around Josh as we finished our work at the salon that evening. The scent of hair products and shampoo lingered in the air as we wiped down the counters and organized the tools.
But Josh had known me for too long.
"It seems like you're happy lately," he said casually while locking one of the cabinets. Then he looked at me with a teasing smile. "And I could say Liam is the only reason who could make you smile like that."
My heart skipped. For a moment, I wondered if he somehow knew the truth. I forced myself to laugh softly as I pretended to fix the arrangement of the brushes on the counter.
"It isn't always about him, Josh," I said lightly. "I learned to be happy even without him."
The words left my mouth smoothly, but inside I hated myself for saying them.
Because it was a lie. Liam still had that strange power over my heart. No matter how much I tried to deny it, he could still make me smile in ways no one else could.
Josh studied me for a second before nodding.
"Well, correct," he said with a grin. "You have every right to be happy." His words were simple, but they warmed something inside my chest.
I helped him double check everything around the salon before closing for the night. We made sure the cash register was balanced, the chairs were cleaned, and the mirrors were wiped spotless.
When everything was finally done, Josh grabbed his keys and turned to me.
"I'm sorry, I can't drive you home tonight, Mia," he said apologetically. "I need to go to the condo to finalize a few things before we move in."
I nodded quickly.
"It's alright," I said. "I can take the bus or train. It's not that far."
But as I said it, a quiet thought crossed my mind.
Maybe Liam would call tonight and would ask to see me again. And the moment that thought appeared, I felt the familiar warmth spreading through my chest.
When I finally arrived home, the first thing I noticed was a familiar car parked not far from the entrance.
My heart instantly jumped.
Liam's car.
I tried to calm myself, but the excitement bubbling inside my chest refused to listen. Without realizing it, my steps quickened as I walked toward the house.
And when I saw him standing outside our door, waiting for me, my smile widened automatically.
He looked like he had been there for a while, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. But the moment his eyes landed on me, something in his expression softened, as if just seeing me made the wait worth it.
For a second he simply stared at me, and my heart began to beat faster. Then he slowly closed the distance between us. The warmth in his gaze made my cheeks heat up even before he spoke.
"I missed you," he said quietly.
Those three simple words were enough to make my entire day feel complete. I smiled at him, unable to hide how happy I felt.
"I missed you too," I replied softly.
I stepped aside and let him inside. My small place suddenly felt different with him there, like the room had somehow become warmer.
But the next thing he said caught me completely off guard.
"I want to stay the night with you." My face instantly turned bright red. My heart began racing again, and I felt suddenly aware of how small and simple my place really was.
"I really want to be with you too," I admitted nervously. "But my room is too small. And I know you're not used to sleeping in a cramped space like this." Liam shook his head immediately.
"Mia, I don't care about that," he said gently. "As long as we're together, that's enough. Just let me crash here tonight. I can't drive anyway. I'm not feeling well."
I looked at him suspiciously. The way he said it was so unconvincing that I almost laughed. I knew he was lying. But he was lying just so he could stay with me.
And for some reason, that thought made a warm, giddy feeling spread through my chest.
But no matter how much I tried to tidy everything, my room still looked exactly the same. Small, simple, and painfully ordinary. No amount of arranging or cleaning could change the truth of it.
It was nothing like the places Liam was used to.
He lived in a mansion filled with wide halls, tall ceilings, and rooms bigger than my entire apartment. Meanwhile, the space I called my room was so small that it was smaller than the bathroom in his bedroom.
The thought made my chest tighten a little.
I suddenly became very aware of the narrow bed, the tiny table by the wall, and the single window that barely let enough light inside. It felt strange imagining Liam here, inside this cramped space, when he was used to luxury and comfort.
For a moment, I wondered if he would regret asking to stay the night.
When he came back inside, he was carrying a gym bag over his shoulder. I looked at it and raised an eyebrow.
"Wow," I teased. "You came prepared."
He laughed, and the sound of it filled the small room, making it feel even smaller somehow.
Before I could step away, Liam suddenly moved closer.
In one quick motion, he gently trapped me between him and the wall.
My breath caught in my throat. And before I could even say a word, his lips were already on mine.
The kiss was warm and urgent, sending a rush of heat through my entire body. My knees weakened instantly, and I felt like all the strength in my body had melted away.
Still, I kissed him back just as eagerly, my hands instinctively gripping the front of his shirt.
When he finally pulled away, we were both breathless.
I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks, and there was no way I could hide the blush spreading across my face.
Liam looked at me with that same soft expression that always made my heart lose control. And in that moment, standing there in my tiny room with him, I felt unbelievably happy.