Chapter 5:
On his last night, Benjamin indeed arranged a farewell gathering for Stephen, a night meant to unwind.
As he opened the door to the private room, familiar faces rushed toward him.
Pop!
“Here’s to Stephen! May you go on to great success and a smooth career!”
Confetti filled the air, and the room buzzed with joy.
For a moment, Stephen stood still, then smiled, a sense of peace washing over him.
With friends by his side to see him off, what else could he ask for?
Since he’d driven, his friends decided to just sing and skip the drinks.
Just as the fun was in full swing, someone asked, “So, Stephen, when are you bringing your girlfriend over once you settle in abroad?”
“Yeah, she can’t be without you for even a second! Last time you traveled, she was glued to you…”
Benjamin’s face darkened, but before he could intervene, Stephen chuckled.
“No need. We’re breaking up soon.”
Silence fell over the room.
His friends looked shocked, but Stephen remained composed.
Then, the door opened unexpectedly.
Diana walked in, wearing a white dress, with Wayne by her side.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were throwing a birthday celebration? I even brought Wayne along so we can all get along better.”
Benjamin couldn’t hold back any longer. “Why did you bring him? This is Stephen’s farewell party-”
But Stephen cut him off.
“It’s fine. Have a seat.”
Wayne smirked, holding Diana closer. “I knew Stephen was generous.”
As they played games, Diana eagerly joined in, and Stephen’s friends, not wanting to ruin the mood, went along with it.
Determined to mess with Wayne, they made him the target of their pranks.
Wayne, however, kept trying to involve Stephen, ordering him a drink each round.
Soon, the table in front of them was lined with drinks.
As everyone egged him on, Diana stepped forward.
“Wayne’s still young and doesn’t usually play like this. I’ll drink for him.”
She downed a glass, then looked at Stephen with a smug glint in her eye.
“Since Diana drank for me, you can’t back out now, Stephen,” Wayne taunted.
“If he has someone drinking for him, then I’ll do the same for my friend,” Benjamin said, casting a cold glance at Diana. “You do know Stephen drove here tonight, right?”
At this, Diana felt a pang of guilt.
She glanced at Stephen, but seeing his indifferent expression, she convinced herself she’d done nothing wrong.
“Fine, I’ll stick with Wayne. Stephen, you can rest.”
As the two grew more absorbed in their fun, laughter filled the room.
Stephen, however, sat in the corner, silently lighting a cigarette.
Diana claimed she’d come to celebrate his birthday, but all she really wanted was for him to accept Wayne.
All her actions were meant to benefit Wayne.
But now that he’d let go, none of it mattered to him.
Stephen picked up the microphone and began to sing.
It was a song Diana once loved, one they’d hummed together countless times.
But she was too busy laughing with Wayne to even notice.
“When deep love fades, I wake and let go…”
Chapter 5:
Diana missed the final verse, as if they had passed by each other in that very moment.
As the song ended, so, too, did everything.
At 1 a.m., the group left the KTV, planning to grab a late–night snack.
But Diana insisted on taking the drunken Wayne back to his school.
With no taxi available, she asked Stephen to drive them.
The headlights illuminated the narrow road, and Stephen felt a chill, rolling up the window.
Suddenly, the road became slippery.
The car lost control, veering off to the side.
With a loud bang, they crashed into a tree, smoke billowing from the hood.
