The music throbbed in the bar, dim lights casting a golden hue across polished glasses and laughter-filled booths. Aiden sat at the counter with his friend, swirling a drink in his hand, his mind only half-listening to the conversation beside him.
He had only come here to distract himself, to forget the way Sion had been avoiding him, the way it hurt to be close and yet feel so far apart.
But fate clearly had other plans.
Across the room, near one of the private booths, Aiden spotted him—Sion. Sitting casually, a drink in hand… and next to him, a woman. Smiling. Laughing. Too close.
Aiden froze. His fingers tightened around his glass. His stomach dropped.
He felt something ugly and familiar rise up from his chest—jealousy.
Before he knew it, he was ordering more drinks, one after another. His friend tried to stop him, but Aiden kept drinking, eyes never leaving the booth.
From the corner of his vision, he saw Sion glance his way. Their eyes met. But Sion didn't react.
That was the last straw.
Aiden stood abruptly, wobbling slightly, and stormed across the bar.
"Sion!" he snapped, grabbing his wrist and yanking him out of the booth.
The woman startled. Sion stood quickly, not resisting as Aiden pulled him out of the bar into the cool night air.
Outside, under the neon lights, Aiden turned to him, eyes glassy, emotions spilling out with no filter.
"I know everything," he said, voice shaking. "So why are you pretending you don't know me? Or… are you really not you?"
Sion's eyes narrowed, guarded. "Aiden—"
"No!" Aiden cut him off, voice rising. "You're Shinomi. I know it. I feel it. I remember every moment with you! Why are you avoiding me? Why are you acting like a stranger?"
He stepped closer, fists clenched. "Are you taking revenge because I didn't show up to the wedding? Is that what this is?"
Sion didn't answer at first. He just stared at him, gaze unreadable. The silence stretched… until finally, he spoke.
"You're not Ren," he said coldly.
Aiden blinked, stunned.
"You never told me who you really were," Sion continued. "You kept your real identity from me. All those days we were together—you were hiding something."
"I… I didn't mean to—"
"You may not have cheated," Sion said, voice low, "but you lied. You let me believe in a story that wasn't even real. I gave you everything. I was ready to give you the rest of my life. And you—"
He cut himself off, turning his head.
"…Do you have any answer to that?"
Aiden's breath caught in his throat.
He didn't.
He hadn't even thought about how it must've looked to Shinomi—to Sion. To fall in love with someone who wasn't who they said they were. To be abandoned on the wedding day. To wait for someone who never came… and then wake up in another world.
"I didn't want to lie…" Aiden whispered.
But it was too late.
Sion stepped back, gaze still locked on him. "Then why did you?"
And with that, he turned around… and walked away, leaving Aiden standing alone in the cold night air, tears stinging his eyes.
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