After a moment, Blake leaned back. Noticing a smudge of black charcoal on his finger, Bianca handed him a tissue. “Thanks a lot, Blake,” she said.
Blake wiped his finger clean, then grabbed a skewer and began eating. He didn’t look directly at Bianca, but she could feel his intense stare at her.
“I’ve always said I got into the entertainment world to support and protect you. You don’t owe me anything. I just do what I want to do for you,” Blake said.
Bianca felt overwhelmed by his words and lowered her head, eating in silence. The quiet between them grew. When she finally looked up, she saw the warmth in Blake’s eyes as he reached out to wipe something from her face. Instinctively, she turned away.
Blake’s hand froze mid-air, and his face showed a deep sense of loneliness.
“I wish you’d find someone who makes you happy, someone who deserves your effort. I’m not that person,” Bianca whispered.
“It’s mealtime. Let’s not talk about this now. Let’s just eat,” Blake interrupted her.
Bianca stopped, realizing her words weren’t reaching him.
They ate in silence. After a while, Blake checked his watch and said, “It’s time.”
“Time for what?” Bianca asked, confused.
“I’m taking you somewhere,” Blake replied, standing up and taking her hand.
Just as Bianca was about to speak, Blake suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into a run.
They sprinted all the way to the edge of the hill. It was almost midnight, and the sky was filled with stars. The air was calm and quiet, with a cool breeze occasionally ruffling their hair, giving a refreshing feeling. Fireflies swarmed in the grass, lighting up the night in a magical way.
“Wow, this is beautiful,” Bianca said, smiling widely. After taking a deep breath, she looked at Blake and asked, “So, why did you bring me here? Just for the view?”
Blake grinned, keeping her guessing. “You’ll see soon enough. For now, just sit down.” He gently pulled Bianca to the ground with him.
The soft breeze played with her hair, bringing a peaceful calm. But as soon as thoughts of work and her mom crept into her mind, the peace vanished. She sighed, feeling helpless.
Blake kept his eyes on Bianca, noticing her sigh. He could tell something was bothering her. With a worried expression, he asked, “Hey, what’s wrong? The thing with me and Reese is settled. Is there something else on your mind?”
Bianca stayed silent for a moment. Maybe it was the peaceful scene around her, or maybe it was just that she had been feeling down for so long and hadn’t had anyone to talk to.
She spoke slowly, “There’s been so much going on at the company lately. It’s been hard to keep up. Sometimes, I wonder if I’m even cut out to manage all this. But… I know I’m in this role now, and I have to stick with it. It’s my responsibility and my original goal, but… I’m just so tired.”
Bianca rarely let her guard down in front of others. Seeing her like this hit Blake hard. He had never seen her so vulnerable before. She usually hid her feelings, tough as a shell, and most people only saw that side of her.
He gently reached out and smoothed her wind-blown hair. “Whatever you decide, I’ve got your back. I’ll support you no matter what. If you ever need anything, my shoulder is here for you to lean on.”
Bianca didn’t respond to his comforting words. After a long silence, she pulled her legs up to her chest, wrapped her arms around them, and buried her head. “Besides all the company problems, my mom’s been in a coma for so long. I don’t know when or if she’ll wake up. The doctor isn’t even sure if she can.”
Blake gently patted her back. “Hey, as long as she’s still here, there’s hope. Miracles can happen.”
Bianca let out another heavy sigh. “And then there’s my brother…” She paused, clearly struggling. “Anyway, everything feels like it’s falling apart. It’s like the world’s against me.”
Blake understood that her difficult relationship with her brother, Leonel, had something to do with Dave.
Thinking about how unreliable Dave was, Blake silently despised him. He couldn’t help but worry about Bianca. Being cheated out of money wasn’t the worst thing that could happen, but Bianca had put so much trust and love into Dave. How would she feel if she found out one day that the man she loved had betrayed her? The thought of her being hurt like that was unbearable.
“Hey, that’s not true,” Blake said, his eyes sparkling under the starlight. He then looked into her eyes and smiled. “At least I’ll always have your back, alright?”
Bianca was taken aback. Just then, a meteor shot across the sky.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the dazzling streak. She quickly turned her head and shouted, “Hey, look! A meteor! Can you believe it? I just saw a meteor!”
Blake couldn’t help but smile when he saw the excitement on her face. It was like she had this special ability to match their moods. When she was down, he felt it too. And when she was happy, he shared in her joy.
Bianca tilted her face toward the sky. Her hair, pulled back in a simple ponytail, swayed gently in the breeze as she took in the moment.
It was as if a few shooting stars were warming up for the main event. Before long, the meteor shower erupted in full force. The sky lit up with shimmering meteors, brightening the dark night around them.
Bianca was in awe, her mouth slightly open in amazement.
“Whoa! No way! It’s a meteor shower! I’ve never seen one before!” she exclaimed.
Suddenly, Bianca paused. She quickly clasped her hands together in front of her chest, silently making a wish.
Blake sat down next to her, sharing the moment in silence.
A few seconds later, they both opened their eyes at the same time and shared a gentle smile.
Blake looked at Bianca with a soft, intense stare and whispered, “So, what did you wish for?”
Bianca propped herself up on the grass, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at the beautiful sky. “I wished for my mom to wake up soon.”
Blake’s heart sank, but he quickly tried to comfort her, saying, “Hey, don’t worry. She’ll wake up soon, I’m sure of it.”
Bianca nodded, her spirits lifting a little. She turned to him and asked, “So, what about you? What was your wish?”