Bianca immediately regretted asking when she saw the tenderness and affection in Blake’s eyes.
Before he could answer, she quickly said, “You’d better not say it.”
“Why not?” he asked, looking confused.
“I’m worried that if your wish has to do with me, I might not be able to make it come true,” Bianca said sincerely, her eyes revealing her thoughts.
The light in Blake’s eyes faded a little. Hearing her words felt like a heavy stone on his chest, but he managed a small smile and said, “Don’t worry. I didn’t make a wish. I don’t really believe in things like that. I’m a practical person, focused only on what I can actually hold in my hands.”
When Blake talked, he gently placed his hands on Bianca’s shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Bianca, I brought you here today to make it clear that I’m going to pursue you openly,” he said, his smile full of sincerity.
Bianca was taken aback by his honesty. It seemed that all her attempts to discourage him had been for nothing, and now she was left feeling frustrated.
“Blake, I’ve already told you I have a boyfriend. My heart belongs to him,” Bianca said firmly.
“But he’s just your boyfriend, right? You’re not married yet, so technically, I still have a chance,” Blake replied stubbornly, holding her shoulders a little tighter. “Why not let us compete fairly? That seems reasonable, doesn’t it?”
After a moment, Blake’s voice softened, almost pleading. “I’m willing to wait for you to choose me. Bianca, I really want to be with you. Will you at least consider giving me a fair chance?”
Bianca didn’t know what to say. After a moment, she gently pulled away from him and stepped back. “Thanks for today, but that’s enough. It’s getting late, and I should head home.”
She turned to leave.
“Has he ever taken you to see a meteor shower?” Blake asked in a voice filled with despair.
Bianca halted her tracks, then turned to face him with a calm look. “He’s shown me something much more beautiful. No matter how amazing a meteor shower is, it can’t compare to what I’ve shared with him,” she replied quietly.
Blake stood still, his carefully planned romantic gesture suddenly falling apart as it was rejected.
“Something more beautiful…” Blake scoffed, a touch of self-mockery in his tone. “Bianca, what does he have that I don’t? I can take you to the same places he can offer you things he never could. Why won’t you give me a chance?”
“Tell me, why won’t you give Reese a chance?” Bianca replied with a smile.
“Because…” Blake’s voice trailed off. He knew he didn’t have feelings for Reese.
At that moment, he realized that Bianca had already made her decision.
A deep ache settled in his chest. He couldn’t understand why she couldn’t give him even a little hope. She kept turning him down, leaving him to question his own worth.
“The meteor shower is beautiful, but you should watch it with someone else, not me,” Bianca said gently when she saw the sadness on Blake’s face.
She turned to leave, but before she could, Blake quickly grabbed her wrist. She stumbled and was pulled into his arms.
The soft scent of flowers filled the air as they stood close.
“Remember when you asked about my wish? I wished for you to be happy, always.” Blake’s voice, low and raspy, echoed in Bianca’s ear, making her heart race.
After a brief pause, he added, “Even if you can’t love me or accept me, please don’t push me away. I’ll always be here, waiting. When you’re hurt or tired, and you need comfort, you’ll find me here if you look back.”
His words were full of affection and longing.
Bianca felt an overwhelming sense of being trapped and suffocated in his embrace.
“Blake, please stop being so kind to me. I’m afraid I’ll never be able to repay you,” Bianca said, gently pulling away from his embrace. Her eyes, filled with tears, looked at him with a deep sense of gratitude and fear.
Blake smiled softly at her. “You don’t owe me anything. My happiness comes from protecting the person I care about. It’s my choice. You don’t have to feel stressed about it.”
“But, Blake, love isn’t about self-sacrifice like this. It’s about giving and receiving, both people putting in effort. You should let go of this idea and find someone who’s a better match for you.”
“If you know how I feel about you, then you understand it’s not something I can easily let go of. Bianca, you are everything to me,” Blake said in an intense gaze that Bianca couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye. “You called me self-sacrificing, but true love makes you willing to humble yourself completely. And you’re the only one who can make me feel that way.”
Bianca was speechless, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn’t quite organize. She didn’t know how to respond to such strong devotion.
It was nearly one in the morning when they were heading back. Blake drove in silence, and Bianca sat quietly beside him. Neither of them talked.
As soon as the car started, Blake’s phone lit up. He unlocked it and saw a photo from the grill’s owner.
He gave a small smile, glanced at Bianca, and then dismissed the message.
As they drove along the hill roads, Bianca’s eyes grew heavy. The events of the night had worn her out, and sleep was hard to resist. She rested her elbow on her chin, preparing to doze off. But a strange noise made her sit up. She looked at Blake to see him urgently pressing the brakes.
Blake’s face turned pale with worry, and fear took over his expression. Bianca, confused and alarmed, asked, “What’s happening?”
Blake pursed his lips tightly, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He trembled as he replied. “The brakes are gone.”
Bianca’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes wide with fear.
Just as Blake finished speaking, a truck suddenly appeared out of nowhere, speeding toward them through the darkness. It approached menacingly toward them as if it had come with harmful intent.
Blake jerked the steering wheel in a frantic move, sending the car skidding on the loose gravel. The sudden jolt threw Bianca against the window with such force that she thought every bone in her body would break.
The air inside the car was thick with fear. Blake’s eyes widened in terror as he realized there was no way to stop the car. Without brakes and with momentum carrying them forward, the car skidded uncontrollably, tumbling off the road. The harsh sound of the crashing car shattered the silence of the night.