Max had once made a careful plan. He thought about how to get close to Ayla. How to confess. How they might start dating. He had even planned how he would cut ties with Troy. Everything was clear in his mind.
But Max was cautious. He moved slowly because he wanted to be sure. While he hesitated, Max failed to notice a rival lover in the shadows—Draven.
By the time Max realized his mistake, the opportunity had already passed. Even after Ayla started dating Draven, Max never confessed. He never said he liked her. Because of that, he hated his own cowardice. He had never spoken up. In Ayla's world, he had been invisible. Just another person in the background. An idiot.
Later, he saw Ayla celebrating Draven's birthday. The light in her eyes returned. Her smile was bright and full of life. Max had lived freely for years, doing whatever he wanted. Yet he had never regretted anything as much as that moment.
He once told himself that if fate gave him another chance, he would confess. He wanted to leave a real mark in her world.
If that chance ever came, he would tell her everything. He would tell Ayla he could make her happy too.
And somehow, that chance really came. This time, he would not hesitate. He would not miss it again. So, he came to confess.
After finishing his story, the man, who had always been relaxed around women, suddenly felt so nervous he could hardly breathe.
He paused for a long moment.
"Ayla," he said at last. "Somewhere along the way, I started liking you." He gave a small, awkward smile. "When I realized it, I was shocked. I never thought someone like me would fall for one person so seriously. But it helped me see myself in a new way."
Max's palms were damp with sweat. He stared at the woman who had stolen his heart, his voice steady but serious. "Ayla... will you be my girlfriend?"
Ayla listened quietly. She didn't dislike Max. So being liked by him felt pleasant.
His words were sincere. She even felt a little moved.
Maybe it was the emotion in his eyes. It was hard to ignore. Without realizing it, Ayla found herself following his rhythm, step by step.
She liked seeing him so serious. When a known playboy suddenly became sincere, it carried real weight. It could easily touch someone's heart.
But at the same time, Ayla felt uneasy. What if Max truly meant every word?
Once someone became serious, things could no longer remain simple. Feelings had to be sorted out carefully. Everything had to be taken seriously.
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