Joss' POV

Just as Bas had requested, I took him back home.

When we reached his gate, I stepped out of the car and walked over to his side. I reached him just as he had gotten out of the car and closed the passenger door.

I pulled him into my embrace.

"Bas," I said, unable to hide the longing in my voice, "I hope that this will not be the last time that I see you."

"Of course not," he whispered, hugging me back.

I cupped his face in my hands. He looked up at me. He looked so innocent and trusting. My heart was breaking in pieces because I loved him so much but I could tell that his heart was beating for someone else, not me.

I was so tempted to claim his lips but decided against it. I let him go.

"Thanks for the lunch and for the ride back home," he said with a shy smile.

"It was my pleasure," I said, "I just regret that the time spent with you was so short."

"I'm sorry, P'Joss," he said. The regret in his voice sounded genuine.

"When will I see you again?" I couldn't help asking.

"I mean, don't feel pressured, Bas," I continued, "I'm willing to wait until you have some time to spare for me."

"I will text you as soon as I get the chance," he promised.

I gave him one last hug before he let himself into his gate. I walked back to my car with a heavy heart.

Before I turned the ignition on, I found myself resting my head on the steering wheel.

My tears were falling fast.

Why, oh, why, did I not meet him before he met Godt. Perhaps if I had been the first to be in his life, we would be together right now.

Were we really not meant to be together, or was this just a test for me. Maybe I needed to try harder. Maybe I needed to be more persistent and persevering. Maybe, just maybe, that one extra effort was what would clinch it for me.

I dried my tears and started to drive back to my condo unit.

When I got back to my unit, I lay exhausted on my sofa. I decided to pass the time listening to sad love songs, just to twist the knife in my heart.

After the last sad love song played, I missed Bas so much. My arms felt so empty. I needed to feel his body against mine.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and decided to video call him.

I waited patiently as long as I could for him to take my call. When it realistically looked like he wasn't going to take my call, I ended it.

I stood up from the couch and decided that it wasn't going to do me any good to mope around my unit.

I decided to go to the nearest mall and see if there was any movie worth watching.

I was lucky to find an empty spot in the underground parking lot.

As I was stepping out of my car, I happened to see one of Bas' group mates stepping out of the car that was parked right beside mine.

I remembered him instantly. He was the young guy who was about Bas' age who had encouraged Bas to go ahead and accept my dinner invitation when we had our modeling session together on the same day.

"Hi," I said to him when he looked my way, "I'm Joss. Joss Wayar. I'm a friend of Bas."

"Oh yes," he said, "I remember you."

I held out my hand to him and he took it,

"I"m Copter but everyone just calls me Cop for short," he said with a smile.

"Are you here by yourself?" I asked.

"Yes, I ran away from home" he said with a laugh, "my sisters were arguing with my mom over something and I couldn't stand the noise. How about you?"

"My situation is the opposite," I explained, "my place was too quiet. I had to come out to escape the loneliness."