Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

143. Professionalism Prior To Passion

Once we arrived at Ryan’s house, his mom greeted me at the door with open arms, her warmth immediately easing the tension I’d been holding. She pulled me into a tight embrace, her familiar scent comforting.

"You didn't even miss me?" she teased, though there was a hint of real curiosity in her voice.

I smiled, feeling a bit guilty. "It's not like that, aunty. I missed you so much."

She gave me a playful nudge. "Then why didn’t you come to see me even once? I was waiting, you know."

I stayed quiet, offering a small, apologetic smile instead.

Just then, Ryan’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and sighed, his eyes softening with a trace of regret. "I have to head to the hospital. There’s an emergency," he explained.

Before I could say anything, he squeezed my hand and left quickly, his footsteps fading down the hallway. His mom, too, soon stepped outside for her own errands.

As I walked into Ryan’s room, it felt like I had stepped back in time. Everything was just as I remembered, yet there was one noticeable difference—the room, once a little cluttered with my things, was now meticulously clean.
The same bed where I used to sleep, the bookshelf stacked with his favorite novels and medical books, even the faint smell of his cologne still lingered in the air.

After wandering into the kitchen, I wasn’t surprised to find the refrigerator nearly empty. Typical. Without a second thought, I whipped up a quick meal and settled in for a binge-watch session, losing track of time as the hours flew by.

Before I knew it, Ryan was home. I heard the front door click open, followed by the sound of his footsteps. He walked straight to the fridge, grabbed a water bottle, and drained it in one go. "What are you doing?" he asked, eyeing me sprawled on the couch.

I barely glanced up from the screen.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Same old Sarah," he teased.

Ryan disappeared upstairs, and when he came back down, he was dressed in comfortable clothes, looking more relaxed. Without a word, he placed plates filled with the meal I had cooked earlier on the coffee table, then sat beside me, handing me one.

"You could’ve told me..." I said, taking the plate from him.

He smirked. "It's fine. So, what are you watching?" he asked, gesturing toward the TV.

We ate together, the casual atmosphere wrapping us in a comforting familiarity. Our conversation flowed easily, with Ryan asking about the drama I was watching, and me excitedly recounting the plot. We laughed, we boasted, and for a while, everything felt like it used to be—simple and effortless. Dinner disappeared as quickly as time.

As I was busy making my bed, Ryan’s voice cut through the quiet, "How about you sleep in my bed tonight?"

I paused, blinking in confusion. "Wait, what?"

He glanced at me with a playful smile. "I've gotten a little too comfortable on that bed," he said, nodding towards mine. "Why don’t we switch? Feels like it suits me now."

Still baffled, I moved to his bed and began adjusting the sheets. "Hold on... were you sleeping there? In my bed?"

He nodded. "The whole time you were away. And now I can't seem to sleep properly without your scent around."

His words caught me off guard, and a shy smile tugged at my lips. I finished making his bed and slowly sat down on it.

After a moment of silence, I broke it softly, "So... what are you up to now? Are you on a break, or...?"

Ryan sat down on my bed, casually leaning back against the wall. "Actually, I’ve rejoined the hospital," he said, watching my reaction closely.

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "And what about the esports?"

A small grin crossed his face as his eyes met mine. "I realized that to support a family, professionalism matters more than passion."

His words hung in the air, and it took me a moment to fully process what he meant. When I did, the understanding—and the weight of his unspoken feelings—brought a soft smile to my face.

I quickly lay down, pulling his blanket around me, cocooning myself in its warmth.
His smell... still the same. The same comfort and the same flutters.