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❄️New Year's Eve on Willow Hill
The world was muted, wrapped in a thick, magical blanket of snow. High up on Willow Hill, nestled deep within a dense pine forest, the air hung crisp and cold. It was New Year's Eve, but the atmosphere felt less celebratory and more… electric.
The meeting spot was a secluded clearing. Strings of tiny, warm-white fairy lights were woven through the low-hanging pine branches, giving the snow a faint, ethereal glow. On a rustic wooden bench, two fat, flickering pillar candles cast dancing shadows. The scene was breathtaking—a perfect, silent backdrop for a kiss, or a catastrophe.
And it was the latter.
There were only three people there. Han, Gabriella's older brother, was a storm of raw fury, his knuckles white as he clutched the collar of Jake's expensive winter jacket.
Han's voice was a low growl. "You think you can just—"
"Han! Stop!"
The sharp sound of her voice cut through the silence. Gabriella had arrived. She wore a fitted, deep-crimson wool coat that stood out against the snow, her dark hair dusted with snowflakes. Her breath plumed in the cold air, but her eyes, wide with alarm, were fixed on the two boys.
She darted between them, the force of her sudden movement separating them just enough. She immediately turned to Jake, her gloved hand resting lightly on his arm.
"Jake, are you okay?" Her voice was soft, laced with genuine concern.
Han froze, his face a mask of utter shock. "Gabriella… you?"
Han's rage reignited, and he lunged forward again, ready to finish the fight.
"Don't!" Gabriella's voice cracked, and she took a step back, her eyes wide. In that moment, her expression wasn't just fear—it was horrible, paralyzing terror.
Han stumbled to a stop, his mind racing to catch up. "What does that mean?" he demanded, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. His fists slowly unclenched. "Why are you protecting him? Are you…"
Gabriella lifted her chin, her gaze locking with Han's. Her eyes, usually so expressive, were now distant and determined. "I love him."
Han was struck dumb. He opened his mouth, but only a choked sound came out. "But… you said…"
"I was confused before, Han." She pressed her lips together, her voice suddenly strong. "But I realized later."
Han let out a short, hollow, angry chuckle. It was the sound of disbelief curdling into bitter resentment. "You have no idea, do you? You don't know about him. He is…"
Jake stood completely still, his face utterly unreadable—no surprise, no shock, just a cold, handsome blankness.
Gabriella turned slightly to Jake, then back to Han. "Tell me. Why did you stop?" she challenged her brother.
Han's anger seemed to deflate, replaced by a sudden, intense plea. He reached out and gently grabbed Gabriella's shoulder. His gaze was filled with deep, brotherly emotion, his eyes glistening under the fairy lights. "Don't believe him, Gabby. Please. Can't you trust your brother?"
Gabriella's resolve wavered, a flicker of confusion crossing her features. She looked down, then back up at him, whispering, "But I believe him."
Han dropped his hand, a painful, humorless laugh escaping him. "Is he fooling you too, like Christina?"
Gabriella's eyes widened in genuine shock. The name hit her like a punch. "Who is Christina to him?"
Han's face was dark, a portrait of fury and pain. "Ask him yourself! Didn't you say you trust him, right?" He didn't wait for a reply. He spun around, his boots crunching loudly on the snow, and walked away into the dark forest.
Gabriella immediately turned to Jake. "Jake—"
But Jake was already turning away, his shadow stretching long on the snow. He was walking, not running, but walking fast, leaving her behind without a single word.
"Jake!" she called, but he didn't even pause.
Alone in the glowing, silent clearing, Gabriella shivered. The cold was suddenly intense. "What… what is between Jake and Christina?" she wondered, her mind starting to spin the complex web of revenge she had so painstakingly begun.
The Cold Comfort
Later that night, the Campfire Place was deserted. The ring of stones felt empty. The embers were long dead; the heat of the fire had gone, and the entire area was unnervingly cold.
Han was sitting alone on a rough log bench, his body language speaking volumes of his deep distress. He was lost in thought, his jaw clenched.
Suddenly, a warm hand gently touched his shoulder.
He turned abruptly, his eyes dark and guarded. He saw Selina, his lover. She was wearing a thick, practical parka, her expression one of gentle concern.
"Didn't you sleep?" she asked, her voice soft and low. "Why are you here alone?"
Without a word, Han pulled Selina down and hugged her tightly, burying his face in her shoulder. His eyes squeezed shut, and a single, hot tear escaped, immediately turning cold on his cheek.
Selina was clueless about the conflict, but she held him, her gentle hand tapping his back in a rhythmic comfort. She could hear the muffled, broken sound of his sobbing voice.
"You are right, Selina," Han whispered into her coat.
The Ascent
The following morning, the snow was still falling lightly as the students of Brighton Wisdom High packed their bags for the trip down the mountain. They were all gathered at the cable car area, ready to descend the steep slope of the hill.
Gabriella spotted Jake near the boarding platform. Without hesitation, she walked up and grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the queue. "I want to talk," she stated simply.
She pulled him into a cable car carriage just as it was preparing to leave. As the other students were about to file in, Gabriella leaned out of the door opening.
"Please, everyone, take the next car!" she called out, a forced sweetness in her voice. The students looked confused, but they reluctantly backed away.
Across the platform, Han was watching. Selina stood next to him. She saw Gabriella and Jake alone in the ascending car, and then looked at Han. She understood immediately. Han was furious that his sister was with Jake.
Han's face was stone. He tightened his fist inside his pocket. Selina gently grabbed his hand, her touch calming the tension she felt radiating from him. "Is everything okay?" she asked softly.
Han took a deep, shaky breath, his anger slowly subsiding. "Nothing," he mumbled, pulling his hand away and focusing on the rising carriage.
Inside the cable car, the silence was strained as they began their ascent high over the pines. Jake was still clearly upset by the night before.
Gabriella broke the silence, her voice soft and teasing. "Why are you ignoring me? What you said to me before… was that all a lie?" She leaned closer, her tone light and provocative. "Didn't you say you loved me?"
Jake turned, his eyes locking onto hers. He leaned swiftly toward her, his face inches from hers. His voice was deep and intense. "Are you doubting me? Of course I love you."
Gabriella smiled, a small, satisfied smirk. "Then why did you avoid me?"
Jake sat back straight, a slight look of worry on his face. "Because… my own friend didn't understand me. He even went against our love." He paused. "I think your brother likes you a lot, so he cares about you more than he should."
"Yes, I know it," Gabriella agreed, but her smile vanished. Her eyes narrowed, turning serious. "What happened between you and Christina?"
Jake turned his eyes away from her, looking out at the pines below. He answered in a casual, normal tone. "She had a crush on me." He turned back, meeting her gaze. He noticed her intense scrutiny, and mockingly asked, "Is that your reaction? Aren't you jealous?"
Gabriella's face was straight, unwavering. "No."
Jake let out a sigh, as if disappointed.
"But… why is Han so angry with you? Only because of that?" Gabriella pressed.
Jake's expression turned serious. After five seconds of heavy silence, he spoke. "Because… how can a brother bear it when his sister continues to chase a man who doesn't show interest in her?"
Gabriella stared at him, her face flat. "Are you hiding something from me?"
Jake was stunned for a second. Then, he leaned forward quickly, his gaze mesmerizing. Jake grabbed Gabriella's chin and smiled, dangerously charming. "How can I hide something from you, my love?"
He leaned in, intending to kiss her lips.
Just before his mouth met hers, Gabriella turned her face away.
Jake pulled back, confused. Gabriella, looking out the window at the receding mountain, gave a small, curved smile.
Downhill Distractions
The cable car reached the bottom. As Gabriella and Jake walked across the open field, Jake was playful. He grabbed a piece of dry grass and playfully tickled Gabriella's neck.
She laughed, annoyed, and snatched the grass away. "Are you a kid?"
Jake winked. "Can't you handle this kid? Then how could you able to handle our future kids?"
Gabriella's eyes widened. "You…"
Jake merely smirked.
Suddenly, a cheerful voice called out. Lara was waving her hand near a cluster of luggage. Gabriella immediately moved toward her.
Jake grabbed her hand, stopping her. "Are you leaving your boyfriend?"
Gabriella's smile curved on one side, a subtle, knowing look. "Do you think I have to cling to you?"
"What if…" Jake started, stepping closer to her, his intent clear.
Gabriella suddenly turned and walked straight to Lara. Jake looked after her, a pout of cute, angry disappointment on his face.
Lara was with Ronnie. "Ronnie, you go," Lara said, gently pushing him away. "I need to talk to her."
Ronnie sighed dramatically. "Are you ditching me?"
Lara smiled. "No, silly. I'll come. I was always with you. I need to enjoy some time with my friend too."
"Fine," Ronnie said. He walked over to Jake. "Hi, Jake."
Jake was still scowling after Gabriella. Ronnie noticed. "Shall we go?"
"Why did you leave your girlfriend?" Jake complained. "Because of you, she left me!"
Ronnie gave him a look of mock disgust. "Ew. When did you turn into this clinging character? I've never seen you like this before."
Jake tapped Ronnie on the shoulder. "Don't tease." They both started walking toward the main hotel area.
Lara and Gabriella walked side-by-side. "Finally, we got some time," Lara sighed. Gabriella nodded.
Lara pointed to a large, gnarled tree near the path. "Shall we take a photo there?"
Gabriella agreed. After a few selfies, Lara said, "I want a full-size photo!"
She called out to a tall person passing by. The person turned. It was Felix.
He smiled warmly. "Hi, Gabby. Who is she?"
Lara was confused. "Did you guys know each other?"
Gabriella nodded. Lara handed her phone to him. "Please take a photo of us."
He nodded. "Sure." He took the first shot. For the next one, Lara changed position. "Shall we take one of us jumping?"
Gabriella hesitated, but Lara pleaded, "Please!"
So, they both jumped. Felix caught the photo perfectly.
But as they landed, Lara stepped on a hidden log. She lost her balance and fell backwards, her head hitting the hard, frozen ground with a terrifying thud. She lay still, fainted.
"Lara! Lara!" Gabriella cried, fear seizing her.
Felix rushed forward. He suddenly lifted Lara into his arms, and they ran toward the hotel's nursing room.
A few minutes later, the nurse checked Lara. "She is alright, don't worry."
Gabriella, still panicking, asked a crucial question. "But… she already lost her old memories from a previous accident, and she's taking medicine, too. Really, is she okay?"
The nurse's face changed. "In that case… you will have to get a scan and consult a specialist."
Ronnie rushed into the room, hearing the news. He was so concerned about Lara, his panic obvious. "Is she okay? Why isn't she waking up?"
"Are you her—"Nurse hesitated.
"I'm her boyfriend," Ronnie interrupted.
"Don't worry, she is alright," the nurse reassured him.
Ronnie turned to Gabriella, his face furious. "This is how you look after your friend? Do you know her condition?"
Gabriella felt a surge of genuine guilt and distress. "Of course I care about her a lot, too! But everything happened in a blink of a second!"
"I can take care of her myself. You can go," Ronnie snapped.
Gabriella was shocked. What? She turned and walked out of the room, her shoulders slumped.
Ronnie gently kissed Lara's unconscious head.
Just outside the nursing room, Felix was waiting. "Is she alright?" he asked.
Gabriella was too worried, she just nodded. Felix read the sadness on her face. "What happened?"
Gabriella forced a small smile. "Nothing. Did he say anything harsh because his girlfriend got hurt?"
Gabriella only shook her head, looking down. Felix's eyes flashed with anger. "He doesn't know how much you were worried! I will—"
Gabriella grabbed Felix's hand. "Leave it," she said softly. "Lara is lucky. She has a caring boyfriend."
Felix could understand her pain. He couldn't stand to see her so dejected. He turned, took her hand gently, and then let's go.
A few minutes later, Felix and Gabriella were sitting on a stone bench in the hotel garden. The hotel was situated on the valley side, and the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful.
Felix noticed Gabriella's sad expression. He quietly got up and walked to the other side of the garden. He returned a few minutes later and sat next to her.
"Look here," he said, holding out his hands.
Gabriella looked. Resting gently on his palms was a small, beautiful butterfly with intricate feathers. She smiled, a genuine, sad-laced smile.
"Where did you get this?" she asked.
"Look over there," he pointed to a nearby flower garden.
She smiled. "Finally, you smiled," Felix said.
Gabriella's smile faded. "You caught a butterfly for that?"
"Mm-hm," he confirmed. "Don't worry about what others say. If you are truly genuine, why should you take seriously what others say?"
"You are right," she admitted.
Felix then gently released the butterfly. It fluttered away toward the garden.
"Why did you let it go? Did you catch it easily?" Gabriella asked, confused.
"No, it was hard," he said.
Felix's eyes locked with hers. "I don't like to cage beautiful things. It is beautiful because they are flying freely with freedom. That's why we can see these beautiful things."
Gabriella's face softened, understanding his deep meaning.
"I'm sorry for what happened yesterday night," Felix offered.
"I forgot already," Gabriella said, her tone normal.
"I will ask for an apology on Raina's behalf," Felix said again.
Gabriella suddenly gave him a mocking look. "Do you like her that much?"
Felix was stunned. He paused, then replied, "You are asking the same question as him. Why?"
Gabriella turned her face away. "Nothing. I was curious. How did you fall for an adamant, bossy girl? I know her well, so I asked. Your character is completely opposite to hers, so…" She looked him in the eye.
Felix smiled. "You are right. But look at you and Jake. You guys are opposite too, right? How did you guys end up together?"
Before Gabriella could speak, Felix chuckled. "Don't deny it that you guys aren't dating. I can say by seeing him, he definitely likes you. And do you like him?"
Gabriella's face was straight. "Yes, I like him too."
A fleeting look of disappointment crossed Felix's eyes, gone in a second.
"We are opposite characters," Gabriella repeated, defending her choice.
"But actually, we aren't opposite," Felix contradicted. "Don't judge my character by seeing it. Everyone has other sides too."
Gabriella's eyes turned suspicious. "You mean…"
Felix stood up abruptly. "I have to go. Bye." He waved and started to walk away.
Gabriella was shocked. "Wait!"
Her mind was racing. No one can easily say that Jake and I are character opposites. It almost seems the same in the eyes of others. But… How did he know our characters are opposite?
That night, everyone was settled in their tents near the hotel grounds.
Gabriella was searching for something inside her tent.
Suddenly, a small fire burst out from nowhere, engulfing a pile of clothes near the entrance.
Gabriella panicked, the smoke instantly thick and acrid. "I can't breathe!"
Everybody noticed the commotion. Han immediately ran to the opposite side of the camp and grabbed a fire extinguisher. He aimed, squeezed the handle, and it only sprayed a tiny puff, then stopped.
Selina and Raina watched, shocked.
Jake ran toward the burning tent, but he didn't know what to do. He stood frozen outside.
Suddenly, Felix ran from nowhere. He didn't hesitate. He entered inside the billowing tent.
Raina's eyes locked on him. Before she could scream for him to stop, he was gone.
Inside the tent, Gabby had grabbed a heavy blanket to smother the flames, but she couldn't. The lack of oxygen was immediate. She felt herself fading, starting to faint.
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed her. The voice was urgent, right next to her ear.
"Open your eyes! Breath!"
She opened her eyes slightly, her vision swimming through the smoke. She saw Felix.
He was carrying her, pulling her toward the exit, his face smudged with soot, his expression one of fierce, protective determination.
Then, a piece of burning wood from the tent's frame crashed down, blocking their exit completely, separating them from the world outside. Felix looked at the wall of flames and back at the almost unconscious Gabriella in his arms. The fire was growing, and there was nowhere to go.
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To bo Continued ....
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