Horace walked over and found Kira sitting on the ledge, drinking liquor as the night wind whipped around her. Empty bottles lay scattered at her feet.

When she heard footsteps, Kira looked up, her face flushed, eyes glistening, and gazed at him with a familiar intensity. "Horace, you came."

Kira wasn't young anymore, but the way she looked at him had the same fervor it did years ago, making Horace feel like a young man again.

A gust of cold wind blew through.

Horace shook off the nostalgia and pulled himself together. No matter how sweet the memories, they couldn't go back in time. They'd both aged.

“Kira, stop drinking. I'll get you a ride home," he said, taking the bottle from her hand.

"No, I don't want to," Kira replied. She clung to Horace, pressing herself against his chest. "I don't want to be away from you again!"

Horace was taken aback and attempted to push Kira away. "Kira, act your age! We're not kids anymore. We shouldn't embarrass ourselves in front of the younger ones."

Kira gripped Horace tightly. "No! Do you understand what I've endured all these years? I've been living like a shell of myself, and I can't take it anymore. I've realized life is too short to waste suffering for others. Horace, I love you. I want to be with you, and I don't care if the whole world judges us. You get me, don't you?"

Kira raised her gaze to meet his, her eyes burning with a wild mix of passion and insanity, genuine and unyielding. She had always been this way, loving Horace wholeheartedly, her eyes and heart solely his.

Horace paused, his hands balled into fists, conflict evident in his eyes.

Noticing his detached expression, Kira stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and leaned in to kiss him.

Horace snapped out of it and quickly pulled back to dodge her kiss.

“Kira, you're drunk. Let's get you home."

He didn't wait for her to reply. Instead, he seized her arm and started toward the stairs, knowing that prolonging their stay could only cause more problems.

“Horace, look at me! Why won't you look at me? What scares you so much?" Kira pleaded as Horace pulled her along.

Horace evaded her question. "Which hotel are you staying at?"

"Don't dodge the question!" Kira blocked Horace's path, her voice tinged with emotion. “Horace, you still have feelings for me. Don't deny it, and don't let regret haunt your future."

Horace, flustered, responded, “Enough already. Where are you staying?"

“Just next door to your room," Kira revealed.