Yara knew it was all nonsense, but when she caught Helen eyeing the wishing bottles like they were priceless treasures, she wasn't shocked when the group started buying them one by one.

Then came Mateo.

He didn't just buy one—he bought all of them.

His friends immediately jumped in.

"Mateo, you really think you can fill out that many wishes? Mind sharing a few?"

"Seriously, man, you already have everything. What more do you need to wish for? Greedy much?"

Mateo just smirked, then turned to Yara, eyes soft. "I don't need anything. I just want Yara to have everything."

That one line sent the whole group into chaos.

"Mateo! No wonder you're the biggest simp in our crew!"

If it were anyone else, they might've turned red. Maybe laughed it off.

Yara? She just stared at the cart full of bottles, silent.

She focused on writing her own wish, tuning out the noise around her.

Mateo, nosy as ever, leaned in to peek.

She caught him and yanked the paper away. "It won't come true if you see it."

He chuckled, backing off. Then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, he reached out and ruffled her hair.

"Whatever you wished for, it's gonna come true."

Yara gave him a faint smile, saying nothing.

Inside, though?

She agreed completely.

Before sealing the bottle, she glanced at her wish one last time.

[May Yara and Mateo never cross paths again in this lifetime.]

***

By the time Mateo finished filling out all his wishing bottles, the meteor shower was nearly over.

They were just about to leave when a sharp cry cut through the air.

Everyone turned just in time to see Helen on the ground, eyes red, looking heartbreakingly fragile.

"I think I twisted my ankle... It hurts so much..."

Instantly, the group swarmed around her.

Mateo barely hesitated. He shoved past everyone and scooped her up without a second thought.

Didn't even blink. Just carried her down the mountain.

Yara didn't say a word.

While the others hovered around Helen, fussing over her like she was made of glass, Yara quietly turned back.

Found the vendor.

Slipped him more money.

"Take down all the wishing bottles we just hung up."

A few minutes later, she was back at the mountaintop. Alone.

She sat down, fingers steady as she began opening the bottles.

One by one.

[May Helen always be happy and carefree, year after year.]

[May Helen's life be full of joy and free from sorrow.]

[May Helen always be healthy, with only good people in her life.]

[To my beloved Helen, may you always have peace and happiness.]

...

All of them.

Ninety-nine wishing bottles. Ninety-nine slips of paper.

And every single one carried her name.

Not even one was about Yara.

Her eyes burned.

In the end, she left the bottles scattered on the ground and walked down the mountain.

***

The moment Yara reached the bottom, she spotted Mateo pacing.

As soon as he saw her, he rushed over, pulling her into a tight embrace. His voice shook with relief.

"Where did you go? I didn't see you when I got down, and I—oh, Yara, don't ever leave my sight again!"

His friends crowded around, laughing, trying to lighten the mood.

"Dude, we told you—there's only one way down. She obviously wasn't lost. You were just panicking for nothing."

"Yara, you have no idea. Mateo almost cried when he couldn't find you!"

They thought they were proving something. Showing her how much Mateo cared.

But Yara barely heard them.

Because past the crowd, she locked eyes with Helen.

Her ankle was already wrapped up, her expression calm. Collected. But when Mateo's friends spoke, a smug glint flickered in her eyes.

That tiny, knowing smile—it was a taunt.

Like she was saying, 'See? They all think he loves you. But you and I both know the truth.

'The person he really cares about... is me.'

A wave of humiliation hit Yara, sharp and suffocating.

She clenched her fists but forced herself to stay composed.

'It's fine.

'It's all ending soon anyway.'

Helen's birthday rolled around soon after.

Benjamin and Milada went all out, renting an entire cruise ship for the occasion. They invited Mateo and Yara too—completely forgetting it was Yara's birthday as well.

She was used to it.

When the invitation arrived, Mateo hesitated. "That day is your birthday too. Maybe we shouldn't go."

He wanted to go. She could see it all over his face. This was just for show.

Yara made the choice for him. "It'd be rude not to. Let's go."

Mateo barely hid his excitement, pulling her close like he actually felt bad. "I can't spend your birthday with just the two of us this year... but I'll make it up to you next year."

Yara laughed softly.

Next year?

There wouldn't be a next year.

In a few days, she'd be gone for good.

***

Helen stood at the center of it all, draped in designer couture, soaking up the endless praise. She was the star of the night—undisputed, untouchable.

Even Steven had flown back to Novastra for this, looking every bit the polished gentleman in his sharp suit. Side by side, they could've been straight off a magazine cover.

When it was time for gifts, the guests lined up, anticipation buzzing in the air.

Benjamin, Milada, and Steven's presents were the ones everyone waited for. And they delivered.

Exquisite jewelry. A luxury sports car. The kind of gifts that made people gasp.

Then it was Mateo's turn.

No wrapped box. Just a single certificate.

Whispers rippled through the crowd as he flipped it open. Under the lights, a breathtaking image of a rose-colored nebula gleamed.

"Helen, you already have everything. I wanted to give you something different. From today on, this star cluster is yours to name."

Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by a wave of murmurs.

"You can buy the rights to name a nebula? Mateo must've gone through a lot for this."

"I mean... let's be real. He's obsessed with Yara. Guess that love extends to her little sister too."

Admiration. Envy. It never ended.

But Yara knew the truth.

This wasn't some grand gesture of love by association. Mateo had put so much thought into this gift because Helen was the only one he truly loved.

The room suddenly felt suffocating. She needed air.

Slipping away from the celebration, she stepped onto the deck. The ocean breeze caught her hair, and for the first time in a long while, she could finally breathe.

That's when Helen appeared.

She stood behind Yara, eyes glinting with condescension, her voice oozing smugness.

"Yara, what are you gonna do? Not just Steven—looks like Mateo's in love with me too."

Yara didn't answer.

She didn't get it.

Helen had already taken everything. Their parents' love. Her friends. The man she once adored. Even her fiancé.

So why?

Why couldn't she just leave her alone?

The question slipped out before she could stop it.

Helen didn't even pretend to deny it. She just smirked.

"No reason, really. I just like watching you suffer. And lucky me—I get to see it happen again real soon."

Yara frowned, ready to demand what she meant—

But before she could react, Helen grabbed her wrist and yanked.

A second later, they both plunged into the sea.

The icy water swallowed Yara whole.

Cold.

So cold.

She tried to scream, but saltwater rushed in, searing her lungs like fire. Her limbs flailed, desperate to grab onto anything.

Above the waves, voices shouted. People had finally noticed.

Then—splash.

And another.

And another.

Three people had jumped in.

Benjamin. Steven. Mateo.

But not a single one swam toward her.

Every single one of them—every single one—raced toward Helen.

Even over the crashing waves, she could hear Milada's panicked screams from the yacht.

"Save Helen! You have to save Helen!"

Something inside Yara shattered.

She closed her eyes, letting the weight of the ocean pull her under.

Maybe this was how it was supposed to end.

But just as she was ready to let go, the sound of someone swimming closer cut through the haze.

Closer.

And closer.

Her eyes fluttered open.

She barely made out the face in front of her, but when she did—

She froze.

Steven.

Before Yara could process why Steven—of all people—was the one saving her, the darkness swallowed her whole.

***

When she woke up, she was in a hospital bed.

Her dry eyes blinked against the harsh white ceiling. Slowly, she turned her head—

And saw Steven sitting beside her.

She stared at him, half-convinced he wasn't real. Out of everyone, why was he the only one here?

Pushing down her surprise, she spoke calmly. "Shouldn't you be with Helen?"

"I just came from there. She's surrounded by people. Mateo's there too."

Steven waited for some kind of reaction. Anger, frustration—something.

But Yara barely blinked. Her response was simple.

"Then you should go too. I like my peace and quiet."

She expected him to leave.

He didn't.

Instead, he just looked at her, something unreadable in his expression. Finally, after a long pause, he spoke.

"Don't marry Mateo."

His voice was low, firm. And once he started, he couldn't stop.

"He doesn't love you. He never did. He only got close to you so Helen could have a clear path."

Steven felt lighter, like he'd finally exhaled a secret that had been suffocating him.

But when he looked at Yara, expecting shock or hurt—

He saw nothing.

No surprise. No sadness. Just quiet indifference.

Almost like... she had already known.

His breath caught. "Y-You knew?"

"You can leave now," she said, ignoring the question completely.

But Steven didn't move. Frustration flared, spilling over.

"You knew and you're still going through with the wedding?! Are you insane?"

Yara laughed. "Why do you care? Didn't I already break off our engagement and hand you back to your precious Helen?"

That shut him up.

Because the truth was, he didn't know why he cared.

He should be happy. He had Helen.

But lately, when he looked at Helen, all he could think about was Yara.

Even his dreams were filled with her.

The air grew thick with silence—

Until the door suddenly swung open.

Mateo.

His expression darkened the moment he saw Steven.

"What are you doing here?"

Steven held Yara's gaze a beat longer before turning and walking out.

The second he was gone, Mateo pulled Yara into a tight hug, his voice desperate.

"Yara, I'm sorry. I swear I wasn't trying to leave you behind. I just—I got confused, I thought—" He swallowed hard. "I thought I was saving you.

"Please don't be mad at me. I won't care about Helen anymore, okay? Just... don't go near Steven. Please. I need you to stay with me.

"You finally stopped loving him. You finally chose me. If you go back to him now... I'll lose my mind."

Mateo kept rambling, trying to fix things.

But Yara had already tuned him out.

Only one thought remained.

'Let this all end.'

***

In the days before the wedding, Mateo went all in on proving his loyalty.

No more visits to Helen. Didn't even ask about her.

Instead, he stuck to Yara like glue—gifts, attention, whatever it took to make her smile.

And it worked. Until the night before the wedding.

For some reason, Yara started packing.

Mateo noticed, didn't think much of it. Heck, he even helped.

Until he saw what she was packing.

Every expensive gift he'd ever given her.

Every photo he'd taken of her.

Every love letter he'd written.

All of it.