Chapter 4
4.
I fell in love with Claire the first time I saw her.
After graduation, I decided to confess my feelings.
But she left the house early that morning.
I waited until noon, and she still wasn't back.
Tired of driving myself crazy with overthinking, I just called her.
But before I could say a single word, Sophie's obnoxious shriek blasted through the speaker.
"Claire, control your man! He's winning all my money!"
"Stop it," Claire laughed, not bothering to correct her.
I froze, gripping the phone, completely paralyzed.
"Mason? Did you need something?"
Claire called my name a few times before I snapped out of it.
"Yeah, I can hear you. But... it's nothing now."
I swallowed hard, trying to force down the lump in my throat, but my voice still cracked.
She must have heard it.
But she stayed silent for a moment and said nothing.
"Okay."
A second before she hung up, I heard Julian's voice in the background.
"If you lose, you pay up."
My parents and Claire's parents were classmates years ago.
They were close in their youth, but gradually lost touch after moving to different cities.
The families reconnected because I was going to school near Brookline. When Claire's mother, Diana, found out, she offered to let me stay at their house.
She said she wanted to see what it was like to have a son around.
"That's too much trouble for you," my parents protested, not wanting to impose.
But Diana insisted.
"Oh, just say yes! My daughter is way too independent, not affectionate at all—nothing like Mason. Let him come over, I promise I'll take good care of him."
And so, I moved in.
And I met Claire.
The first time we met, she was wearing a simple white dress.
Ordinary clothes, but on her, it was impossible to look away.
I stared, mesmerized.
Claire, clearly used to that kind of attention, calmly held out her hand.
"I'm Claire Bennett."
"...Mason Reed."
I nervously shook her hand.
The moment I felt the warmth of her palm, the inevitable, agonizing entanglement between us began.
High school was monotonous and long.
Claire was a year below me. I tutored her on subjects she didn't understand, and she fed me all the school gossip I was clueless about.
When Diana and Robert were busy with work, we took care of each other.
Spending every day together, it wasn't strange that sparks flew.
Besides, I could feel Claire treated me differently than others.
Even if it wasn't love, there had to be some affection.
Until one afternoon.
Claire brought a few classmates over.
When she introduced me, they all exchanged knowing smirks.
"We get it, Claire, no need to explain, hahaha..."
"Don't worry, our lips are sealed!"
Claire glanced at my flushed face and laughed back at them.
"You guys don't get it. Mason lives at my house. He's like a brother to me. If you keep spreading rumors, how am I supposed to get a date?"
That was the moment. I clearly felt a bitter, sour ache spread across my chest.
"Oh? Is Claire finally looking to date?"
She replied casually, "Let's wait until college apps are done. There's a right time for everything."
She thought for a second, then turned to look at me.
"Right, Mason?"