No Strings Attached

Clara felt lan's firm grip as he guided her out of the college's back gate, passing the very alley that had been the scene of a traumatic event three years ago.

The alley remained a picture of neglect, with its pothole-riddled path and walls crying out for a fresh coat of paint. The occasional yowl of a stray cat pierced the silence, and the flickering streetlights stretched their shadows long and distorted across the ground.

A shiver ran down Clara's spine as she clung to lan's arm, her voice betraying her anxiety. "Ian, why are we here?"

lan's handsome face was accentuated by the dim light, casting sharp contrasts across his features. His eyes, deep pools of mystery, shimmered with a soft light, and his lips curved into a half-smile as he gazed at Clara with a look as tender as moonlight on water.

lan's voice was warm, magnetic, "I never knew what it was to feel a heartbeat until I met you. I used to think my fondness for you was just physical attraction, but after you left, I realized it was more profound. The moment I saw you here, I fell for you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to let you stay and

impression on me. So, I kept my true feelings for you hidden deep within. The harsher my words were to you, the

could turn back time, I'd rewrite our story starting from this alley, and this time, I'd be the one to fall for you first. I wouldn't let you get hurt or

we start

a beat. Lifting her eyes to his, Clara felt the heat of his breath, the intensity of his gaze. This sudden revelation left her floundering, unsure of how to respond to this passionate version of lan. She knew how to handle cold, indifferent lan, even the sly, domineering lan, but she was at a loss with this tender

eyes, lan leaned in and kissed her gently. "Don't be afraid. This

Her hands instinctively wrapped around his neck as they both lost themselves in

embrace, lan's phone rang, shattering the moment. Clara, suddenly brought back to reality,