He's been drifting. For almost ten years he's drifting, floating around in mere existence. While people around him seemed to progress in life, took the next steps, he stood still, satisfied with how things are and has no interest in expanding his life. Other than moving to London, his life is pretty much the same. He's still live in the same house, still drives the same car, still goes for a run around the block at the same hours and the same route every day, even still sits in the same pub whenever he's got the chance. Nothing exciting. He's been living the same old flat life for almost ten years.

Of course his works has not been that flat. One gets something out of the dull personal life; that is the blossomed and glittered professional life and a fat bank account. His nett worth and personal savings are now matching his trust fund from years ago, only now it was heavily scented by his own sweat and blood, not of a silver tray.

He can now testify to how expensive dating is. Because not dating is most likely why he can save so much money. No pressure of impressing the girls with designer clothes, race car, and apartment in ivory tower, his good looks alone apparently could score him some warm bodies when the cold bed and thick loneliness became unbearable. Or maybe it was the unimpressed and uninterested body language he threw, girls like the challenge. Although some argue that they were drawn by the pained looks in his eyes, begging them to try and wipe them away. Well, many had tried but none succeeded.

It was always not right. Not the right hair color, not the right eyes, not the right blue, not the right smell, not the right laugh, not the right ramble... not her. How pathetic is it that her being the reason his heart was broken into a million pieces, but she seemed to be the only one who can heal it? He had been denying this fact for many months, especially those very first months of deep despair he went through when he lost her. He'd been fueled by anger and fury, blaming everything, everyone, especially her. And when the anger toned down and he started to see their story from a different angle, he started to realize his contribution in broken them up. Apparently it was a major one. He began to see how he played his cards all wrong, and how he could've prevented it. He knew her like the back of his hands, they'd been together for three years, how could it didn't occur to him that a major life changing decision like the one he was offering was more of a private conversation with her, private and a very long conversation. Not a millisecond in front of her family and friend, nor an overnight freak out session. She needed a well thought pro/cons list, hell maybe even a thorough research and survey. Remember what she did for the articles. How could he expected her to act on impulse for a decision of a lifetime?

Unfortunately for him though, as many a things in his life that time, those realization came a moment too late. She had changed her number, cut him and his circle off of her life, and had her close persons sworn to secrecy on her whereabouts. He had even once called the inn, but chickened out when a French accent picked up the phone. Instead he pretended to be a sales marketing offering a gym membership.

So he continued his life without really living in it. He woke up, went running, went to work, came home to sleep, occasionally fed himself, grabbed some drinks sometimes, went on dates - never with the same girl -, had blind dates - sometimes he wished it was a surprise and find her waiting for him as his blind date -, and he visited friends and family. But the spark had long gone from his heart, which reflects in his eyes.

That is how he knew she was here. Because there was a spark igniting inside him the moment he laid his eyes on her. He knew exactly who she was before she even turned her face his way. Did he say he was pathetic? He took a moment to appreciate how well the ten years has treated her. Her slender figure has now matured in the right places. The satin royal blue dress she is wearing was generous enough to show him her delicate shoulder and the right amount of her gentle back skin. It looked as silky as he remembers, and boy he remembered it well, he could feel it in his hands, and he could taste it in his lips. He hair was shorter and it seemed she curled it for this evening, they were never that artistically curly before. He knew it because it was his favorite subconscious habit to play with her hair. He wondered if her hair still smells the same, the smell that can calm his nerves and brought him a happy feeling.

He reminded himself to stay away. He barely got out alive when she broke him, and he didn't even got to be the same. She had broken him forever. His friends tried to summon the old him back, but gave up after years of trying. They now accepted the grim, sarcastic, and pessimistic version of him. Although he never back down from challenges or stunts they were pulling, if anything he even became more dare devil. But this. He will sit out of this challenge. The stakes are too high.

He was preparing to leave, drank his scotch in one big gulp, and getting ready to find the hostess of the evening to bid his farewell when he heard the laugh. Loud enough to travel to his ears through the sound of people chattering and the smooth music. Just a simple laugh, lasted for about three seconds, but enough to sent all his willpower out of the window.

He turned his body to face her, and began pacing towards the group of women she's talking to. As if on cue her head turned, her soft brown curls wiped to the side and her face came to face him, their eyes locked and hers lighted up with recognition, but she instantly turned it off and switched it with anger and hurt. Damn! Even after ten years he could still read her like an open book. Her spine automatically straightened, and her shoulders tensed as he approached her. But it's too late to turn around, not that he could anyway.

"Good evening, ladies."

Four faces lit up upon seeing him. None of them was the face he expected.

"Logan Huntzberger!" a petite brunette acknowledged him with a proud voice. Probably thinking that he approached them for her.

"Ladies, this is Logan Huntzberger from the Huntzberger Publishing Group, he's my boss' boss' boss' three times over... Logan, this is May Sutherland of the USA Today, Addison Lambert from E! Entertainment, Bernadette Jackson from Wall Street Journal, and Rory Gilmore from The Time Magazine..." she introduced. Oh this woman works at HPG.

"Nice to meet you, ladies." He said while pestering his best smile. Four of them dazzled, but again, not his target.

"Rory, are you gonna pretend this is the first time we met?" He would do anything to fish a reaction from her. Her cold stare was not agreeable to his stomach.

The group turned their attention to Rory who quickly switched her surprised by his directness with a lazy stare. Of course she's no longer a bambi who freeze and panic when hit by spotlight. He's already liking this new confident version of her.

"That's a million years ago, and not exactly memories that I'm very fond of, or like to share of," she shot her polite smile.

He laughed. "It feels like yesterday to me."

"You always liked to live a challenging life,"

"That's what you loved about me..."

"Not anymore. As I said, it was a million years ago. A millions of things have changed," she emphasized the last two words.

"Really? What are those? Do you have a list?"

"I don't. And even if I have, I won't show it to you."

"Huh. I think I like you better when you were still the girl who likes to share everything with me."

"That girl grew up," she shrugged.

"Ah, I see. Well, let's see what the woman she grew up into. Have dinner with me."

She raised her eyebrows.

"No, thank you. And I think I have been really impolite monopolizing this conversation. I'll leave you guys to acquaint, get to know each other more. Logan here is an excellent conversationalist, and loves women who can match his intelligence. Which I'm sure all of you can up to the challenge. Good evening, girls... Logan..." she nodded and took her leave. She left her to the wolves. Four pairs of curious and hungry eyes look at him expectantly. One even slipped a business card into his hands.

"I'm so sorry Logan, she wasn't usually that rude. Do you guys have a history?" The brunette who works for his father said. He held the urge to roll his eyes, isn't it obvious?

"Nah, it's okay. I probably know her more than you. It was ten years ago but still, she doesn't like changes, and most likely will be the same. But I'm curious to find out, so I hope you'll excuse me ladies, I'm gonna work harder for that dinner,"

He nodded and turned his heel to find her.