It was eleven-thirty in the evening and Chuck Bass was lying supine on his bed with his arms crossed under his head, staring at the ceiling and reflecting on the events that had happened earlier. He finally understood why he felt a connection with Alex. They were both two people who have loved someone deeply and got hurt intensely. Now they are trying to heal their broken hearts in order to move on from the past and start over.

He didn't expect to encounter someone like her but he embraced the thought of having her enter his life and vice versa. It has only been almost a month since they met each other, but to him, it felt like he's known her longer than that. It didn't cross his mind that everything's just going too fast between them but he already thinks that their relationship could not only be platonic; he senses that there's a possibility of something else in store for them. He doesn't want to rush things though, seeing that she's just been through so much. Still he was really glad that they found each other at the right place and the right time.

Being able to be there for her to comfort her, have her in his arms and tell her soothing words; it made him feel good about himself. Even if he did get a black eye in the process, he liked the feeling of being needed and that he was capable of protecting and taking good care of her.

He glanced at the medium-sized box containing all his memories with Blair that's lying on the side table. He took it and looked at the pictures of them together once more; there was one photo with Blair kissing him on his cheek while he had his hand wrapped around her waist and another one with her feeding him with a slice of Pumpkin Pie she always make every Thanksgiving. They really seemed genuinely in love and happy back then but he has already made peace with the fact that they are living separate lives now and they were not meant to be together.

He was about to put the pictures back in the box, when a particular white envelope caught his attention. There were a bunch of letters in there but for some reason, this one seemed different from the rest. He took it and saw his name written on the envelope with Blair's neat and elegant cursive handwriting. He opened it and started reading the letter, it said:

Dear Chuck,

I hope you're happy, because I'm happy.

I hope you believe me when I say that even though I have not told you this before, I always thought you were my soul mate.

I loved you with all the love that I had and I know you loved me the same way too, maybe even more.

You were my first true love. Nate was different. Even after a year since our break-up, I kept praying that you will return to me.

I don't hate you; I understand you perfectly. People make mistakes and even though it did hurt me, I know that you regret what you did and it did not even mean anything to you… and that you never meant to hurt me. I just couldn't help but think what if things hadn't happened the way they did?

I am now about to be married to a wonderful man.

When we were younger, you know things were different between us.

It was if we were only forced to be together…

You knew what was really going on underneath the perfect couple we were trying so hard to portray.

And then he and I happened again when you were gone.

This time, it was way better than what we had in the past.

It was different. He's no longer oblivious and unsure.

We both grew up and changed for the better.

Frankly, he surpasses you in everything.

He's more handsome, maybe more intelligent (and I know how intelligent you are to begin with), responsible (you weren't) and loves me dearly. I love him too, so much.

That's why I wonder why I still dream of you every now and then. I wonder why I feel as though something else is missing. I wonder why I can still remember your super old text message:

I Love you, ...

I don't know what

I'm gonna do without you.

I miss you so much

When we're apart.

Not just today, but always.

I love you more.

Goodbye love. Maybe I'll get to kiss you again in my dreams.

-

I loved you...and until now thanks for being a special part of me...

I hope you'd pray for us that I'd forever be happy with him, as what you've wanted for me...

And just the same, I hope you find your happiness as well.

-Blair

He read the letter again and again until he folded it and put it back inside the envelope. He thought that Blair had wanted to give him the letter beforehand; even before they saw each other again back in New York. Knowing her, she probably changed her mind (maybe because she didn't really know how to break the news and even sending him a letter is hard for her to do) and so he had only known about the engagement through the newspapers.

But then again, he didn't know what to feel about the things Blair had said in the letter. Should he be pleased or exultant knowing that she, too, has thought about what could have happened if things did not happen the way they did? Maybe they would still be together now.

A sense of confusion came over him. What was Blair thinking when she wrote the letter? Why did she want to let him know this? He did not want to dwell on the what ifs. He couldn't help but wonder if she really was happy with Nate because she said that she feels as if something else was missing.

Just when he was certain about moving forward, about taking a shot at happiness with Alex, Blair messes up his mind even if she was not technically around.

His thoughts were interrupted by the loud ringing of his phone. He got up to take his phone from the bedside table on his left and pressed the answer button.

It was Alex on the other line. "Did I wake you?"

"No, I couldn't sleep actually. What's up? Are you home?" He asked, going out of his balcony to get some fresh air and smoke a cigarette to clear his head. The cars and people looked so small from below but the view of the city was incredible.

"Yeah, me too. Well... the reason I called was because I was wondering if you already have plans for tomorrow night." She bit her lower lip and frowned at her straightforwardness.

He took another puff of his cigarette and said, "I'll be having a business dinner with some Japanese businessmen. Why? Are you planning on anything?"

"A home cooked meal as a token of my appreciation for what you did for me earlier." She walked back to her room and proposed, "Will you be free tomorrow lunch?"

"Nope. Can't do. Sorry. I have a lot of things to attend to all throughout the day." He threw the cigarette in the trash bin and walked back inside his suite. "But you can join me for dinner. It's not entirely business, it's more of establishing rapport with the Japs and you know."

Alex thought about it for a while and said, "Are you sure? I don't want to be a bother."

"Of course! I'd want to have a beautiful lady sitting right next to me to get through it. With your charisma, I'm sure I'd be able to successfully seal the deal." In a more convincing tone, he added, "So, what do you say about helping me entertain?"

"I'm not backing out on a challenge."

"So, I'll pick you up at 7? Your place?"

"Sure. How's your eye anyway?"

"It's fine. It'll get better if you kiss the pain away."

"I'll see you tomorrow then."