Liam reassured Yvonne with a face as serene as the ocean, "He's drunk and talking gibberish. Ignore him. I'll stay and let him sober up."
Since he was so persistent, she decided she had better leave, so she nodded and left in a daze.
When Thomas noticed someone was about to leave, he wanted to get up and chase Yvonne, but Liam held him down. He patiently stated, "I'm not leaving. I'm still here."
Liam was startled by the sound of his voice and unaware that he could be someone else's substitute. Even his tone was softer than usual, and it seemed Thomas had developed Liam's full potential due to this incident. Though he found the situation unbearable, his words calmed Thomas enough that he wasn't as worked up as he had been. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Thomas began to look at him with affectionate eyes, which caused Liam's heart to pound while having an awful premonition.
Indeed, Thomas confessed, "I like you." His words were overly affectionate as if he were trying to pour out his heart to the other person.
Liam was once again taken aback by what Thomas had just said. When Thomas tenderly rubbed his hand, he felt goosebumps spread throughout his body.
He resisted the urge to slap Thomas and instead inquired. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
Why did Liam think he'd be able to answer that question? Thomas was now a drunkard, and if he could recognize him, Thomas would not have performed these cringe-inducing actions. He should record the event and play it back for Thomas the following day when he wakes up. Would his friend immediately jump into the lake upon seeing it? Any sane man would find such close physical contact with another man intolerable. However, Thomas appeared to comprehend Liam's question as he blinked his eyes to identify the person beside him.
Suddenly, Thomas chuckled and answered, "I do." The sweetness in his voice made it seem like beautiful things were happening to him.
Liam could tell by Thomas' expression that he had no idea who he was. "Are you sure you're not going to take a closer look?"
When Thomas heard that, he chuckled again. "What? How could I have mistaken you for someone else? You are constantly on my mind and in my heart." His cheerful demeanor made him resemble a spoiled brat from a wealthy family.
At that point, Liam felt helpless and could not determine whether Thomas' behavior resulted from excessive alcohol consumption or a delusional disorder. How can he comprehend what I am saying without knowing whom he is speaking with? Nonetheless, he could tell that Thomas might have mistaken him for Vania.
After some thought, he asked again, "Do you have anything you'd like to tell me?" While he didn't want to intrude on Thomas' private matters, he was curious about what was on his mind.
Even if something unexpected did happen, he would be prepared to persuade Thomas to give up on this futile goal. In any case, it was something that would never happen. How could Thomas remain optimistic when Vania was already married to Hanson?
Thomas appeared preoccupied with his thoughts, giving off an air of melancholy as he listened to Liam's words. He was mulling over Liam's remarks, composing a response in his head.
Following an awkward period of back-and-forth staring, Liam eventually could not tolerate the affectionate glances directed at him and moved uncomfortably. However, Thomas' anxiety was triggered by his movement. He believed Liam was leaving again, so he grabbed Liam's hand and asked in a pitiful tone, "Didn't you promise not to leave?"
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