Present day
Jason stood near the door, one hand resting against the frame, shoulders relaxed—but his jaw was tight, locked like steel. His eyes were calm, empty, the kind of calm that came only after everything inside had already burned down.
Erika stood a few steps away.
"Jason…" her voice cracked, careful, fragile.
"I know what I did was unforgivable. I got blind in love. I just want you to trust me one more time."
Jason didn't move.
Not closer.
Not away.
His breath stayed slow, controlled.
"Then tell me what you came to say," he replied flatly, eyes never leaving hers,
"and then go as far away from me as you can."
Erika swallowed hard. She had expected anger. Shouting. Maybe even violence.
Not this.
She took a shaky breath.
"The truth is…" her voice trembled, "you were drugged on the match day."
Jason's fingers twitched once. Just once.
"And," she continued, forcing the words out,
"I'm the reason it happened."
The air shifted.
Jason's eyes sharpened slightly. Not with shock—but with confirmation.
"What bullshit are you talking about?" he asked quietly.
"Trust me," Erika said quickly. "That day, before meeting you, I went to see Aaron. I wished him luck. He gave me a water bottle and asked me to give it to you. He said he wanted to erase all the problems between you two. He knew you wouldn't take it directly from him."
Her voice cracked again.
"I didn't know it was drugged. I swear. I gave it to you exactly like he asked."
Jason's jaw clenched harder now. His teeth pressed together, the muscle in his cheek tightening.
"So how do you know all this now?" he asked.
"One day," Erika said softly, "I overheard him talking with his coach. I heard everything. I confronted him… but he kept lying. Fame got into his head. Power too. He started having open affairs."
Her eyes dropped.
"That's when I realized what kind of person I chose over you."
She laughed weakly through tears.
"I left him. Years passed. Then I heard you were out of jail. I wanted to meet you, but I didn't have the courage. The regret wouldn't let me sleep."
She stepped closer and broke down, leaning against Jason's chest, crying openly.
"I'm so sorry, Jason… I really am."
Jason didn't hug her back.
His body was rigid. Still. Distant.
He gently placed a hand on her shoulder—not comfort, but distance—and pushed her back just enough to look into her eyes.
His voice was calm. Almost amused.
"When did you become an actor?" he asked.
"For a second… I almost believed you."
Her crying stopped.
Slowly.
A smirk crept onto her lips.
"Heh… I got caught," she said lightly. "I thought I could fool you. Maybe the old Jason would've fallen for this."
She straightened up.
"But yes," she admitted, "you were drugged. And I knew. I wanted Aaron to win. I wanted the fame. The attention. I wanted to stay by his side."
Jason's eyes didn't change.
"I know I was drugged," he said. "Jake told me."
That made her pause.
"But whether it was you or not…" he continued coldly,
"doesn't matter anymore."
He turned toward the door.
"I left all that behind. You should too."
He stopped, just before opening it.
"Oh—and go back to your fried shrimp," he added.
"Actually… I forgot. He already left you, didn't he? Found someone more useful."
Her smile vanished.
As Jason reached for the door, Erika spoke again—low, careful.
"I know who you're searching for."
Jason froze.
Slowly, he turned his head.
"…What?"
"You're looking for Kid," she said. "Right?"
Jason's eyes narrowed. His breath slowed even more.
"How do you know that?" he asked.
"Don't worry," Erika replied. "It's a secret. Jake asked me to pass it on if I ever met someone connected to him."
She hesitated, then added,
"He came to my love hotel last night. The one I run. He'll be there again tonight."
Jason studied her face—every twitch, every breath. Lies came easily to her. Truth too.
He didn't trust her.
But he didn't have a choice.
"…Where's the hotel?" he asked finally.
She smiled again. Sharp this time.
"Not so fast," she said. "You have to pay me first. That was the deal I had with Jake."
Jason stared at her with dead eyes.
"How much?"
Erika tilted her head, intrigued.
"So," she said softly,
"What's your plan, Mr. Jason Schizor?"
The door remained open.
But Jason didn't step back into the past.
The hunt is on.