Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

In the days following, Owen found the sensation becoming overwhelmingly stronger.

Typically, Owen would carve out time for a late-night run at least once a week to clear his head.

One evening, as Roseanne heard noises in the hallway and opened her door, she discovered Owen had already returned home.

But that wasn't all. Owen usually reserved a day or two each month for some downtime, yet Roseanne never saw his door crack open even once during these breaks.

And there was that one time she opened her door, sure she saw a sliver of movement from his apartment - as if he had peeked out at the sound of her footsteps, only to retreat quickly. Roseanne was baffled.

She racked her brain trying to figure out when she might have offended him.

But she couldn't come up with anything.

If only she could catch a glimpse of him, Roseanne wished she could just ask straight up - what on earth about her made him dodge her presence like a plague?

Meanwhile, Owen, sensing Roseanne's footsteps fading, timed his move to the window and saw her walking away. Only when her figure disappeared did he withdraw his complex gaze.

It wasn't that he wanted to avoid her.

But avoiding her was the only option he had.

The dream he had the first time could be dismissed as a fluke, an accident, a normal physiological reaction. But after seeing her outside the cafeteria that day, Owen had another dream that night.

It was more vivid, more thrilling, and more embarrassing than the first.

Waking up, every detail replayed in his mind, tormenting him.

In frustration and despair, he stripped the bed, throwing the sheets and duvet cover into the washing machine as if trying to cleanse himself of the memory.

He couldn't understand why he would dream such things.

How could he trash a woman's image like that? Yeah, trash.

hated himself so much, he couldn't

How

and tell his dad, Ferdinand Reynolds, "the kid looks down, barely touched his food, might

---

progressed smoothly, and the camaraderie within

the usual cafeteria fare, they decided

discussing their afternoon plans on the way back, Mamie suddenly

Roseanne and Scales halted

Scales asked, "What's up?"

gestured subtly towards the direction of the school's main gate, then gave Roseanne a look full of sympathy. Roseanne's lips twitched. Could she still avoid

No chance.

her and was striding over with a bouquet

it was a

feeling a bit thirsty. Wanna hit up the convenience store for

and Mamie, nodded in agreement, and the two of them took

all pretenses, "Murray, got a lot of free

He paused, "Anne..."

year ago. Stop looking for me,

pushing the flowers into her hands, "No, I

repeating herself for the umpteenth time, "It's pointless. You have so many other

only one I've ever wanted,"

laugh bitterly, recalling a particular birthday party for Cliff when Murray was all

to give Millie

said now felt like a slap across his

reddened, "I was blind then, mistaking the counterfeit for the treasure,

need to say this - you've always been

"Anne... please forgive me?"

University's north gate, you agreed to be my girlfriend. Could you give me another chance to win

returned the flowers, firm and clear, "No, I