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 even look Roseanne in

if it happened again? How could

him food a bunch of times. She'd go back and tell his dad, Ferdinand Reynolds, "the kid looks down, barely touched his

---

progressed smoothly, and the

fare, they decided to explore local eateries

discussing their afternoon plans on the way

Scales halted

Scales asked, "What's up?"

of the school's main gate, then gave Roseanne a look full of

No chance.

already spotted her and was striding over with a bouquet

was a bunch of

I'm feeling a bit thirsty.

nodded in agreement, and the two of them took

Roseanne dropped all pretenses, "Murray, got a lot

He paused, "Anne..."

ago. Stop looking for me,

the flowers

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

one I've ever

particular birthday party for Cliff when Murray was

to give

now felt like

the counterfeit for the treasure,

know it's too late for apologies, but I still need to say this - you've always been the one I loved the most, the only

"Anne... please forgive me?"

you agreed to be my

flowers, firm and clear, "No,