Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

I looked at Brandon, who was also looking at me. The atmosphere in the room was a bit ambiguous.

It was absurd. We had slept in a hotel room together without any issues before.

Yet here, in this spacious two-bedroom apartment, it felt cramped, like even the air was suffocating.

After a brief, silent stare, Brandon spoke. "I think it's more appropriate for me to sleep on the couch."

I was speechless.

"Only your real boyfriend should sleep in your room. I... I'll stick to the couch," Brandon said. It made me feel like I was somehow mistreating him.

But I knew he was trying to pressure me. He wanted to become my actual boyfriend.

The old saying about quiet men being the most cunning seemed true.

However, I wasn't falling for it. I simply said, "Suit yourself," and quickly went into my parents' room.

in bed, but I couldn't sleep. The lingering

my defensive preparations might not have been enough, and the

quite a coincidence that he came to see

couldn't see outside. Was he really sleeping on the couch and not

if he was washing up or doing something else. Either

sound of his footsteps reminded me of my childhood. I used to

it back then,

planned to check on Brandon once he fell asleep, but I ended up dozing

the night needing to use the bathroom. As I got up, I remembered I was in my parents'

I glanced at the couch on my way out and saw him sleeping there. His tall frame barely fit, and his legs were hanging off the side.

Double standards.

my real boyfriend, so he wouldn't sleep in my room. But he was

I thought about how he was there to protect me even though he was clearly uncomfortable. The

After that, I always had trouble falling asleep again. I

care for or love me. No one was