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.

I couldn't sleep. The lingering fear from the hallway incident was still

my defensive preparations might not have been enough, and the consequences could

a coincidence that he came to see

him, I glanced at the door. It was closed, so I couldn't see outside. Was he really sleeping on the couch and not in my

if he was washing up or doing

his footsteps reminded me of my childhood. I used to hear my parents move around outside my room until I

thought much of it back then, but now

check on Brandon once he

woke up in the middle of the night needing to use the bathroom. As I got

way out and saw him sleeping there. His tall frame barely

Double standards.

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

to protect me even though he was clearly uncomfortable. The sentiment warmed my

bathroom. After that, I always

like the world had abandoned me, with no one to care for or love me. No one was