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.

The lingering fear from the hallway incident was still

hadn't shown up, my defensive preparations might not have been

that he came to

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

unclear if he was washing up or doing

of his footsteps reminded me of my childhood. I used to hear my parents move

of it back then, but now

check on Brandon once he fell asleep,

woke up in the middle of the night needing to use the bathroom. As I got up, I remembered I was in my

His tall frame barely fit, and his legs were hanging off the side.

Double standards.

wouldn't sleep in my

watched him, I thought about how he was there to protect me even though he

few nights, I'd been waking up to use the bathroom. After that, I always had trouble

for or love me. No one was there to