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.

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

hadn't shown up, my defensive preparations might not have been enough, and the consequences

was quite a coincidence that he

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

was unclear if he was washing up or

my childhood. I used to hear my

thought much of it back then, but now I found that

and planned to check on Brandon once he

the night needing to use the bathroom. As

the house, 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. He

Double standards.

in my room. But he was okay with using

thought about how he was there to protect me even though he was clearly

the bathroom. After that, I always had trouble falling asleep again. I felt alone and abandoned

like the world had abandoned me, with no one to care for or