No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 177



"It's me!" The familiar voice echoed down the hallway.

I grabbed the railing abruptly, stopping in my tracks, my tense heart finally easing.

After a moment, I turned and headed up the stairs, spotting Ernest lurking in the shadows.

Recalling the awkwardness of our last encounter, I was at a loss for words. But the truth was, I was genuinely frightened. Putting on a facade of annoyance, I blurted out, "Don't you know you look like a scene from a horror movie standing there?"

"Yeah," that was his one-word reply.

And he had no idea how that single word could be so infuriating yet so exasperatingly cool.

Just as I was about to give him a piece of my mind, he murmured, "Won't happen again."

That left me speechless.

So, I pulled out my keys to unlock the door.

Just as I was about to turn the key, his voice filled the air once more, deep and solemn. “I overthought things tonight. It won't happen again."

turn to be stunned. I turned around, and he was already stepping through his half-open

he was closing it, our eyes

his door had shut, "What do you mean, 'won't

to end our pretend relationship. But I seriously didn't want to continue, nor

of my boyfriend. Not because I feared he'd cling to me, but because I

been in a relationship, yet he was being used by me, his first hug, handhold,

I felt utterly despicable.

by guilt, which made for a lousy night's sleep. My dreams were haunted by Ernest, following me meekly, murmuring, "Why did you kiss

suppressed guilt, it was early, still dark

it was 4:30

Ernest would already be up, probably

was the best time to avoid

ready, I made

into the early dawn, I realized how pathetic I felt, living in my own home yet

I started leaving early and coming back

night, returning to find a cold breakfast by my door

about

stop preparing breakfast for

but