Love's Redemption

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. Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

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 lay in bed, but I couldn't sleep. The lingering fear from the hallway incident was still there.

If Brandon hadn't shown up, my defensive preparations might not have been enough, and the consequences could have been dire.

It was quite a coincidence that he came to see me tonight.

Thinking about 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 room?

I heard his footsteps outside. It was unclear if he was washing up or doing something else. Either way, he hadn't gone to sleep yet.

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

I never thought much of it back then, but now I found that sound comforting.

I listened and planned to check on Brandon once he fell asleep, but I ended up dozing off.

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

Realizing Brandon was still in 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 had cleverly placed a chair for his feet but was covered with my pink blanket.

Double standards.

He was not my real boyfriend, so he wouldn't sleep in my room. But he was okay with using my pink blanket?

As I watched him, I thought about how he was there to protect me even though he was clearly uncomfortable. The sentiment warmed my heart.

For the past few nights, I'd been waking up to use the bathroom. After that, I always had trouble falling asleep again. I felt alone and abandoned in this empty house.

I felt like the world had abandoned me, with no one to care for or love me. No one was there to comfort me if I cried at night.

But now, with Brandon here just for me and ready to protect me from any danger, I slept soundly and woke up past nine.

Thinking of Brandon, I listened for any noise outside my parents' room.

It was completely quiet.

He must have left. He was still busy with the amusement park project, and I forgot to ask about the progress last night.

I went out and, as expected, the couch was empty and neatly tidied up as if he hadn't slept there at all.

I was momentarily dazed. Then I headed to the bathroom. When I glanced at the mirror, I noticed that a note was stuck to it.

"Breakfast is on the table. The lighting adjustments went smoothly. We can finish on schedule or two days early."

My eyes unexpectedly filled with tears as I read the note.