Chapter 4
Dad got me two days off to recover at home. []
Since that day. Andre hadn’t sent me a single message [
1 tortured myself by turning on “Do Not Disturb for him on Facebook, but I couldn’t help but check my messages again just a few minutes later.
By the time I returned to school on Wednesday, there still hadn’t been a single message from him.[]
ming back at school, I was racing to catch up on all the subjects I had caissed. [
During my first morning
At lunch. Andre asked me to join him, but I declined. I already asked my deskmate to bring me lunch
Then I pointed in the test paper in front of ine. 1 need to catch up, and my foot still isn’t completely healed. The doctor said I should try to walk as little as possible-
Andre frowned. looking uneasy. Why don’t I bring you lunch?
I kept my head down, focused on checking my answers. “It’s fine. It doesn’t matter who brings 11.-
dur classroom was empty except for the two of us. The only sound was the soft scratching of my pen on the paper. []
Andre spoke
e up again, “Let me help you study.”
“I don’t need that “Tinstinctively refused. “I can just look at my deskmate’s notes:
Andre’s patience was running thin. He snatched my pen away and tossed it aside, speaking firmly. Youre upset with me.
Finally, I looked up at him. After two days of tormenting myself and feeling sorry for myself. I managed to calm down.
I said honestly. “It’s not like that. I’m just wondering if our relationship should end here. []
Andre’s expression suddenly tensed. I quietly asked, “Do you know I sprained my ankle?
He nodded. “I overheard your deskmate talking about it
His eyes were calm, like a quiet night, but his expression showed he didn’t realize he had done anything wrong.
0
nr so many days, I had been in a silent battle with myself. I sighed and said, “I used to think that being with you was enough. But then I became greedy, and I couldn’t help but want more. When sherry scraped her knee, you would even take her to the hospital to get checked. I sprained my ankle, and you knew bat didn’t even ask how I was once.”
My voice dropped, almost a whisper. “I don’t want ab
I want a boyfriend like that…
Andre’s voice became a bit strained, but he spoke more quickly than usual. Im sorry, I didn’t know you were waiting for me to message. I didn’t ask because I thought your family would take good care of you. You wouldn’t be in any real trouble. But Sherry Lan’t like you. She only has me.”
I coulda 1 continue the conversation, so I redirected my focus back to the test paper.
Andre didn’t take my pen again. He was so quiet that I almost forgot someone was standing in front of me.
Π
I don’t know how long it was before he spoke softly, almost like he was trying to soothe a child is your ankle still swollen? |
I instinctively pulled my foot back and shook my
ok my head silently
Suddrady. I lost the desire to talk to Andre. The passion I had for him seemed to be dwindling, but for some reason, the words “break up” got stuck in my throat, and I just uldn’t bring myself to say them []
That evening, I waited until the crowd thinned out before slowly packing my backpack and leaving the classroom. ||
Andre followed me dosely. “Can 1 help you walk ?–||
1 a
After a bit more walking, a sharp pain shot through any ankle and I had to stop and rest for a few minutes. Looking down at my toes, I felt a bit defeated. “What
are you doing now? I’m almost fine
Andre stepped in front of me, subtly blacking the wind. “I know it’s a bit feally know how to be a good boyfriend-||
for me in make it up to you. But this is my first time in a relationship, and I don’t
I had never heard him sprak so gently before. Can you give me another chaner?
Til care more, Betty.“|||
intentions. But in that moment, it was easy to see the sincerity in
He adjusted his height to meet my gaze as he leaned down slightly. I couldn’t help but doubt his intentio his dear eyes]
That day, I still didn’t agree to his request, but I also didn’t push him away. []
1 allowed him to walk me out of the school gate ||
