After One-night Stand with A College Boy

at him. He took the cigarette from my hand, staring at me with intense

ed another cigarette from the pack. With a smirk, I mocked, "Don't y

impulsive young college stude

ad expected it. "Then I'll make it more formal next time."

zy?" I snapp

othes from the bedside, and headed to the bathroom. The remnants of our shared

, thinking about his confession,

tless times, but did which o

e familiar outline blurred, unable to tell

d earlier. Hearing me, he immediately looked up and walked over to inspect my wrist. When he saw the trace

his topic. "Don't you have a class tonight? I

, still concerned about the red marks on my wrist. He wanted t

y thinking of skipping class. Go back to classes!" Seeing he wanted to say more, I shot him another sharp look. He pouted and reluctantly slung his bag o

ing a headache coming

ed with reluctant sadness. My headache worsened, and I wished I could go ba

I met Callum

up. His outfit-a white T-shirt, sweatpants, and basketball shoes-was completely out of place in the bar. Wit

the restroom. He was slumped in a corner, swaying as if too drunk to stand, occasionally letting out suppress

found him an eyesore besides the couple as a third wheel. After a moment's pause, I

ve. He grabbed my wrist, his voice low and menacing. "Whose way am I blocking? Was

. Just as I was about to call for help, his wounded, helpless eyes met mine. Despite the dim light obs

" His voice was like a wounded ani

ve

ng on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, "Boy, love is just a word. You'll soon find that all love is a

tepping back and touching hi

path, blocking others. I grabbed his collar, pulling him back, an

t and kissing back fiercely. In our entanglement, he accident

t be a brief fling. Unexpectedly, he insisted on adding me as a frie

nd sighed deeply. A message notification popped up on m

y the ointment an

s were full

This perfect sense of distance once made me think having a long-term fling like this wasn't so bad. Yet, he could be im

uld such intens

e from him, and my cold replies never seemed to dampen his

on, just the allure

ot keep

this message,

3

rectly at the client's company. I juggled conversations with brokers and accountants, making empty promi

th them. After a few arguments with the partners of my company, we rea

mble, "I may not earn as much as you, but I can still afford a meal. It's not right for a girl to pay on a date... " Or after, he would gaze at me with sparkling eyes, trying to invite me out, but his throwing a tantrum never swayed me. In the end, he would leave wit

m just because of being single for so long, and

ed, I instinctively wanted to call the police, then remembered I had brough

w to react. After a few seconds, he cautiously appr

dark circles under his eyes and sunken cheeks. Even

ust leaned in to sniff him, fro

tobacco was eviden

my sleeve, his voice hoarse, "Christi

now dim and filled with insecurity. He slouched humbly, head bowed, ret

you dislike love, we won't speak of i

sure of what I felt. Was

d, softening my stance

refuse his

on the edge of the sofa, watching me ta

before my business trip, l

e me. From the details, it was clear he grew up in a bubble of happiness, living a smooth lif

as questionable, always fa

ike about me?"

way his gloom. It was as if nothing had changed, he was still the brave boy chasing

m resting on the armrest of the single sofa. Leaning in with eyes twink

ss a smile, but my tone remained firm, "

ound myself lost