Brandon''s gaze deepened as he stepped into the hospital room, shutting the door behind him and settling onto the couch.


    Vrie adjusted her nket, then looked up, only to catch him staring intently at her. The gaze made her bite her lip unconsciously.


    "There''s no extra nket," she murmured. "If you''re really tired, maybe you should just go home. I''m fine on my own now."


    After N''s visit, she did feel much calmer.


    "It''s alright. You go to sleep. I''ll stay here," Brandon replied.


    Vrie nced at him for a moment before quickly looking away. “Alright. I''ll try to sleep then..."


    "Okay," Brandon answered.


    Vrie pulled the nket up, hiding beneath it, yet sleep wouldn''te.


    The room was quiet, but she couldn''t stop thinking about Brandon sitting just across from her on the couch. Her heart pounded, and her hands clenched the nket, as a faint sheen of sweat dampened her palms.


    “Can''t sleep?” Brandon''s gentle voice broke the silence from the couch.


    Vrie hesitated, then threw back the nket and looked his way. "How''d you know I was still awake?"


    The room wasn''t too cold, and she had been hiding under the covers. Her face was flushed, and her hair was damp with sweat.


    The delicate blush on her cheeks reminded Brandon of the first blooms of spring- alluring and tender. (1)


    He looked away subtly, his voice steady. "The nket was moving around quite a bit."


    "Oh..." Vrie replied, her cheeks burning.


    She wanted to vanish right then and there. Instead, sheughed awkwardly. “I can''t really sleep, but it has nothing to do with you. I guess I''m a bit too awake now that it''s past my usual bedtime."


    "Mm, I know," Brandon replied.


    The glimmer in his eyes made Vrie feel seen in a way she wasn''t prepared for. She recalled N''s words to be honest about her feelings, but this situation was thest ce she''d envisioned confronting them.


    In the past, she had always feltfortable with Brandon, treating him as a friend and nothing more. Now, even just meeting his eyes made her nervous.


    This wasn''t like her at all.


    At the thought, she summoned her courage and looked over at him. “Brandon, do you... want to try things out with me?"


    Silence filled the room as her words sank in.


    +25 Bonus


    Brandon''s gaze grew intense as if the clear sky had turned into a deep ocean, ready to pull Vrie under.


    When he didn''t respond immediately, her face burned, and she turned away. "Never mind if you don''t want to. And just so you know, nothing happened with Zayn. He didn''t get the chance..."


    Seeing her tense expression, Brandon sighed and moved closer. “Vrie, it''s not that I don''t want to be with you. Otherwise, I wouldn''t be here tonight. I just want to make sure this isn''t a rushed decision for you. Your emotions are still raw, and I don''t want you to regret this."


    When Vrie didn''t answer, he crouched down to look into her eyes. His voice softened. "Vrie, let''s wait until you''re out of the hospital. If you still feel the same way, we''ll talk then-"


    Before he could finish, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.


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    Cede is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a ir for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cede''s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.