6#06

6

Simon gazed at me briefly before reaching for his phone. "I'll arrange a taxi for you. Head back on your own."

"Simon..." I bit my lip forcefully and grabbed his phone away.

"Lola." His eyes met mine, devoid of anger or repulsion. Instead, they were profound, brimming with countless emotions. An inexplicable sadness washed over me.

"Simon, I can't face going back to the dorm. Everyone's mocking me."

"I'm scared to go home too."

"Could you... let me stay at your place for the night..."

I concealed his phone behind my back, my voice growing fainter.

"Of course, if you truly despise me and can't stand the sight of me... then never mind."

As I finished speaking, tears began to fall silently from my eyes, one after another.

Simon remained silent but restarted the car. We drove towards the campus, eventually stopping at the base of his dormitory building.

I trailed Simon into the dorm. He retrieved a clean sweatshirt from the wardrobe and handed it to me, indicating, "The bathroom's over there."

Given his height, the sweatshirt engulfed me, reaching almost to my knees like a dress.

After showering, I emerged wearing only the sweatshirt, bare-legged. Simon glanced at me before averting his gaze.

I passed Zack's bed and settled on Simon's. My damp hair dripped water, quickly dampening the sheets. The scent of Simon's shampoo and body wash enveloped me, creating an indescribable intimacy that silently grew in the confined space.

Simon pulled out a cigarette pack and cleared his throat, "I'm stepping out for a smoke."

He headed to the balcony.

I curiously examined Simon's bed area. Light gray bedding, neat and tidy. A computer and books on the desk, equally organized.

As I was about to inspect the items on his desk, my phone suddenly rang. Zack's name flashed on the screen. I ignored it. He called again quickly, seemingly persistent. I simply silenced the phone and tucked it back in my bag.

"Simon," I called towards the balcony.

He swiftly turned, extinguished his cigarette, and approached. "What's wrong?"

Seated on the bed, I had to look up at him. Simon made eye contact briefly before looking away. I noticed the back of his ears seemed to redden slightly.

"I've dampened your sheets. Where will you sleep tonight?"

He glanced at me, then at the wet spots on the bedding. His Adam's apple bobbed noticeably before he moved to fetch clean sheets from the closet.

"Go dry your hair first. I'll change the bedding before you sleep."

With that, he went to retrieve fresh sheets.

I clutched the towel, recalling how his entire ear had flushed earlier, and couldn't suppress a smile.

When I returned after drying my hair, Simon had already replaced the sheets.

"You can sleep now."

"What about you?"

He pulled out a chair, not turning to face me. "I'll play some games."

"Oh."

I sat on his bed, feeling somewhat dejected.

Simon put on his headphones but was interrupted by his ringing phone.

He checked the screen, glanced at me, then answered.

"Zack, what's up?"

My heart suddenly clenched, and I instinctively held my breath.

"Mm, I'm in the dorm."

"You say someone saw Lola come to our dorm building?"

Simon turned to look at me again. "I..."

In a moment of panic, I didn't wait for him to finish.

I stood up, walked over, straddled his legs, and wrapped my arms around his neck.

As Simon was about to push me away, I whispered in his ear, "Simon, tell him I'm not here."

Under my fingers hooked around his neck, Simon's skin instantly grew hot. I saw the blue veins on the side of his neck tense and slightly protrude. His Adam's apple moved rapidly, his heart racing.

I looked up at him as he looked down at me. Desire gradually spread in the depths of his eyes.

"No, I've been in the dorm the whole time."

"She didn't come. Yeah, you should ask someone else."

Simon ended the call abruptly. He tossed the phone aside and gripped my waist through the sweatshirt with his long fingers, holding me tight against him.

I clearly felt his arousal. My ears buzzed, and my first instinct was to escape.

But Simon held me even tighter. "Lola."

His voice was husky. His warm breath fell on my ear and neck.

I tried to shrink away, but his kiss landed directly on my lips.

"Don't tempt me... I don't want to touch you in a place like this."

"Simon..."

I squirmed, trying to adjust my position. His arousal seemed about to overwhelm me, frighteningly intense.

In the brief pause between kisses, I finally found a chance to speak.

"If you don't want to touch me, why are you kissing me?"

Simon lowered his head slightly, his forehead pressed against mine. In our mingled breaths, he closed his eyes, seemingly trying hard to regain control.

"Also, do you even know how to kiss... my lips are all swollen."

"Lola."

Simon kept his eyes closed. But his hands on my waist slightly loosened their grip. His fingers were long and strong, gripping me through the sweatshirt, causing both pain and torment.

"Simon..."

I frowned, wanting to push his hands away. But Simon caught my fingers.

"Lola, don't move."

"I'll be gentler this time."

As he finished speaking, Simon's hands moved to my lower back. He pulled me close, pressing me tightly against him.

This kiss was long and gentle. Towards the end, he seemed to lose control and kissed very deeply.

"Simon..."

I lightly hit him and nipped at him between breaths.

"Lola."

Simon's voice was extremely hoarse. His whole body tensed. The heat from his palms nearly scorched my skin.

Simon suddenly buried his face in the crook of my neck and let out a low groan.

His arousal peaked, then subsided. But soon, it seemed ready to rise again.

However, Simon gently pushed me away and helped me stand. I noticed his expression was very strange. There was also an unfamiliar scent in the air. I couldn't help but ask, "Simon, what just happened to you?"

His ears were bright red. The usually aloof man now had eyes full of deep desire.

"I need to shower."

He stood up, lowered his gaze, and tugged at the hem of his sweatshirt.

"You sleep first."

Before I could respond, Simon had already rushed into the bathroom.

When the sound of running water started, I lay on Simon's bed and rolled over. Then I cooled my flushed face with the back of my hand.

I seemed to have a vague idea of what had occurred. But Simon was tall and athletic, with lean muscles. He had a high, straight nose bridge and a sharp jawline. His fingers were also very long, with strong knuckles.

He didn't seem like the type to finish so quickly. Could it be that he had never had a girlfriend before? And had never been intimate with a woman?

Thinking this way, my heart began to fill with sweet bubbles.

As I lay on Simon's pillow, I accidentally felt something under it. It was a pearl earring that looked very familiar. It was one of a pair that I wore frequently.

Once when I visited Zack's dorm, I had accidentally lost one and couldn't find it no matter how hard I searched. So Simon had found it.

I suddenly remembered. In those previous dreams, Simon seemed to have kept this earring with him constantly.

After a moment of reflection, I returned the earring under his pillow.

The sound of the hair dryer stopped.

When Simon emerged, he wore navy blue pajamas. After the steam, his skin appeared as white as jade. With his hair neatly combed, his usual sharp coldness had softened somewhat.

For some reason, I found Simon looked rather endearing at that moment.

Just as I was about to call out to him, there was suddenly a faint sound of voices outside the door.

My expression changed, and I froze completely. One of the voices outside was clearly Zack's.

Simon's face darkened, but he reacted faster than I did.

By the time Zack pushed open the door, Simon had already stuffed my clothes into the closet. My shoes were hidden in the deepest part under the bed. And Simon was just lifting the blanket to get into bed.

Only one night light was on in the dorm, the light dim. I was hidden under Simon's blanket. There was only a slight, inconspicuous bulge. Even if Zack came closer, he wouldn't notice anything unusual unless he looked carefully.

"Why did you turn off the lights so early?" Zack asked curiously.