Chapter 3

"I didn't say I wasn't going," I spoke up.

"So when are you coming over?"

"Give me about twenty minutes."

"Alright, I'll wait for you, Jaxon."

The call didn't end until I stopped talking.

Later, I gave my umbrella to a mother and child seeking shelter from the rain.

So by the time Jaxon arrived, I was soaked to the bone.

He got out of the car, his thin lips pressed tightly together, his face as cold as if it were covered in frost.

I brushed away the wet hair clinging to my forehead and smiled at him,

"Jaxon, you're right on time."

"Melody, you're adorably stupid."

He shoved me into the car with a scowl and tossed me a soft blanket.

"Dry yourself off properly, don't mess up my car."

He glanced at me, then quickly turned the car around using the rearview mirror.

"Oh."

I obediently wrapped myself in the blanket.

I couldn't help but sneak peeks at him as he drove.

Jaxon was always like this, expressionless, looking aloof and unapproachable.

Many girls at school had crushes on him, but no one dared to confess.

He was Dashiell's roommate.I visited Dashiell's dorm room quite often, and he always frowned when he saw me.

Even this time when he came to pick me up, his attitude was ice-cold.

The force with which he shoved me into the car earlier was particularly strong. My wrist still hurts, and there are quite a few red marks left.

Who could have imagined that he was secretly in love with me?

I lowered my eyelashes.

It seemed like everything from the dream was actually happening.

But because I had changed, many things had also become different.

Would Jaxon still like me?

If he never liked me in the first place, haven't I just added unnecessary trouble for him?

"Back to the dorm?"

Jaxon suddenly turned his head to glance at me.

My heart rate quickened a bit, and I casually replied.

"Yeah, back to your dorm."

Jaxon's fingers curled around the steering wheel as he sneered,

"Dashiell won't be back tonight."

"I know."

My hand gripping the edge of the blanket gradually tightened.

"I'm not going there to see him either."

The car suddenly slammed to a halt, stopping at the roadside.

Jaxon turned to look at me, the frost in his eyes so cold it made my heart tremble.

"Melody, don't fucking treat me like I'm part of your little game!""

'I didn't...'

I began to say, but Jaxon glanced at me and picked up his phone.

'I'll call you a cab. You can go back on your own.'

'Jaxon...'

I suddenly bit my own lip and snatched the phone from his hand.

'Melody.'

He looked at me, but there was no anger or disgust in his eyes,

just a deep gaze filled with countless emotions.

I felt an indescribable sadness.

'Jaxon, I don't want to go back to the dorm. They always make fun of me.'

'And I'm scared to go home.'

'Tonight, could you let me stay at your dorm...'

"