Embracing You Tightly

The next day, I went to deliver breakfast to him as usual.

He took the breakfast and didn't say a word.

I obediently admitted my mistake. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied to you," I said.

He lowered his head and ate the breakfast. He didn't even look at me.

I tried hard to recall how I had coaxed him back after being caught lying before.

But no matter how hard I thought, I couldn't remember.

It seemed like he always cooled down by himself in the end. I never really coaxed him.

He was always harsh on others' mistakes, but he repeatedly tolerated mine.

The urge to make it up to him grew stronger. I eagerly took out the other side dishes from the lunchbox. I arranged them neatly on the table.

Then, I sat across from him. I placed my hands on the table. I stared at him with the eager eyes of a curious student and didn't say a word.

His lips were naturally a beautiful shade of pink. The sticky rice clung to them. They were inexplicably enticing.

I involuntarily swallowed. I strongly reprimanded myself internally.

"How could I have feelings for Xavier? He always sees me as a sister. There is no possibility between siblings."

I felt a bit disappointed when I realized this.

"If only Xavier wasn't my brother, if only my mom and his mom weren't best friends...

No. Then, I might not have had the chance to know him."

After a few minutes of daydreaming, Xavier finally couldn't help but speak.

He glared at me in annoyance. "What are you daydreaming about? Eat," he said.

I blinked. I quickly added, "Xavier, I was really wrong. I won't dare lie to you again next time. Will you forgive me?"

He nearly choked. He slammed the fork on the table. "Are you eating or not? If not, get out of here now," he said.

I stuck out my tongue. I reluctantly started eating.

I muttered quietly, "Why so fierce? If you keep being mean, I won't bring you breakfast anymore."

"Sure, you can take the breakfast away right now. I'll go home and tell your mom what you've been up to these two years in college," he said.

"Damn. He knows how to hold something over my head."

When I first started college, I was happy when my mom handed me the key card.

"Sweetie, this place is close to your school. You can drive to campus in five minutes. There's food, fun, and everything nearby. Feel safe living here," she said.

After living there for a few days, I found out that Xavier lived across the hall.

My mom explained it like this, "Oh, isn't this a coincidence! It's great to be near Xavier. It's not safe for you to live alone, so it's good for you two to look out for each other," she said.

Now, it seems Xavier isn't my guardian. He's my retribution.

We lived across from each other. He knew what time I came home every day. If I ever wanted to lie to my mom, I had to figure out a way to bribe him first.

Huh!

He had been suppressing me for so long. I couldn't stand living like this another day.

I slapped my fork on the table. I finally stood up for myself.

"Go ahead, say it. I'm done with this. Every time something happens, you use this to threaten me. Is that fun for you?" I said.

He probably didn't expect this reaction from me. He was stunned for a moment, then his tone softened.

"Mila, that's not what I meant," he said.

"If that's not what you meant, then what did you mean? I think my mom sent you to spy on me. She must have purposely bought this apartment across from you," I said.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. My tone grew harsher.

"I never should've gone to the same school as you. I don't know why I worked so hard to get into Turner University!" I said.

As soon as I said the words, even I was stunned.

Yeah, why did I insist on getting into Turner University?

Back then, my grades were above average, but I was still far from qualifying for Turner University.

The teacher called me in for a talk. She said my grades were good enough to aim for a second-grade university. She advised me not to be too aggressive.

I was dead set on Turner University and I studied like crazy.

In the end, I paid the price for my arrogance. I was placed in the least popular major at Turner University, geophysics.

I started to lose interest in studying. I began treating relationships as a way to pass the time.

"You worked so hard back then. Wasn't it because of your dreams?" Xavier said.

Xavier walked around the table and sat down next to me. His brows furrowed slightly.

"Mila, I always thought you pushed yourself so hard because you liked Turner University. But why did you fall apart after getting into college?

"You clearly had other options. You could've changed your major. You could've studied abroad. But instead, you focused solely on dating and treated your future like a joke. What were you thinking?"

What was I thinking? I didn't know either.

Was I so stubborn back then just to make things harder on myself?

Suddenly, I felt exhausted. It was like all the strength had been drained from my body.

"Let's leave it at that, Xavier. Let me be alone for a while," I said.

He pressed his lips together tightly. But in the end, he said nothing and did nothing.

I stormed out, leaving him standing there alone.