Love's Redemption

Redmption 86

I was breathing rapidly, frozen in place.

Brandon didn’t move or say anything, but his gaze was glued to me.

To be precise, he was looking right into my eyes.

We stood there, staring at each other, neither stepping forward nor backing away:

I could even feel both our heartbeats quickening.

Until my neighbor, an elderly lady’s voice sounded from outside, “The new tenant’s boyfriend is kind. Look how clean he made the stairs.”

That snapped me back to reality. I gave Brandon a push and quickly escaped to the living room.

But for a moment I didn’t know what to do, feeling dazed and confused.

Brandon walked out, breaking the awkward silence. “Is this the house where your parents used to live?”

I was startled, wondering how he knew. Then I saw him walking toward the wall with the photos. “You still look a lot like you did when you were a kid.”

The wall was decorated with my certificates and our family photos. I was. wearing a red scarf, with my parents on either side of me, smiling warmly. But now, looking at their smiling faces only made my heart tighten.

“You did well in school.” Brandon glanced at my certificates again. My certificates were mostly for being an outstanding student or role model

student. Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.

“I’m still excellent now,” I responded without any humility.

Brandon looked at me. “You are.” He paused for a moment, then added, “In every way.

His gaze made it hard for me to meet his eyes. This man was too straightforward, both in his eyes and his words.

Not wanting any further entanglement, said, “Thank you for your hard work today. Let me treat you to a meal, and then I’ll help you find a place.”

I went from reluctant to proactive because I owed him a favor.

“Alright,” Brandon didn’t refuse but added, “I need to wash my face. Do you have a towel?”

Only when he said this did I realize his face and clothes were dirty. “Wait a moment, I’ll go buy you some clothes.”

Although we were in a remote area, there was a nearby supermarket that had everything.

“No need,” Brandon declined. “Give me a towel. I’ll wipe myself clean.”

I was about to say something else, but I met his unyielding gaze. Reluctantly, I walked to the bathroom, grabbed my towel, and handed it to him. “Use this, I don’t have any new ones.

He nodded, then turned on the tap to wash his face.

For some reason, I didn’t leave. I watched him wash his face in a rugged, masculine way. He splashed water on his face and even ran his hands through his hair with water.

Though it wasn’t cold, the water was. I was about to remind him, but he had already started drying his face and hair with the towel.

When he looked up, he saw me standing behind him in the mirror.

In that instant, I felt embarrassed, feeling like I’d been caught peeping.

I didn’t know how many times I’d felt flustered and anxious around him.

This version of me was like a young girl who had never experienced love.

Come to think of it, though Chris and I were engaged, we never shared these sweet, romantic moments.

As Derick said, Chris even had me bring him toilet paper. We were like siblings. There was affection, but not the kind of excitement between a man and woman

in love.

“Doesn’t the cold water bother you?” I asked, meeting his gaze in the mirror.

“I’m used to washing my face

and hair with cold water. I got used to it in the military.” His reply evoked both admiration and a pang of sorrow in me.

Did soldiers always wash with cold water?