CHAPTER ONE:THE MORNING AFTER
I blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling above me.
For a second, I couldn't remember where I was.
The room smelled faintly of laundry detergent and cedarwood.
It definitely wasn't mine.
My heart lurched.
Then I turned my head...
Damien was sleeping peacefully beside me.
How did I end up here? I wondered, my heart pounding.
As if sensing my gaze, Damien opened his eyes.
"Morning, Sarah," he said, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
"Did... did anything happen last night?"
Damien blinks.
Then laughs.
"You really don't remember?"
I bury my face in my hands.
"Please don't say that."
"How did I get here?" I asked, sitting up.
"You fell asleep during the movie marathon," he replied with a soft laugh. "You insisted on staying instead of waking your brother."
Relief washed over me, but before I could say anything,
He's expression turned serious.
Damien looked down at his hands.
For the first time since I'd known him...
He looked nervous.
"Last night..." he began.
"You told me something."
My stomach dropped.
"Please tell me I didn't embarrass myself."
He laughed softly.
"You kind of did."
"You said you liked me"
"The truth is... I've cared about you for a long time too. I stayed quiet because I didn't want to risk my friendship with your brother—or with you."
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, and suddenly, the world felt very different.
I looked at Damien.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" I asked quietly.
He smiled softly.
"From the day I saw you running around in your pajamas, playing with the dog,
you looked so innocent and cute.
I started developing feelings for you. The more time I spent with you, the stronger those feelings became."
He paused before continuing.
"Sarah, you don't understand how many times I wanted to tell you. But I couldn't risk losing my friendship with your brother... or with you."
I was speechless.
The truth was, I had liked him from the very beginning too. I had just never found the courage to admit it until last night.
Damien looked into my eyes, and my heart skipped a beat.
"Sarah... will you officially be mine?" he asked.
For a second, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was Damien really asking me to be his girlfriend?.
A smile spread across my face.
"Yes," I said softly. "Of course."
Neither of us spoke.
We just smiled at each other.
It felt surreal.
For years, I'd imagined what it would be like if Damien ever liked me back.
Reality somehow felt even better.
Happiness rushed through me, but then I remembered one important thing.
"We have to keep this relationship a secret," I told him. "My brother can't find out."
Damien nodded in understanding.
"I know," he said. "We'll be careful."
We were about to continue our moment
When a knock echoed through the room.
Before either of us could answer...
The door swung open.
"Damien, have you seen my—"
James froze.
Damien and I jumped apart so quickly I nearly fell off the bed.
James frowned.
"Why do you two look so guilty?"
We immediately moved apart, trying our best to look as normal as possible.
Hours later, I headed to class, but I couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened that morning. I replayed every little moment in my head, wondering how I had never realized Damien felt the same way.
I tried to focus on the lecture, but it was impossible.
Then, all of a sudden, Damien walked into the classroom and sat beside me.
My heart immediately started racing, and butterflies filled my stomach.
"What are you doing here?" I whispered. "This isn't even your class."
He grinned and held up my books.
"I came to give you these," he said.
Instead of leaving, Damien stayed through the class.
"You should leave." I whispered
Damien smiles.
"Why?"
"Because if you stay here, I'm not going to hear a single word the lecturer says."
"That's not my fault."
"It absolutely is."
Hidden beneath the table, our hands found each other.
It was such a small gesture, yet somehow, it meant everything.
If someone had told me that morning our secret wouldn't stay hidden for long...
I never would have believed them.
