Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

91. Not All Girls ...

(Ryan's Pov)

The early chirping of birds and the soft, dim light filtering into the room stirred me from my slumber. For the first time in a while, I felt rested, as though I had finally had a peaceful sleep. I slowly opened my eyes, only to realize that my head was resting against something soft and warm. Confused, I moved slightly, shifting my position to get a better look.

As my head lifted, I froze, suddenly aware of where I was -- or rather, who I was with. I stared up at her, lying there with my head nestled in her lap. My heart dropped as I realized I had fallen asleep on her. A wave of heat washed over me, and my face instantly turned red. How had I let this happen?

Panicking, I quickly pushed myself away, but in my haste, I lost balance and tumbled right onto the floor with a loud thud. The sharp sound of my fall startled her awake. She blinked, still groggy from sleep, and stared down at me in confusion, clearly trying to make sense of the situation.

There I was, sprawled on the floor, my face burning from both the fall and the embarrassment. She sat up, her brows furrowing as she looked between me and the space I had just vacated. "Ryan, what are you doing on the floor?" she asked, still half-asleep, her voice laced with confusion.

I wanted to disappear into the ground.

She looked at me with sleepy eyes and asked, "Did you fall from the couch?"

Still flustered, I blurted, "You should've let me sleep on the couch. Why did you let me fall asleep on your lap?"

She blinked a few times, processing my words, then rolled her eyes and said, "It's not like I enjoyed it. You slept like a baby, and no matter how much I tried, you wouldn't budge."

Her casual tone made me even more embarrassed. I tried to stand up quickly, but in my rush, I hit the edge of the table. The sudden pain made me wince, and I instinctively rubbed the sore spot. I could hear her burst into laughter, the sound light and teasing.

I shot her an intense stare, my frustration probably written all over my face. Still laughing, she reached out and gently patted the top of my head. "Feeling better now?" she asked, her voice filled with amusement.

I looked at her, intending to say something, but the words got stuck in my throat. Instead, I found myself completely lost in her. She held my gaze for a moment longer, then gave a soft smile and turned, walking back to the room.

My heart raced as I could barely keep up with my own thoughts. The memory of resting my head against her lap, the warmth of her body, and the strange comfort I had found in that moment -- it all replayed in my mind like a loop I couldn't break. I hadn't realized how much I enjoyed that brief moment of closeness, how natural it had felt.
And now, just the thought of it made me feel awkward, embarrassed, and yet... something else entirely.

During breakfast, Krystal walked in, and Sarah greeted her with a warm embrace. I offered her a seat at the table, and with a smile, Krystal placed her wedding invitation on the table, officially inviting us to the big day. We assured her we'd be there, promising to attend.

That evening, Mom sent us out for shopping. As we stood in front of the mall, I turned to Sarah and said, "Take your time. Call me when you're done. I'll be in the arcade."

She gave me a confident smile. "It won't take long."

I chuckled, not believing her. "Sure, sure," I said, already heading towards the arcade.

I had barely been playing for ten minutes when my phone rang. It was Sarah. Surprised, I answered, "You done already?"

"I can't find you. Where are you?" she asked, sounding slightly exasperated.

Confused, I looked around and spotted her not far from where I was sitting. I waved, and she quickly made her way over to me. "That was fast," I remarked. "You finished shopping already?"

She crossed her arms with a playful grin. "I told you it wouldn't take long."

Still in disbelief, I teased her. "But girls usually spend hours in malls."

"Usually," she replied, raising an eyebrow, "but not all girls."

She leaned over to see what I was playing, her curiosity piqued. "What game is this?" she asked, tilting her head slightly with interest.

I pulled out the chair beside me and said, "Sit. Let's have a match."

She hesitated, shaking her head. "No, I don't know how to play. Plus, I've never even been to an arcade before."

"That's fine, I'll teach you. Just sit," I said, nodding toward the game.

Reluctantly, she sat down, and I quickly walked her through the controls and rules. We started playing a few rounds, and unsurprisingly, I kept winning. But for someone who claimed never to have played, she wasn't bad at all.

"I expected more of a challenge," I teased, glancing at her. "Didn't know you were this bad."

She pouted, her lips curling in frustration. "It's my first time! Of course, you'd win against a beginner. You should be ashamed of claiming victory over me."

When she lost again, she threw her hands up, groaning. "That's it, I'm done!" she exclaimed, standing up in frustration.