Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

127. He Unravels Me

(Sarah's Pov)

A week had passed, and Ryan finally removed the fracture belt, his hand fully healed. Without wasting any time, he threw it aside and eagerly returned to his duty. While organizing the closet, I stumbled upon a small, worn-out envelope. Inside was a certificate -- a token of appreciation for winning a gaming championship eight years ago.

Curiosity piqued, I waited for him to return. As soon as he walked in, I held up the envelope, smiling. "I found this," I said, showing it to him. "You were a champion in video games?"

He smirked, a glint of pride in his eyes. "I still am," he replied confidently.

I hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Then why do you play just for fun?" Realizing I might have overstepped, I quickly added, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't meddle with your personal life."

Before he could say anything or feel uncomfortable, I quickly excused myself and rushed out of the room.

As we were settling down for the night, I accidentally splashed some water onto my bed. Ryan burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room.

"Dare to sleep on my bed?" he asked, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

"Why not?" I shot back, even though my heart was screaming against the idea. To tease him, I nudged my pillow closer to him and nestled into my side of the bed. "Ryan, don't get butterflies, okay?"

He raised an eyebrow, maintaining his composure. "Okay then. Let's see who's able to sleep tonight."

I plugged in my earphones, cranking up the volume, and closed my eyes, trying to shut out the world. To my surprise, he took one side of the earphones and slid it into his ear. "What kind of song is this?" he asked, curiosity lacing his tone.

"Korean OST," I replied. "Listen a bit longer; you'll find it soothing."

We listened together for a while, the soft melodies filling the room. When I stole a glance at him, I noticed he had drifted off to sleep, his features relaxed and peaceful. With a soft smile, I carefully pulled out the earphones and let myself succumb to sleep as well.

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Early the next morning, I stirred awake, only to find a heavy hand resting on my waist. My heart raced as I opened my eyes and realized it was Ryan. Relief washed over me when I recognized that this time, I was lying on my right side, away from him.

Feeling a mix of confusion and nervousness, I gently slid his hand off my waist, trying not to wake him, and rushed to the washroom. A wave of anxiety coursed through me; the intimacy of the moment felt overwhelming. I silently vowed never to sleep on the same bed again -- it was too dangerous.

His presence lingered in the air like an intoxicating perfume, making it hard for me to catch my breath. I could still feel the warmth of his hand on my skin, and it sent my mind racing. I struggled to regain my composure, realizing how easily I could lose control around him.

I'd always been used to being alone at home, and honestly, I preferred it that way. The quiet, the space -- it made me comfortable. I wasn't surrounded by people, so I could mind my own business, maybe do some household chores here and there. The others in the house usually came home late at night, so I rarely felt the presence of anyone else.

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That evening, I was sprawled on the couch, being a total couch potato while watching some mindless show on TV. The clock struck nine, and my phone buzzed with a text.

"Come to All Night Club right now."

It was from Ryan.

I stared at it for a moment, considering it. But then, with a shrug, I tossed the phone aside.
My phone beeped again, pulling my attention away from the TV.

"It's an emergency," Ryan had texted.

That got my heart racing a little. Without thinking twice, I jumped up from the couch. I was still in my tee and jeans, nothing fancy, but I didn't bother changing. I just grabbed my purse and booked a cab. As I waited for it to arrive, I glanced at my reflection in the hallway mirror -- my hair was still tied up in a messy bun. With a sigh, I pulled the hair tie out, letting my hair fall loosely around my shoulders.
The cab arrived, and I headed straight to the address Ryan had sent.