Love for One Night

Ch 2: Over-the-Shoulder Throw (8)

Arden wasn't the only one feeling twinging.

Sandra looked at her own mangled, bloody hand and couldn't help but worry. Would her hand be permanently ruined? She relied on her hands to make a living.

April had once asked Sandra, who was so passionate about Sanda, if she wasn't afraid of injuring her hands and being unable to paint one day. Back then, Sandra hadn't been concerned at all.

When people love something, they subconsciously downplay any negative consequences it might bring. But smashing a door wasn't something Sandra wanted to do. If her hand ended up ruined over such a trivial matter, it would be too unfair.

While pulling splinters from Sandra's hand with tweezers, April pouted and complained, "I just wanted to be alone for a bit. Did you really have to punch such a huge hole in the door? Now we'll have to get the landlord to fix it, and it'll cost us part of our deposit!"

Sandra turned her gaze away, trying to shift her focus, and cautiously asked, "Are you okay?"

April paused her work with the tweezers and sighed at Sandra's exaggeratedly apologetic expression. "Would you believe me if I said I was fine?"

Lowering her head, Sandra grabbed April's hand, holding it in hers as she sincerely apologized, "I'm sorry."

April didn't pull away. After a moment of silence, she carefully chose her words to avoid embarrassing her roommate.

"Sandra, I know you mean well. I've always been timid and bad at saying no, so I keep asking you to play the bad guy for me. It's really unfair to you."

"We're like sisters. No need to feel bad about it. Just one look from you, and I'd go through fire and water for you," Sandra said, patting her chest with injured hands, still brimming with loyalty.

"That's not necessary." April lowered her head. "Sandra, you can't protect me forever. I need to go out there, face the world, and maybe take a few tumbles."

"Oh? Your heart's grown wings, has it?" Sandra teased. "But if you're going to stumble, at least pick a safer spot. Jumping straight into the frying pan? I can't just stand by and watch."

"I know, I know." April carefully wrapped gauze around Sandra's fingers. She was skilled at applying ointments and bandages, thanks to all the practice from the countless minor injuries Sandra had her tend to.

"Do you even know your boyfriend's background?"

April nodded.

"And you know what he's like as a person?"

April nodded again.

"He's not a Mr. Perfect," Sandra said, trying to make sure her naive friend wasn't being fooled.

"His dad owns the Ryo Entertainment Agency. He's surrounded by women, all models from his family's company," April replied calmly, as if she were talking about someone else's business.

"Then why are you still with him?" Sandra was stunned. April didn't seem like someone who'd go for that sort of thing. Was it possible she'd been watching too many soap dramas?

April, cheerful now, quickened her movements. "It's rare to have someone pursue me, so I figured I'd give it a chance. Besides, Ryo is really handsome, isn't he? Every time we go for coffee, lots of girls secretly glance at him."

Sandra quickly rescued her hand from the love-struck girl's grip, fearing April would wrap her fingers until they resembled radishes.

"Don't do it. You don't want to pay such a steep price for a bit of vanity."

April flashed a confident "everything's under control" smile. "I won't, I won't."

Sandra suddenly leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, "Has he... you know... attempted to do anything?"

April burst into laughter and, mimicking Sandra, leaned in and whispered back, "I'm still as pure as you."

Sandra broke out in a cold sweat, thinking, if you end up like me, that would be a disaster.

"Relax," April said smugly. "I haven't let him succeed yet. But he's really pushy. Are all men like this?"

Sandra thought to herself, if not all, then definitely most.

"Sandra."

"Yeah?"

"How do you know Ryo isn't a Mr. Perfect?"

Now, this was a tricky question. How was Sandra supposed to answer? She couldn't exactly admit she'd been picked up by Ryo at a nightclub and lost her virginity to one of his friends. That wasn't a story worth bragging about.

So, she vaguely replied, "You can just tell by looking at him."

"Really?" April seemed unsure but didn't press. Then she hit Sandra with another headache-inducing question. "By the way, why were you there that day? Were you following me?"

"You think I was following you?" Sandra stood up in shock.

"Weren't you?" April looked up at her innocently.

Sandra rolled her eyes. "I was just finishing practice with Yao and happened to see you there."

"Really? What a coincidence."

Eager to clarify, Sandra said, "Yes, really! We were leaving the gym, and from a distance, I saw you sitting there."

"And then?" April asked.

"Then..." Sandra hesitated, reluctant to admit she'd hidden behind a lamppost to secretly check out on her. She opted for another vague response. "Then I saw that creep getting handsy with you, and, well... you know the rest."

April seemed unimpressed with Sandra's violent actions. "But he's so handsome."

"Huh?" Sandra wasn't following April's train of thought.

"Even without my glasses, I could tell he's better-looking than Ryo," April said, suddenly dreamy.

A bead of sweat slid down Sandra's temple.

"But I still like Ryo better," April declared, resting her chin in her hands. "Cute and sunshine boy fits me more."

Sandra practically spat out blood in frustration. She glanced at April's slightly swollen eyes. "Are you really okay?"

April followed her gaze and touched her own eyes before waving her hand dismissively. "I was wearing too little, caught a chill, and got a stomachache. Nothing serious. Don't worry"

Hard not to worry.