Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



Corley leaned back against the wall, a smirk playing on his lips. "Aren't you supposed to be out there dancing with your girlfriend? How do you have the energy to keep tabs on what's happening over here?"

He crossed his arms, the smirk never leaving his face.

Murray shrugged, his expression unreadable under the dim streetlight, half his face shrouded in shadows. "With all that commotion, it's hard to pretend I didn't notice."

Corley, ever so nonchalant, shrugged. "Expected. It's not the first time I've been shot down. You know Anne's temperament better than anyone." Murray's face remained stoic. "I told you, you wouldn't stand a chance."

A grin tugged at Corley's lips. "That's what makes it so interesting! You know, the harder the mountain is to climb, the more I'm fueled to conquer it. Just because I didn't succeed this time doesn't mean I'll lose every time. Eventually, I'll reach the peak and look down at everything below."

Murray let out a scoff. "You might die trying to climb halfway up the mountain."

"That's fine by me," Corley retorted. "Dying on the way up is still glorious. It's neither laughable nor pitiful. You know what's truly pitiful?" Murray had a feeling he wasn't going to like what came next.

Sure enough, Corley went on, "The most pitiful are those who don't even get the chance to be rejected. They have to pretend they're nonchalant about it. Unfortunately, no matter how invested they are in their act, nobody cares."

With that, Corley pulled out his car keys and slid into the driver's seat.

Before driving off, he rolled down the window and called out with a laugh, "Don't forget to walk your girlfriend back to her dorm. Give her a lingering kiss goodbye. After all, if you're going to put on a show, you might as well do it professionally, right?"

Watching Corley's car disappear into the night, Murray clenched his fists.

Soon after, Grace appeared.

"Why are you out here? Isn't it cold?"

Murray simply said, "Needed some fresh air."

"The party's over. Thanks for being with me tonight..."

"Yeah, let's go."

Grace paused, "Go where?"

"To walk you back to your dorm."

Leading the way, Murray started walking.

Catching up, Grace's smile flickered briefly before she called out, "Wait for me..."

That night, a simple get-together had three men tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Roseanne, on the other hand, had left early to head to the business school's lab.

She managed to produce two sets of data and complete her statistical analysis before heading home. After a shower, she contentedly crawled into bed.

She browsed her phone, checked the

news, soon drifted off to sleep has the lights were oute

as

swno

...

The next morning, Roseanne woke up before her alarm.

After getting ready, she found the fridge empty and decided to grab breakfast at the cafeteria. She bumped into Mamie there.

"Morning, Roseanne!"

"Morning!"

At the counter, Roseanne ordered, "A cinnamon roll, a corn on the cob, and a soy milk, please."

"And for you, miss?"

Mamie pointed at Roseanne's tray. "I'll have what she's having!"

"Coming right up!"

Roseanne looked at her, puzzled. "Something wrong? Your stomach off?"

Mamie looked bewildered. "Nope, my stomach's fine."NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

"Then why are you eating so little?

You usually have at least three bagels, two sausage rolls, and sometimes even a hash brown. Why the light breakfast today?"

Mamie was speechless. Some truths are better left unsaid.

"Well, just not feeling hungry today.. Thought I'd eat light. Shall we Roseanne? It's almost time.".

"Sure."

They made their way to the classroom and settled down to eat their breakfast slowly.