Lost In Gaze With Mr Billionaire's

ia's

inger in bed-8:00 a.m. class is looming, and I only have half an hour to get ready. My body feels heavy fro

the first shirt I can grab-it's a bit wrinkled, but who has time to care? I don't even bother with makeup

en I s

feels like I don't deserve her care. As I pick up the tray, I realize she must've left it there last night, but I can't bring myself to eat it now. I

ou two?" Pamela asks, her

shing her of

different today, heavier somehow, but I don't have the energy to figure out w

task ahead-class, lectures, and pretending I'm not spiraling inside. My eyes instinctively drift toward the lecture hall entrance, and I see him. Tony. Hi

to shake the discomfort gnawing at me. But it's hard to ign

d myself in the parking lot again. The tension is high

t night, did you?" Her words cut

, trying to shrug it

me, waiting for an answer. "I saw how he was ac

right. "I didn't owe him an explanation. He was more concerne

gain, seemingly unsure of how to respond

off my tongue. "I told him I was sick, that

rried about the truth I'm holding in. And truth be told, I'm scared of i

nancy. It's a truth that hasn't settled into my bones yet. My body feels lighter, stronger, now that the fever is gone, and I almost forg

. "Don't worry about it. You'll figure things out.

fort, even if I don't have the stren

r eyes filled with understanding. "Call me whenever, okay? And about your mom

tens. "She told

ods. "Yeah. She

not Pamela, but somehow, here we are. Still, I can't bring myself to face

m. I'll thi

I wave as she drives off. Alone now, I turn to face the

ach growls in protest-I've barely eaten all day. I pause, noticing the p

tand by the door, unsure how to act. How to feel. How to b

oom, wearing an apron, her eyes fill

ters, and tears flood down my face. She's there, my mother, and for a moment, all

reaking as she pulls me tighter. "I never meant f

oo much. I've been holding this inside for so long, but