He was seventeen years old, and already too grown for his age. Sebastian had always been that way, mature, observant, and emotionally sharp. The kind of brother who listened more than he spoke. The kind who picked up on things even when I tried my hardest to hide them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was the only reason I hadn\u2019t completely lost myself over the years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The reason I kept fighting, even when life had given me every excuse to give up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And just like me, he hated being a burden. That\u2019s why he worked so hard to earn scholarships, to stay in boarding school, to always smile like he wasn\u2019t lonely. I knew that version of pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If I told him the truth, that Matthew let me drown to save Nora, held lose it. He\u2019d probably go do something reckless. I couldn\u2019t let that happen\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t do anything,\u201d I said softly. \u201cI just figured out my worth, that\u2019s all. I had to end things with him to protect myself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes narrowed, like he knew I wasn\u2019t telling him everything. But after a moment, he just sighed. He didn\u2019t push.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He simply reached out and took my hand. \u201cYou did great. You deserve more than what he\u2019s giving you. If he can\u2019t see your value, that\u2019s his loss. You\u2019ll find someone better, someone who truly loves you for who you are.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I let out a small laugh. \u201cGod, I hate it when you sound old.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He grinned, smug. \u201cI sound mature. Girls love mature guys. I have lots of girls after me, you know.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I rolled my eyes. \u201cOh no, not the fan club again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Standing up, I dusted off my jeans and stretched. \u201cAnyway, I have to get going. I only came to see you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stood up too, tugging on the hem of my shirt like he used to when he was little.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you going now?\u201d he asked, hesitant. \u201cYou\u2019re not seriously thinking about going to-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to Uncle\u2019s,\u201d I said with a forced smile, cutting him off. I don\u2019t really have another place right now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shook his head. \u201cYou know how that place is. That\u2019s why you moved out in the first place. And that\u2019s why I stayed in boarding school. It\u2019s toxic. You can\u2019t go back there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know,\u201d I said softly. \u201cBut it\u2019s just for a while.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about your friends?\u201d he asked. \u201cCan\u2019t you stay with them?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thought of it made me shake my head instantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kai and Penelope were my best friends, and they were sweet. They were in a relationship, living together, always touching, always loud, and hopelessly in love. And very, very sexual.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oh Tiger you have no idea\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019d walked in on them once. I was still recovering. Besides, I didn\u2019t want to be a burden.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. They don\u2019t have space. And I don\u2019t want to impose. I might be a burden.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not a burden!\u201d he said instantly. \u201cIf anything, I\u2019m the buren. You went through so much because of me\u2026 If I\u2019d never been born, maybe you would\u2019ve -\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t let him finish. I reached out and flicked his forehead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He yelped, grabbing his head. \u201cOw! What was that for?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I scoffed. \u201cWhen are you going to stop thinking like that? Next time you do, I\u2019ll hit you harder.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He grumbled, rubbing the spot. \u201cAlright, alright. I won\u2019t think that way again. Geez.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. My voice softened. \u201cYou\u2019re not a burden, Seb. Without you, my life would\u2019ve been so much worse.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He smiled at my words before saying \u201cYou have savings. Why not just get your own place?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at him, and for a moment, I wanted to tell him the truth. That all my savings was for him. That I worked many jobs through college so he wouldn\u2019t have to worry when he turned eighteen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even when I was with Matthew, I never used his money. I never wanted anyone to think I was that girl, clinging to a rich boyfriend for the perks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I worked hard, tutored students, and took extra shifts. Balanced classes and part-time jobs. Every little paycheck went into that\u00a0<\/p>\n
savings account.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t tell Seb that. He\u2019d feel guilty. Or worse, he\u2019d cry. And I couldn\u2019t see that again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll figure it out,\u201d I said. \u201cI just need a few days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I reached out and ruffled Sebastian\u2019s curly red hair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He groaned and ducked away, rolling his eyes. \u201cI\u2019m not Tiger.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I grinned. \u201cSorry. Reflex. You are both really cute.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He crossed his arms and gave me his best unimpressed face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to go now, make sure you eat properly and stay safe. Oh, I heard there\u2019s a school trip coming soon.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sebastian blinked. \u201cHow do you know?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I raised an eyebrow, smug. \u201cI was listening to some students talking about it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do realize how creepy that sounds, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked away. \u201cWhy else? I don\u2019t want to go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s boring, and expensive. They want to travel to Japan to \u2018studyrt and culture\u2019 or whatever.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you like art,\u201d I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shrugged, \u201cNot that kind of art.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head. \u201cSeb, is it about the price?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it\u2019s about the money, don\u2019t worry. I\u2019ll pay for it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oh how you have no iden\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
His head whipped around. \u201cDo you even know how much it is? Five hundred thousand. That\u2019s insane. It\u2019s not worth it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour other classmates are going, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re rich,\u201d he mumbled. \u201cI\u2019m not. I\u2019ll look out of place.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse you, your big sister is rich, you know\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSays the girl who won\u2019t even get her own apartment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ouch. Accurate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not the point. This is more important. I want you to go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t speak, but I saw the way his lips pressed together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I knew that feeling too well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When I was in high school, I missed so many things I wanted, school festivals, trips, and projects. I remembered smiling while everyone else went off with their tickets and travel bags. I remembered pretending I didn\u2019t care.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want that for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGo to class. Don\u2019t let me keep you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned and whistled. \u201cCome here, Tiger.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tiger, loyal as ever, barked and gave Sebastian one last lick across the face, making him grimace and wipe it off with his sleeve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGross.\u201d He said smiling. \u201cTake care, Violet!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I grabbed my suitcase and walked toward the school\u2019s front gate, my mind spinning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
500,000 dollars. In a week. How the hell was I going to pull that of?\u00a0<\/p>\n
What kind of school trip even costs that much?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rich people and their ridiculous ideas of educational experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head and kept walking, adjusting the suitcase handle and tugging it behind me. I looked up, leaning against a sleek black car like a scene out of a drama, arms crossed, sleeves rolled just enough to show his watch and the veins on his forearms, he met my gaze with those light brown eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My feet froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Roman\u2026?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He opened the front door of the car without breaking eye contact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGet in,\u201d he said simply. \u201cI\u2019ll take you home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Did my hot professor, who rarely acknowledged anyone outside of lecture halls, just tell me to get into his car?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at him, at the open door, then at Tiger, who tilted his head as if asking what\u2019s taking you so long?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Oh, Tiger, you have no idea.\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Welcome to te\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Welcome to hell\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tried not to look at the man beside me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I kept my eyes trained on my hands, fiddling with my fingers like they were the most fascinating things in the entire universe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Which, right now, they absolutely were. Because anything, literally anything, was better than glancing at the man sitting beside\u00a0<\/p>\n
My professor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My ex\u2019s uncle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The leather of the passenger seat was warm beneath me, and the air inside the car smelled faintly of leather.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tiger, of course, didn\u2019t share my social anxiety. He was at the back barking excitedly and hopping from one side to the other like a child on too much sugar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour dog,\u201d Roman said, \u201cseems to be in a good mood.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I jumped slightly at the sound of his deep voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI-I\u2019m sorry, sir,\u201d I blurted out. I turned around to look at the overgrown fluffball and hissed, \u201cTiger, stay still. You\u2019re messing up the car.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead of calming down, he barked louder, tail wagging, clearly under the impression that we were playing a game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I groaned inwardly. No, Tiger, this is not a joyride. This is a life-or-death situation. You are in my professor\u2019s very expensive car. Please don\u2019t get us skinned alive. I don\u2019t have the money to get a new car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roman glanced at me from the corner of his eye. \u201cYou can leave him, he seems enthusiastic.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d I said again, practically shrinking in my seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s no problem, I\u2019ll have the car washed later.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my head toward him, looking at his profile. His face was calm. Roman was the kind of man who said what he felt, so if he said it didn\u2019t bother him, it probably didn\u2019t. Still, I nodded politely. \u201cThank you, sir.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The silence returned, before he broke it once again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you running away?\u201d He asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked, startled. He nodded subtly toward the suitcase resting in my lap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I laughed nervously and rubbed the back of my neck. \u201cOh, no. I\u2019m just going to my uncle\u2019s house.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He nodded, his expression unreadable, but didn\u2019t press further.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was grateful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The rest of the ride passed awkwardly. Maybe it wasn\u2019t the car that was awkward. Maybe I was just an awkward person. For\u00a0<\/p>\n
some reason, my brain short-circuited around attractive men.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How did Hades even make me feel comfortable?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wait, he didn\u2019t, did he? I was just so horny that I stopped noticing ow tense I actually was around Hades.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The car slowed, and soon we stopped in front of the massive, familar gate. I unclipped my seatbelt and bowed my head slightly. \u201cThank you so much for the ride, sir.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I reached for the door, only to realize my suitcase strap was tangle awkwardly with the buckle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
Welcome to hell\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tugged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I yanked a little harder, it was still jammed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damn it. Of course it would get stuck now of all times. Why was the universe doing this to me, this was not a kdrama.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sighed in frustration and yanked again, only to freeze when I heard the click of his seatbelt being undone beside me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked up, as he leaned in close.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I instinctively leaned back, breath catching in my throat. His hand brushed past mine, reaching for the buckle but paused. And for a second, he didn\u2019t touch the buckle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He just looked at me. Our faces were inches apart now, and I could see him clearly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Up close, his features were even more unfairly perfect. That sharpwline, straight nose, and piercing eyes that seemed to see right through me. His skin was smooth, and his brown eyes flashed lighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<<\u00a0<\/p>\n
>>\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wait a minute.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head slightly, my heartbeat suddenly louder in my ears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Up close, with the light hitting his face just right, with the way his eyes held mine. Is it just me, or does he look like Hades?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I bit my bottom lip, distracted by the thoughts that wouldn\u2019t stop spiraling. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed his gaze. Roman\u2019s eyes followed the movement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why was he looking at me like that? I don\u2019t know how to explain it but it wasn\u2019t the gaze of a professor studying his student.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was something else entirely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A man looking at a woman?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I shook my head lightly, snapping myself out of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No. No, that\u2019s not it. That\u2019s a stupid thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was no way that was what he was thinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I forced myself to meet his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Roman\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he make you cry?\u201d he asked abruptly, his voice low.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou cried, didn\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How\u2026 how did he know?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even Sebastian hadn\u2019t noticed. I cried a little on the way to his school, the pain hit me all over again. Seeing that house, remembering Nora at the top of the stairs in his shirt. It reminded me of what I\u2019d tried so hard to forget, I was just a substitute all along.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hated myself for it. I didn\u2019t want to care. I wanted to be past that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After that, I\u2019d wiped it all away, and covered the evidence. I hadn\u2019t expected anyone to notice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
YOU father and will orways protect you\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Your father and I will always protect you\u00a0<\/p>\n
Violet\u00a0<\/p>\n
I pressed the buzzer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A second passed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Click.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nights Burn With Regret \u2014 by Nathan Perez 23 He was seventeen years old, and already too grown for his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-craving-the-guardian-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27939"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27939\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}