Chapter 12
Chapter 12
When morning came, Jonathan woke up feeling the usual burden of frustration settling in his chest. His thoughts circled back to his brother, Nathaniel–always Nathaniel. Whenever he felt like this, he had one place to go–Laura. She had always been his solace. And so, without thinking too much, Jonathan grabbed his jacket and headed toward the Levines‘ house, his mind set on finding comfort.
He knocked on the door, expecting the usual, a quiet exchange with Mrs. Levine before getting to Laura. But to his surprise, when the door swung open, Mrs. Levine’s face broke into a warm smile. “Oh, hello, Jonathan. Come in, come in,” she said, her voice filled with a kindness that threw him off balance.
Jonathan blinked, confused. Just the other day, she had barely let him in, her manner cool and hesitant. But now, there was no trace of that hesitation–only an open, welcoming gesture that felt strangely… different. He hesitated for a moment, but then stepped inside, feeling a growing sense of unease, unsure of what had changed.
“Uh, is Laura home?” Jonathan asked, glancing around the living room, expecting to see her lounging on the couch or tucked
away with a book in her usual spot.
Mrs. Levine nodded, still smiling. “She is, but she’s a bit busy this morning. Why don’t you sit down for a moment, dear?” Her tone was gentle, almost too pleasant, and it did nothing to ease Jonathan’s confusion.
Their attention were suddenly caught as Laura’s footsteps echoed softly down the stairs. When Laura appeared, Jonathan’s breath caught in his throat. She looked… different. She wore a light pink long–sleeved dress, the hem short enough to reveal her smooth, flawless legs. Her hair was braided neatly to the side, and a soft, clean layer of makeup brightened her features,
with a tint of red on her lips that made them look… too inviting.
Jonathan blinked.
This wasn’t the first time he’d seen her dressed up, but something about this look unsettled him. It wasn’t just the dress–it was the fact that she was wearing it to go somewhere without him. The thought irritated him more than he expected.
Why wear something like that?
A knot of frustration tightened in his chest.
“Oh? Jonathan?” Laura’s voice broke his thoughts. She blinked, her expression demure, not nearly as enthusiastic as she usually was when he dropped by. “What brought you here?”
Her casual tone stung.
What do you mean what brought me here? Jonathan thought, frowning inwardly. I’m your friend, isn’t it normal for me to
visit you?
Out loud, he blurted, “Where are you going?” His voice was sharper than intended.
Laura smiled, leaning down to kiss her mother on the cheek. “I’m going out to buy something,” she replied, her tone light but
giving away nothing.
Jonathan stared, unsatisfied. Buy something? Wearing that? His thoughts whirled with jealousy, though he couldn’t quite understand why.
“Then, can I go with you?” he asked abruptly, unable to hide the edge in his voice. “We can talk on the way.”
Laura hesitated, her gaze lingering on him as if weighing her options. Then, with a small chuckle, she nodded. “Sure, let’s go. Saves me the hassle of driving.”
Her response was lighthearted, but Jonathan couldn’t shake the unease in his chest as they walked out together. Something about this morning felt different. Why am I getting worked up over this? he thought, glancing at her again.
Chapter 12
+25 BONUS
As they settled into the car, Jonathan closed the door and was instantly enveloped by Laura’s sweet, intoxicating scent. It was subtle, but powerful enough to make him flinch. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as his eyes drifted toward her, watching her buckle her seatbelt. His gaze lingered longer than it should have, drawn to how effortlessly beautiful she looked. The lightness of her perfume filled the space, clouding his thoughts.
Suddenly, Laura turned to him, her brow furrowing slightly. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her tone innocent and eyes wide, completely unaware of the turmoil bubbling inside him.
Jonathan quickly averted his eyes, clearing his throat. Ugh… He tried to push the thoughts away, but it only made the
confusion deepen. This wasn’t the same woman who had once confessed to him, the one who had looked at him with those
same eyes, filled with hope and vulnerability. Now, they seemed distant, almost carefree. As if the weight she once carried for
him had vanished.
“N–nothing,” Jonathan stammered, forcing a smile. “Just… thinking.”
Laura tilted her head slightly, curious but not pushing further. She simply smiled, that same bright smile she’d given him earlier, and turned her gaze back to the road ahead, leaving Jonathan alone with his thoughts.
The drive had been quiet, the air heavy with unspoken thoughts until Laura broke the silence. “You said you wanted to talk on the way?” she asked casually, turning her head slightly toward him.
“Ah, yes,” Jonathan answered, pulling himself from his tangled thoughts. He glanced at her quickly, trying to read her
expression. “How have you been?”
“What do you mean?” she responded with a soft chuckle. “We just saw each other yesterday.”
“Yeah, and you left me alone at the café,” he added with a chuckle, though there was a hint of frustration buried beneath it.
Laura gasped softly, her hand covering her mouth as she apologized, “Oh no… I am so sorry… I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s okay,” Jonathan cut her off, laughing lightly, trying to wave it off. “I do leave you hanging sometimes. I deserved it, haha.”
His voice softened. “But at least now I get to be with you.“.
Laura glanced at him, her lips twitching into a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Hm. So, what did you want to tell me?” she asked, shifting the conversation forward, her curiosity piqued as they neared her destination.
Jonathan hesitated for a moment before speaking, his eyes flickering between her and the road. “Ah. My girlfriend and I broke up,” he confessed with a bitter chuckle, half–expecting some kind of reaction from her.
Laura’s expression remained calm, almost indifferent. “Ah… I see…” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, as if the news didn’t matter much to her. Her gaze stayed fixed ahead, unfazed by the revelation..
Jonathan blinked in surprise. “That’s it?” he asked, confusion creeping into his voice.
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“Huh?” Laura finally turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “I mean… it’s not your first breakup. As far as I’ve known, when girls break up with you, you just shrug it off, so what’s the big deal, right?” She smirked, her tone teasing, as if trying to make light of the situation.
The words stung more than Jonathan had anticipated. Her casual dismissal of his pain gnawed at him, leaving him feeling hollow. She doesn’t care. He forced a smile, laughing along with her joke, but the laughter felt wrong, as if he was losing something he couldn’t quite grasp.
Just then, Laura perked up, her eyes lighting up as she pointed out the window. “Drop me off here,” she said with a smile.
Jonathan’s foot hit the brake instinctively, his brows furrowing–not just because she was about to leave him alone again, but because of what he saw outside. A man stood by the road, waiting for her. Dressed in a sharp black suit, the man smiled warmly, his confidence and ease unsettling Jonathan. The sight of him there–waiting for Laura–shocked him to his core.
“Thanks,” Laura said nonchalantly as she closed the door, leaving Jonathan stunned. He watched her walk over to the man, who immediately offered his arm. Laura, without hesitation, clung to him, smiling as if she had known him forever.
Chapter 12
+25 BONUS
Jonathan’s grip tightened around the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. He felt his heart race as a pit formed in his stomach. “What the hell?” he muttered under his breath.
