Chapter 7

"If you still find this weird, you can try treating me as a friend." A friend? Would friends sleep together? Olivia had no idea how to navigate this situation at all. Tyler had been waiting for her response quietly. Olivia knew that Naomi couldn't wait any longer, and Mrs. Jones wouldn't allow her to drag this out. She felt as if she were standing at the edge of a cliff with nowhere to run. The previous two times had been very traumatizing for her. She had trembled for a long time, struggling to breathe. Finally, she managed to squeeze out two words, seemingly in compromise, "Got it." Tyler only responded flatly after a while, "Okay. I'll send you home later." He didn't linger after saying that, perhaps thinking that the conversation had come to an end. He turned around and went back into the ward. Olivia clenched her hands that dangled at her sides. Inside the ward, a nurse was taking care of Naomi, who looked beaten down by the news and had lost her appetite. Mrs. Jones was panicking, and she appeared relieved when she saw Tyler enter. "Tyler..." Tyler knew what she was going to say and ignored her, choosing to sit next to the bed and comfort Naomi instead. "Maybe you should eat something that you find delicious? You have to eat, no matter what." Naomi was currently undergoing treatment, and proper nutrition was important. She shook her head. “I don't feel like eating.” "We have porridge. I'll feed you," he offered. "Why did this happen to me, Tyler?" Naomi looked sad and held his hand. As he reached for the porridge, he gently took her hand and reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll handle it. Okay?" Warmth and care filled his face. Naomi responded, “Okay, I'll eat some.” Only then did she calm down and start cooperating with him as he fed her the porridge. Meanwhile, Olivia stood at the door, watching her sister's reliance on Tyler and his evident love and care for her. Her thoughts drifted to Jacob. When she had been unwell, she would also depend on him. Unfortunately, those moments were a thing of the past, never to return. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy for her sister, and that envy weighed heavily on her. At six in the evening, Olivia left the hospital with Tyler. The car ride home was filled with silence. As the car moved, Olivia realized that they were not heading to the Jones' residence. She looked at Tyler, who didn't offer an explanation but instead asked, "Are you hungry? Let's grab something to eat." Unease settled over Olivia once again. She gripped her seatbelt and said awkwardly, "I'm not hungry, thank you." "Alright," Tyler replied flatly. The car continued to move, and it eventually pulled over after an unknown period of time. Olivia had no idea where they were. It was dark and quiet, with no one in sight. She wore a dress that day and felt a little cold. The sound of cicadas filled the air. She had a sense of what might happen. Tyler sat in silence after the car came to a stop, while Olivia's heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst. In the next moment, he hugged her. As this happened, she curled up like a startled bird, her hands pressed against her arms. Their breathing quickened, and they both began to pant. Neither of them spoke, and the scent of sandalwood grew closer. His lips were inches away from hers, and he sensed how tense she was. "I know you're scared. Relax." She wanted to run, she truly did. However, in this confined space, she managed to control herself. He whispered into her ear, “Come closer, don’t be scared.” With little experience in such matters, Olivia struggled to adjust. She could only follow his instructions, relaxing her body and resting her face on his shoulder. Her breath was chaotic. At that moment, he grabbed her waist, bringing them even closer. Both of them were now panting, and amidst the chaos, he called out softly, "Olivia." She was confused as to why he was calling her, her mind in disarray. “Sit up straight.” She was unwilling to do that. Their breathing grew increasingly ragged, to the point where they couldn't distinguish whose breath belonged to whom. Tyler waited and waited, but Olivia refused to cooperate. It seemed like he lost his patience as he kissed her lips. The familiar sensation overwhelmed her, and she couldn't help but wonder how two people who hardly knew each other could be so intimate.