Ten Years Later, Still Falling - Chapter 4: Chapter 4
You are reading Ten Years Later, Still Falling, Chapter 4: Chapter 4. Read more chapters of Ten Years Later, Still Falling.
As his only friend, I liked to believe I held a special place in his heart.
So, after the college entrance exams, I finally gathered the courage to confess my feelings to him.
Lost in thought, I barely registered the car lurching to a sudden stop. The abrupt halt sent me lurching sideways, my balance gone in an instant.
Instinctively, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for impact—but instead of pain, I felt warmth. Something soft cradled my forehead.
Edward's hand.
I jerked back, still processing what had happened, when the driver stammered an apology.
"Sir, I'm so sorry—a cat just ran out in front of us."
We stepped out into the rain to check. There, in the middle of the road, was a tabby cat—its front left paw impaled by a nail, blood trickling down. Its ribs pressed sharply against its drenched fur, but its belly was swollen with pregnancy.
The rain made it look even more pitiful—a shivering, half-starved creature, too weak to run but still defiant. It hissed, baring its teeth in a feeble attempt to scare us off.
My chest tightened. I wanted to help, but its defensive glare made me hesitate.
Then I noticed Edward's expression shift—something dark and determined flickering in his eyes.
"Step back," he told me.
Before I could react, he moved. In one swift motion, he lunged forward and scooped up the cat, his expensive suit jacket now wrapped around its squirming body—ruined beyond repair.
"Yuna, find a pet clinic that's still open," he ordered, then turned to the driver. "I'll compensate you for the inconvenience."
Half an hour later, we stood in a dimly lit clinic—the owner, reluctantly summoned by the promise of extra pay, was already examining the tabby. By now, the cat had stopped struggling, as if sensing we meant no harm.
Edward finished speaking with the driver and walked in. I opened my mouth to say something—then froze.
A dark red stain had spread across his sleeve.
"Your arm—" I gasped, stepping closer without thinking.
At the same moment, he turned—and my forehead grazed something impossibly soft.
His lips.
So, after the college entrance exams, I finally gathered the courage to confess my feelings to him.
Lost in thought, I barely registered the car lurching to a sudden stop. The abrupt halt sent me lurching sideways, my balance gone in an instant.
Instinctively, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for impact—but instead of pain, I felt warmth. Something soft cradled my forehead.
Edward's hand.
I jerked back, still processing what had happened, when the driver stammered an apology.
"Sir, I'm so sorry—a cat just ran out in front of us."
We stepped out into the rain to check. There, in the middle of the road, was a tabby cat—its front left paw impaled by a nail, blood trickling down. Its ribs pressed sharply against its drenched fur, but its belly was swollen with pregnancy.
The rain made it look even more pitiful—a shivering, half-starved creature, too weak to run but still defiant. It hissed, baring its teeth in a feeble attempt to scare us off.
My chest tightened. I wanted to help, but its defensive glare made me hesitate.
Then I noticed Edward's expression shift—something dark and determined flickering in his eyes.
"Step back," he told me.
Before I could react, he moved. In one swift motion, he lunged forward and scooped up the cat, his expensive suit jacket now wrapped around its squirming body—ruined beyond repair.
"Yuna, find a pet clinic that's still open," he ordered, then turned to the driver. "I'll compensate you for the inconvenience."
Half an hour later, we stood in a dimly lit clinic—the owner, reluctantly summoned by the promise of extra pay, was already examining the tabby. By now, the cat had stopped struggling, as if sensing we meant no harm.
Edward finished speaking with the driver and walked in. I opened my mouth to say something—then froze.
A dark red stain had spread across his sleeve.
"Your arm—" I gasped, stepping closer without thinking.
At the same moment, he turned—and my forehead grazed something impossibly soft.
His lips.
End of Ten Years Later, Still Falling Chapter 4. Continue reading Chapter 5 or return to Ten Years Later, Still Falling book page.