Eric's POV:
Cheryl's words hit me like a slap, and I deliberately emphasized the word "anyone". I stared at her, my gaze heavy and sharp.
I tried to keep my cool, but inside, my heart was sinking like a stone, which was cold, painful, and all twisted up.
Cheryl didn't look me in the eye, though. 'Is she avoiding me? Or is she too scared to meet my gaze?'
The distance between us felt much bigger than I expected, and it gnawed at me.
Finally, Cheryl lifted her head, her eyes full of sadness and something else. A kind of silent plea, maybe?
Seeing her eyes, I thought I got the answer. It wasn't that she didn't understand me; she just chose not to. Or maybe, she was just avoiding the real feelings between us.
It was like punching a pillow, and my frustration had nowhere to go.
Then Chu
