THE SECOND CHANCE LOVE

What If

Mitchell has been allowed to go home for two hours now. But rather than going home, Alyssa's parents decided to go to her grandmother's house. Meanwhile, Alyssa and Brent choose to stay temporarily at her father's residence. Only tomorrow would they think about moving to Brent's place.

In front of her own bedroom door, Alyssa took a deep breath, trying to calm the tension filling her chest. Alyssa really wanted to avoid Brent's gaze right now.

As Alyssa's hand reached for the doorknob, the door swung open quickly. Brent, of course, was the one who opened it.

"Alyssa? Why don't you come in?" Brent asked, his voice calm but showing a hint of confusion.

Alyssa entered the room cautiously, her eyes continuing to avoid Brent's gaze.

"I was about to come in, actually," Alyssa replied, trying to sound casual.

After dinner was finished, Brent excused himself first to finish up some work.

"Where are you going?" Alyssa asked, trying not to sound awkward. "Need something? Or do you need help?"

"To the kitchen. Going to make some tea. No need. I can manage on my own. You just go ahead and take a shower," Brent replied, his voice remaining flat.

Alyssa felt a strangeness in the air. "Really?" Alyssa asked, trying to make sure.

Brent nodded. "It's fine, Alyssa. I won't get lost or accidentally put salt in my glass. So, just relax," Brent explained, trying to reassure her.

With a forced grin, Alyssa let Brent go to the kitchen.

Once Brent was truly gone, Alyssa hurried to grab some fresh clothes. Her body felt tense and dirty after a day at the hospital.

After finishing her shower, Alyssa put on her pajamas and stepped out of the bathroom. Brent was sitting on the bed, his gaze still on the laptop in his lap.

"Are you done?" Brent asked without diverting his gaze from the laptop.

Alyssa nodded softly, but the atmosphere in the room felt tense.

"So, why did you want to talk?" Alyssa asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Brent took a deep breath, as if searching for the right words. "We need to talk about our relationship, Alyssa. About this marriage. I know it's not easy for either of us."

Alyssa felt her chest tighten. "What do you want to say?" she asked, trying to hold back her tears.

Brent nodded softly. "I just want us to be honest with each other. I don't want to keep making you feel uncomfortable or stressed."

Alyssa looked at Brent with teary eyes. "I don't want to pretend either. But I also don't know how to. It's all too fast for me."

Brent reached out his hand, trying to touch Alyssa's hand. "We're both in a difficult situation. But we can get through this together if we're willing to try."

Alyssa felt Brent's touch, warm and comforting, but it also weighed heavily on her heart. "Okay, let's try to talk more often. But don't expect too much from me. I still need time."

Brent nodded, his eyes showing understanding. "Of course, Alyssa. I won't push you."

They both sat in silence for a moment, feeling awkward but trying to understand each other.

However, Alyssa didn't want to prolong the awkwardness. Finally, she moved towards the vanity table and sat there.

A few minutes later, Alyssa finished her skincare routine. However, she felt confused about what to do next. Go to sleep? But, there Brent was still busy with his laptop on the bed. Alyssa felt her presence there would only disturb Brent. Moreover, she felt very awkward now.

Alyssa was still lost in her confusion in front of the vanity mirror. Watch TV in the living room? But it would be too obvious that she was trying to avoid Brent. Besides, her eyes really needed rest. She wouldn't be able to handle that activity.

"Good evening, Alyssa."

Hearing Brent's voice calling her name, Alyssa reflexively looked at the vanity mirror. There, Brent's figure was reflected.

"Yes?" Alyssa replied.

"Are you not sleepy yet?" Brent asked.

"Not yet," Alyssa replied, although she was actually very sleepy.

"Or do you feel uncomfortable because I'm here?" Brent continued.

"No, not at all!" Alyssa quickly refused, not wanting Brent to leave. Honestly, she did feel awkward having to sleep in the same place as Brent. But she also didn't want Brent to leave. So, what should she do now?

"If you're uncomfortable, I can move to the sofa. I don't mind," Brent offered.

Finally, Alyssa turned to face Brent.

While bolstering her courage, Alyssa stood up and headed towards the king-size bed occupied by Brent. She climbed onto the bed and let Brent continue to watch her in silence. Alyssa felt nervous, but she tried to look at Brent firmly.

"Brent, I don't think it's necessary. We can just sleep here," Alyssa said, trying to be straightforward.

But, the smile on Brent's face hinted that he had another plan. Before Alyssa could ask, Brent asked with a serious tone, "Are you uncomfortable sleeping in the same place as me?"

Alyssa tried to remain calm despite her anxiety. "Why should I be uncomfortable? We're just going to sleep," she said as calmly as possible.

Brent looked at her with a grin that immediately caused Alyssa's face to turn red. The blush spread to her neck and ears. She felt very awkward in front of Brent, who clearly didn't mind.

Brent leaned in slightly, still with a grin on his face, and said with emphasis on the word "sleep," "What if I don't just want to 'sleep' with you?"

Alyssa was stunned, her mouth opened then closed again, like a koi fish gasping for air on land. Her mind was spinning chaotically, not knowing how to respond. Her face felt hot, partly from embarrassment, partly from anger.

Suppressing the awkwardness and embarrassment, Alyssa chose not to respond. She immediately lay down, covering her entire body and turning away from Brent. Brent chuckled softly, appearing satisfied that he had succeeded in making Alyssa uncomfortable.

"Ugh," Alyssa grumbled inwardly, feeling both irritated and humiliated.

That night felt very long for Alyssa. She tried hard to sleep, but her mind was disturbed by the uncomfortable feelings caused by Brent's words and actions. Every time she was almost drifting off, Brent's smirk would appear in her mind, jolting her awake again.

After what felt like forever, Alyssa finally felt an unbearable drowsiness. In a semi-conscious state, she tried to ignore the awkward feelings and let herself drift into sleep.

But even sleep didn't bring peace to Alyssa. In her dreams, Brent's shadow continued to haunt her, making her restless. Until finally, amidst the chaotic dream, she felt a warm embrace that she used to feel when Anna hugged her. But this was different. This time, the embrace made her feel more awkward than comfortable.

"Good night, Grace," a familiar voice whispered in her dream, causing her to wake up in cold sweat. Alyssa opened her eyes and saw Brent still awake, staring at her with an inscrutable gaze.

"Good night," Alyssa replied with a trembling voice, trying to calm herself down. Her lips attempted a smile, although the awkwardness still enveloped her. That night, restful sleep felt like an impossible feat for Alyssa.

To be continued...