Chapter 3 The Nightmare Begins

At first, I didn't want it.

I cried bitterly and couldn't understand how my passion had become so unbearable in his eyes.

However, Edwin continued to kiss me, apologizing and claiming that he loved me so much that he couldn't bear the thought of other men fantasizing about me.

Under his relentless onslaught, I forgave him and gave him my virginity.

To my surprise, there was no bleeding afterwards.

Edwin looked at me incredulously, examining the clothing for a long time, and suddenly wore a look of hurt.

He began to scold and ridicule me, proclaiming himself nothing more than a scavenger. He completely disregarded my tearful explanations that it was indeed my first time.

Afterward, he hastily cleaned up the scene and left on his own, saying he needed some time alone.

During the following three days of vacation, Edwin never contacted me. Meanwhile, I was bedridden with a fever due to the cold I caught that night.

Seeing my condition worsen, my roommates, despite previous conflicts, took care of me and eventually sent me to the hospital when my coughing persisted.

The diagnosis came quickly: pneumonia, requiring hospitalization.

Alone in the hospital bed with an IV drip, I silently shed tears. I longed for home, for my parents and sister.

But I dared not tell them I was sick, fearing they would come from far away to care for me.

If that happened, I would revert to being the pampered little princess, and Edwin said it wasn't right.

Inevitably, thoughts of Edwin surged through my mind, causing aches in my heart.

I couldn't believe that the person who professed love for me would turn against me because of something beyond my control.

I had read online that many people didn't experience bleeding during their first time.

But how could I make him believe me?

Lost in these chaotic thoughts, I drifted into a deep sleep. When I woke up again, he was there.

Sitting by the bedside, he gazed at me with intense yet icy eyes. However, as soon as our eyes met, his expression changed, as if it were all an illusion.

Edwin gently took my hand and asked how I was feeling and if anything was bothering me.

At that moment, my grievances and longing for him flooded out, and tears once again streamed down my face.

"How could you not believe me? I didn't lie to you. I've never had a boyfriend before," I implored.

He ruffled my hair and said, "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I love you so much and care about you deeply. You have to understand that men attach great importance to these things. Can you forgive me?"

Still weeping, I nodded without hesitation.

But upon reflection, I realized that he never actually said he believed me. Nor did he ever reflect on whether it was right for him to care so much about it.

And so, we patched things up. He visited me after school every day, sometimes bringing two apples for us to share, and other times a single red rose.

The woman next to my sickbed jokingly said, "Miss, your boyfriend is quite thrifty."

I sensed the underlying meaning in her words and felt uncomfortable.

One night, when he came over, I told him I wanted a hamburger.

After a moment of silence, he agreed to buy one the next day.

And true to his words, he brought an Angus combo the next day and stuffed it into my arms.