chapter 3: The Line We Pretend Not to See

Only one thought echoed in Gabriella’s mind.

How could he lick his finger so

absentmindedly, without hesitation? Didn’t he care how that would make her feel?

Then his words rang in her ears again, and with Norman staring at her so closely, she found it hard to think properly.

“I… I didn’t,” she muttered — an obvious lie.

She had missed him every day since he left. The memories of their laughter, their small arguments, their careless teenage days still lingered in her heart. A part of her had always wished for those moments to return.

“Why is that?” he asked. His expression shifted — no longer casual, but mischievous.

There was no real answer she could give. There was no reason she hadn’t missed him.

“I…” she fumbled, searching desperately for a lie.

Before she could finish, Norman stepped closer. Gabriella swallowed and shifted backward instinctively. Sensing her movement, Norman suddenly caught her waist and lifted her onto his lap.

Gabriella gasped.

Being this close sent a dangerous shiver through her body. She couldn’t avoid his gaze now — especially not with his fingers resting lightly against her bare waist.

“Wasn’t our first kiss memorable enough for you to forget me?” he asked quietly.

Her eyes widened.

“You… you remember?” she whispered.

“How could I forget…” His gaze drifted briefly to her lips — soft, tempting, full of unspoken memory. “…it was never meant to be forgotten.”

Gabriella felt stunned. Her thoughts tangled, her heart racing. What should she say? What should she do?

The truth hovered dangerously close to her tongue.

“I—”

Her phone rang suddenly, cutting through the charged silence.

Norman glanced toward the table where the screen flashed Mom.

Gabriella quickly shifted off his lap and grabbed the phone, silencing the call. When she looked back up, Norman had already stood and turned away.

Without a word, he walked toward the door and left the apartment.

Gabriella watched him go, confusion swirling in her chest.

Relief washed over her moments later. She released a slow breath, realizing she had almost crossed a line she wasn’t ready to face.

Why he left so suddenly didn’t matter — not when the only thing grounding her was the untouched food still sitting on the table.

Norman was sitting at the bar, slowly nursing his whiskey, when someone patted his shoulder.

He turned to see his friend Jasper, accompanied by a beautiful young woman — Andy. She smiled when she saw Norman at their usual spot. Honestly, neither of them had expected to see him tonight, especially since he had just gotten a new housemate.

The three of them had been friends for years.

They settled into their seats beside him.

“How long have you been here?” Jasper asked.

“Not long enough,” Norman replied casually.

Jasper ordered drinks for himself and Andy. The slow jazz music playing at the back was slowly fading as they talk.

“I thought you weren’t coming out today,” Andy said. “What changed?”

“Oh — and how’s your new housemate?” Jasper added curiously.

Andy froze. “You’re getting a new housemate?”

“Correction,” Jasper said, lifting his glass. “He already has one.”

Andy lightly tapped Norman’s shoulder. “You didn’t tell me you were getting a housemate.”

Norman smirked teasingly. “That’s because you’d want to move in.”

Andy pouted. “Wouldn’t that be better than living with a stranger?”

Norman smiled faintly as Gabriella’s face flashed in his mind. Especially the little show before he left, teasing her was one the best entertainment he had.

“She’s not a stranger,” he muttered absentmindedly.

Andy caught the word she — and her heart tightened.

“Wait,” Jasper said, surprised. “You mean your housemate is a woman?”

“Yep,” Norman said, leaning back in his chair.

“Man, is she beautiful?” Jasper grinned. “And you actually know her?”

Norman nodded. “Five years ago. Long story short — she’s my roommate now.”

Andy’s expression stiffened.

A woman.

Someone he already knew.

That was bad news.

“I really want to meet her,” Jasper said eagerly. “Can we come over tomorrow?”

“I won’t,” Andy said quickly. “I start campus tomorrow. I won’t have time.”

“That makes sense,” Jasper agreed.

“It doesn’t matter,” Norman said casually.

“There’ll be plenty of chances.”

Andy said nothing — but inside, her thoughts burned.

She had liked Norman for almost three years and had never confessed. She had watched him date countless women, always telling herself she would speak up someday.

But now there was a woman living in his house.

A threat.

If not now, then when?

“Actually, Norman…” Andy said softly, meeting his eyes. “There’s something I wanted to tell you before we leave.”

“Okay—” Norman began.

His phone suddenly rang.

The name Gabi flashed on the screen — clearly visible to Andy.

Norman immediately answered.

“Gabi?”

Her voice came through broken and shaking. She was crying, her words tangled and incoherent.

“Nor…man… please… help me…”

Norman’s body stiffened. As if he was threatening, but deep inside Gabriella's voice didn't threatening every cell in his body. He could think of all the horrible things that happen to her as she was alone.

“What’s wrong?” he asked sharply, worry creeping into his voice.

“There’s—”

The call cut off. This was wrong, it was if a scary game was being playing.

“Hello? Gabi?” He tried again. No response.

Jasper and Andy exchanged uneasy looks.

“What happened?” Jasper asked.

Norman was already standing. “I have to go.”

Andy stood too. “Norman, wait — you said you you will talk—”

“I’m sorry. Tomorrow,” he said without looking back as he rushed out.

Andy sank back into her chair, frustration tightening her chest.

Jasper studied her quietly. “Were you about to confess?”

Andy clenched her glass. “Did you see the name on his phone? It was her. The housemate.”

“Maybe something’s really wrong,” Jasper said.

"How sure could you be if the housemate that called?"

"Do you know of any other girl named Gabi?"Andy said.“I don’t care,” Andy replied stubbornly. “I’m

telling him soon.”

Jasper sighed. "When will this end?"

What Andy didn’t know — just like Norman — was that someone else had been silently loving her for far longer than she realized.