The Sin Between US 의 모든 챕터: 챕터 21 - 챕터 30

The trip felt like a distant memory the moment we stepped foot back on campus. The shift was immediate like waking from a dream you wanted to hold onto but knew would fade eventually. The air was still crisp from the lingering chill of the season, but the energy around me had changed. I told myself it was just the return to reality. The end of an eventful trip, the start of another rigorous semester. Nothing more. But deep down, I knew that was a lie. I had been avoiding him, Ethan.The bus ride back had been quiet. No playful nudges, no easy conversations. He had glanced at me once or twice, his gaze heavy with unspoken words, but I never met his eyes for long. I had convinced myself that whatever had happened between us during the trip those shared moments, the lingering looks, the way my heart had raced, had been nothing more than temporary. A phase. It had to be. Because if it wasn’t, then I had no idea what to do with the weight of it.The first day back, I threw myself into my s

I thought ignoring him would be easy. I had convinced myself that distancing myself from Ethan was the safest way to protect my heart after everything that had happened. I told myself that if I focused on my studies and pretended our shared moments were nothing more than temporary sparks in an otherwise ordinary college life, then I wouldn’t have to deal with the messy emotions that came with him. But every day, that decision gnawed at me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was losing something precious.Every time I walked into a lecture hall, my eyes automatically searched for him even though I tried to force myself to look away. I remember sitting with Favour and Gift at lunch and noticing that conversation was quieter now, missing the usual banter and teasing Ethan always brought into the mix. Every time I caught a glimpse of him in the hallway, just a few feet away yet feeling like he was in a different world, my stomach twisted with a mix of regret and longing. I told mysel

I thought I could keep this up that if I just kept my distance, I’d be safe from the painful uncertainty of attachment. But today, nothing felt safe anymore. It was the day when the silence I’d enforced finally exploded into a confrontation I couldn’t ignore. It began in the corridor after our last class. I was hurrying toward the library, lost in thoughts I wished I could shut off, when I heard a soft, steady voice call my name. I stopped in my tracks and turned slowly. There, leaning against the wall with an intensity I hadn’t seen before, was Ethan. His eyes, usually so calm, now held a storm of emotions frustration, hurt, and something like pleading.“Ava,” he said, his tone low but insistent. I hesitated, my pulse pounding in my ears. I had been so careful, so determined to protect myself, that now his words sliced right through my defenses.“Ethan, I…” I began, but he cut me off.“Why, Ava?” he asked, stepping forward until he was uncomfortably close. “Why have you been acting l

The autumn chill had finally given way to a softer, more forgiving breeze, and as dusk settled over campus, I found myself walking slowly along the tree-lined pathway. I wasn’t sure what had led me to wander in solitude that evening, maybe it was the residual hope from yesterday’s breakthrough, or maybe it was the persistent ache of uncertainty that I couldn’t ignore. In any case, fate seemed to have other plans, because as I turned a corner near the campus garden, I saw Ethan waiting by a quiet bench, looking thoughtfully at the fading light.His presence made my heart flutter and tighten at the same time. I hesitated for a moment, then approached him. “Hey,” I said softly, unsure if my voice betrayed more than I intended.He looked up and offered a gentle smile. “Hey, Ava. It’s a beautiful evening, isn’t it?” There was an invitation in his tone, a subtle request for connection that made me pause before taking a seat beside him.For a long moment, we sat in silence, watching as the s

It started with a burst of laughter in our dorm room Favour and Gift huddled around me, their eyes practically dancing with mischief. I had just told them, between nervous giggles, that Ethan had asked me out. "He said, 'Hey, Ava, would you like to spend the afternoon with me at the food truck park?'" I tried to sound casual, but my voice betrayed my jittery excitement."Really? You, going on a date with Ethan?" Favour teased, flipping her hair as she exchanged an incredulous look with Gift.Gift clapped her hands. "Girl, it's time to let that gorgeous smile show. Come on, let’s get you dressed up."Before I could protest, they swarmed around me, pulling me out of my oversized pajama top and replacing it with something a bit more put together a light, flowy blouse paired with dark jeans that hugged just right. In the mirror, I caught a glimpse of my own face, flushed with nerves and anticipation. I never imagined that a simple invitation from Ethan could send my heart racing like this