The Female Leads Truly Loves You - Chapter 288

Chapter 288: I don’t want to go home
Sam didn’t go home.

Instead, he sat on the couch in Sophie’s house.

Certainly, it wasn’t equipped with the kind of amenities or the exaggerated comfort of Angel’s home.

But Sam wasn’t a particularly luxurious person, and he didn’t start demanding everything around him just because he had enjoyed something beyond his social class.

He felt the best word to describe his character was probably “easy-going,” just happy to be alive.

But now he faced a serious problem.

He didn’t want to go home, as the night was filled with too many uncertainties.

However, wanting to stay over here, he couldn’t just come out and say it, as this girl would never agree to it.

Given her personality, she was particularly sensitive and resistant to matters involving men and women, even though Sam had no other intentions and was only considering his own safety. But it seemed quite difficult.

So, he needed to find a suitable reason or way to spend the night here.

What to do?

Sam leaned on the couch, trying to appear as natural and casual as possible, without making any awkward expressions.

But sitting there doing nothing was really awkward…

At this moment, the truly awkward one was another girl.

Sophie, who seemed to be playing with her phone, as if some incredibly interesting news was capturing her attention, actually couldn’t focus on any message.

She kept glancing at the boy out of the corner of her eye.

Why hasn’t he left yet?

What does he want to do?

Isn’t it very late now?

If he doesn’t leave, does he plan to stay over?

But… she had just finished eating the noodles he cooked, would it be rude to ask him to leave now? And that was two bowls!

Ah… if only she hadn’t eaten the second bowl… How could she tactfully remind him that it was time to go home?

Now Sophie was caught in a rare dilemma, and both of them were plunged into their own anxieties, making the already quiet night seem as silent as death.

The awkward atmosphere seemed to fill the entire room.

If they didn’t speak soon, they might burst!

Sophie clenched her fists.

No matter what, she had to remind him that it was time to go home. She wasn’t particularly sleepy herself, but continuing like this, she would only seem less like herself, unable to speak or even move.

Moreover, Sophie couldn’t hold it any longer; she had drunk too much soup and needed to use the bathroom!

“Um…”

“Are you tired?”

Both spoke at the same time, a moment of synchrony that suddenly turned even more awkward.

An unexpected eye contact.

Sophie’s cheeks began to warm up involuntarily, but she steeled herself to nod.

He had brought it up himself; surely he was about to take his leave? Great… she could finally go to the bathroom!

“Yeah… a bit sleepy.”

“Oh, then you go to sleep.”

Sam said this while holding his phone, shifting his gaze back to it.

Sophie paused.

That sounded odd, didn’t it?

“So you…”

“Oh, don’t worry about me, you sleep. I can take care of myself.”

“Who’s worrying about you! How can I sleep if you don’t leave!” Sophie blurted out.

Was this guy being unusually weird today?

What kind of thing was that to say?

She wasn’t Angel, and his words made it sound as if they were living together, and he said it so naturally?

Sam’s heart skipped a beat.

Trouble.

Had his casual remark been too revealing?

Sam looked at Sophie with a surprised expression.

“Such clear logic, just as expected from a smart girl like you.”

Sophie paused for a moment, instinctively tilting her head up.

“Of course, you don’t need to tell me that… no, isn’t it obvious? Just go home already!”

Trouble.

Seems like flattery isn’t working?

Sam reluctantly gave her a sincere look.

“I don’t want to go home.”

“Are you like a little kid who hasn’t had enough fun at the amusement park?”

“To me, this place is like an amusement park.”

“You’re crazy! Why would you say something so cheesy!”

Sophie’s ears began to redden, and she couldn’t help but stand in front of Sam with her fists clenched.

“Eh?” Sophie paused, her eyes narrowing suspiciously at Sam, as if she had just pieced something together.

“Sam… are you trying to weasel your way into staying here for the night?”

Sam blinked innocently. “Thank you!”

“Thank what, thank you? I’m not agreeing to anything, you jerk!”

“It’s okay, I won’t catch a cold. I’m healthy, I don’t need a blanket.”

“Are you nuts? Why would you need to sleep here? Don’t you have a home?”

“Whimper, actually, I’m a very pitiful person. Ever since I was little…”

“Cut the act, will you! Your place is less than a ten-minute walk from here. You’re from Cedarwood, you have both parents and a sister. What are you playing at?!” Sophie snapped.

What was this idiot rambling about? Was he trying to perform a comedy sketch with her?

Sam froze for a moment, then looked at Sophie involuntarily. “You remember so much about me?”

Sophie also froze. Yes, why did she remember so much about Sam? They had never seriously discussed these things, yet why did she recall them so vividly?

Sam had mentioned Cedarwood during a phone call when he was at his hometown, so she knew the name. He had talked about his sister, so she knew he had one. He had mentioned his parents, so she knew he came from a happy family with both parents.

But why did she blurt it out so clearly?

Suddenly, Sophie’s eyes widened, her face flushing as if it could drip blood. “I… I just have a good memory, photographic memory. I remember things after hearing them once. What are you thinking?!”

“Really?” Sam challenged.

“Of course!”

“Then what about this string of numbers?” Sam quickly pulled out his phone, punched a random string of numbers into the calculator, and flashed it in front of Sophie before swiftly putting it away. He stared at her intently.

“Tell me! What were the numbers?!”

Sophie blinked, then exploded. “Are you out of your mind?! Get out, get out, I want to sleep!!”

Sophie was clearly anxious. She couldn’t help but start pushing and shoving the boy.

Sam, of course, refused to leave. Sleep on the streets? How could that be justified? Did that fit the identity of a time traveler? It wasn’t right to treat someone so shabbily.

Besides, the weather was really cold.

“Don’t rush, don’t push…”

“How can I not be rushed? You have no idea how urgent this is for me!”

“So tell me what’s so urgent, hey… be careful!”

“Ah…!!”

Sophie was indeed in a hurry because she really couldn’t hold it in any longer. She needed to use the restroom, and although Sam could use the bathroom at her place, it somehow felt awkward. She was always worried about the sound insulation, afraid that he might hear her…

In her frantic state, Sophie couldn’t control her movements. Sam was stronger, and Sophie was weaker. Her overzealous tug didn’t pull him up but instead caused her to lose her balance first.

She fell towards Sam on the sofa, and for a moment, everything seemed to spin. Sophie didn’t feel the painful impact she had anticipated, like a blunt object hitting her head.

Instead, it was… somewhat soft? Why did it feel this way? Aren’t boys supposed to be firm?

This firmness wasn’t about anything else but the impression one gets from their physique. Moreover, he wasn’t overweight, didn’t have much fat, and should have been more rugged, right?

But why… did he seem somewhat soft? Not just soft. Also very warm… Almost the moment she fell into his arms, she could feel the heat emanating from Sam’s body, along with that familiar scent.

Sophie thought that the most significant impression one person could have of another might not be their face or their voice, but their scent. It could be hormones, perhaps the laundry detergent, the body wash, or the shampoo they used.

But it was the scent that seemed to be the most acute and honest way to distinguish someone. She could smell that pleasant scent whenever she was just a bit close to him.

She didn’t know how to describe it properly.

But now, Sophie seemed to find the words to describe it.

It was like a spring afternoon when the grass is lush and the orioles sing, the sunlight gentle, not too harsh. A breeze brushed across the long grass on the hillside. It was that kind of emerald, soft green grass.

Then, lying there, she felt the tender sun and the gentle caress of the green grass against her face. With her eyes closed, she could sleep until the end of the world.

Why did such a vivid image appear when it was just a scent? Sophie didn’t know. All she could hear was her own heart pounding fiercely in her chest.

In Sam’s arms, she felt incredibly weak, without the strength to rise, only enough to blush.

Suddenly, the world quieted down again, but this quiet was not at all frightening. Instead, it carried an atmosphere that made one yearn to stay. It was a warmth that made one reluctant to leave.

Simply put, Sophie felt bewildered, her mind a blank. Sam, too, hadn’t expected her to fall so squarely into his arms. It was too perfect a fit. Even a deliberate embrace couldn’t have matched this.

Was she doing this on purpose? Or was it because she was so light that she fell so hard?

But holding this girl felt too comfortable. The size, the touch, soft… not at all harsh. Small, not as haughty as her voice might suggest.

This faint scent had an inexplicably compelling quality, making one want to hold her forever.

No, why turn it so innocent? Why was his heart racing? What was this situation now? Why were neither of them speaking?

They were together in the same space, even in such close contact. But they just lay there for what felt like a long time, their concept of a long time.

No one spoke for a very long time. Only the sound of breathing lingered for a very long time.

“…let go,” Sophie murmured, her head bowed, unable to lift it.

At that moment, she didn’t know what expression to face Sam with, especially since she realized she was actually craving his embrace.

She knew it would be hard to look up. Her voice was low, unable to feign any harshness, overly soft and revealing her vulnerability.

To Sam, it sounded almost unfairly adorable. His heart, which had just calmed, throbbed violently again.

Why did she have to be so cute?

“Uh… I’ve let go. Why don’t you try getting up?” Sam had already removed his hands that were supporting her, but noticed she still showed no intention of getting up.

Sophie found it hard to explain one thing—her own condition… It seemed really hard to get up. Her legs were a bit weak, and crucially… she was struggling because she needed to use the restroom.

“I… can’t get up.”

“How about we just sleep then?”

“Help me up, you jerk!!”

“Oh, oh…” Sam finally helped her up.

He watched as the girl, her cheeks flushed red, glared fiercely at him, as if all the gentleness of a moment ago had vanished without a trace. Sam braced himself for the indiscriminate scolding that was sure to come.

After all, this was something Sophie would do; if she were to sincerely accept responsibility for her own actions, she wouldn’t be Sophie.

But unexpectedly, Sophie glanced at Sam. “I’ll talk to you in a bit!” She turned and immediately ran to the restroom, leaving Sam baffled.

What was going on? Was she so upset she had to go to the restroom to deal with it?

But Sam was already thinking about what he would do later.

He couldn’t possibly sleep in a hotel alone; he didn’t have the means, nor was it necessary. A hotel room alone was scarier than a haunted house, filled not with elements of horror, but with profound loneliness.

Maybe he really had no choice but to spend the night at a convenience store?

That could work. The convenience store was practically his second home.

“Click.” The bathroom door opened.

Sam watched as Sophie, radiantly beautiful and exuding an ethereal aura that no one else possessed, approached from a distance. She glanced at him.

Sam was already preparing to get up and say his goodbyes. But Sophie shot him a look. “Keep it down tonight. No sound on your phone, and turn off the lights,” she commanded, then headed toward the bedroom.

Sam paused, a bit stunned. “Hey, wait a minute…”

“What?” Sophie asked impatiently, looking as if everything was normal, if only her ears hadn’t still been a bit flushed, adding to the realism.

“You mean…” Sam was somewhat incredulous. It was clear she was agreeing to let him stay, but… this was Sophie.

She had just gone to the restroom and agreed just like that?

How… Did she wash her brain instead of her hands in there? No, it was more like she had cleansed her soul.

Sophie raised her arm, pointing towards the door. “If you didn’t understand, you can leave.”

“…Thank you.” Sam brought his hands together in front of his chest and lay back on the sofa as if he were a vampire settling into a coffin.

Sophie almost laughed but held it back, coughing instead. “By the way, I’m Sophia… not Sophie.”

Sam nodded. “I’m Ava, not Sam.”

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The girl who had lain in bed for two hours without falling asleep suddenly sat up angrily, slapping the covers. “Is he out of his mind?!”