The car’s music started playing at just the right moment. I quickly took the bottle and murmured a soft “thank you.”
Jonathan gave a slight nod and closed his eyes again. He must’ve just come off a night shift at the hospital. Faint red veins were visible in his tired eyes.
I sipped the soda slowly.
The car had merged smoothly onto the main road.
Kimberly’s birthday was coming up. So, Jasper organized this short road trip to celebrate it. About seven to eight of us were in three cars, heading to a hot spring resort a hundred miles away.
Not long after we started driving, Kimberly practically glued herself to Jasper’s side.
The music was loud, making it hard to hear what they were saying, but they were clearly enjoying themselves.
Lately, Jasper and I have had several unpleasant arguments because of his inappropriate closeness with Kimberly. He promised to be more mindful next time.
But whenever he saw Kimberly again, that promise vanished into thin air.
Suddenly, everything felt meaningless to me.
I lowered my head, chuckled to myself, then turned to look out the window.
The mountain roads twisted and turned, with the occasional loose rock scattered along the path.
As the car jolted, I couldn’t help but lean to the side. My bare knee under my skirt brushed against Jonathan’s thigh—pressed tightly against it.
I wanted to move away instinctively. But then I noticed a faint reddish mark on Kimberly’s neck. Even a fool could recognize it—a kiss mark.
There was no need to guess who left it.
In that instant, a surge of defiance rose within me, and I simply froze, leaving my knee where it was.
Just then, Jonathan opened his eyes and looked at me.
I pretended to be perfectly calm, staring straight ahead, refusing to meet his gaze. Yet, my knee, pressed against the outside of his thigh, subtly shifted closer, pressing in even more.
Only a thin layer of fabric separated us.
I could clearly feel the firmness and heat of his muscles beneath. Waves of warmth surged through me, setting my nerves alight as if electrified.
