Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

He had just finished class, hurrying over from the lecture hall, textbooks still in hand.

Jen said, "So, Sammy and Roseanne were having a math-off earlier. They bet that the loser would treat everyone to dinner. And well, someone lost, and now we're all buzzing about what to munch on tonight." Owen glanced around, catching Roseanne's eyes twinkling with laughter, the group's spirits high.

It was like all the awkwardness just melted away, and she really became part of the group.

A smile naturally spread across Owen's face. "Alright, let's knock off early today then, wait for Sammy's treat."

"Eh?" Jen looked puzzled. "Professor, I didn't even say who lost, how did you know it's Sammy's treat?"

Owen replied, "Isn't it obvious Sammy lost?"

Jen said, "... Yes."

Sammy was totally speechless!

"Hey Liz, you coming?" Jen casually asked.

Liz replied, "Nope."

The dinner ended up being at a cozy roadside diner.

Despite Jen being the most vocal about treating, when it came down to choosing the spot, she thoughtfully considered Sammy's situation. Sammy's family was modest, with his parents working tirelessly to support his PhD studies.

Since joining the research group, his financial situation had slightly improved, yet he still sent money home every month, so his budget was tight. The diner was affordable and tasty, making it the perfect choice.

Though it wasn't as upscale as the restaurant Owen had chosen last time, its vibrant atmosphere made for a very satisfying meal for everyone.

On the way back, Owen drove with ease, Roseanne sitting beside him in the passenger seat.

A slight turn of his head would let him catch glimpses of her eyes, sparkling with excitement. Owen chuckled, "Are you that happy?"

"Yes, super happy. When Jen said 'see you tomorrow' as she left, and Mr. Stoddard, he just gave away his prized math notes... I'm really over the moon today."

Roseanne might not voice it, but she was acutely aware of the distance people kept.

As adults, they weren't overt in their actions, but the subtle differentiation was palpable to her.

Today, however, she felt that gap had closed significantly.

Stopping at a red light, Owen turned to see her gleaming eyes, as if

galaxies were contained within nee

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impulsively reaching out to touch her head. én.swnovels.net

"Yeah, I saw, you did great."

His touch was gentle, devoid of any presumption, his voice as warm as a cello's melody.

Roseanne looked up suddenly,

locking eyes with him. Her breath caught and she awkwardly looked away touching her flushed ear as if trying to hide her embarrassment.

Owen realized the gesture might seem too intimate, calmly withdrawing his hand, maintaining a composed expression.

It seemed just a simple gesture of "professorial encouragement."

But only he knew, the tingling sensation lingered in his palm, unforgettable.

"Beep beep-" The car behind honked impatiently.

Roseanne whispered, "It's green light, Mr. Reynolds..."

Oops!

"Sorry, wasn't paying attention." Owen snapped back to reality, releasing the brake to move forward.

That's when Roseanne suddenly stared at him and exclaimed, "Mr. Reynolds, your face is red?"

It wasn't an overreaction. Owen's face was visibly flushed.