Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

He chuckled softly, disbelief painting his features. "I'm not mistaken."

Roseanne seemed lost, her eyes briefly clouded with confusion.

Then Corley spoke again, "I want to kiss you."

Roseanne was dumbfounded, speechless for a long moment. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, and for a second, she couldn't tell if this scene unfolding before her was reality or a dream because it was absurd!

Corley's smile had a roguish charm, his handsome face carrying a hint of recklessness and indifference, mixed with the slight buzz from the alcohol on his breath, giving off a vibe of defiance. "Surprised, huh?" Surprised was an understatement. Roseanne felt her brain had short-circuited.

"You... you..." She tried to speak, but no coherent words came out.

"Yes, I have a thing for you."

"What are you talking about? How could anything happen between us?"

"Why not give it a try and see?"

"But you and Murray..." Weren't the two of them like brothers?

Corley continued, "You and Murray have broken up. I like you, and I'm boldly going after what I want. What's wrong with that?"

Only then did Roseanne take a good look at the man before her. She had to admit Corley was tall, handsome and carried an air of gentle nobility If Murray was like the unpredictable weather, never knowing when it would rain or shine, Corley the wind slipping through your fingers, formless, seemingly within reach, yet hard to grasp.

"I'm sorry," Roseanne said, "I don't like you."

was like

Corley didn't seem upset. Instead, he even smiled as if he had expected her response. "Yeah, I know."

Just as Roseanne thought she could breathe a sigh of relief, he spoke again. "That's why I'm pursuing you, not just confessing and expecting you to be with me."

Roseanne didn't know what to say in response.

"Why not take a chance on me? Some people don't recognize a good thing when they see it, but I do." Corley stepped closer, "I've seen your kindness, attention to detail, and talent, and I understand your pride, your determination..."

"Don't come any closer!" Watching his overwhelming frame approach, Roseanne stepped back instinctively. "No matter what you say, I won't fall for you. This so-called pursuit is a waste of time and unnecessary."

Roseanne had never considered the

possibility of anything happening with anyone close to Murray,

especially not his best friend. "Toet

me, you're Murray's friend. I'll

pretend I never heard anything you said today, and from now on, please don't bring this up again

Corley frowned, seemingly not expecting such a direct rejection. He reached out to embrace Roseanne. But a force yanked him away the next second, followed by a fist swinging at him.

With eyes burning with fury, Murray punched Corley's nose and, not satisfied, threw another.

Uneasy, he had come out, looking

for Roseanne to talk, but what did he see? His best friend was hitting on. his ex-girlfriend. Roseanne had her back to him, unaware of her expression, but Corley's face, filled with infatuation and lust, was evident enough to suggest something scandalous!

Murray's mind went blank for five seconds. When he snapped back to reality, he had clenched his fists. "Wow! Corley, you are indeed a great buddy! Didn't you know Roseanne was my girl? What were you two doing?"