Chapter 2

I fell silent. Apparently, in Leo's eyes, I had gotten totally out of hand. I really needed to do something about it.

After thinking for a bit, I told Leo, "Leo, I'm not mad, really."

He frowned, clearly puzzled.

I fidgeted with my sleeves. "I feel like I can handle these little things myself from now on. You're always so tired, so you don't need to get me a cup of milk at night anymore."

After a moment, I added, "Oh, and if you don't feel like drinking milk, that's totally up to you."

As soon as I finished speaking, there was a sudden crunch.

Leo's soda can was crushed in his hand, and soda spilled onto his hand.

My eyes went wide as I quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe his hand.

[Ugh, Lydia, get your filthy hands off him. Leo absolutely hates it when you try to touch him, but you never learn. Every single time, he has to scrub himself in the bathroom until his skin turns red.]

[Can't you see he's rejecting you with every fiber of his being? Yet you keep shamelessly forcing yourself on him. Honestly, it makes me want to puke.]

Leo really couldn't stand it when I touched him.

During the holidays, I'd hug all my relatives and friends, but when it was Leo's turn, he'd always make up some excuse to dodge me.

If I ever managed to surprise him with a touch, he'd instantly pull away, put some space between us, and then I'd soon hear him turning on the shower in his room.

Back then, I really didn't get it. I used to insist he blow-dry my hair and help me with face masks.

I took a deep breath and quickly pulled my hand back before I could touch him.

Leo smirked, teasing, "Backing off this time, huh?"

After a beat, I looked at his long fingers.

Water trickled along the veins on the back of his hand, dripping between his fingers and hitting the floor with a soft plop.

My heart gave a little flutter. I was totally obsessed with nice hands. Leo's hands were exactly my type.

Back then, whenever I got the chance, I'd practically force myself to grab his hand, tracing every inch like I couldn't get enough.

But now, seeing his fingers so tense they turned pale, I could only guess how much effort it took for him to swallow his disgust.

I quickly looked away and muttered, "Alright, I won't touch them."

The room went eerily quiet all of a sudden.

Half of Leo's face was hidden in the darkness, his expression impossible to read.

My heart started racing for no reason. "I-I'm going to bed now."

As I was halfway down the hall, another loud crunch sounded behind me, way louder than before.

I spun around, confused and a little nervous. "Leo?"

The moonlight from outside cast a sharp outline on Leo's tense face.

But his voice was calm, almost too calm. "It's nothing. Go to bed."

*****

When I woke up in the morning, my head was pounding.

Running my fingers through my damp, tangled hair, I let out a sigh.

Stepping into the bathroom, I caught sight of my waist-length hair in the mirror, a total mess, and felt more hopeless.

My hair was naturally soft, and if I didn't use hair serum to keep it in check, it would get knotted up in no time.

But I completely forgot to do that last night.

"Leo—" I blurted out. But as soon as the word left my lips, I caught myself.

Things weren't like before. I couldn't ask Leo for help whenever I wanted anymore.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, and Leo's voice came from outside. "What's up?"

The comments, which had finally quieted down, started scrolling rapidly again.

[Leo was explaining the experiment to Leona, and the second he heard Lydia's voice, his whole mood tanked. Way to ruin the vibe.]

[Leo's hands are for doing experiments with Leona, not for wasting time brushing your messy hair. Seriously, take a hint already.]

[Guys, chill. Let Lydia keep making a fool of herself. The more Leo gets annoyed, the messier her fate's going to be.]

My heart tightened, and I raised my voice, "N-no, nothing."

Leo said, "You called me."

I scrambled for an excuse. "I was on the phone with a classmate. You must've heard wrong."

There was a few seconds of silence outside the door.

"Okay," came his reply.

Once his footsteps faded away, my shoulders sagged, and I started working on my hair.

Half an hour later, I stared at the more tangled ends in my hands and finally made up my mind.

*****

"You're really going to cut your hair?" On the way, my classmate, Lucia Prescott, couldn't help but ask again for the fifth time.

I sighed, "I'm dead serious."

Lucia looked over the back of my head, his face full of regret. "I remember you started growing your hair out in seventh grade. It's been six years. Can you really bear to cut it off?"

I touched the bun at the back of my head, left speechless for a moment.

Honestly, it wasn't so much me taking care of it for six years as me making Leo do it for me all this time.

From washing to maintenance, Leo handled everything.

If it weren't for the live comments, I might never have realized how much Leo had to grit his teeth and force himself to touch my hair, over and over, though he clearly hated it.

Honestly, I was never good at taking care of it myself anyway. I might as well cut it off, one less thing to get on Leo's nerves.

I smiled, "Hair always grows back, so there's nothing to be sad about. Make sure your aunt gives me a nice cut later, okay?"

Lucia patted my shoulder. "You got it. Don't worry."

Just then, he got a new message on his phone. He glanced at it and smiled, "The stray dog we picked up last time is all healed now, according to the vet. The vet sent over a super cute photo."

"Let me see." I leaned closer, totally absorbed in the puppy pic, barely noticing there was someone blocking the view in front of us.

"Excuse me, can I get through?" Right after I spoke, I felt something cool brush across the top of my head.

"Leo?" Lucia blurted out.