Independence

Sam laughed quietly. “I didn’t mistake you for someone else.”

As if she didn’t understand what he said, Miranda’s gaze went blank.

Sam spoke again. “The person I want to kiss is you.”

Miranda was stunned. For a moment, she couldn’t speak.

Confusion swirled in her mind. There was even a moment where she didn’t know. whether this was reality or a dream.

It was just too crazy!

Sam smirked, his face adorned with a mischievous and rebellious look. Combined with the faint scent of alcohol coming from his body, he exuded an air of cynicism. What, are you shocked?”

Miranda wasn’t just shocked. Her brain had stopped functioning.

“Y–You…” she stuttered, unable to form a full sentence.

“That’s right. I like you.”

“What are you talking about? How could you and I-”

“If we never try, how would we know if we’d work out?”

“Aren’t you and Hansel-” She meant to ask, weren’t they best friends?

“You two have broken up. I like you, so I’m boldly pursuing you now. What’s the problem?”

Only then did Miranda return to her senses. She regarded the man in front of her seriously.

She had to admit that Sam was tall, manly, and carried an air of elegance worthy of a refined gentleman.

If Hansel was like unpredictable weather that could either end in rain or shine, then Sam was the shapeless wind that slipped through one’s fingers–seemingly within reach, but in reality was very difficult to control.

“I’m sorry,” Miranda began. “I don’t like you.”

Sam wasn’t affected at all by her words. In fact, he even broke out in a smile. It was

as if he had expected it. “Yes, I know.”

Miranda was just about to sigh in relief when she heard him open his mouth again. That’s why I’m trying to court you rather than confessing my feelings to you and asking you to be my girlfriend.”

Miranda was stunned into silence.

“Why can’t you give me a chance? Some people can’t tell what’s good and what isn’t, nor do they know what they should cherish. But I’m different,” Sam said, approaching her. “I know that you’re considerate, detail–oriented, and talented. I also know you respect yourself, and I’ve seen your persistence-

“Don’t come close!” Miranda recoiled backward as he inched closer to her. “No matter what you say, I just don’t like you. Even if you try to ‘court‘ me, you’ll only be wasting your energy. It’s completely unnecessary.”

She had never thought of becoming an item with someone in Hansel’s circle, much less one of his best friends.

“To me, you’re just Hansel’s friend. I’ll pretend that I never heard the words you said. to me today. From now onward, please don’t bring this up again.”

Sam frowned as though he never thought that she would reject him so decisively. She wasn’t even going to give him a chance.

He reached out to wrap an arm around Miranda’s waist, but in the next moment, a brute force pulled him away. Right after, a fist came flying toward his face.

Hansel’s eyes were bloodshot as he smashed his fist against Sam’s nose. Then, as if he still wasn’t satisfied, he threw another punch.

Earlier, he felt uneasy, so he came out here to talk to Miranda. However, he ended up witnessing this.

His best friend was hugging his ex–girlfriend, At the time, Miranda’s back was toward him, so he didn’t know what kind of face she was making. However, seeing the desire swimming in Sam’s eyes, it was obvious that there was lust!

White noise filled Hansel’s head. For a whole five seconds, his mind was blank.

When he returned to his senses, his fist was clenched. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“Wow, Sam, you’re such a great friend! Miranda is mine, don’t you know that? What do you think you’re doing?”