Chapter 37~WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED

Chapter 37~WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED
Nathan’s POV

Hearing Jason’s voice proved I wasn’t dreaming. I really was kissing Cherry! She was right there in front of me, real and warm. My heart pounded like crazy. I let her go immediately, guilt stabbing me, and turned to leave.

But Jason’s voice stopped me.
“Running away again?” he said fiercely, stepping closer. “Always making mistakes and running away, aren’t you?”

I clenched my fists but stayed silent. It wasn’t that I had nothing to say I wanted to tell him that kiss wasn’t a mistake at all, that with Cherry I had always been sincere. But I was too much of a coward to admit it out loud.

“Say something, jerk!” Jason growled, grabbing my collar.

I pulled away, avoiding his grip, and instead looked at Cherry one last time. Her eyes tore me apart. My chest ached as I turned and walked away, swallowing the scream rising inside me. Tears slipped down my face before I even realized.

I went straight to the studio and sang every sad song I knew. My voice cracked, my body slumped I must have looked pathetic. Without Cherry, I didn’t know who I was anymore. Everything felt empty, a living hell I couldn’t escape.

Two days passed. No word from Cherry. Not even a glimpse of her. Tasha filled the silence, showing up whenever she pleased, clinging to me like I was hers. It only made things worse. Every time I looked at her, I wished it was Cherry instead.

At night, I dreamt of Cherry. When I woke, I saw her in every corner of my mind. She was everywhere and nowhere.

Sometimes, I lingered around campus just to see her, but I never caught a glimpse. I couldn’t believe it I had reduced myself to stalking her, like some lovesick fool. Fans began to notice the change in me. They whispered that I was different, that I wasn’t smiling anymore, that my songs sounded heavier, sadder. Some even said I looked depressed. And they were right.

That day, I parked near the campus again. By some miracle, I finally saw her Cherry. She stepped out slowly, her hair glinting under the sunlight. I moved my car out of sight and just watched as she walked toward a bench.

She sat there quietly, staring at the sky. What was she thinking about? Did she ever think of me the way I thought of her? Even for a second? My chest tightened with the hope that maybe, just maybe, she did.

When she got up to leave, I followed quietly, leaving my car behind. She hummed softly to herself, and I couldn’t help but smile. I could have listened forever.

But then I saw A truck! Speeding uncontrollably. Heading straight for Cherry.

“Cherry!” I shouted, running like a madman. My legs moved before my brain could even process. I reached her just in time, shoving her out of the way.

But I wasn’t fast enough for myself.

The truck hit me. Pain exploded everywhere, and then I was on the ground, warm blood pooling beneath me.

.Cherry’s scream tore through the air. She fell to her knees, clutching me, her tears hitting my face like rain. But I couldn’t hear her. Not anymore.

Her lips moved. Her cries grew faint. My vision blurred.

And then—darkness!