Regret Came Too Late

The man's shoulders trembled with anger, and his eyes welled up with tears, but he couldn't get a single word out in response.

The others quickly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to drop it.

Grace simply pushed open the door and walked right in.

She saw that Jasper had already sat up. His cheeks were flushed, and he looked unwell.

Grace filled a glass with water, offered it to his lips, and placed the fever medication within his reach.

"Hurry up and take this. Your health is more important," she said.

But Jasper's eyes were fixed on his roommates.

The roommates all looked uncomfortable, knowing he'd heard their spat with Grace outside.

But they weren't usually friendly with Jasper-barely exchanging a few words with him all year-so their awkwardness only lasted a few seconds before they resumed their individual activities.

Grace seemed totally unaware of the weird vibe in the room. Once Jasper swallowed the pills, she seemed relieved.

"Jasper, have you thought about getting an apartment off-campus?"

asked, "Are you seriously trying

was amused. The kid was surprisingly sensitive

if you deny it, will they really think any differently of you? Why bother

from his bed. He panted heavily as if he wanted to argue, but he couldn't find

other roommates looked at each other for a few beats, a little taken aback by Grace's

on campus. I asked at the infirmary; there are a few residential

One of them

still in the room, you know? Do you think

already begun to gather Jasper's

didn't even have

anyway. To avoid drama with his roommates, he even did his laundry

minutes. "Ready?" she asked Jasper

in took less than half an hour. The lady renting the place took onedook at Grace and

silently made his bed on the side, listening to Grace chatting the landlady. A complex expreWith flickered in

broom and started

was done sweeping, she took the

then, the phone on the bed rang. Thinking