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?"

quiet as he asked, "Are you seriously trying to make everyone think I have a sugar

was amused. The kid was surprisingly sensitive about

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

as if he

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

you could even rent something on campus. I asked at the infirmary; there are a few residential buildings there that are close to your classes, so you wouldn't have to see

One of them cleared

room, you know? Do you think we're

had already begun to gather Jasper's

even have

didn't have much stuff anyway. To avoid drama with his roommates, he even did his laundry off-site for

minutes. "Ready?" she asked Jasper just stared at her,

The lady renting the place took onedook at Grace

to Grace chatting the landlady. A complex expreWith flickered

and

she took

on the bed rang. Thinking it