~Carol~
When I finally opened my eyes, the soft hum of the car's engine surrounded me, and a wave of confusion washed over me. My heart raced as I noticed the sun flooding in through the windshield, illuminating the interior in shades of gold.
My watch read 8 a.m., a stark reminder that classes should have already begun. Why, then, was I still sitting in this vehicle? As I attempted to unbuckle my seatbelt, my gaze drifted to Roman, who was engrossed in his phone, his fingers scrolling furiously across the screen.
"I need to get going," I asserted gently, reaching for the red button with a soft click that released my seatbelt. Gathering my belongings, the weight of the moment seemed to anchor me in place. Just as I was about to swing the car door open, Roman's hand captured my wrist, his grip surprisingly firm.
"Don't go," he declared, his voice slicing through my confusion like a knife.
