"Those bastards…" Rudy muttered through gritted teeth.
The mood in the room had shifted completely. The air grew heavy as the teens wrestled with the weight of what Michael had narrowly survived. For a moment, no one said a word. Melody still hadn't let go.
"I'm so sorry, Michael…" she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. Her body trembled as she clung to him, and to his surprise, her words came between soft, hiccuping sobs.
I didn't think she'd react like this…
He hesitated, unsure what to do.
His hand moved halfway up her back, intending to comfort her. But then it stalled—frozen mid-air. Were they close enough for something like this?
Before he could make a decision, Melody lifted her head. Michael quickly tucked his hand behind his back, trying to act casual.
