Chapter 28

"Before you do any inappropriate behavior towards me, could you please ask for my permission first?" I kept reminding him during our journey back to the tree house, as I had been nagging him incessantly.

As he led the way and we walked together, he was taken aback by my request. “Excuse me?” He paused for a moment, turned to face me and asked, "Inappropriate? What do you mean?"

"Excuse me as well," I replied, matching his puzzled expression. "Yes, I do indeed mean inappropriate. It is not acceptable for you to do things to me without my consent, as if I were your girlfriend. That is just not how a healthy boundary should be crossed." Only a few more steps, and we would finally reach the front of the tree house.

Driven by my frustration, I decided to take the lead. I wanted to assert my independence and show that I did not need his assistance anymore. With determination, I strode ahead, my eyes focused on the tree house in the