Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 41

Hogan and I finally parted ways on a sour note..

But this time around, I wasn’t freaking out.

Sure, Hogan was a tough cookie, but with Cecilia in the picture, he’d got his Achilles‘ heel

Had a dreamless night, and when I woke up, my phone was buzzing with a few unread

messages.

They were from Tina.

We hit it off at Darren’s birthday bash and added each other.

[Xaviera, are you and Darren actually an item now?]

She was fishing for some juicy gossip.

It seemed that she caught wind of that post too.

I had no choice but to run through the whole spiel I gave Cecilia yesterday, and ended it with [Do me a solid and clear the air with the rest of the gang, will ya?]

Tina was a peach, and she agreed right away.

But thinking about how all this might affect Darren, I was still feeling edgy, so I gave him a ring.

“This is why you’re blowing up my phone first thing in the morning?” Darren asked in his usual laid–back tone, sounding a bit miffed, “Xaviera, do you really think I’m that petty?”

“Darren.”

besides, to be linked with you, Xaviera, is an honor for

me off, his voice as warm and comforting as the autumn sun

tied up at the moment, you go on with your day.”

hung up.

on purpose. I had to check in on my uncle today–it

a no–frills residential area in the eastern part of

dorm with some fruit, his colleague told me my uncle had the morning shift and

snacks to everyone and then headed to the street corner to look

heard my uncle’s intermittent voice. My

with dyed yellow hair, red lips, and dressed

Are we

usually meek uncle was nervously clasping his hands, apologizing to the woman while stuttering. “I just thought n–nobody wanted it, I–I’m

dark skin glistened with sweat, and his eyes

“Uncle!”

and a genuine smile briefly crossed

a stutter his

he hung his head low, looking like he

front of him and asked the

“And you are? Related to this thief?”

calling him a “thief” drew a small

my uncle a thief. Got any proof?” I glanced at the cardboard boxes at her

didn’t expect me to push back so hard. She pointed at me and said, “Denying it, huh? I had my cardboard boxes sitting right outside my door, and he just takes. them without a word.

the picture right

a pushover his whole life, always on the receiving end of bullying;