Chapter 82

“Go and see him off,” Calvin said with a glance at Jocelyn.

After pondering for a moment, Jocelyn stood up and made her way to the stairs. However, halfway down, she stopped.

‘Til stop here. You go on,” Jocelyn said, her voice betraying her reluctance to encounter Melvin She couldn’t imagine what she would say to him. It was like meeting an ex after a breakup. There was no way to stay cool and composed.

Preston seemed confused ‘Why? Don’t you miss him? It’s been ages since you two saw each other.”

“Just go Jocelyn replied. It’s impossible to share her inner turmoil with Preston, who was practically still a kid.

Seeing how adamant she was, Preston didn’t press further and went downstairs alone.

Leaning against the wall, Jocelyn listened and waited.

After a long while, she heard a car pull away. As the tension in her heart eased, a sense of emptiness washed over her

She went back home to prepare for the upcoming exams. Her workload wasn’t going to ease up anytime soon. It was only after she sat down for a while that she grabbed her bag and hailed a cab back to her own apartment

As soon as the elevator doors opened, a familiar scent of cigarette smoke hit her nostrils.

She looked up and locked eyes with those deep, soulful eyes that she knew all too well.

Her heart skipped a beat

Melvin crushed his cigarette in the stand-up ashtray in the hallway and approached her, wrapping his arms gently around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder. He seemed to let go of all his strength, seeking comfort in her presence.

Jocelyn wasn’t sure how to respond to his embrace, so she just let him hold her.

After a while, she felt the weight on her shoulder grow heavier, followed by the steady sound of his breathing.

Was he asleep?

How exhausted must he be?

Unable to stand still too long, Jocelyn softly called his name, “Melvin? There was no response, so she tapped his shoulder.

He murmured something, his voice low and hoarse, betraying his fatigue.

“Don’t sleep here, go home to bed, Jocelyn urged, helping him stand

As he opened his eyes, he leaned against the wall, and only at this close distance did she see how weary he looked. Dark circles under his eyes, bloodshot scleras, and a stubbly chin.

Jocelyn eventually opened

to the couch and

wanted a shower, but he was already

him out so much? He looked like the tired heroes from the

some porridge for him,

sleeping. Jocelyn worked on her computer in the living

couch.

time she finished preparing the exam items, it was midnight. Stretching, she looked up to find Melvin

asked, “Hungry?”

he

for support as she made her

up and

“Want more?”

“No, that’s erlough.”

papers. The awkward silence hung heavy,

raised an eyebrow, seemingly

even more awkward.

a smile, Jocelyn added, “I’ve got a bit more work. You can rest if you

but right at the moment she didn’t want to share

handmade box from his pocket and

a gesture he made every time he came back from his travels.

it, she placed it on the table. “It’s late. You should get some

was a hand-made box, less opulent than his previous gifts, but

It’s too much,” she said, suspecting it contained jewelry, which

for

and inappropriate” she explained, guessing it was either a bracelet or earrings. She hardly wore earrings; the

“What’s wrong

taken aback but quickly smiled. “I’m

the formality

there it was. She was being formal, not

did he understand why she hadn’t greeted

Jocelyn seemed to be a person laden with heavy thoughts, while Melvin

Go take a shower. I’ll finish up here and then head to bed,” she said, suddenly losing the will to explain or argue. Every time she needed to express herself that she didn’t like the things he

never took her

to the bedroom for his clothes and then

shower was clear, and involuntary images of

for these thoughts.

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