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 the

straight to the couch and collapsed, appearing

asked if he wanted a shower, but he was already

much? He looked like the tired heroes from the old

cook some porridge for him, anticipating that he might want something warm when he woke

sleeping. Jocelyn worked on her computer in

couch.

the time she finished preparing the exam items, it was midnight.

asked,

bit, he replied.

up, her legs numb. She leaned on the table for support as she made her way to the kitchen and served

up and gulped it

“Want more?”

“No, that’s erlough.”

up the bowl and put away her laptop and papers. The awkward silence hung heavy,

eyebrow, seemingly surprised by

ar tumed even more awkward.

a bit more work. You can rest if

why things had become so strained. She had finished her work but right at the

handmade box

gesture he made every

the box without opening it, she placed it on

It was a hand-made

need to bring something every time. It’s too much,” she said, suspecting it contained

for you?”

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

her. “What’s wrong with you?”

was taken aback but

the formality

She was being formal, not with him, but with

know what she had discovered, nor did

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

will to explain or argue. Every time she needed to

never took her

this time, Melvin headed to the bedroom for his clothes and

was clear, and involuntary images of his body invaded her thoughts,

for

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