Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 100 We Balance Each Other Out

Jason's hands were on fire, and his grip was anything but gentle.

My heart did a little flip.

"Chill with me for a bit," Jason said, his voice all deep and serious.

I nodded, and he let go. I slid into the passenger seat.

Both windows were down, and the breeze was kinda chilly; no booze smell or anything.

Jason just sat there, leaning back, puffing on a cigarette, looking like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The only thing moving in the car was the smoke, swirling around in the moonlight.

"You dropped Lacey off, right?" I finally broke the silence. "Yeah."

I thought for a sec and then said, "You know, Lacey's pretty cool. She's hot, smart, straight-up, and sweet. Even though her family's kinda messed up, you can tell she got a good upbringing; probably 'cause her dad's a teacher. You two are both awesome and single, so maybe..."

"Enough!" Jason cut me off, his voice sharp.

He was usually so chill, but his shout made me jump.

He must've realized he freaked me out 'cause he softened his tone, "You just know when it's right. The best person isn't always the right one for you."

I figured he was thinking about his first love, the one he never got over. Dude's got some deep feelings.

I whispered, "Sorry."

He gave a helpless smile. "I should be the one saying sorry. Didn't mean to snap at you. Don't sweat it."

I said, "It's cool."

A gust of wind blew in, and I shivered, rubbing my arms.

Jason noticed and rolled up my window.

He casually turned on the music, and "Happen To Meet" started playing.

"As winter said goodbye, I woke in a moment lost in time..."

The soft music filled the car, and we just sat there, listening.

The first time I heard this song was in a movie theater, and I bawled my eyes out.

"The saddest part of love is meeting at the wrong time, and missing the right one.."

Jason's voice was tinged with sadness as he spoke along with the song.

I felt a pang in my chest and tried to cheer him up. "Let the past be the past. Move on and start fresh. She'd want you to be happy."

Jason turned to look at me, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Really?" His smile was kinda goofy and innocent.

I nodded seriously. "Yeah."

"Actually, the rarest thing in this world is not meeting but reuniting." He said this while staring at me, his gaze intense.

of the car,

"Emily, actually..."

off

up, and I saw the name "Ethan" on

suddenly felt a

music and picked up the

car, I could hear Ethan's voice

my wife

me, a faint smile in his eyes, all calm

downstairs. We're just

of the car

off, but I knew Ethan

the bed, Ethan suddenly yanked me into his arms, and I banged

you sleepwalking?" His tone was playful,

a car and didn't

your phone was ringing on the nightstand. I thought you sleepwalked into the wrong

eyes, even though

I'm

hugging me tight before I could

the reliable one, I'm not. We balance each other

at breakfast, Jason grabbed some bread and said, "I've been looking for a place lately. Found a good one a few days ago. If it works out, I'll move." His words came out of nowhere, and I

like we don't have room for you

to get a hotel room." Jason smiled lightly. "Mainly, I don't want to see you two flaunting your love in front of me every day." Two days later, Jason moved

three-bedroom apartment downtown, ready to

Blue Ocean Bar to celebrate Jason's

showed up too, her hair now shoulder-length. If it were before, she would've

curiously, "You've never let your hair grow this

to grow it out. As my best friend,

said, "I'm excited to see it. You're gorgeous, so any

a person's change often starts with someone coming into or leaving their

tomboy suddenly trying on dresses, or a short-haired girl wanting to grow her hair

thought this time, Bella had

a sensitive stomach, so I didn't let him drink. I stopped him from accepting

being extra, but I was dead serious, and he just smiled and gave in. "Alright, I'll listen to you." One of his buddies cracked a joke about Ethan being a henpecked husband,

of honor. You guys don't get it. A real man takes care of

dance at his words. Bella nudged me

Ethan's kindness was the best thing ever. Back then, I never imagined I'd one day

to hit the restroom and stopped a waiter to have a quick word. When I got back, Connie was singing one

table got real tense. I casually

suddenly stood up, making

leaned down and gave me a cheeky grin. "Just hitting the

go of his

left, I noticed Jason sitting quietly on the side, so I went over to

"Jason, do you know where

"Her remains were taken back to her hometown

they never saw

still be alive?" I

stunned, then

home for a week before they took her. How could she still be alive?" Her body was in the funeral home for a week. If she were still alive, she'd have to be a

that text

song, and Ethan came back. I wrapped up

over

said, "Oliver, I've signed up for the 'Youth Sings Loudly' competition. I might need some

Blue Ocean Bar. Come