Chapter 124


    When Jocelyn had a moment to herself, she couldn’t help but think about Yasmine’s words. She


    admitted there was still a ce in her heart for Melvin, but she didn’t want to continue on a path that led


    nowhere. A rtionship without a future would inevitably end just like it was now-unfulfilled.


    Fortunately, since thest time she’d parted ways with her parents, she hadn’t seen Melvin at all.


    Preston seemed to understand and never mentioned his uncle again.


    Everything seemed to be progressing in an orderly fashion. Jocelyn was convinced that time could


    indeed heal and change everything.


    She and Harrison had fallen into a routine of calling or messaging each other on Facebook daily, and


    their rtionship had started to take on a romantic tinge.


    Actually, she liked it this way. Keeping a healthy distance allowed for a richer imagination about the


    future and kept things fresh Not upying too much of each other’s time and space was a fine way to


    be together


    Harrison called to say he was swamped at work and might not be able to give her much attention.


    Jocelyn urged him to prioritize his job, reassuring him that she was also caught up in her own whirlwind


    of school work, especially with finals approaching.


    Her chin wound had mostly healed. Back in her apartment, she found herself burning the midnight oil,


    prepping for review sessions. When she was busy, her mind was clear of distractions. When she


    finished her work, she was so tired that sleep came the moment her head hit the pillow.


    One day, it was a colleague’s birthday and they decided to go out for dinner and karaoke to unwind a


    bit from the final intensity. After a hearty meal, they arrived at the karaoke lounge, only to bump into


    another group.


    “Mr. Martinez,” someone recognized the man leading the other party.


    Melvin paused and turned to the caller. At first, he didn’t recognize them. Upon seeing Jocelyn and


    Urs in the back, he remembered


    these were teachers from the local school.


    His gaze lingered on Jocelyn for a few seconds before he casually nodded to the man who had greeted


    him. “You here for fun too?”


    “Yeah, we’re celebrating Hannah’s birthday,” someone added. “Care to join us for a bit of a party, Mr.


    Martinez?”


    Jocelyn looked down to avoid Melvin’s gaze. But Urs kept whispering in her ear, “He’s looking at you


    again.”


    It had been a while since Jocelynst saw Melvin, and she’d been so busy she had almost forgotten


    about him. Yet seeing him now, even just a fleeting nce can stir something she had tried to bury.


    She didn’t like this side of herself.


    “No thanks, have a good time, Melvin replied politely before heading inside.


    Zephyr, who had noticed Jocelyn’s attempts to be invisible, caught up with Melvin. “I saw


    Jocelyn,” he said.


    Melvin lit a cigarette and took a drag. His voice was chilly, tinged with a hint of mncholy, “So what?”


    “She seems thinner, Zephyr kept an eye on Melvin’s expression. “Did you take that business trip for a


    month to avoid her?”


    “What’s it to you?” Melvin red at Zephyr Mind your own guy.


    Zephyr nced back at Yannick, who was a step behind. “What’s wrong with my guy?”


    Melvin exhaled a smoke ring. “Take a guess.


    Zephyrughed off Melvin’s teasing and fell back to walk beside Yannick “What did you guys actually


    do on that business tnp?”


    “We did nothing, Yannick replied tly.


    “Then why did he tell me to take care of you?”


    Yannick stopped and fixed Zephyr with a stare. “I’m not your guy.” With that, he quickened his pace.


    Zephyr hurried after him, draping an arm over Yannick’s shoulders. “Other than you, I’ve got no one.”


    Yannick shrugged off his hand and followed Melvin into the private room with a cold face.


    Zephyr stuck to Yannick, still curious about what Yannick did during that month with Melvin But


    certainly Melvin wasn’t going to tell


    Over the past month, Melvin had been working nonstop, thinking it would help him forget the woman


    who had left him heartlessly. Yet once he came back, he couldn’t restrain himself from wanting to see


    her, and that eagerness was like being thirsty for two days and desperately wanting a drink of water. He


    was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control it, so he asked frends to hang out with him to rx.


    gemed like fate was ying a cruel joke on hirn, picking a karaoke bar where he’d run into her.


    wesn’t destiny what was?


    After finishing a cigarette and downing a couple of drinks, Melvin felt restless and couldn’t stay put.


    “Hey, where are you going?” Zephyr kept a watchful eye on Melvin’s movements.


    Yannick nced at the door. “He’s off to solve a case of lovesickness”


    Zephyr’s face lit up with cunosity. “He still hasn’t forgotten Jocelyn, has he?”


    “You can’t just quit the most delicious meal you’ve ever had,” Yannick sympathized deeply with Melvin’s


    feelings.


    Zephyr’s eyes narrowed at Yannick. “And what delicious meal have you had?”


    Yannick gave him a sidelong nce. “What do you think?”


    Melvin stepped out of the private room and only stopped after a few steps. What was he even thinking?


    His head throbbed


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    He lit another cigarette, leaning against the hallway wall. As the ember at his fingertips flickered, his


    heart followed suit


    He’d given himself a chance-if he didn’t see her before he left, he’d try to let her be happy.


    Just try


    But if he saw her again before leaving, he’d bear the stigma of being the other man if he had to.


    Melvin smoked one cigarette after another His mood was growing more and more oppressive, nowhere


    near the rxation he’de for


    Meanwhile, Jocelyn was toasting andughing with her colleagues, thoroughly enjoying herself and


    even belting out a few songs


    Her voice was beautiful. When she sang upbeat songs, the world seemed filled with joy. When she


    sang sad bads, it was as if the whole world owed her something.


    The music teacher joked that she must have studied music before.


    Jocelyn wasn’t hogging the microphone. She was about to put it down when someone urged her to


    sing one more.


    She knew a new song that had recentlye out, “Possibility.”


    The moment the intro of the song hit the speakers, Jocelyn felt a weight descend upon her heart. As


    she began to sing, her chest tightened, an inexplicable wave of mncholy enveloping her.


    The lyrics in front of Jocelyn started to blur.


    She couldn’t recall how she managed to finish the song. It wasn’t until the room erupted in thunderous


    apuse that she snapped back to reality, her cheeks feeling oddly cold and moist


    Touching her face, her fingertips met a lone tear.


    Before turning around, she wiped her tears away. In an embarrassed murmur she said, “Excuse me. I


    need to hit the restroom


    “There’s someone using it now,” someone pointed out.


    TI find another one outside”


    As soon as she stepped out, Jocelyn looked for the restroom. She even asked a waiter for directions.


    Finally she found the a restroom avable. But upon leaving, she was disoriented.


    Navigating by the door numbers was not helping much.


    The dim lights of the corridor made every turn look identical.


    Without paying close attention to the door numbers, one could easily lose their way.


    At a fork in the path, Jocelyn tried heading left. But after just one step, she spotted a man leaning


    against the wall, smoking a cigarette. Even in the dim light, she recognized him instantly. She knew


    right away she had made a mistake.


    As she was about to react, the man suddenly looked up and their eyes met, his gaze catching hers


    before she could look away.