Chapter 128


    The next day at school, Jocelyn was greeted by Urs, who immediately inquired about what’s going


    on after she left the previous night.


    “We broke up.” Jocelyn said with a wry smile to Urs. “But we’re back to being friends now”


    Urs wasn’t exactly surprised by the oue but was curious about another matter. “Are you thinking


    of getting back together with Mr. Martinez?”


    Jocelyn shock her head. “No.”


    “Then why let a catch like Harrison slip through your fingers?” Urs couldn’t understand. “You guys


    could have dated without any issues. There was no need to let go.”


    “I just can’t get over this hump in my heart”


    “At the end of the day, you’re still hung up on Mr. Martinez, Urs said. “If you love someone, be with


    him. You’re miserable together and apart anyway. Why not choose to be together? There’s got to be


    moments of happiness sometimes.”


    Listening to Urs’s skewed logic, Jocelyn couldn’t help but chuckle. “You might actually have a point.”


    “Of course I do,” Urs retorted with disdain. “It’s the same with guys chasing girls. They’re happy with


    the one they’ve got but still checking out the market. It’s all about pleasure. They don’t need to wear


    their hearts on their sleeves. A few good times, a bit of a thrill, and they’re set


    “The thrill’s the main thing, huh?” Jocelyn mused. Her long conversation with Harrison the previous


    night had truly shifted her perspective


    Now, she even found herself in the mood for a joke.


    “So what do you think? Urs pressed. Really not getting back with him?”


    “Nope. Haven’t thought about it”


    “So you’re letting go of both an old me and a new possibility? Then you shouldn’t have broken up


    with Harrison. He’s a great guy. You could have given it time, let affection grow


    “My rtionship with Harrison was a mistake from the start. Staying with him out of obligation is not fair


    to him” Jocelyn sighed. “Now that it’s out in the open, I feel so much lighter.


    Urs shrugged. “I can’t tell if you’re lucky or not. One great guy after another, and yet you end up with


    none.”


    Jocelyn just smiled. “It’s not about not wanting them. It’s about the time I met them. Now I finally


    understand how crucial it is to meet the right person at the right time.”


    Urs shook her head. “I’ll never get it. But I’m sure of one thing-if I ever find someone I’m happy with,


    I’m going to hold on tight. For at perennial singleton like me, finding someone is hard enough”


    “You’ll find someone,” Jocelyn reassured her, patting her shoulder.


    As Jocelyn entered the ssroom that morning, she caught Preston’s gaze. It was hard to decipher


    what his look meant.


    After ss, Preston approached her


    “Aren’t you going to ask me? Preston queried


    Jocelyn, packing up her things to leave the ssroom, replied, “Ask you what?”


    “Aren’t you curious how he’s doing? He got a real beating yesterday. Preston followed her. “Aren’t you


    worried?”


    “If you’re here for ss, how bad can he be?”


    Jocelyn’s somewhat heartless response left Preston feeling downhearted.


    “But he got beaten up because of you, didn’t he?”


    Jocelyn stopped and looked at Preston. ‘He didn’t do it for me. After saying that, she headed


    downstairs


    In truth, she had pondered over Melvin’s condition the previous night. But Melvin was no slouch. The


    fact that he couldn’t defend himself against Harrison suggested it might have been intentional, perhaps


    to y the victim, to make her worry and see Harrison as the wrong one.


    When Melvin was getting pummeled by Harrison without fighting back, she had indeed been worried,


    not stopping to think it through and Tashing out at Harrison


    vin yed his cards deep-even in that moment, plotting against Harrison


    now that Jocelyn realized how halve shed been, finally seeing Melvin for what he was.


    Preston fled out, following her downstairs. “Can’t you just go see him?


    Jocelyn took a deep breath “I can’t. I have ss soon. You should focus on your studios and not


    meddle in adult affalis, especially when they’re beyond your understanding. When you grow up, you’ll


    see just howplex rtionships can be, far moreplicated than anything in your textbooks”


    Preston looked reluctant, but eventually, he left


    Jocelyn frowned slightly as she watched him walk away. She wasn’t entirely indifferent to Melvin’s


    injuries, but she also knew that Harrison wouldn’t have seriously hurt him without good reason.


    The ‘pain’ he imedst night was likely half real, hall feigned.


    At lunchtime, Calvin made a phone call to Jocelyn.


    “Jocelyn, why not invite Harrison over for dinner tonight?”


    “What?”


    “What do you mean what? Hamson came looking for you, didn’t he? You could have at least told us. If


    it weren’t for his mom calling us, we wouldn’t have even known he was here She said Harrison


    managed to transfer his job to Yanova City for you and even scoped out a house He’s really gone all in


    for your sake. He’s an action man when ites to love”


    Jocelyn’s mouth hung open Hanson had transferred to Yanova City?


    Why hadn’t he told her?


    She hung up on her father and dialed Harrison’s number.


    Harrison, busy at work, suggested to meet after she finished for the day.


    In the aftemoon, as soon as Jocelyn finished herst ss, she went to see Harrison, who was waiting


    at the school gates.


    “In such a rush to see me?” Harrison, now in fresh clothes and a warm smile, looked at her with clear,


    honest eyes.


    Jocelyn frowned “You’ve transferred your job already?”


    “Hmm. I wanted to give you a bit of a surprise, but you know how it is,” Harrison shrugged with a wry


    smile, “life’s full of curve balls”


    Jocelyn hadn’t expected him to transfer so quickly. Ifst night hadn’t gone down the way it did, maybe


    things would’ve been on the upswing between them.


    “Don’t overthink it. I’m not nning on going anywhere for now,” Harrison said, trying to ease her


    worries. “I applied to stay here for two years. After that, I might get transferred back.”


    “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused,” she said, feeling a twinge of guilt


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    He shrugged it off. “If you really feel sorry, then help me pick out some furniture this weekend. Found a


    nice little spot, but it needs a woman’s touch. What do you say? You’re not going to turn me down, are


    you?”


    “Sure, Jocelyn agreed, finding no reason to refuse


    If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t have to uproot his life. Leaving the familiar for the unknown, adjusting to


    everything new in this city.


    “My parents know you’re in town, Jocelyn mentioned, “They want you toe over for dinner tonight.”


    Harrison hesitated, “Do you think it’s still appropriate for me to go? After everything?”


    Their parents were in the dark about the breakup. Things had been good, then ended suddenly. Now,


    he wondered if they could handle the truth


    “Why wouldn’t it be? We’re still friends, right?” Jocelyn reassured him. “As long as you’re up for it.”


    “Of course, I am I’ll be a local soon enough, so I’ll be leaning on you a lot. After all, you and your


    parents are the only people I know here, Harrison joked


    But Jocelyn’s quilt deepened with his words.


    That evening, Harrison and Jocelyn headed to her parents’ house together.