Chapter 140


    The air between the two was undeniably weird


    Jocelyn turned on her heel, catching a glimpse out of the corner of her eye to see the pond’s surface


    rippling. Was it because she’d just slipped on a rock, or had a clod of earth hit the water?


    Melvin didn’tment but merely asked. “Got any more nuts?”


    She fished a handful out of her pocket passed them to his outstretched hand without looking him in the


    eye.


    He continued shelling nuts as if nothing had happened just now


    Truth be told. Jocelyn had no idea what she’d nned to show him. They just strolled along the pond’s


    edge.


    “Jocelyn, Melvin called.


    She turned.


    “Hand.”


    She held out her palm and he dropped a few shelled nuts into it


    Melvin dusted off his hands. “You still haven’t answered my question.”


    She met his gaze, confusion clear in her eyes


    “How does your professor let youe out here?” He probed again.


    Jocelyn’s heart skipped a beat such a sour note in his voice.


    “Your professor? Was that really necessary to address Harrison in this way?


    She turned back and munched on the nuts, “What’s there for him to worry about? We’re both teachers,


    and he understands.”


    “Huh, he remarked sarcastically, “A real gentleman schr then.”


    Jocelyn frowned at his bizarrepliment.


    She followed the path, Melvin at her heels.


    “Then why didn’t hee with you?”


    “He’s got his work


    “Work matters more than his love for you?”


    The conversation made her ufortable.


    If it weren’t for the fact that there was nothing serious between her and Harrison, she might have


    thought Melvin was trying to stir trouble, or that he was jealous


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    But his words were inconsequential for her now


    “We re both quite clear about our responsibilities. Besides, loving someone is about prioritizing. Mature


    rtionships don’t need to be overly clingy Instead, they require giving each other space. That was


    Jocelyn’s ideal kind of romance.


    Melvin chuckled at that, but Jocelyn didn’t turn to see why.


    “His love is really rational


    She didn’t reply.


    Their conversation was disjointed, yet like that of old friends. It seemed harmonious if you set aside


    their past


    “When are you leaving? Jocelyn asked.


    “And you?”


    “After the winter break.


    Melvin frowned, “Not going back for the festival?”


    “No.”


    Heughed again, “Jocelyn, I just can’t understand your romance with him.”


    She frowned back, turning to face him. “So?”


    He always brought Harrison into it; how sour could he get about him?


    “Going off on this teaching trip, he’s okay with that. Even not going home for Christmas and not


    meeting his parents, he doesn’t care. Are you two really dating? And shouldn’t lovebirds want to be


    together all the time?” His eyes suddenly grew intense. Like we used to


    be


    Thatst phrase sent a wave of heat across Jocelyn’s face.


    Melvin leaned against a nearby tree, unconcerned with getting dirty as he scrutinized her, “Don’t you


    two… have needs?”


    Jocelyn wanted to shove him into the pond.


    How shameless of him to just say whatever he wanted.


    “He’s not like you… She stopped mid-sentence, realizing it was inappropriate now.


    “What’s wrong with it? Don’t you think when you love someone, you want to be with him every second?


    If you’re really in love, you could be glued together 24/7. His words, amid the nature around them,


    sparked an odd sentimentality.


    She swallowed hard, unable to meet Melvin’s gaze.


    He was somehow serious yet not straight-talking while flirting, and it threw her off bnce.


    She had came here for peace, to sort out her thoughts, but his presence turned everything upside


    down.


    He had a way of unwittingly plucking at her heartstrings, causing her to lose herposure with just a


    touch


    “It’s getting chilly. I’m heading back. She didn’t want to stay with him any longer. In fact, she was afraid


    to Continuing this way, all her efforts would be for naught


    Melvin shrugged off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders.


    Even knowing it was an excuse, he yed along.


    His scent enveloped her as the garment came close. She quickly removed it and handed it back, “I


    don’t need it.”


    He took it, watching her hastened departure, a smug smile curving his lips, Jocelyn, you don’t love


    him.”


    Her mind was buzzing at his words. She quickened her pace and left him behind.


    What did it matter to him who she loved? Why did he have toe here to tease her?


    She senously suspected he had followed her to this vige. He was too purposeful.


    Back in her room, she burrowed into her bed. Urs breezed in and perched on the edge of her bed


    with a mischievous grin, “What were you two doing up in the hills?”


    “Talking nonsense, Jocelyn red.


    “I saw you twoing down the trail, one after the other,” Urs raised an eyebrow, “So? Did you


    make out?”


    “No! Jocelyn protested.


    “What a pity Urs settled on a stool, “I heard he’s leaving today.


    Jocelyn’s heart skipped, feigning indifference, “So?”


    “What if he really came for you? What would you think? Urs was curious.


    “You’re overthinking Jocelyn said, though she felt a flicker of uncertainty.


    “Oh well,” Urs sighed dramatically, eyeing Jocelyn, I had a whole story in my head. A repentant bad


    boy seeking to win back his girl, sparing no expense to follow in her charitable footsteps, walking the


    path she walked, doing the things she wanted to do. How touching.”


    Jocelyn rolled her eyes.


    Melvin was gone. The vige secretary and officials saw him off.


    They said, the road construction would begin after Christmas. This time, it was for real.


    After the Christmas celebrations, the vige was abuzz with the promise of a concrete n that would


    soon beid out. Once evaluated.


    a project aimed at lifting themunity out of poverty and towards prosperity would be set into motion


    There was a fresh sense of hope in the air.


    On Christmas’s Eve, Jocelyn and Urs decided to stay in the vige.


    After calling their families to assure them all was well, they joined the vigers in the preparations for


    the big feast.


    For Jocelyn, this was the first time she experienced the rural holiday spirit. The vige was small, but


    the sense of togetherness of people made it feel incredibly festive


    Suddenly, the children burst into excited shouts from the entrance of the vige. “He’s back! He’s


    back!*


    Cunous, Jocelyn wondered who it was.


    “Mr. Martinez only left two days ago; howe he’s back again?” someone muttered, equally curious.


    Mr. Martinez? Melvin?


    Jocelyn was surprised. Why were the kids so excited about Melvin? And why had he returned so soon?


    The entire vige converged at the entrance to see Melvin pulling up in a pickup truck, the bed loaded


    with goods.


    Food, drinks, clothing, necessities, and of course, fireworks essential for the celebrations.


    Zephyr came with Melvin and, upon seeing Jocelyn, paused before breaking into a radiant smile,


    “Jocelyn!”


    Jocelyn offered an awkward smile and nodded in greeting


    As everyone pitched in to unload the truck, Zephyr found a moment to sidle up to Jocelyn. “I knew


    there had to be a reason for Melvin’s sudden bout of generosity. It’s because of you, isn’t it?”


    Jocelyn turned away from Melvin, who was still busy with the supplies, and asked in disbelief, “For


    me?”


    “What other reasons could be?” Zephyr chuckled “You’re probably the only one who can make him


    willing to empty his wallet”