Chapter 13
I agreed to Melvin’s suggestion and went to his place.
What I didn’t expect was that the apartment across the hall was his too.
The fight had left me sidelined for two months &
But honestly, after hitting rock bottom, I found a strange sense of peace–as if I’d been reborn.
Still, the aftereffects from the surgery and the anesthesia started to kick in.
After taking some antibiotics, a heavy drowsiness washed over me.
My forehead felt cool–someone was caring for me.
At first, I thought it was my mom, who insisted on staying to look after me.
The next time I woke up, the comforting aroma of pork stew drifted in from the kitchen.
My body didn’t ache as much anymore.
I listened for a while to the birds outside the window, then reached for my phone.
Dozens of messages and missed calls.
Some from coworkers, some from friends, and–of course–some from people just eager to gossip.”
Someone had sent me a screenshot of Ewing’s social feed, showing him tending to Magnolia’s wounds.
The caption read: “You’re my Cosette.”
Ha. No wonder he turned me down without a second thought when I’d asked him to rewatch that old movie with me a few days ago.
Turns out it wasn’t that he didn’t want to go–it was just that I wasn’t the one he wanted.
I posted in my own feed: “If anyone sends me anything else about him, don’t blame me for cutting you off.“}
I threw back the covers and tidied myself up a bit.”
I saw Melvin standing in the kitchen, keeping an eye on the soup.
When he noticed me, he said, “Your mom made this. She went out for groceries and told me to make sure you had some while it’s hot.”
He handed me a bowl.2
I reached out, but the pain shot through my arm and made me wince.}
“Impatient as always. Let me help you,” he said.2
With the gentlest touch, he guided me to a recliner and propped a pillow behind my back.
“Don’t get the wrong idea–we actually take a class on this in med school,” he joked.
He poured the soup into a bowl, let it cool a bit, tested it with his lips, and then fed me spoonful by spoonful.§
It was the first time a guy had ever fed me. My heart felt warm and achy all at once. Ewing had never taken care of me like this.
When Melvin wiped my mouth afterward, our eyes met, and, for a second, we both froze.
My heart skipped a beat. Irene, you hopeless romantic, seriously? Now?
Just then, my morn walked in, breaking the tension. “Sweetheart, are you feeling any better?
Melvin jumped up, his ears turning red as he hurried out.
A gentle warmth filled my chest.
Maybe it’s true–maybe everyone really does meet two people in their life: one who dazzles you, and one who quietly heals you.
My mom tidied up the place.
But when it came to taking care of Joy, my clumsy little cat, she hesitated–not because she disliked her, but because Joy always pounced on me, demanding
attention the moment she saw me.
Strangely, when she saw Melvin, she just rolled over at his feet and showed her belly.
Melvin couldn’t resist. “Come on, let’s get you a bath,” he told her.
My mom helped me settle back into bed. “You’ve been through a lot these past years
I paused, unsure what to say.
“Irene, when you gave Ewing those limited–edition sneakers, he barely reacted. But when he gave you that little toy he won at the fair, you were over the moon.”
“I always thought you were too self–effacing,” she said gently
I blinked back tears. “Mom, please… don’t–“@
“I just want you to remember to cherish the person in front of you ”
I understood what she meant.
But Irene could never be Magnolia.
I could love selflessly, I could compromise for love, but I wouldn’t lose myself–wouldn’t stoop to schemes or rivalry.
If love has to be won through manipulation, then I’d rather not have it at all
