Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 56
After dinner, Darren mentioned needing to pick up some materials from the
academic building. and that’s when we split from Hogan and Cecilia.
Strolling through N University's campus, I suddenly felt like those once
intimidating places weren't so scary after all.
What caught me off guard, though, was that Darren didn’t actually take me to the
academic building; instead, he walked me all the way to the back gate of the
school.
I genuinely thanked him, “Darren, thank you so much.”
“It's no sweat,” Darren replied briskly before asking. “So, that stir—fried pork, you
really dig it?”
I nodded, saying, “Even though it's a bit spicy, it's pretty addictive.”
I never used to touch that stuff.
Darren's lips curled into a smile, his eyes twinkling, “See, Xaviera, trying a new
flavor can bring a whole new experience.”
Thanks to him, I discovered the deliciousness of stir-fried pork.
The next day at work, I immediately suggested to Wallis that she should give this
dish a go.
Wallis frowned upon hearing it and said with a pinched voice, “Pigs are so cute,
how could your eat their meat?”
Right after she finished speaking, Cecilia came over with her laptop.
“Xaviera, I wrote a bit of code last night, but it's not passing the tests. Could you
help me take a look?"
I nodded and took the laptop from her.
It was a simple piece of backend code for a game, the kind you'd find in
textbooks. After a quick glance, I pointed out the problem.
Cecilia laughed in relief, ran the tests in front of me, but then didn’t immediately
grab the laptop back.
I casually glanced at the screen saver and saw a cozy photo of Hogan and
Cecilia.
Cecilia was leaning in front of Hogan, flashing a peace sign at the camera, while
Hogan stood behind her with a gentle smile.
“Xaviera,” Cecilia caught my eye and said with a grin, “You think this pic is quite
atmospheric too, right?”
Cecilia's bragging was plain as day, even a bit provocative.
She was still so young, unable to hide her feelings.
Looking closely at the photo, I saw that it was obviously taken at N University's
campus, meaning yesterday, after splitting up with us. Hogan took Cecilia for a
spin around their almal
mater.
All out in the open.
Not like back when I had to coax Hogan for ages to change his phone's
wallpaper to our hand—holding pic, only to be coldly rejected.
I didn’t even dare dream of a couple's photo.
Cecilia had the goods to show off.
“They go well together,” I said nonchalantly. “A filter could give it more texture.”
“Really?” Cecilia stumbled over her words, barely managing a smile, “I'll give it a
try later.”
After that, she left with her laptop.
Out of the blue, Hilary called me in the afternoon.
“Xaviera, I've got a gathering this weekend, could you help me pick out a couple
of nice dresses?”
Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.
: , q
I knew Hilary's tastes well; her
biggest hobby was shopping, and
, 4
thanks to her, J ¢bedn@adged to the
Rallis Times than I could count,
: p
so saying I was always on call wasn't
an exaggeration. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
But times had changed.
I gently excused myself. “I've still got work on my hands, maybe you could take
Ms. Irwin with
you.”
A mother-in-law and taughter—in—law shopping together would surely be more
fitting than me.
Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.
« p nog
I don't want to,” Hilary was always
. « 5
straightforward, 1 ne gstega 148!
neeteche thinking about her timid
» .
ys.” The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.
I was a bit at a loss for words and
3 , 5
then heard Hilary's dramatic om
re end,
“ 3 5
Xavibra, e honest with me, do you
. » 3
find me too naggy?” The content is
on Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
As if she was the most aggrieved party.
1 pinched the bridge of my nose and compromised, “How about after work then?”