SWNOVELS Chapter 185
Before heading out, she shot a text to Melvin, letting him know she was already downstairs, catching a ride. Melvin didn't respond.
After getting on the bus, she called Melvin; the call went through, but no one picked up.
Jocelyn figured he might be driving and couldn't answer the phone.
When she arrived at the registry office, it was only 8:30 AM, and the staff hadn't started their day yet.
She stood in line, a young couple in front of her holding hands tight, lost in each other's eyes, speaking with tender smiles.
Another couple arrived shortly after.
Jocelyn thought, only those getting hitched would turn up so early.
Suddenly, she realized she was standing alone, a pang of disappointment hitting her.
But it didn't matter because he would be here soon.
Just as Jocelyn was about to call Melvin again, her phone rang. It was Daisy.
She answered, "Mom... Yeah, I'm here already. He hasn't shown up, probably stuck in traffic. No worries, I'll call him again. Alright, bye for now."
After hanging up, she dialed Melvin's number once more.
"The number you have dialed is switched off, please try again later..."
Her pupils shrank at the message, disbelief creeping in.
She quickly checked the phone screen, fearing she dialed the wrong number.
She knew his number by heart, could dial it with her eyes closed. There was no way she was wrong.
Maybe his phone died? That's why it's switched off?
He wouldn't just not show up.
Jocelyn took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Don't panic, don't fall apart.
She reassured herself that he would be here, even though every second of waiting felt like an eternity.
However, all her joy drained away when his phone went off.
She tried again, still unavailable.
It was nearing 9 AM, the staff were inside already.
Outside, a line had formed, all the beaming soon-to-be-weds.
Jocelyn stood aside, conspicuously alone.
Some might even mistake her for someone there to file for divorce, given her anxious demeanor.
The doors to the registry opened, and the clerk started handing out numbers. Couples entered hand in hand and took their seats, waiting.
The clerk glanced outside, noticed Jocelyn standing alone, her expression grim, and mistakenly assumed she was someone there to untie the knot.
"Miss, is your partner running late?" the clerk asked gently. "If he doesn't show, that means he's not ready to let go. You can still move forward with your life."
Jocelyn was embarrassed; she wanted to say she was here to get married.
But how could she say that?
If someone doesn't show for a divorce, it implies they're not ready to part ways. But if they don't show for a marriage registration, does it mean they don't want to get married? So, did he not want to marry her?
She recalled his reaction the day before, when she had presented the birth certificate, not a trace of happiness.
She had laughed, suggesting a playful plan to snatch the register, but he was worried it would worsen his parents' impression of him.
Now, thinking back, it wasn't his parents' impression he was worried about. He just wasn't ready to marry.
So, he had lied to her.
Clarity struck Jocelyn.
Yes, he had been leading her along.
Looking at the ring on her finger, gleaming in the morning sun, so bright and beautiful.
He had slid it on her finger himself, a token of assurance.
Not anymore.
Like a con artist luring a child with toys or sweets, letting their guard down, then leading them astray.
There's joy in the candy, in the toys, but what comes after...
Jocelyn felt a heavy pressure in her chest. She dialed Melvin's number one last time, only to be greeted by the same emotionless automated voice.
At that moment, Jocelyn understood the phrase "from joy to sorrow," and what it meant for a forced bond to be joyless.
Daisy called again.
Jocelyn knew what her mother would ask.
Staring at the vibrating caller ID, she didn't know how to explain it to her parents.
She had insisted Melvin would be good to her, that they'd spend their lives together, get married, and be happy. And so, her mother had handed over the birth certificate.
Now what?
It was a joke.
She couldn't very well get a fake marriage certificate to keep up the facade.
"Mom, I'll call you back later," Jocelyn answered, her voice shaking, thankfully hanging up quickly enough to hide her tremble.
Turning to see couples exiting the registry office, no, spouses now, their smiles even brighter than when they'd entered- legally wed and ready to face life together.
Looking at this, Jocelyn felt both envy and bitterness.
She touched her eye, surprised to find no tears.
Leaving there, she found a diner and ordered a bowl of soup, dousing it in vinegar and chili flakes.
As she finished her meal, the tears started to come.
The diner owner, seeing the chili oil floating in her bowl and her watery eyes, commented, "My chili's quite hot, you asked for extra spicy and added even more, impressive." Jocelyn gave a teary smile, a mix of grief and gratitude.
She wasn't crying from the spice.
"What's wrong?" the diner owner couldn't help but ask.
Jocelyn blew her nose with a tissue, took a deep breath, and shook her head, "I'm fine."
Her voice was sob-choked, yet she was still smiling.
She paid and gave the owner another smile before stepping out.
Missing a step outside, she nearly stumbled, prompting the owner to rush to her aid.
She steadied herself just in time, feeling her face warm with near embarrassment. Waving off the owner, she said, "I'm okay. Thanks."
Jocelyn wandered the streets aimlessly, her mind a blank slate.
Spring, yet it felt colder than winter.
She wrapped her coat tighter around herself and watched her steps, one footprint at a time.
Ignoring the incessant honking of nearby cars, she walked on until someone called her name.
Harrison's brow furrowed as he spotted Jocelyn's face. He parked his car at the curb, not caring about a ticket, and hurried towards her.
"What's wrong with you? You look terrible," Harrison spotted Jocelyn with her reddened eyes, the tip of her nose slightly pink, and that smile, which looked even worse than tears themselves. He was increasingly convinced that something was off with her.
"Why are you here?" Jocelyn sniffled, her hands buried in her coat pockets. She managed a smile and asked him.
"Just some errands," Harrison inquired, "What's up with you?"
Jocelyn shrugged, "Nothing really. Just taking a walk."
Harrison didn't buy that excuse for a second, "So why the tears?"
"Tears?" Jocelyn quickly touched her face, and her fingertips came away wet. She brushed it off casually, "Had a bowl of chili at the diner. I'm telling you, if you tried it, you'd be off work for days." Despite her convincing explanation, Harrison sensed that something was still amiss.
"Look, if you've got things to do, go ahead, don't let me hold you up," Jocelyn urged him. "And hey, you better move your car from there or you'll get a ticket. It's not much, but why waste it when you could enjoy a nice steak dinner instead?"
"You're sure you're okay?" Harrison did have something pressing to attend to.
"I'm fine," Jocelyn waved him off, "Go on. I'm just going to do some quick shopping and head back myself. Get going."
"Need a lift?"
"We're not even going the same way. Why bother? I'm just going to check out the shops over there and then I'm off," Jocelyn said, clearly getting impatient and waving him off as she started to walk away. Harrison still felt uneasy as he watched her walk away, then turned to head to his car. He couldn't shake the feeling that Jocelyn was hiding something.
If it weren't for the important matter at hand, he'd have pressed her for the truth.
Jocelyn saw Harrison's car drive off, and she cheerfully waved at him. But as soon as the car was out of sight, her arm fell limp, and the smile that had been plastered on her face dissolved like a bubble bursting, leaving no trace as if brushed away by the wind.