SWNOVELS Chapter 187
Jocelyn sobbed uncontrollably in her office.
She had thought she could hold it together, but her mother's phone call had shattered her composure.
How could her heart not ache?
She had been over the moon at the prospect of becoming his bride, but he had chickened out at the last minute without so much as a call or explanation.
What hurt the most was that he had promised so earnestly. If he had just been upfront with her the night before, it wouldn't have come to this.
Her dignity had been trampled on without mercy.
After a period of crying that seemed to stretch on indefinitely, her legs went numb. She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and stood up, nearly toppling over. If it hadn't been for her grip on the chair, she would have hit the floor again.
Jocelyn sat up, trying to compose herself. She couldn't let this negativity linger.
It was like being left at the altar.
So what if she was left at the altar? It's not like it was the end of her life.
She rested her head on the desk, then heard a noise at the door.
Fearful that another teacher was still around, she quickly dried her eyes and pretended to pack up her things calmly.
Looking up, she saw Harrison standing in the doorway, his eyes behind his glasses betraying a hint of concern.
Jocelyn was too surprised to hide, wondering why he was there.
"Aren't you on your way out?" Harrison asked, pretending not to notice her earlier breakdown. "I was passing by, checked with the security guard, and since he mentioned not seeing you leave, I thought I'd come and see how you're doing."
At this point, Jocelyn couldn't concern herself with whether his presence was coincidental or intentional.
Since he was here already, she couldn't put on any pretense.
As Jocelyn packed up, Harrison moved to take her things.
"No need," she said, not passing him her bag. "I can manage."
He heard the heaviness in her voice but said nothing.
Leading the way, Jocelyn walked ahead with Harrison following.
Exiting the school gates, his car was parked at the curb.
"Let me give you a ride," Harrison called to her.
"No trouble," Jocelyn glanced at him. "It's not too far from here to my place."
"Then I'll walk with you."
Jocelyn could tell he was worried. If she refused his company, he'd probably follow her anyway.
Without a word, she acquiesced.
The walk wasn't long, but it felt like an eternity to Jocelyn.
Suddenly, she wobbled on weak legs.
Harrison caught her swiftly, concern in his voice, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Jocelyn croaked, her voice hoarse.
Her feigned strength made Harrison wince inwardly.
"Can you tell me what's bothering you?" Harrison suspected it had something to do with Melvin; otherwise, she wouldn't be like this.
After Jocelyn had reconciled with Melvin, it was clear that her complexion had improved significantly, with a layer of joy evident in her expression. Furthermore, since Melvin had expressed his intention to marry her, she should have been even happier.
What could have happened to result in her current state?
Jocelyn tried to smile, "It's nothing."
"Is it him?" Harrison ventured cautiously.
Her smile twitched, tears threatening again.
Harrison didn't understand Melvin's logic-why win her back only to cause her such pain?
"Okay, I won't pry," Harrison backed off. "It's fine to feel upset, but try not to dwell on it for too long. No matter what happens, there's always a solution. It will eventually pass."
Jocelyn tried to smile through her tears.
"Yeah, I know," she choked out.
Harrison felt for her but there was little he could do, except be there for her.
"Get some rest when you're home. No hurdle is too high, remember to keep your chin up." They reached her apartment building, and he reassured her one more time. Jocelyn nodded, "Thanks."
"We're friends; you don't have to thank me," Harrison smiled gently. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Jocelyn turned and walked away, Harrison watching until she disappeared before heading back to his car.
Once inside his vehicle, he dialed a number, "Check out what Melvin was up to today. Thanks."
Before reaching home, Harrison received a call.
"Melvin took the last flight to Norka City from Yanova City last night."
Melvin had gone to Norka City? Had he not told Jocelyn? Or did they have a fight?
"Do you know who he's meeting?" Harrison inquired.
"That's unclear. I'll need some time if you want further details."
"Alright, thanks for your help."
Hanging up, Harrison sat in contemplation.
What had happened between them? It felt like no small matter.
Jocelyn cried into the night, her eyes stinging with pain before finally drifting off to sleep.
She was soon startled awake by a dream.
In her dream, Melvin coldly observed her, suddenly sneered, and then walked away without turning back.
The overwhelming feeling of loss in the dream reignited the flood of suppressed emotions, and she awoke in tears.
Once awake, sleep eluded her.
Lying in bed, memories of Melvin's proposal replayed in her mind—her joy at that time mirrored the depth of her current heartache.
It was her own fault, continuing to love the same person despite repeated hurt, unwilling to stop.
Retrieving Melvin's contact from her phone, she scrolled to the last message, a photo she had sent the previous night.
Now, as she zoomed in on his face, she saw no hint of joy.
He had wanted to refuse her all along.
And now, after all that time, there wasn't a single message or call, and no explanation.
This time, Jocelyn deleted Melvin's number for good, blocking all ways to contact him.
She planned to change her number once she was back at work.
Though it seemed an ineffective way to erase him from her world, it was her way of trying not to dwell on the pain.
She couldn't bear to see his name or messages any longer.
Jocelyn was scrolling through apartment listings online; she wanted to move out.
In the morning, when she stepped out to go to work, a surprise awaited her- Harrison was just emerging from the elevator.
She paused, feeling a bit startled.
"Did you sleep well?" Harrison asked with a warm smile.
Jocelyn returned the smile, albeit a bit wearily, "Not too bad."
"You skipped breakfast, didn't you? Here." Harrison handed her something, "I found this incredible diner that does the best sandwich, and their coffee is top-notch-rich and bold. Give it a try." Jocelyn was taken aback by his thoughtful gesture.
"Thanks," she said, accepting the food, "I was just about to head to school."
"You've got to eat," Harrison insisted, joining her in the elevator.
The ride down was silent, both lost in their own thoughts.
Jocelyn's eyes still smarted from crying the night before, but today she felt a tad more composed.
"How about lunch? Got time to grab a bite together?" Harrison asked, breaking the silence.
Jocelyn shook her head, "I'm probably not going to have time. I'm swamped with work lately, and I've got tutoring sessions over the weekend. It might only be during the holidays that I'll catch a break."
"It's good to be busy," Harrison didn't press further. "My mom was asking about you the other day, wondering when you'd be free."
"Thanks for thinking of me. Managing a senior class hardly leaves time for oneself," Jocelyn said, trying to sound upbeat. "I guess I'll breathe easier once this batch graduates."
"Yeah, I can only imagine the pressure. Well, when you're on break, we'll make plans to hang out."
"Sounds good."
Harrison glanced at his watch, "I won't keep you."
"Alright." Jocelyn lifted the breakfast, "Thanks for this."
"No worries, take care," Harrison said with a final smile before heading to his car.
Jocelyn waved to him as he drove away, then turned towards the school gates.
She bit into the sandwich Harrison had brought her, and she had to admit, it was delicious.