SWNOVELS Chapter 194
Jocelyn felt numb all over, her mind buzzing with thoughts.
She should have known; once Wesley saw her, and with Melvin actively on the lookout, it would be weird if Wesley didn't spill the beans about her whereabouts. He vanished without a word, without any explanation.
Then he just reappeared, expecting things to be the same, thinking she should come running back at his beck and call.
Was he assuming that a hug, a kiss, and a night together would reset everything?
Jocelyn didn't open the door. She knew Melvin well enough to be sure that if she kept silent, he'd wait outside all night.
"It's too late; it's not appropriate," Jocelyn's voice trembled slightly, "Please go."
She wasn't sure if he heard her, but the knocking stopped.
Leaning against the wall for what felt like ages, Jocelyn tried to move back to the couch but realized her legs were like jelly.
She couldn't sleep that night, tossing and turning until dawn when exhaustion finally took over.
Her phone rang, jolting her awake. It was Harrison.
"Did I wake you?" he said, his voice betraying concern.
"Didn't sleep well last night," Jocelyn mumbled, barely able to keep her eyes open, "What's up?"
"My mom made some chicken noodle soup, thought I'd bring some over for you to try. Heading out now," Harrison said, "Eat some, then you can sleep." Jocelyn felt a bit more awake at that.
She thought of Melvin, wondering if he was still around.
"Mhm."
She got up, keeping an eye on the door.
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She could tell by the rhythm of the ring who it was.
She opened the door.
Harrison stood there, holding a thermal food container, "Eat up, then get some rest."
"Okay."
He followed her in, and as Jocelyn closed the door, she glanced outside.
After eating the soup, she washed the container to return it, "It was delicious."
"She got up early to buy the chicken and made the soup herself," Harrison took the container, "What do you want for lunch? Mom's offering to cook." Jocelyn pondered and then said, "I'm planning to head back home."
Harrison was taken aback, "So soon?"
"It's time. I've been here nearly half a month," Jocelyn explained, "I need to spend time with my parents, maybe take a short trip with them close by."
There was a moment of silence before Harrison asked, "Did I make you uncomfortable?"
"Not at all," Jocelyn shook her head, "I've just been away too long. It's got nothing to do with you. You're straightforward. There's nothing for me to feel uneasy about." "We're friends, right?"
"Of course," Jocelyn smiled, "Good friends."
Harrison sighed, "Well, if you've made up your mind, I won't keep you. Got your ticket? I'll drive you to the airport."
"Not yet. I plan to sleep a bit more and then I'll book it," Jocelyn confessed, a bit embarrassed about the sleepless night.
"I guess I did influence your sleep then," Harrison naturally assumed his previous conversation had troubled her.
Jocelyn didn't elaborate; whether it was his words or Melvin, her mood had indeed been affected.
"Alright, you rest up. Let me know your flight number, and I'll take you to the airport," Harrison stood up, careful not to disturb her further.
Jocelyn really liked this comfortable distance with Harrison, never feeling pressured.
He always managed to give her the perfect amount of space to relax.
"Okay," Jocelyn didn't refuse, "But you'll have to let your folks know I won't be able to say goodbye in person."
"Sure," Harrison readily agreed.
Jocelyn wondered how he would explain her sudden departure to his parents, especially since they believed the two were dating.
Once alone, she couldn't sleep anymore. She packed her bags, got dressed, and started checking for flights.
The airport was just about half an hour's drive.
She called Harrison, insisting she would take a taxi instead of troubling him.
"See you when school starts," Jocelyn said, stepping out of the elevator with her luggage to say goodbye to Harrison. "Text me when you get home," Harrison let her go.
"Will do."
She had only taken a few steps when she saw Melvin standing not far off, directly in her path.
Her heart raced uncontrollably, and she involuntarily stopped in her tracks, their gazes inadvertently colliding.
He was dressed simply in a white tee and black jeans. Maybe it was the time apart, but he looked thinner to her.
His eyes, deeper than before, fixed on her with an unreadable expression.
Her heart missed a beat, and she looked away, hurrying past him with her luggage in tow.
As she brushed past him, her heartbeat was in her throat.
Some feelings are beyond control, a natural physiological response.
Finally outside the hotel, her ride was waiting. She quickly got into the car and urged the driver to leave. She was truly afraid Melvin might follow.
As the car pulled away, Jocelyn's heart settled back into place.
She didn't want to see him, not at all.
Seeing him only reminded her of how foolish she had felt that day. Being foolish once for someone was enough, but she had played the fool for him over and over. Enough was enough, Jocelyn thought to herself.
On the plane, she had splurged on a business class seat, and the one next to her remained empty.
Just as she settled in, someone approached.
She didn't know if she was scared or anticipating something, but when she saw the woman taking the seat, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The plane landed on time after a two-and-a-half-hour flight, and Jocelyn texted Harrison to let him know she was safe.
As she approached the exit, her wrist was suddenly grasped.
Startled, she spun around.
Melvin looked exhausted, his eyes red. "We need to talk," he said.
At the airport coffee shop.
Jocelyn ordered a black coffee with no sugar.
She knew that Melvin was back in town, and there was no dodging the bullet - they had to meet, properly, face to face.
If there was no escaping it, she might as well hear him out.
Melvin kept his gaze fixed on her, but aside from the initial glance, her eyes hadn't met his again.
She was cold, detached, treating him like a stranger - not a hint of warmth or emotion.
He had thought, at the very least, she would be upset, maybe even have a tirade of questions ready.
But there was nothing.
"That day, I was going to go with you to get the marriage license," Melvin's raspy voice broke the silence.
A chill crept up Jocelyn's spine, her heart felt icy.
All the words in the world couldn't change what had happened.
She remembered how excited and hopeful she had been, how vividly she could recall those feelings, but his actions had been like a bucket of ice water, dousing all her joy.
And now, those joyful memories seemed utterly laughable.
"I remember the clerk saying to me, he thought I was there for a divorce. He said, if the other one didn't show up, it meant he probably didn't want a divorce."
Her voice was light, and she hadn't expected to be able to sit down and discuss this matter with such calm.
No shouting, no interrogations - the earlier fantasy of slapping him twice and demanding why he had treated her so poorly had vanished.
Now, there was nothing. She was stronger than she had imagined.
"I started thinking, if you didn't come, did that mean you didn't want to get married?" Jocelyn's gaze on him was faint, "It was my fault; I shouldn't have pressured you from the start. Deep down, you never wanted to marry me. It wasn't about me, or anyone else."
Melvin's brows were furrowed as he looked at her, his lips pressed tightly together, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly as he struggled to contain himself.
"It was my mistake, I wanted too much. I was..." Jocelyn's eyes flickered with self-mockery, "not important enough."
After finishing, she glanced at the time, "I guess we have nothing more to discuss. Let's try to avoid each other in the future, shall we?"
"Aren't you going to hear me out?" Melvin's voice was hoarse with pain.
Jocelyn wasn't very interested in his excuses, because at this point, they seemed meaningless.
If he had explained himself then, maybe she wouldn't have suffered so much.
"Fine, explain," she settled back into her seat.
Since he wanted to explain, she would let him.
Whatever his reasons, at least she could have some peace of mind.