SWNOVELS Chapter 195
Jocelyn sat quietly, waiting for his explanation.
After all, even murder requires a motive.
Melvin took a sip of his coffee. Jocelyn's calmness only added to his unease.
"I'm sick," Melvin said.
Jocelyn didn't even bat an eyelid, "Yeah, I know."
Melvin was taken aback and looked up at her, "How do you know?"
"You're so averse to marriage, and I've overheard you talking to Dr. Layla quite often. I figured it must be an illness," Jocelyn explained matter-of-factly.
Melvin swallowed hard.
Jocelyn's gaze remained steady on him, "If it was such a struggle, you shouldn't have agreed to it in the first place. Giving me hope and throwing yourself into the fire. But I should thank you for walking away before we had any papers signed - it saved me some embarrassment."
"Now that I know, I won't force you," Jocelyn said softly, so faint it seemed almost ethereal, "Anything else?"
"I do want to marry you," Melvin's voice was hoarse, "I didn't plan on running away. I couldn't control myself that night. That's why I went to Dr. Layla."
"Okay," Jocelyn acknowledged, letting him know she understood.
Melvin took a deep breath, "I wanted to be in the best shape for you. I didn't want you to worry, so..."
His words trailed off as Jocelyn's piercing eyes held him silent.
"Fear of worrying me, so you chose to disappear. Phone off, no messages. How long has it been? And now you come with explanations - am I supposed to act as if nothing had happened?" Jocelyn laughed.
That laugh sent Melvin into a panic.
"I get what you're aiming for with this explanation, hoping I'd forgive you," Jocelyn nodded emphatically, "Yeah, I will."
Melvin couldn't believe it, but joy overwhelmed him, "You really forgive me?"
"Of course." Jocelyn saw the joy in his eyes and understood what made him so happy, but she didn't want to be fooled again. "But there's no future for us."
The joy in Melvin's eyes was shattered.
"Why?"
"That's a question you shouldn't have asked," Jocelyn said with a light smile, though her eyes betrayed her sadness, "Don't make it hard for me, or for yourself."
Melvin clenched his fists.
Jocelyn cast a fleeting glance at the time on the wall, her tone solid as marble, "I'd rather you didn't bother my parents anymore. They are getting old and can't handle much. If you manage to make yourself scarce, the neighbors might just let the whole incident fade into oblivion, and my parents could pretend it never occurred. But if you continue to cause a scene, you're simply providing the locals with juicy gossip fodder."
"So, even if I want to register for marriage with you now, you wouldn't want to?" Melvin asked, somewhat urgently.
"Yes," Jocelyn's response was a swift and sharp dagger, her eyes unyielding, "Some foolhardy acts are better left as a one-time ordeal."
Jocelyn stood up, "Take care," she said, departing the coffee shop without even a goodbye.
Melvin didn't follow her. He just watched Jocelyn's retreating figure, realizing from the moment she turned away that she was utterly disappointed.
"You've given up?" Yasmine walked in from outside, her gaze filled with sympathy. She stood behind him and gently squeezed his shoulder, "Did you clear things up with her?"
Melvin touched the bite mark on the back of his hand, the one left by Jocelyn. He was not ready to give up, but he didn't know how to win her back.
Keep forcing her?
After all the hurt, did he still expect her to be with him?
Melvin felt like a madman.
"Sis, it hurts here." Melvin pointed to his chest, eyes red-rimmed.
Yasmine looked at her grown brother, reminiscent of when he was a child crying about a pain, and she couldn't help but feel for him.
"Do you want a hug?"
"Just let me lean on you for a bit."
After he spoke, Yasmine sat beside him and let him rest his head on her shoulder.
Jocelyn went home, bringing new clothes for her parents and asking them to try on. Initially, no one mentioned Melvin. It was only later, while they were sorting vegetables in the living room, that Daisy spoke up, "Did that Melvin come looking for you?"
"He did," Jocelyn didn't conceal, "We talked for a bit at the airport on my way back."
Daisy frowned, "Why did you even talk to him?"
"Well, I can't avoid him forever."
"What did he say?"
"He explained, said he was sick, which is why he didn't show up as promised."
Daisy was immediately irate, "What kind of illness stops him from making a phone call? It's been so long, and only now he comes up with an explanation? Did you forgive him?"
"It's not about forgiving or not. He offered an explanation, so I listened," Jocelyn said nonchalantly, "Anyway, it's just a little waste of time."
"What illness does he have?" Calvin suddenly asked.
Jocelyn shook her head, "He didn't say, but I guess it's some kind of mental illness."
Calvin thought for a moment, "That must be serious."
"If he's not dead, it's not serious," Daisy retorted sharply.
"Don't say that," Calvin was disappointed in Melvin but felt there might be a valid reason.
Daisy looked at Jocelyn, "Anyway, no matter how good he is, I won't allow you to have any more dealings with him."
"Mom, you don't have to tell me that. I know what I should do."
If she was foolish enough to get tangled up with him again, then she was the one who was truly sick.
Outside the trees buzzed with cicadas, and the sun baked the pavement with waves of heat.
Jocelyn spent her days at home, playing chess with Calvin, making meals with Daisy. Sometimes Ursula would come over for a visit, and their days passed comfortably. Then one day, an unexpected visitor arrived.
Jocelyn had thought Yasmine might have left town, but there she was at her doorstep.
It would be rude not to invite her in, but Yasmine declined.
"I came to ask for your help," Yasmine said earnestly.
Jocelyn asked, "What can I do for you?"
Ever since their last encounter, Melvin had thrown himself into his work with a manic fervor, skipping meals and pulling all-nighters whenever possible, catching a mere two hours of shuteye when his body screamed for mercy. Lately, he'd been waking up after hardly catching any sleep. His health was on a nosedive-he hadn't touched a bite in three days.
"For old time's sake, could you please check on him and give him a talking-to? If he keeps this up, I'm scared he'll work himself into an early grave."
Jocelyn listened to the plea with a serene detachment, her response marinating in silence before she spoke. "He needs a doctor, not me. If you truly care for him, you shouldn't be coming to me. Melvin and I are done."
"But can't you just see him?" Yasmine was edgy, clutching at straws.
"It's not about 'can't.' It's about 'shouldn't'," Jocelyn said with a cool logic. "You're his sister. If you really treasure him, get him to a doctor. Besides, he's a grown man. If he doesn't care for himself, how can he expect others to?"
Yasmine was taken aback by the change she saw in Jocelyn's eyes.
There had been times like this before, when Jocelyn had always been riddled with worry for Melvin.
But now, there wasn't a trace of pity in her gaze.
"So, you're saying you don't give a damn about him?" Yasmine clung to a sliver of hope.
Jocelyn's lips curled into a faint, detached smile. "It's not my duty to."