Chapter 16
That night, I found myself going over so many memories from our younger days.
I didn’t sleep at all.
The next day, I couldn’t help myself–I asked Selena to stop by and check on Jessica. Selena stayed over there for three days. Each evening after work, I would bring over groceries and cook for us. After the three of us had dinner together, I would wait for them to fall asleep before going home.
But the more I did, the more it seemed to make Jessica feel I wasn’t over her.
Once Selena returned home, Jessica started finding excuses to catch me alone whenever her friend wasn’t around.
It was too late for all that now. Late affection was worth less than dirt. No matter how much she regretted it, the feelings were long gone for me. Back then, I would bend over backwards to make her a full seafood feast and wait for her for hours, but she didn’t even send me a single message.
She was the one who had pulled me out of the dark in my youth. But later, she stomped on me like I was nothing. After five years together, she left me without hesitation for Cameron.
It was Selena who had reached in, cleaned me up, and held me close. She showed me that I didn’t have to be so self
sacrificing in love.
Yes, Jessica had saved me once. But after spending five years by her side, I had repaid that debt. Not wanting to drag this out anymore, I was ready to sit down and make things clear with her.
One day, when Selena was working late, Jessica turned up at my place, holding a bag. When I opened the door and saw her, I couldn’t help but frown.
“What do you want?” I asked.
Jessica looked uncomfortable. “Seb, I… I want to eat your cooking again.”
I laughed dryly. “You wanting to eat my cooking has nothing to do with me. The only reason I cooked at your place was because Lena was staying with you. I have things to do today, so I won’t be inviting you in.”
I shook my head and started to close the door, but Jessica wedged her hand against it.
“Are you waiting for Selena?”
I nudged her back outside. “Who I’m waiting for is none of your business, Jessica, Don’t keep bothering me. And one more thing.” I glanced at the black bag she was holding, “I hate seafood. Always have.”
She froze, clearly caught off guard.
I took the chance to shut the door.
For five years, I had gone out of my way to perfect my seafood dishes just for her, even though I never liked them. But Jessica never noticed.
Half an hour later, Selena got off work and came over. She knocked on the door, vegetables and fruits in hand–all things she knew I liked. We already agreed she would come by after her shift to cook together. In the kitchen, we fell into a comfortable rhythm. I focused on dinner prep while she helped with little things. We got along happily and easily.
After dinner, Selena started tidying up and accidentally kicked a large gift box tied with a ribbon.
“Seb, what’s inside this? It’s all dusty.”
Chapter 16
+15 BONUS
When I saw the box, I paused. It was a dress I bought for Jessica the week before Cameron came back. But we never got around to exchanging gifts, so it had just been gathering dust in my study.
“It’s nothing. Just something I don’t need anymore. I’ll throw it out.”
I picked up the box and tossed it into the dumpster downstairs. Along with it, I let go of five years‘ worth of misguided devotion and wasted hope.
On my way back up, I picked out a new dress–Selena’s size this time.
If I was going to give her a gift, it had to be something new, I would never give her someone else’s leftovers.
As the New Year celebrations approached, Jessica’s cousin, James Zephyr, returned from overseas. He invited me over for a small get–together. Since he had helped me out in the past, I decided to go, even though I knew Jessica would probably be there.
Sure enough, she was. She looked more worn out and thinner than I remembered.
But what caught my attention was her dress.
How was it so much like the one I’d thrown out?
