01
The aftershocks subsided
I spent a week in the hospital
Today was the day i got discharged.
A message came in on my phone from my boyfriend Zack Redmond.
“Wait for me at the hospital, I’ll come to pick you up.”
I understood; he was trying to make amends with me.
When the earthquake struck, he pushed me away, grabbed his true love Claire Meadows, and fled, leaving me alone in the crumbling room.
Later, I saw a picture on Claire’s social media of them holding hands in the safety corridor during the earthquake
The caption read: “True love is when disaster strikes, you push everything aside and run towards me.”
Apparently, I represented “everything” that needed to be pushed aside
I left a cold message: “Don’t forget to send me an invitation to your wedding”
Immediately, I called Zack to confront him.
It took eight calls before he finally answered.
In a calm tone, he said. “I’ve told you before, I had a history with her before, but now we are just friends. Can you stop being so petty?” His accusation made me seem narrow–minded and unreasonably troublesome.
After a pause, he asked, “Are you okay?”
A day after the aftershock, and he finally remembered to ask if I was okay?
I didn’t reply and hung up the phone.
We fell into a cold war.
It had been a week now.
In the past, whenever there was a conflict between Zack and me, I was the one trying to break the ice.
If by chance he initiated the reconciliation, I would have been pleasantly surprised.
Today, when he offered to pick me up from the hospital, I remained indifferent, just casually responding with “okay” The hospital ward was tense after the aftershock, and the nurses had already completed my discharge procedures.
At the hospital’s entrance, I called him, but no one answered.
The summer sun was scorching, making me feel anxious.
In no time, my clothes were drenched in sweat, and my head was spinning from the heat.
A taxi pulled over and asked if I needed a ride, but I declined.
I wanted to wait for Zack to come and pick me up, still holding onto a glimmer of hope.
And so, I stood under the scorching sun for over two hours.
The sun was blazing, and the weather was hot, but my heart was gradually cooling down.
For some inexplicable reason, I clicked on Claire’s social media.
Her latest post read: “Zack was worried I’d get heatstroke, so he thoughtfully drove me home!”
The picture showed Zack’s profile as he gripped the steering wheel, wearing our engagement ring on his hand.
1 liked the posi
Zack couldn’t be in two places at once, so I had to hall a cab back home by myself.
It was already noon, and there were hardly any taxis around.
I wanted for half an hour before finally managing to flag down a cab.
I was nearly suffering from heatstroke.
Zack, and I work at the same company. We started living together after getting engaged last year.
By the time I got home, it was already two o’clock.
Zack woke up from his nap and suddenly remembered he hadn’t gone to the hospital to pick me up.
When I opened the door, he was busy on his phone while changing his shoes
Upon seeing me, he hung up the phone.
“Why did you come back by yourself? I was just about to come get your
I smiled without saying a word.
He glanced at me. Since you’re back on your own, heed to work.”
det me.
10:19 AM ch
I still just smiled, saying nothing.
I went to the room, and drank some heat relief syrup, but still felt uncomfortable all over, so I took a quick shower and went to bed.
When i woke up, it was already past six and I felt much better.
I hadn’t eaten lunch, so I made a sumptuous dinner.
There were many dishes, but it was just enough for one person.
I was eating when Zack entered the room.
He went to the kitchen to wash his hands and opened the pot, but found it empty.
As he stood there staring at the empty pot in silence, I had already finished eating and was tidying up the table.
The meal was delicious, and I finished it all without wasting any.
As I was washing the dishes, he stood by watching me for a long time without saying a word.
Once I finished washing the dishes, he left the kitchen without a word, looking annoyed, and went to the study.
I still felt weak all over, so I went back to bed.
Throughout the night, Zack didn’t return to the room.
When I woke up and saw the empty left side of the bed, I got up calmly.
He was still asleep, and I made breakfast for one person ne usual.
By the time he woke up, I was already sitting at the table eating breakfast
I kept my head down while eating, but I could feel his intense gaze on me.
Even when he slammed the door and left, I didn’t look up.
After leisurely finishing breakfast and washing the dishes, I went to work.
My colleagues knew I was injured in the earthquake, so they voluntarily lightened my workload.
My boss, Lisa, called me over.
“Melody, have you thought about the overseas assignment?”
The company decided to send Lisa to explore the market in Franconia, and she wanted to take me with her. She had mentioned it several times.
I was quite tempted; following the boss to build a new market was an opportunity that would surely pay off in the future.
However, I had always been concerned about Zack and didn’t want a long–distance relationship, so I hadn’t agreed yet
But now I nodded. Tve made up my mind. I’ll go with you to Franconia to build our business.”
Lisa patted my shoulder with a relieved expression. “Great, with your help, we will surely succeed.”
At noon, when Zack messaged me, my colleagues had already bought lunch for me.
“Why are you so temperamental all of a sudden?”
I was a bit confused and didn’t quite understand what he meant.
So, I didn’t reply and just put my phone aside to eat.
When he didn’t get a response, he sent another message after a while.
7 haven’t had lunch yet”
Since Zack and I started living together, I’d been cooking breakfast and dinner for him, and I even ordered his lunch. Sometimes, worried that too much takeout might not be good for his health, I would wake up early to prepare a packed lunch for him. Even during our cold wars before, I wouldn’t forget.
But he felt I was being too controlling, sometimes throwing the meala i made into the trash and ordering takeout instead.
I
Didn’t he think takeout tastes better than what I cook?
I simply replied, “I forgot. Order takeout for yourself?”
I silenced my phone and focused on eating.
