Chapter 20 I Need to Talk to You.
Christian didn’t respond and merely pointed to a spot for her. As Margot set down her basket, she used her sleeve to wipe the sweat off her forehead. “Christian, it’s getting late. Let’s head out together later.
“We’re not going the saine way, he replied coldly.
Margot didn’t seem put off by his icy tone. She hesitated before stepping closer to him. “I need to ask you something. I had Josie reach out to you about tutoring me. I’m willing to pay for your time. Did she mention this to you?”
Christian narrowed his eyes, his hand pausing on a shirt button. “I’m swamped with work. Don’t bother me during work hours. I don’t want my pay to be cut.
With that, he turned and walked away.
As he left the restaurant, he happened to meet the familiar head chef. He patted Christian’s shoulder and said, “Chris, you’ve been busy until now. I almost forgot there’s something I need to tell you,
Christian looked at him with curiosity.
The chef continued, “Around 7:00 pm, a girl came looking for you. She seemed familiar–she might be from your school. I mentioned another girl working with you, and she just left without a word. Oh, and she asked me not to mention her visit.
“What happened? Are you in love? Why didn’t you tell me you had such a pretty girlfriend?”
Christian frowned and replied, “She’s not my girlfriend”
“Come on now. It’s clear she’s upset. I’m experienced, so I can tell when someone’s jealous. When she’s left without saying anything, you need to make things right. Besides, Margot has been working for me for years just like you. She’s a hard worker. I’d hate to have to let her go. You need to handle this.”
After the chef left, Christian hesitated. He pulled out his phone and saw that the messages were from the previous day. There were no new messages.
Jocelyn hadn’t messaged him lately. Christian checked the date–it was July 2nd, a Tuesday, right after her
mock tests.
He texted the familiar number and waited, but there was no reply.
Joselyn had just finished her homework and was about to rest when her phone–buzzed beside her pillow. She reached for it and saw an unknown number calling
In her old–fashioned pajamas with her hair loose, Jocelyn answered the call groggily, “Hello?”
“Are you asleep?
Hearing the familiar and soothing voice, she instantly woke up, the phone’s light glaring in her eyes. “Zac?”
The person on the phone responded, “Hmm.”
Zachary, dressed in a bathrobe and holding a glass of red wine, stood atop a high–rise, gazing over Seaville.
1/3
The dark sky made the skyscrapers look like mere specks to him. On the phone was the soft, drowsy voice. of a young girl.
Jocelyn asked. “Zac, why are you calling me now? Are you done with your job?”
Zachary had just wrapped up a meeting. “Did you finish your tests yesterday?”
Jocelyn answered, “Yes. The questions were pretty easy. Don’t worry about me. I’ll ask my teacher if I have any questions.”
As she yawned and placed the phone on speaker beside her pillow, Zachary asked, “Are you very tired?”
“I’m fine. I saw you in the news today. You and Yvette make a great couple. Take good care of her and get married soon… and have a baby…
“Zac, tell me about Seaville. What’s it like there?”
Zachary replied, “If you want to visit, I’ll take you next time.”
“Okay.”
As Jocelyn’s voice grew faint, Zachary’s expression softened slightly as he asked, “Josie, do you really want me to get married?”
The question was met with silence, only her steady breathing in response.
Is she asleep?
Zachary didn’t hang up. He took a sip of his wine, placed the phone on the bedside table, and suddenly heard her murmuring in her sleep.
‘Christian, how dare you ignore me… I won’t talk with you anymore…
“Zac… when are you coming back? I miss you so much
The night passed, and Jocelyn slept until dawn. If it weren’t for the dog barking outside the rundown. building, she might have slept through.
Seeing the clock on the dusty wall, she found it was almost 6:30 am. She quickly got up, washed up, grabbed her phone, which had already run out of battery.
Jocelyn hurried downstairs with her backpack, barely catching the bus in time.
and
With few passengers on the bus, she arrived at school just before the security guard closed the gate, with Christian’s help.
Being late could cost her conduct points.
“Why are you so late today?”
Jocelyn walked briskly without answering, while Christian followed her at a slower pace. She then stopped and said, “Christian, thanks for helping me with tutoring. I don’t need it anymore. I’ll treat you to a meal
2/3
this weekend when I can. I need to get to class now?
She rushed upstairs to her classroom, just in time for the morning bell.
Margot was lying on her desk, clearly tired. When she saw Jocelyn, she immediately turned away
Jocelyn noticed it but didn’t care.
Margot, usually chatty in the morning, didn’t speak today, and Jocelyn spent the morning, observing her sleep.
At lunchtime, Margot woke up and looked at Jocelyn sitting next to her. She asked, “Aren’t you going to the library to study with Christian?
“By the way, I asked Christian about tutoring. He said you didn’t tell him. Can you explain why
Jocelyn put on her school badge and prepared to head to the cafeteria. She said, “My tutoring sessions with Christian are done. If you want to set up a session with him, you should talk to him directly. I’m not very close with him.”
After Jocelyn left the classroom, Margot bit her lip, unsure whether to speak. Looking out the window, she say Christian trailing behind Jocelyn,
Margot called out, “Christian, I need to talk to you!”
3
