Chapter 127
Jocelyn felt a tightness in her chest. She wanted to explain but found any word seemed hollow and Insincere.
W to talk. Harrison said before turning away and walking towards the curb.
Jocelyn trailed behind him. Her gaze fixed on his retreating back, wishing to slap herself in the face.
Hamison was her boyfriend now. Everything he did was reasonable and justifiable. Why had she snapped at him?
Jocelyn was filled with regret. She caught up to him and grabbed his hand
Harrison stopped and turned to look at her glanced at her hand and gently removed it. “No need to force it”
Jocelyn felt an emptiness in her heart at his coldness.
Hamison sat down at a roadside diner and ordered a spaghetti. He had flown for over two hours from Berry City to give her a
surprise, never expecting such situation
All the imagined perfect scenarios shattered in that instant.
He knew that Jocelyn hadn’t been totally in love with him. But her blatant favouritism made him feel like a failure. He thought he
could help her move on, to transfer all her feelings to him. Alas, that was not the case.
Jocelyn sat across from him, noticing the diner owner about to sprinkle hot pepper flakes on the spaghetti. She quickly
interjected, “He can’t handle spicy
The owner promptly put the pepper flakes back
Hearing the words, Harrison looked at her.
If not for today’s incident, he might have believed he had a place in her heart. Such a reminder seemed to be an afterthought
“You want some? Harrison offered.
Jocelyn shook her head, instinctively explaining. Today was a colleague’s birthday. We had dinner before hanging out. I never
expected to run into Melvin. I was avoiding him, but he approached me...
The spaghetti arrived, and Harrison had no intention of torturing his stomach with hot spices just to earn her sympathy. Pity that
was sought after was neither lasting nor genuine.
Hamison listened calmly to her explanation. He could tell she was being sincere, that she really wanted to avoid entanglement
with Melvin
But isn’t that how feelings are? If you’re not together, there’s always a period of entanglement. Some people get bored of the
chase, but others are like a stubborn adhesive, impossible to shake off.
There are usually two possibilities for this: one, the pursuer is just a troublemaker who doesn’t want the other to be happy; or
two, both parties still harbor feelings, allowing the pursuit as a way of seeking a chance for reconciliation
From the start, Harrison knew Jocelyn hadn’t totally let go of Melvin. Despite this, he chose to pursue a relationship with her. He
“He pursued you, but you didn’t reject him. You still love him,” Harrison said pointedly. “If you really didn’t, nothing he did could
disturb your composure.”
Jocelyn felt as though she was gasping for air. She became uneasy, fearful of Harrison peeling back the walls she had built
around her raw heart
Harrison took a bite of his spaghetti and said, “Let’s break up.”
Jocelyn was stunned, disbelieving as she looked at him.
Harrison added some parmesan, catching her expression. Surprised?”
“I am really done with him,” Jocelyn insisted, not wanting to be entangled with Melvin anymore. But some things were beyond
her control, which had led to the situation they were in.
Harrison shook his head. “I’m not saying this because of what happened today. Deep down, you know you still have feelings for
him.”
“Jocelyn.” He still called her name gently. “I understand your feelings. I knew from the beginning you still had him in your heart,
but ! was too confident thinking I could replace him and make you fall for me.”
Harrison looked at the spaghetti and chuckled, “Spaghetti without the pepper flakes isn’t so tasty, but my stomach can’t handle
the spices
Jocelyn understood his metaphor
good for you, too, Harrison said, placing down his fork and looking at her with calm tenderness You’ve been
Chapter 127
struggling too, right?”
Her tears, long-held back, began to flow freely She bit her lip, fighting the urge to sob. But the tears refused to be contained.
Harrison pulled out a napkin and sat beside her to wipe her tears. “Let it out. You’ve been repressing your feelings for too long.”
But his words only intensified her emotions. Tears streamed down her face like a breached dam.
Harrison wrapped an arm around her. “Lean on me.”
Jocelyn rested on his shoulder, crying inconsolably.
Harrison patted her back gently, feeling the weight of her suppressed emotions that were never as carefree as she pretended
Jocelyn finally confronted her inner feelings. Harrison was right. She still had feelings for Melvin and never replaced him with
others deep down in her heart.
After a while, Jocelyn’s sobs subsided.
Sniffling, she lifted her head and saw a wet patch on Harrison’s shoulder from her tears. She felt embarrassed, “I’m sorry.”
Harrison glanced at it, unconcerned. “It’s fine. It’s just a shirt. You feel better now?”
“Yeah” Jocelyn sniffed, her breath visible in the chilly air.
Harrison smiled at her. “Maybe being friends again feels a bit more comfortable?”
“You’ve got nothing to apologize for to me. Love has always been selfish and beyond arrangement. You also tried to engage
positively in our relationship, but I am just not the right one. That’s why everything gets tangled”
“If things are getting all tangled up, there’s no point in pushing through the mess, Harrison sighed, offering a bitter smile. “I’ve got
to admit, I’m really going to miss this.”
Jocelyn lifted her misty eyes to meet his gaze.
“After all, I genuinely love you,” Harrison shrugged, a hint of resignation in his voice. Too bad you’re not into me.”
In her heart, Jocelyn thought if she had met him a few years earlier, perhaps she and Harrison would be truly in love for the
whole life.
“Sorry...”
“Stop saying you’re sorry.” Harrison said as he removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “If you’re still hung up on
him, then give it another shot. As long as two people truly love each other, they can cut through any issue.”
Harrison was trying to comfort her. He could sense that neither she nor that other guy could let go.
Jocelyn shook her head. “No, I can’t.”
“Huh?” Harrison was puzzled “You’re not going to try again?”
“There’s no future for us. Jocelyn said, taking a deep breath and forcing a smile. “I can’t see one.”
Harrison frowned slightly before slipping his glasses back on. “Then focus on work when you need to, and rest when you should”
“Yeah. Jocelyn nodded vigorously. “Thank you”
Harrison chuckled lightly. “Finally not an apology. I guess I’m feeling pretty relaxed now too
Jocelyn knew Harrison had been accommodating her, genuinely trying to build the best possible relationship, but the problem
was
hers
The best way to get over a relationship was supposed to be diving into a new one, but that approach just didn’t work for her. Not
only could she not forget, but she’d also end up hurting someone who truly cared for her.
“We’re still friends, right? Harrison asked.
Jocelyn nodded firmly. “Of course.”
“That’s good enough for me. Anyway, I haven’t given up on pursuing you, Hamson said with a broad grin. “You said we were just
trying things out, and maybe I was too eager. We can’t rush these things. There’s got to be a chase. I guess I was just too
impatient.”
Jocelyn felt even more guilty. Even now, he was still looking at himself for the problem.
“Youre a nice guy
“Stop right there,” Harrison quickly intervened, not wanting her to continue. “I don’t need a ‘nice guy badge.”
he friends for now Hamison settled the bill and nodded to Jocelyn. ‘My friend, let me walk you home.”
to sdrait that everting to being just friends with Harrison was indeed a relief. She no longer had to worry about keeping up
Chapter 127
the facade of having a boyfriend.
Even though she had no intentions of getting back together with Melvin, it felt like she had shed a heavy burden.