Chapter 5
945 Words
After hanging up the phone, I lay in my hospital bed.
I thought I would be carefree, but looking at the photo of me and John on my phone wallpaper, my vision suddenly blurred.
At that moment, memories flooded into my mind like a tide.
I remembered one cold winter day, I put my frozen hands on the back of his neck, he grumbled and pulled them out, then carefully put my hands into his pocket.
I thought back to that rainy day when he carried me on his back through the puddles, with raindrops falling on our hair, and he said he would carry me like that for the rest of his life.
I thought back to a year ago at the airport, when he said he wouldn't care if I came to see him, but when it was actually time to part, he held me tight and said in a hoarse voice that I couldn't leave him all alone in Ostria…
I thought over and over again about how we used to be together.
But then I thought, I would never want to be with him again for the rest of my life.
John returned to the hospital the next day.
He placed the macarons on the nightstand and said softly to me, "I bought your favorite mango flavor."
As I was packing my things to leave the hospital, I said, "I can't eat sweets right now."
He was stunned and asked, "Why?"
I replied, "I was hospitalized a month ago, gastritis, and the doctor told me to watch my diet."
As soon as John heard this, he got nervous and asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"
I said calmly, "A month ago, you said you were busy and asked me not to bother you."
Back then, he also said he'd call me when he was free.
But I never received that call.
John parted his lips, and after a moment, said dryly, "I'm so sorry."
"Let it go," I said casually.
After packing the last item into my bag, we prepared to return to the hotel.
Unexpectedly, as soon as we stepped out of the hospital, I saw Eliz standing next to John's car.
When she saw us coming, she patted the hood and said, "John, what do you think about it? Is this car I picked out for you easy to drive?"
It turned out that Eliz had chosen this car for him.
John asked her, "Why are you here?"
She pursed her lips and said, "It's your fault that the call couldn't get through. Last night, I left my nightgown at your place. That was my favorite nightgown. I won't be able to sleep tonight without it! It's right on your bed..."
"Eliz!"
John suddenly interrupted her coldly.
She froze for a moment, then, as if realizing she had said something wrong, she hurriedly covered her mouth and looked at me.
She said, "Oh, Sorry, I forgot that Della probably still doesn't know that I've been staying at your place these days."
Before I could react, John frowned and coldly scolded, "Eliz! What exactly are you trying to do?"
Eliz said plaintively, "I didn't say anything wrong."
John pressed his lips tightly, ignored her, and just turned to me to explain.
"Someone broke into her home in the past few days, and now she has nowhere to go. She's temporarily staying at my place, but only for a short while. Don't overthink it."
Probably feeling guilty, he rarely softened his tone and cautiously looked at my expression.
I replied, "It's okay."
It really didn't matter.
It didn't matter how long she wanted to stay here from now on.
John froze, seemingly not expecting me to react this way.
He asked, "Aren't you angry?"
I smiled and simply said, "Just go home and help her get her nightgown. I can go back to the hotel by myself."
After saying that, I hailed a taxi by the roadside, opened the door, and was about to get in.
But John suddenly grabbed my hand, forcefully pulled me out of the taxi, and pushed me into his passenger seat.
His expression was cold. I didn't resist, letting him fasten my seatbelt. My phone fell onto the seat as he was doing so, and I didn't have time to pick it up.
He hit the gas and sped off.
The engine's hum echoed in my ears, his speed kept increasing, so fast that the trees on both sides became mere shadows, as if in the next second crashing into the railing would shatter us into pieces.
Surprisingly, I felt no fear and didn't call a halt.
I didn't know how much time had passed, when John suddenly slammed on the brakes and came to a stop, then said to me with gritted teeth.
"Della, are you trying to drive me crazy?"
For some reason, I suddenly wanted to cry.
I blinked to force myself to hold it in, then opened the car door and was about to get out.
But John grabbed my wrist and pulled me back, leaning in to kiss me.
I turned my head instinctively, and his kiss landed on my cheek.
"Don't, please."
This was the first time I rejected his kiss, and he was stunned.
I took the chance to pull hard and break free from his grip.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
Before I could react, John had already glanced at my phone, and his grip on my hand tightened instantly.
He asked, "What is this?"
I looked down and saw a text message from my professor.
Professor: Your application for the international exchange program submitted yesterday has been approved.
- Writer
