<Live with a system) Chapter 19
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Riley and Evelyn went home together. They lived next door. Evelyn noticed Riley’s bad mood and pinched her cheek.
“You’ve been frowning all night. You even scared off several guys who tried to talk to you.”
Riley yawned, unimpressed.“Talking to guys isn’t always good.”
Evelyn, a hedonist, said, “Love happens when you least expect it.”
Riley wanted to argue but didn’t. After saying goodnight, Riley closed her door. The revenge was
eet, but she felt drained.
She unpacked her suitcases. Inside one, she found a crumpled pack of Camel cigarettes. Memories flooded back. The exhaustion of studying and working had led her to smoke. She didn’t have an addiction, but it was a way to relieve stress. She chose Camels because of the packaging. They reminded her of herself, carrying burdens.
She quit later. Because she met someone more broken than herself.
The first time she considered quitting smoking was in her first year of graduate school, soon after meeting him. She and her classmates were smoking and chatting on the roof. Smoking was a way for adults to relieve stress; it was a regular activity for them.
Riley skillfully lit a cigarette with a borrowed lighter. The wind was strong; she cupped her hands to protect the flame. Her lips were perfect, neither thin nor thick, making her look especially attractive when she smoked. Men watched her intently. They all saw her as a mysterious beautiful woman.
Riley ignored their stares, leaning against the railing, exhaling smoke. The mood became lively; everyone shared their stories. She spoke little, mostly listening. Once in a while she would say something from the bottom of her heart, like a naughty girl.
After half a cigarette, Riley extinguished it. Someone asked, “Riley, what’s wrong? Bad day?”
to smoke anymore. Riley smiled politely and distantly.“No, I just… don’t want The guy was captivated by her clear eyes. She seemed fragile and gentle, yet cold and distant, with a hard core. She was like a snowflake floating in the air.
Riley left without telling they why. She didn’t want to be smoking buddies with him, the broken
man.
But…he looked really beautiful when he smoked.
Riley stopped on the fourth–floor, looking at the peeling paint. She thought about his cold, serene face.
Beautiful, maybe. His beauty was frail, decadent and wild. But his physique wasn’t frail; even when sick, he was disciplined. He exercised, slept early, and ate healthily. His illness was mental, similar to hers. Riley healed, but he didn’t. Persistence was a good quality, but not always. His pain remained. Cells regenerate every seven years, but he still remembered that. Riley held the cigarettes, lost in thought. She smiled. She might never see him again. A text message woke her up in the middle of the night. She was a light sleeper and a responsible psychologist, with her phone always on.
Riley looked at the three messages repeatedly. It was him…
with a system Chapter 19
“I’m Alex Reed.”
The next message was his flight information. And the third one: I need to see you when I land.
< (Love with a system) Chapter 20
<Live with a system) Chapter 20
