Chapter 7
Chapter 7
It was said that Pearl Forbs’s breakup stemmed from her inability to tolerate any women around her boyfriend. If calls or messages weren’t promptly answered, she’d spiral into endless suspicion and arguments, until her partner couldn’t take it anymore and called it quits.
I flipped through my journal, finding entries vividly detailing how Mack Washington would leave me behind whenever Pearl had relationship troubles.
When Pearl got caught in the rain without an umbrella, he’d rush to pick her up, leaving me alone at the restaurant with the food I had ordered.
When Pearl got drunk after a breakup, he’d go to comfort her, ignoring my messages that went unanswered.
ad once cautiously expressed my unhappiness about this.
His response, however, was impatient:
“She’s been our classmate for three years. I can’t just stand by and do nothing. Crystal, is your jealousy a little too much?”
He was right.
I shouldn’t have been so greedy.
I was once again forced to witness Pearl’s relationship troubles–this time, another breakup.
And, unfortunately, I saw it all unfold.
That day, my student’s mother had invited me to dinner to thank me for helping her child improve academically. Since she was busy, Brain Warrick came in her place.
He had joked with a straight face:
“A cousin counts as family, right?”
I smiled and nodded in understanding.
The restaurant was newly opened, and the dishes perfectly suited my taste.
Brain patiently introduced each one, then looked at me expectantly, waiting for my opinion:
f
“How is it? Do you like it?”
I looked at him and, for some reason, remembered the times I tutored him in high school. Back then, he’d always prop his head on one hand, making me repeat the same problem until I got so annoyed I threw the test paper at his face.
“Brain Warrick, stop staring at me!”
“You’re supposed to look at the problem, not me. Are you dense?”
He’d peel the paper off his face, revealing his annoyingly handsome smile.
“Oh~ Thank you for the reminder, Ms. Lenna.”
I’d get so irritated that I’d slap the paper back over his eyes.
Now, it felt as if our roles had reversed.
He was the one explaining things repeatedly, while I was the one spacing out.
His pfarm, steady voice floated into my ears, blurring everything around me until all that remained was him, vivid and real.
The spell was broken by a sudden commotion nearby.
A server quickly came over to apologize, explaining that there was an argument in the adjacent section and they were handling it.
18:23
Chapter 7
The partition between us was a hollow screen, so while we couldn’t see them, the voices were clear.
I immediately recognized Pearl Forbs’s voice.
From the heated exchange, I pieced together a simple story: it was the same as always.
Pearl’s messages and calls hadn’t been answered promptly, and she couldn’t accept the presence of other women around her partner.
The argument ended just like before–with a breakup.
When I went to the restroom, I found Pearl inside, crying. Her thin blouse seemed damp with spilled wine. I took off my jacket and offered it to her, but she didn’t take it. Instead, she dialed a number.
As I turned to leave, I heard her sobbing as she spoke into the phone:
ack.
I paused for a moment before walking away.
I couldn’t hear what he said, but her voice grew quieter and more desperate:
“Every time I’ve tried to find you lately, you’ve said you’re busy.”
“Mack, are you still mad at me?”
“Please don’t be mad anymore, okay? I’ve already broken up with him…”
Her voice faded until it was no longer audible.
That evening, the person who told Pearl he was “too busy” stopped me outside my
dorm building.
