Chapter 3
Laurel pov
I stepped out of the house without looking back, the cold air hitting my face instantly.
For a moment, I just stood there beside my car, breathing.
Too many people.
Too much noise.
Too much… familiarity.
I opened the door, got in, but didn't start the engine.
Instead, I took out my phone and dialed Nicholas line.
He picked up on the second ring.
"Yeah?" Nicholas said.
"Come out," I said.
There was a pause.
"Okay," he said.
A few minutes later, he came out of the house, rushing towards the car and got in.
"Oh gosh, it is freezing here. How do you cope?"
"I think you forgot, I used to live in Canada," I said.
"How are you coping?" I asked.
"Fine," he said.
"Don't lie to me," I said, looking straight into his eyes.
"Lie?" he said.
"You are not that good at lying to me, Nicholas. I could tell just by the way you sound," I said.
A small scoff came from him.
"Since when do you care about how I sound?"
"Since always," I replied calmly.
Silence again.
Then he leaned back on the seat, forcing a smile, pretending like nothing touched him.
"She left," he said finally. "Just like that. Six years… and she just decided she was done."
I didn't say anything.
"I thought we would… I don't know… it would feel like something bigger," he continued. "But it's just nothing to her. Like something ended a long time ago and I didn't notice."
"That's worse," I said.
"Yeah."
Another pause.
"But I'm done with all that," he added quickly. "Love, relationships… all of it. Not for me."
I leaned back in my seat.
"I don't think so," I said.
He let out a soft laugh. "You always think you know everything."
"Not everything, but I do know you, and you're still in love with her," I replied.
This time, the silence stretched longer.
"…Maybe," he admitted quietly.
I closed my eyes for a second.
"Just don't lie to yourself," I said. "That's worse than the breakup."
"Look at you giving advice," he said lightly. "What happened to 'if it doesn't affect me, then I am not bothered' Laurel?"
"It happens to you," I replied.
He hummed. "You care about me that much."
"No, I just don't want uncle to lose a son while he is still alive," I said, starting the car.
He let out a laugh. "Okay, I believe that your reason then."
"Have a nice day," he said as he alighted from the car, running back inside.
The drive to the company was quiet.
My mind was already shifting.
Work.
Focus.
And also the group project.
The moment I stepped into fairing oil and gas building, everything else disappeared.
I walked straight to the meeting area, but just as I turned the corner.
"Look who it is."
I stopped.
Charles.
Of course.
He leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, that same irritating smile on his face.
"Busy morning?" he asked.
"Move," I said flatly.
He didn't.
"You know," he continued, "for someone who claims everything is earned, you sure do get lucky a lot."
I stepped closer, my gaze steady.
"And for someone who talks so much," I said quietly, "you don't seem to understand anything."
His smile faded slightly.
"Be careful, Laurel," he said. "Luck runs out."
I held his gaze for a second longer.
"Good thing I don't rely on it."
Then I walked past him.
The meeting with Jason and Madison, including the crew, went smoothly, as expected.
Numbers, projections, risk assessments, everything aligned.
By the time I left, there was only one thing left to handle.
The school project group.
I took out my phone.
Group B Chat – Project team
Meeting today. Library. 3:30 p.m. No excuses.
I paused.
Then added:
Be on time.
I locked my phone.
Before heading to the university, I called Madison.
She picked up immediately.
"Laurel?"
"I need a favor," I said.
"Anything."
"I will be coming to work on Monday, but not as your boss but as an intern doing a school project. I need you and Jason to act like we are just meeting for the first time in our lives. I want everyone in the field to know that as well, no slip-off.
No familiarity."
She laughed. "So… I will be your boss?"
"Yes, when I'm with my group members."
"Alright, boss mode activated," she said playfully.
"Madison."
"Okay, okay. I'll behave."
I ended the call.
The library was already half full with people when I arrived.
I sat down, placed my notebook on the table, and waited.
One by one, they started coming in.
The first to arrive were Ivan, Mu Chen, and Jasper.
"Hi, you must be Laurel, right?" they said.
I nodded. "What about the rest?" I said.
"They are all on their way," he added.
Then Alex, Timothy, and George came in together, and we greeted while waiting for the rest of them.
Then, Seo Hee walked in.
"Laur—"
She stopped herself.
Seo-hee walked toward me, holding a small paper bag.
"I… got you something," she said, placing it gently on the table. "You didn't eat breakfast."
"I didn't ask for it," I replied without looking at her.
Her hand paused.
"I know," she said softly. "But you still need to eat."
"I'll survive."
There was a small silence.
Then she said quietly:
"Not everything has to be a fight, Laurel."
My hand stopped moving.
For a second.
Just a second.
I looked at the bag.
Then at her.
She wasn't smiling this time.
Just… looking at me.
I opened the bag, took out the sandwich, and ate.
Silently.
After a few bites, I said, without looking at her:
"Thank you."
Her expression changed slightly.
"…Okay," she said.
But there was something in her voice.
Not hurt.
Not softness.
Something else.
The meeting went as expected.
Introductions.
Assignments.
Structure.
By the time we were done, it was already getting late.
We all walked out together and said goodbye.
"Well," Seo-hee said after they were gone, adjusting her bag, "we need groceries."
"I don't," I replied.
"You do," she said. "There's barely anything in your kitchen."
I didn't respond.
We got into the car anyway.
After buying more than enough groceries, we stepped out of the store.
As I was about to head to the car, something caught my attention.
A woman.
Two small children beside her.
Thin jackets.
Cold.
I stopped.
"Wait in the car," I said to Seo-hee.
She looked at me, confused.
"Why—"
"Just wait."
I walked toward them.
The woman looked up, startled.
I didn't say much.
I picked up three jackets from the nearby rack, bought them, along with some food, and handed them over.
She looked at me, eyes wide.
"Thank you… thank you so much".
I placed some money in her hand.
"You have beautiful children," I said simply.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"God bless you," she whispered.
"Amen, and you too."
Then I turned and walked away.
When I got back to the car, Seo-hee was staring at me.
Quiet.
Watching.
But for once,
She didn't say a word.