Chapter 10
Hailey’s voice clung softly to the phone, ending with a playful tone.
“And the street is covered in puddles. How am I supposed to walk in these heels?
Joseph’s fingers tightened on the wheel until his knuckles were pale. His eyes kept flicking toward me in the rearview mirror. It reminded me of all the times our dates had been cut short..
Every time Hailey called, he would always tell me, “Just grab a taxi
home.”
I gazed out at the gray clouds and murmured, “Why don’t you go around and pick her up? I can just get off at the subway station.”
“How could that possibly be okay?” he said.
He hit the brakes hard, and the tires screeched as the car stopped by the curb. “I’ll get you to the embassy first. She can manage by herself.”
“No need to,” I replied.
I undid my seatbelt and pointed toward the crossroads. “It’s easy to catch a taxi here. Don’t let her wait too long.”
He paused, then turned off the car. As he stepped out, he asked again and again, “Are you sure you’ll get a taxi? If not, I can…”
“Go on.” I waved him off.
I watched the back of his car disappear into the rainy distance.
My weather app said the rain would last into the night
While I stood in line at the embassy, a notification popped up from my classmates‘ group chat.
When I opened the video, I saw Hailey dressed in a champagne–colored gown leaning sweetly against Joseph.
The people nearby cheered, “Such a smart guy and a pretty girl. They’re meant for each other!”
The leader of the group smiled at Joseph and joked, “Joseph, look at how great Hailey looks with you. Don’t disappoint her!”
In the video, Joseph looked around nervously, his fingers lightly tapping his wine glass without thinking.
Soon after, his text came through, “They don’t know I’m married. It was just people messing around. Don’t take it seriously, they’re drunk and saying random stuff.”
I stared at the phone screen, watching the blinking line in the chat box, and in the end, I only typed, “Okay, have fun.”
That night. I went to bed early, falling asleep as the rain pattered
outside.
By the time I woke up, it was already midday, and the sound of the front door unlocking woke me.
“They kept me up playing cards all night.”
Joseph stood in the doorway, his tie crooked, dark circles under his
eyes.
In the past, when he stayed out all night, he would just send a short message saying. “I’m not coming home tonight.” But now, he seemed like a kid eager to explain himself.
I gave a nod, stood up, and headed to the kitchen. “I’ll make some coffee. Do you want a cup?”
He sat down beside me and asked cautiously, “You… when do you apply to the school? When are you leaving?”
