“We’re just classmates,” Janie said, her voice filled with a mix of resignation and sadness. “We were in the past, and we will be in the future. There won’t be any other kind of relationship between us.”
“What’s wrong with me?” Harold furrowed his brow. “Among the men at today’s reunion, I consider myself exceptional.”
“Unfortunately,” Janie shook her head, “you’re not the type of person I’m interested in. So let your exceptional qualities shine for someone else.”
“But I only like you,” Harold insisted. “From our time in university until now, my feelings haven’t changed.”
“I haven’t changed either,” Janie said, her voice tinged with a hint of sorrow. “I didn’t like you back in university, and I still don’t like you now. We can only be classmates, nothing more.”
“Janie, do you have feelings for your boss?” Harold frowned. “Benjamin, the CEO of Adelmar?”
Janie froze for a moment, and the mention of Benjamin caused a sharp pang in her heart.
“You hit the mark, didn’t you?” Harold sneered. “Janie, you’re overestimating yourself. A man like Benjamin, is he someone you could like?”
Janie remained silent, her eyes welling up with tears.
Benjamin, was she unworthy of him?
But why did she foolishly fall in love with him like this, walking down a path of self-destruction?
“Janie, in marriage, it’s important to marry someone of the same social standing,” Harold said. “Your ideal partner should be someone like me. I have it all … a successful career, a car, a house, and an annual income of over a million dollars.”
Janie didn’t hear what Harold said after that.
Ever since Benjamin was mentioned earlier, her heart had been in turmoil.
Tears now cascaded down her cheeks, making a soft pattering sound.
“Janie,” Harold grabbed her arm, attempting to continue speaking.
Janie shrugged him off and said, “Just leave, I’m tired and I need some rest.”
“Janie, why won’t you listen?” Harold persisted. “Snap out of it! A man like Benjamin isn’t someone you can love. Look at me, can’t you see how good I am?”
As he spoke, he forcefully turned Janie’s body to face him.
Growing impatient, Janie furrowed her brow and turned away.
Just as she was about to push away this irritating man beside her, Harold reached out and wrapped his arms around her.
“Get off me!” Janie was startled, a hint of sobriety returning to her.
She struggled free from Harold’s grasp and grabbed a throw pillow from the couch, hurling it at him.
Harold quickly backed away, his brows furrowed. “Janie, I mean no harm. I just really like you!”
“Get out! I told you to get out!” Janie angrily retorted. “Believe me, I’ll call security!”
“No, please, don’t!” Harold hastily waved his hands. “Janie, you’re drunk. Rest for now, and we can discuss this tomorrow when you’re sober.”
Harold opened the door and hurriedly left the hotel.
Janie lunged forward to lock the door, leaning against it as she sank to the floor and began to cry.
The combination of alcohol and sadness churned her stomach, and she rushed into the bathroom, hunching over the toilet, and retching uncontrollably.
As the contents of her stomach emptied and her mind cleared, she still felt woozy and couldn’t open her eyes fully.
She leaned against the bathroom wall, making her way back to the bed, where she threw herself onto the covers and immediately fell asleep.
When she woke up, the sky outside was already dark.
The effects of the alcohol had mostly worn off, but her body felt weak and limp.
Janie got up from the bed and entered the bathroom, turning on a warm shower.
Her mind was filled with thoughts of Benjamin, interwoven with Harold’s words:
Is Benjamin the kind of man you like? You’re overestimating yourself!
Is that so?
Is that so?
Is that so?
Benjamin, am I not worthy of you? Am I not allowed to love you?
As the water cascaded down, Janie’s hot tears streamed along with it.
After showering, she wrapped herself in a towel, and the first thing she did was reach into her suitcase for the bottle of “smoked paprika.”
She knew that inside was Worryfree.
As long as she drank this powder, she would find release.
No longer would she agonize over that man who sent shivers down her spine with his coldness.
“Benjamin,” Janie unscrewed the cap of the plastic bottle, her eyes red as she whispered, “I’m tired. I truly don’t want to love you anymore. From now on, we are no longer related…”
She tilted her head back, ready to pour the powder into her mouth…
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