Every little detail of my love for Alvin-the candies I left for him, the dishes I saved, the apples I secretly hid, and the diary entries I wrote in silence-Philip had witnessed it all.
I hadn’t thought about those things in years, but when Philip spoke, it was as if he’d flipped a switch in my mind. Suddenly, all those memories were ying in my head like scenes from an old film.
“What did he do? Can you tell me?” Philip asked, his voice probing gently through my silence.
If I kept quiet, they’d stay confused, Alvin would probably still think I was just being difficult, and when I went back, Peter and Michelle would definitely ask.
The easiest thing to do was to say it now, get it out, and not have to deal with it again.
“He… He’s been with another woman,” I said, and immediately the line went dead silent.
I could practically feel Philip’s disbelief on the other end of the line. I quickly added, “It’s the wife of one of his friends. His parents know about the rumors too.”
Philip was quiet for a long time. I could almost hear his mind racing. I let out a smallugh. “So, you have heard about it, right?”
There was no such thing as a perfect secret. We were no longer engaged, and Peter and Michelle would have been asking around. Philip couldn’t avoid talking to Peter about it.
“Alvin loves you so much. This can’t be true. There must be some misunderstanding,” Philip said, as though he were trying to convince me, just like I used to try to convince myself that Alvin loved <ol><li></li></ol>
I wasn’t surprised by his response. After all, during the years Philip was around, Alvin used to call me his “wife” all the time and wouldn’t let any other man near me. Even when I was close to Philip, Alvin would get jealous.
“Philip, people change,” I said, just as I heard footsteps outside.
I looked up, and a tall, strong figure passed by the window in a blur.
Then, I heard Holly’s voice from the courtyard. “Josh, you’re back?”
It sounded like the tenant I was hoping to switch rooms with had returned. Holly’s question confirmed my guess-she had already asked the person about it.
I overheard the response. “I’m not switching.”
The house had poor soundproofing, and I could hear everything. On the other end of the line, Philip must’ve heard it too.
“Zoe, where are you? It’ste. You shouldn’t be out there alone. It’s not safe,” Philip said.
I snapped back to reality. “Philip, tell Peter and Michelle I’m fine. I’m just taking a short vacation, getting away for a few days. Also… even though Alvin and I didn’t get married, Peter and Michelle are still my family.”
“And what about me?” Philip asked, his voice yful.
I smiled, my reflection in the window showing the faintest of grins. “You’ll always be my brother.”
“Take care of yourself,” he said, his tone shifting to something more serious.
“Yeah, let me know when you’re back in the country,” I replied, almost as an afterthought.
But then he surprised me with, “I thought you didn’t want me toe back.”
I was caught off guard. “What?”
“It’s gettingte. You should get some rest,” Philip said, before hanging up.
I sighed and set my phone down, just as I heard the sound of water running outside.
“Josh, why are you washing your hair with cold water again? You’ll catch a cold,” Holly scolded.
I smiled to myself, thinking about how firmly he had rejected the room swap earlier. I stood up and opened the door, only to see the dim courtyard lights casting shadows on a man standing beneath them, washing his hair.
The sound of water sshing filled the air as he quickly scrubbed through his hair, his strong fingers moving with precision.
When he turned off the tap and stood up, I noticed his broad shoulders, muscr back, narrow waist, and long legs. A brown leather belt cinched at his waist, emphasizing his raw, untamed strength, with just a hint of wildness.
I was so caught up in watching that I didn’t notice when he turned around. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
It was him-the man who had driven me here. The one I’d thought looked like he’d just been released from jail.