Chapter 34 Ointment
Leopold wasn't the type to just sit back and take it. He balled up his fist and swung right back at Sebastian.
"Hit me? Who the hell do you think you are?" Leopold spat out, fighting back. "When I was with Camilla, you were nowhere in sight."
Sebastian caught his punch mid-air. Compared to Leopold's wild anger, he was cool as a cucumber, but his eyes were ice-cold.
"And you? What are you? An ex who can't move on, or a creep?"
Every word from Sebastian was like a dagger, hitting Leopold right where it hurt.
"You're asking for it!" Leopold roared, trying to yank his fist free.
But Sebastian held on tight.
"Enough!" Camilla finally snapped out of it. She got up from the couch, clutching the coat Sebastian had given her, not even glancing at Leopold.
She turned to Sebastian, head down. "Sebastian, I'm sorry you had to see this mess."
Sebastian frowned. "Should we call the cops?"
Camilla paused. "Forget it. Let's just go."
"Alright." Sebastian respected her call and didn't want to get mixed up in their drama.
"These are my books. I'm wiped out. Can you help me carry them? Thanks."
Sebastian bent down, grabbed the bag on the floor with one hand, and helped Camilla out.
Leopold stood there, watching them leave, and in a fit of rage, kicked over a decorative plant.
In the car, Camilla watched the villa fade away in the rearview mirror. She'd been there for six years.
When she first moved in, she was full of dreams. She decorated the villa with Leopold, landscaped the garden with him, and so on.
She never thought it would end like this.
Now, the villa had nothing to do with her anymore.
And neither did Leopold.
Camilla rolled down the window, letting the wind mess up her hair. She leaned back, exhausted, and closed her eyes.
Sebastian stayed quiet, occasionally glancing at her through the rearview mirror. Seeing Camilla had dozed off, he pulled over near Harmony College.
He didn't make a sound, just stared out the window, lost in thought.
Camilla didn't sleep well, but she was too tired. Even just resting her eyes was a relief.
Feeling Sebastian's silent support, she opened her eyes and looked at him with a complicated expression. "Thanks. You helped me again."
Sebastian shrugged. "No big deal."
Camilla forced a smile. She wanted to thank him for more than just that.
This time, and the last time, no matter what state she was in, he never pried into her business, letting her keep her last shred of dignity.
A faint noise broke the silence, and Camilla's ears turned red as she covered her stomach.
She hadn't eaten all day. Earlier, she was too worked up to notice, but now that she had calmed down, she was starving.
Though she tried to hide it, Sebastian heard it right away.
"You probably haven't eaten at the Harmony College cafeteria in ages, huh? Wanna check it out?"
Camilla blinked.
Fifteen minutes later, they got out of the car and walked to the Harmony College cafeteria.
Harmony College is a top-notch school with a unique library and cafeteria, especially the cafeteria.
When Camilla was still a student, there were already three cafeterias. In recent years, with more exchange students, they had even added a bunch of international dishes.
Back in her college days, Camilla had a soft spot for the second-floor restaurant. The lady behind the counter was a round-faced woman with a warm smile. Every time Camilla showed up, she'd get a friendly chat and an extra scoop of meat on her plate.
From a distance, she spotted the window where the round-faced lady worked.
It was like a blast from the past.
Three years out of college, she wondered if the lady would still remember her.
Camilla got in line and walked over. The lady was busy serving food, not saying a word. But when she felt the weight of the food in her hand, she smiled right away. "Thanks."
Sebastian swiped his card, and they found a spot to sit.
"It's been ages since I ate here. Still tastes the same."
The chef's skills hadn't slipped in the three years since she left; if anything, they got better.
Camilla reminisced, "Back in college, I'd often get so caught up in the lab that I'd forget to eat lunch. By the time I got out, it was almost 1:30, and there wasn't much food left. But that lady always saved a drumstick for me."
Sebastian, who had been standing behind her in line, remembered how the lady's annoyed look had turned into a smile the moment she saw Camilla.
Camilla suddenly felt like talking. "I didn't really click with my roommates, except for Juniper and Professor Garcia. The round-faced lady in the cafeteria was the nicest person to me. And now, there's you."
Sebastian paused.
Camilla said, "School is still the best—quiet, simple, and you can focus on one thing. Maybe reapplying for grad school was the best decision I ever made."
After eating, they didn't rush back but took a stroll around the campus.
Walking along the gravel path, through the grape arbor, a gentle breeze greeted them. From a distance, they saw the shimmering surface of Sapphire Dream Lake, the most beautiful spot at Harmony College.
The lotus flowers were out of season, but there were still plenty of round lotus leaves on the lake, adding a touch of elegance.
Camilla, feeling a bit tired, found a stone bench to sit on. Sebastian silently followed her and sat down beside her.
"The breeze here feels so nice."
She propped her hands behind her, watching the lotus leaves float on the water, and felt her heart calm down.
Sebastian said, "Harmony College has been pushing for environmental protection lately, and they've done a great job. There's hardly any trash in the lake, so sitting here and enjoying the breeze is really pleasant."
Camilla was quiet for a moment, then suddenly spoke. "About what happened earlier..."
"He's your ex, right?" Sebastian said.
Camilla turned to look at him.
Sebastian adjusted his glasses and didn't avoid her gaze. "Sorry, before I walked into the study, I overheard your conversation."
Camilla smiled faintly. "Yeah, we just broke up. It was messy. Sorry you had to see that."
Sebastian's eyes behind his glasses showed a hint of understanding. Recalling Leopold's mention of six years during their argument, he suddenly had some suspicions.
But he didn't want to dig into other people's business. He just realized that the guy he saw with her the other day, Lucas, wasn't her boyfriend.
As the sun set, they didn't hang around much longer and drove back to their place.
Sebastian helped her carry the books to her doorstep. As they parted, he handed her a tube of ointment. "I picked this up on the way. Use it, and it'll heal faster."
Camilla was taken aback, guessing that Sebastian must have bought it while she was asleep. She took it, pursed her lips, and said, "Thanks."
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