Chapter 254: Teasing
So, at first, I was like, "Is just wiping my right hand kinda weird?" I mean, we usually wash both hands, right? Just as I was about to tell him to clean my left hand too, I caught a glimpse of Adam's face, all red and angry, and Brad looking all smug and jealous. Then it hit me—Brad was disinfecting my right hand.
Dudes can be so petty sometimes, even worse than chicks.
I mean, seriously, it was just a handshake. Was that really necessary? And talking about buying a house, such a private thing, in front of Adam? And mentioning the studio? That was definitely his way of saying he didn't like me hanging out at Crystal House with Adam and the gang.
So childish.
But, honestly, a big baby almost thirty was kinda cute.
After Brad left, Adam stood there for a bit, trying to shake off the sting of being dissed. He straightened up and said, "Jane, your Brad is really jealous and petty."
I just smiled.
Wasn't he, though?
Soon, students started trickling in, making Crystal House buzz with life.
When you're in a good mood, everything just clicks. We were all chatting and laughing, and before we knew it, it was noon.
Around eleven, the students decided to go out for lunch. Since I'd been away for a few days, they wanted to throw a welcome party for me.
We were all hyped, debating what to eat, when Brad walked in with a stern face. Hands behind his back like some old-school professor, looking all serious, like a husband about to lose it after finding out about an affair.
I turned my head and laughed into my hand.
Everyone in the art department knew Brad. Seeing him all serious, they immediately quieted down and stood up to greet him.
Especially Adam, who looked like he was about to burst.
Remembering Brad wiping my hand that morning, I couldn't help but laugh out loud, which made Adam even angrier.
"Mr. Pitt, why are you here? We've all done our assignments and won't miss the deadline," someone said bravely.
Brad dropped the stern act and, like magic, flashed a big smile. He put his hand on my shoulder, raised an eyebrow, and said, "I'm here to pick up my girlfriend. You guys carry on."
"What, Jane, you and Mr. Pitt are a thing? Why didn't you tell us?"
"Is this the legendary perfect match? They really do look great together. Ah! I'm so excited I might faint."
A small guy pretended to faint with excitement, but really, he just wanted to hold the girl's hand next to him.
Getting praised always felt good, and I was no exception. Who didn't like hearing nice things, right?
Everyone looked at us with admiration, their cheers and compliments filling the room, totally forgetting about the welcome party we were planning.
Brad was loving the attention and, with everyone's blessings, he took me to his car.
The welcome party was happily canceled just like that.
In the evening, after Brad dropped me home, he went back to school to finish some work.
He'd been away from school for too long, and there was a project that needed his personal touch. He said he'd be busy until late and told me to go to bed early. He'd crash at the dorm after finishing up, so I didn't need to wait for him.
When I got home, Mia and Yancy were there, and Luna was busy in the kitchen.
"Finally decided to come back?" Mia teased, sitting in the sunlight, her eyes scanning my neck like she was looking for evidence.
Mia was in a teasing mood, which meant she was feeling better.
Yeah, staying away from bad dudes was definitely a smart move.
"Why wouldn't I come back? To give you two lovebirds some alone time?"
Mia suddenly got all flustered. She glanced at Yancy sitting across from her, who was looking at her with those bright eyes, and her face turned red as a tomato. She tried to scold me calmly, "You're something else. If I knew you were this cheeky, I wouldn't have helped you yesterday."
"Oh, come on." I jumped on her, hugging her and acting all spoiled. "You'd never leave me hanging. That's not you, right?"
After some giggling and joking around, Mia couldn't stop laughing, begging me to back off because I was almost suffocating her.
"Alright, Jane, cut it out. Mia's still recovering."
I shot him a look. "Already playing the knight in shining armor, huh? Don't mess with me, or I'll set a curfew for you."
Yancy's smile froze, and he bolted to the kitchen to hide. But he kept peeking at Mia from the door, sneaking around like a thief.
Mia was soaking up the sunlight, still a bit pale, but looking way better than before. Her spirits were up, and at least her eyes were bright.
She'd been down in the dumps, and it wasn't just about leaving Benjamin. The real kicker was the baby she was carrying. She was torn between keeping it and not. It was her own flesh and blood, and it was too cruel to abort it herself.
But things changed. Even though she wanted to keep it, in the end, she was too desperate and took away the baby's chance to come into this world.
I thought Mia did it to avoid the pain of the child being judged and despised from birth.
Benjamin's engagement made her completely give up on their five-plus-year relationship and also decided to give up the baby in her womb.
That day, when it was just the two of us in the hospital room, she cried her heart out. She said she couldn't bear it, but she couldn't let an innocent life bear the stigma of being an illegitimate child because of her selfishness.
Mia said she felt guilty and kept asking me if she'd never be forgiven. I told her no, her baby would understand her pain and never blame her.
Giving up a life that was over four months old was indeed cruel, but she had a point. If she couldn't provide a stable and happy life for the child, why bring the child into this world to suffer?
After all, the child was innocent and shouldn't bear the mistakes of adults.
Every baby is an angel and deserves to be cherished by everyone.
"Don't cry, Mia. She's just temporarily away from you. One day she'll come back. So you need to take good care of yourself, then find her a great dad, and let her be the happiest and most loved from the day she's born. Your goal now is to make her happy, and she'll come back to you and let you be her mom again."
That's what I told her.
Honestly, it was just something I came up with on the spot, but she believed it and found new hope. Later, I realized that such a simple statement, which even a kid wouldn't believe, was the only lifeline she could hold onto in her desperate situation.
In the future, when she had twins, she doted on her daughter to the point of spoiling her. I asked her why she was so biased, and she said it was what she owed her.
Maybe it was this new hope that helped her adjust her mood and come out of her sadness.
Her relationship with Benjamin ended on a sour note, but the future Mia was a reborn Mia.
From the moment I knew she and Benjamin were breaking up until now, I could finally let go of my worries.
After dinner, Yancy pushed Mia and me back to her bedroom to chat, while he helped Luna clean up the dining table and kitchen.
"Jane, did something happen? You seem off." The air conditioning was a bit low. Mia, worried I might be cold, pulled a blanket over me and asked cautiously.
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