Chapter 379 Getting Stronger
After class, I headed back to Brad's office to prep for tomorrow's lesson. But I just couldn't concentrate. I tossed the mouse aside and slumped into his chair, staring off into space. It wasn't until a steaming cup of water appeared on the desk that I snapped out of it.
A teacher stood there, smiling, and suggested I drink some water to soothe my throat.
I took a big gulp without thinking. The heat jolted me awake, clearing my mind instantly.
With my head finally clear, I started thinking about the class that just ended. I couldn't help but feel like a total failure for not being the dedicated teacher I wanted to be. If Brad were here, he would've nailed it. I felt so ashamed.
I couldn't even handle this simple task; my mind was all over the place. If my parents and Brad found out, they'd be so disappointed. I really needed to toughen up.
By the time I dragged myself through the workday, I had zero appetite for dinner and no interest in hitting up Crystal House. All I could think about was Brad's safety, and nothing felt right.
I got back to the apartment and collapsed onto the bed, not wanting to move. My eyes were glued to my phone screen, staring at the row of unanswered outgoing calls. With a tiny bit of hope, I dialed again.
All day, his phone was unreachable, and there was nothing on Facebook. It was like Brad had just vanished.
The tears I'd been holding back all day were about to spill over when my phone, tossed beside me, suddenly started ringing.
My emotions went haywire, but as soon as my brain caught up, the excitement faded.
I didn't even need to check the caller ID; I knew it wasn't Brad because his ringtone was different.
I picked up the phone, feeling dejected. It was Amelia.
Oh right, Amelia was coming over tomorrow.
I answered the call.
Sure enough, Amelia was calling to confirm her visit. She knew Brad wasn't home and told me to wait at school; she'd grab a cab over.
My head started pounding again.
Amelia had been dumped by her long-time boyfriend for another woman, right when both families were discussing their marriage.
And me? My boyfriend had been snatched away by some ambitious woman, leaving no trace. What a mess!
In the early hours of the next day, while it was still dark, Brad's ringtone suddenly went off. I jumped up, grabbed the phone from beside my pillow, and answered with a tearful, "Brad, are you okay?"
I was genuinely distressed, having no real news about him. I was worried and scared, feeling abandoned.
We'd been apart before, but those times I knew where he was and we could video call anytime. Now, even though Brad had a destination, he was unreachable, which made me worry even more.
My fragile heart felt like it was about to shatter. Tears streamed down my face, quickly forming dark, irregular circles on my pajamas.
The call quality was terrible, with constant crackling and brief moments of silence. Brad's voice came through in bits and pieces, but I couldn't make out anything he was saying.
"Brad, how are you? Are you hurt? Why can't I reach you? I'm so worried and scared something might have happened to you." I couldn't hold back and started crying.
The frustration and worry overwhelmed me, making me cry uncontrollably.
I pulled up the front of my pajamas to wipe my eyes, trying to hold back my sadness and talk to Brad properly. But the tears just wouldn't stop.
Brad's voice came through, "I'm fine; don't cry. Don't be scared; I'm not hurt, baby. I'm really okay."
That last sentence was the clearest, and my heart finally settled a bit. I wanted to say more, but the call cut off instantly. When I tried calling back, it was unreachable again.
At least Brad had responded, and he was okay. That gave me some relief.
But this sense of safety was only temporary. Jenny was still like a thorn in my side, impossible to ignore, causing me pain with every thought.
Brad would stay loyal to our love, but Jenny, who had been ruthlessly rejected by him, was cunning and scheming. That was her turf, and I had no idea what kind of trouble she might stir up for Brad! He was alone out there, with no one to turn to for advice if things went south.
Jenny would definitely make a move; otherwise, she wouldn't have set up such an elaborate trap.
I felt incredibly frustrated.
The more I thought about it, the more stifled I felt. The more stifled I felt, the more I thought about it. I was like a headless chicken, trapped on this side of the glass, watching things spiral out of control, powerless to stop it.
I cried for a long time. In my daze, Brad's face appeared in my mind. He looked at me tenderly, telling me to take care of myself, not to cry, and that he would come back to me whole. He wanted me to wait for him with peace of mind.
But what was I doing? Complaining about everything? Wasting away?
Brad had said that this kind of situation might happen frequently in the next two years, and we just needed to get through it.
But it had only been a day, and I was already acting like I couldn't go on. There were still two years to go. If this continues, Jenny won't even have to lift a finger—I'll end up destroying myself.
If that happened, the sweet love and the person I deeply loved would be lost. What a pity that would be.
No wonder Brad kept telling me to take care of myself. He knew that if something like this happened, I would be a mess.
Brad was indeed worried about me. No matter where he was, I was always his constant concern.
No way! I couldn't let myself be easily defeated. I couldn't let Brad down, and I couldn't let my parents' twenty-something years of education go to waste. I had to make myself stronger and muster the courage to face the unknown storms with him.
Yes, I had to become stronger! I suppressed my sadness, got out of bed with a heavy head, changed my clothes, locked the apartment door, and groggily headed towards Crystal House.
As I walked, I ordered dinner.
I told myself, it was nothing. Brad just went on a business trip, and the signal there was bad, so he couldn't communicate with me. Brad wasn't hurt, and he would be back soon.
What I should do was to live well and take good care of myself. When Brad returned safely, I wanted to be the girlfriend who shined in my field and could earn money for him to spend.
When I arrived at Crystal House, it was almost 7:30 PM, and it was already dark.
Adam was carrying a bunch of stuff out. I walked in with my head down, full of determination. We didn't see each other until we collided. Everything he was holding fell to the ground, and I stumbled, barely steadying myself by grabbing the wall.
"What's wrong with you?" Adam, realizing it was me, angrily rubbed his nose and snapped.
Lately, Adam's manner of speaking had been quite unpleasant. He showed no regard for me as his assistant.
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