Chapter 13 Will You Stay?
Albert's expression was serious as he focused on his phone in front of him.
"I'll go check on her," he finally said.
Yvette didn't move, but the sound of their clothes rubbing together reminded her that he was about to leave.
Yvette felt a sense of loss once again.
The food in her mouth became hard to swallow. She looked downward, hesitating before asking, "If I wished you wouldn't leave, would you stay?"
Albert paused while handling his phone and eventually stood up.
He said, "Wait here for me. I'll be back soon."
Albert left, and Yvette realized she had been eating a sweet bun, which didn't match her current appetite. She found it increasingly nauseating as she continued eating, but she finished it, nonetheless.
After finishing, her throat felt uncomfortable, and she wanted to drink water. However, she discovered that Albert had bought her a very sweet chocolate milkshake.
His thoughtfulness seemed to stop there.
Unable to eat anymore, Yvette stood up to buy a bottle of water.
Yvette couldn't remember how long she had been waiting.
Initially, she counted the passing cars out of boredom, but the numbers grew too large to keep track of, so she gave up.
The convenience store operated around the clock, and Yvette waited until only she and the cashier were left in the store.
At last, the overnight clerk, unable to contain his concern, poured Yvette a glass of water and tentatively asked her, "Madam, would you not consider heading back home first? I don't believe your boyfriend will return."
Yvette's complexion was pallid, yet she remained composed.
She contemplated leaving but hesitated, fearing that he might return after she left. He asked her to wait, assuring her that he would come back.
Taking the glass of water from the clerk, she forced a smile and said, "Thank you. I'll wait a bit longer. He should be back soon."
...
Albert had a tiring night.
He and Victor took Violet to the hospital; she had consumed too much alcohol and was vomiting while receiving intravenous fluids.
In his memory, Violet was always sunny and lively, standing out among the girls on the basketball court.
She exuded energy and joy, unlike any other girl. She seemed to have an endless supply of vitality, always bringing joy to those around her.
Now, Albert watched her torment herself and felt a deep sense of unfamiliarity.
Several hours later, Violet's condition improved slightly.
The hospital was an old building surrounded by several tall new structures, with sturdy trees on each side and a meticulously trimmed green lawn.
Albert and Victor smoked in silence.
Victor was also exhausted that night, his hand holding the cigarette trembling slightly.
"If it weren't for Violet mentioning it, I wouldn't have known that woman was Dr. Orlando," Victor sneered coldly, his anger raising his voice. "What are you two playing at?"
Victor brought up Yvette, and only then did Albert remember that he had left her at the convenience store.
The store was about two kilometers from her home, and he didn't know if she had gone back.
Frowning, Albert stubbed out his cigarette and hurried back to the car to check his phone.
After a few hours, Yvette had only sent one text message:
Yvette: [Are you okay?]
She refrained from prodding and simply displayed her concern for him.
Albert started the car, driving back while dialing Yvette's number.
Yvette, not wanting to disturb others, sat in a corner of the convenience store where the light was dim and cold. She was shivering from the chill, her thin clothing offering little warmth.
Tucking her stray hair behind her ear, Yvette lowered her head, causing her curly locks to cascade forward, making her face appear smaller.
Her complexion was pale, and she hugged her arms, gazing in the direction of the convenience store entrance.
The bright lights inside the store were too harsh, the chairs uncomfortable, and Yvette was tired and sleepy. Since becoming pregnant, she couldn't endure staying up late for long periods.
By the time it was nearly three in the morning and her phone was on the brink of dying, she finally received a call.
When Yvette saw who was calling, she froze, wondering if she was hallucinating.
Answering the call, she heard Albert's voice through the receiver, accompanied by a faint crackling.
"Have you gone home?" he paused, then said, "It's late; you should be heading back, right?"
Yvette gripped her phone tightly, feeling almost overwhelmed by a sense of grievance.
He had asked her to wait for him, but after a long while, he seemed to assume she had already gone back on her own.
After a moment of silence, Yvette said, "Of course. It's so cold; even if I'm not tired, my child must be."
Yvette said this, feeling a chill run through her.
A young man was approaching the convenience store, and Yvette glanced at the automatic door.
Whenever someone entered, a bell would ring, and Yvette was afraid of being exposed, so she quickly said, "I won't talk to you anymore. I'm tired, and I need to continue sleeping."
With that, she hastily hung up the phone.
She sat for a while longer, calming her emotions, before preparing to head home.
After sitting in the convenience store for so long, Yvette felt a bit apologetic. Before leaving, she bought a warm bottle of juice from the display case.
The clerk rang her up, packed her purchase, and couldn't help but say, "Your boyfriend is really rude, making you wait so long and not coming back or saying anything to you."
Yvette tried to force a smile, out of politeness.
Yvette replied, "Thank you."
She took the bottle of juice and left the convenience store.
At three in the morning, there was no one on the road except her, with only a row of streetlights illuminating the road, making her feel particularly lonely.
Yvette hailed a taxi on the roadside, her shadow elongated by the streetlights, looking quite forlorn.
After waiting for a while without a taxi in sight, Yvette had no choice but to walk toward her home, trying to flag down a passing car.
Inhaling the crisp evening air, Yvette enveloped herself in her coat, yet the persistent wind managed to seep through her clothing.
It was really cold.
She felt like crying but held back the tears.
Should she blame Albert? But she had no right to blame him; she deserved it.
Over the past two years, she had been struggling and compromising. Two years had passed, and she was almost numb.
There are countless choices in life, and often, a single choice is like a butterfly flapping its wings, leading to a hurricane when the problem is discovered.
Yvette had to admit she was beginning to regret it.
