The call went through, but no one picked up.
Jasmine didn’t hang up immediately. She waited until the answering machine said, “The number you’ve dialled is unavailable. Please try again later.”
Jasmine kept her phone away and gazed into space at the staircase. She blamed herself for it. It was her ignorant that caused what happened today.
Sadness filled Jasmine’s heart, and her eyes went red.
Jasmine didn’t notice how long she had been sitting on the stairs. Her phone buzzed in her hand. Jasmine looked down and saw that it was Boyce. She had so many things to tell him at first, but now, she didn’t know how to tell him what happened.
Jasmine sniffled and tried to adjust her emotions. Then, she took the call. Boyce asked, “What’s taking so long?”
Jasmine remained silent.
Boyce reacted quickly. He asked, “Are you mad because I didn’t pick up your call? My phone was in the office, and I went out for a meeting. I immediately call you back when I saw your missed call.”
“I wasn’t mad at you. I’m mad at myself,” Jasmine looked down, “What time are you coming home today?”
“I might come home late tonight. I won’t be back for dinner. I’m having a gathering with my colleagues tonight,” Boyce got promoted. So, his colleagues wanted to treat him to a meal.
Boyce can’t refuse their offer.
“I’ll wait for you,” Jasmine pouted, “I’ve something to tell you tonight.”
Boyce said, “Alright.”
“Go back to work. I’m hanging up,” Jasmine hung up the phone after that.
Jasmine got herself together and left the hospital.
Jasmine waited for Boyce to come home since six o’clock in the evening, and Boyce only got back home at eleven o’clock at night. Boyce was wearing a shirt, and his uniform was on his shoulder. He pushed open the door.
Jasmine was sitting on the couch and curled up. She turned around when she heard the door opened. Jasmine could see Boyce’s face was flushing red under the dim lights. She walked over in slipper and got nearer to Boyce. Jasmine could smell the smell of alcohol on Boyce.
Jasmine frowned, “You had drinks?”
“A little. My colleagues insisted. I had to,” said Boyce.
Jasmine helped Boyce to hang his uniform. Then, she helped him to get to the couch. Boyce said, “I’m not drunk. Didn’t you have something to tell me?”
Jasmine handed Boyce a glass of water.
Boyce took a sip and placed the glass on the table. He asked, “What did you want to tell me?”
Jasmine stared at him.
Boyce held Jasmine’s hand and told her, “Jasmine, I got promoted.”
Jasmine would usually hug Boyce, looked at him in an adoring look and tell him, “Congratulations.”
But Jasmine couldn’t do that now.
“What’s wrong?” Jasmine used to be lively. Boyce felt uneasy with the sudden attitude change, “You’re mad because I came home late?”
Boyce would check and see if he did anything wrong when he saw Jasmine unhappy.
Boyce kept thinking, and coming home late was the only possible answer to why Jasmine looked unhappy.
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