"Are the feelings between us...so fragile?" John asked."There aren't any feelings to talk about between us right now," Cordy shot back coldly. "Have you forgotten, Mr. Levine? Back then, I promised to try out this relationship and see if it would work. Clearly, this isn't going too well.""If I said I wouldn't involve you in my engagement with Jessica, would you be willing to wait for me?""No," Cordy refused without hesitation."Am I that unworthy of your trust?" John said, clenching his fist tightly as his eyes tinged scarlet."Yes," Cordy said, nodding.John laughed hoarsely, a hint of self-depreciation laced in his voice.The atmosphere plunged into a sudden silence, and the air was heavy.The two sat in silence for a long time.It seemed like their conversation had ended.Cordy opened the car door to leave, but John suddenly reached out to grasp her wrist with such force that it felt like he was going to crush her bones.However, she didn't cry out in pain.She simply
Cordy didn't reply.Sometimes, silence really could replace everything."I didn't mean to hide the fact that I was the man who slept with you when you were eighteen," John admitted. "I asked you before if you hated him, and you said yes. I thought I’d tell you when our relationship was more stable, when you no longer rejected physical contact with me. Maybe... Just maybe, you’d be able to accept my presence."Cordy listened quietly, not interrupting him at all. And so, John went on. "At that time, I had just returned from abroad and was drinking with Bob and a few other friends. At the bar, I saw you while you were delirious. A man approached you, and you tried to refuse him. I went up to you two and pushed him away, and then you leaned against me. You felt hot to touch. I admit that I took you to a hotel, but where else was I going to take you? I didn't know, and you were burning up. I asked you, but you didn't say anything. After that, when we reached the hotel, you pushed me on
"After that, the fire broke out and you were trapped in it. I saw Kyle saving Noel and leaving you behind," John said with pursed lips. "I rushed in and got you out."Cordy was surprised at that revelation. She had always assumed a fireman had saved her, as she vaguely remembered her savior was dressed in a fireman's uniform."I grabbed a helmet from a fireman near me. I was afraid I’d choke on the smoke and die before I could get to you," John explained as if he could read her mind.Cordy looked down. She suddenly remembered the first time she had seen John in the hospital, and how his wrists were heavily bandaged. "You've explained a lot..." Cordy turned to look at John, her eyes reverting back to their usual coldness. "Why did you treat me so kindly? We were just strangers who met by chance, and I've done many things to hurt you. Why would you like me?"Cordy couldn't believe him.It was hard for her to trust anyone.She laughed softly and continued, "Don't say something lik
"I did it to cope with the current situation!" John argued, somewhat agitatedly. "My resistance only worsens things, especially when I don't have the power to go against my grandfather!""Then what makes you think you can convince me that it’ll change in just six months?"Her retort dumbfounded John. There was nothing he could say that could convince her, all the more so when his actions couldn't prove otherwise."Perhaps my doubts aren’t because you're not capable of it," Cordy said, "but because I don't love you enough. So, it's best for us to separate now while our relationship hasn't gotten deep enough."Cordy pushed open the car door again.Seriously, enough was enough.She didn't want to be involved with him any longer."You can take the car. Just have Walter drive it back to me when he has time."Cordy got out of the car and left with confident steps. As far as she was concerned, she and John would forget about each other, and that was the end of it.But as she walked i
Cordy hadn't pressed any of the buttons on the elevator either, so it was still stuck on the underground car park floor.Zoe, who was standing there, was shocked when the doors opened.Coming back in the early hours of the morning was scary enough, and the sudden loud noise from the elevator was almost enough to send her running back from where she came from. She stared at the couple in the elevator, petrified.It was only when the elevator let out a beep that Zoe returned to her senses. She hurriedly retreated and said, "C-Carry on! I didn't see anything!"And then the doors slid close.That was scary as hell!John and Cordy were actually inside the elevator, and...After calming down, Zoe suddenly realized that Cordy had been crying. John wouldn't have... forced himself on her, right?!With that thought in mind, she hurriedly pressed the elevator button again, watching anxiously as the numbers came down.Inside the elevator, John roughly shoved Cordy back into her clothes.
John kept his head hung low and didn't respond to Zoe for a long time. For a moment, Zoe thought he had fallen asleep. After all, it was four in the morning. She had just returned from an outstation announcement, and was also very sleepy. Just as she thought that, John slowly raised his head and replied, "Let's go."Wait, really? She had only offered to be nice. More than anything, she wanted to burrow under the warm covers of her bed right now.Regardless, Zoe followed John out for a late-night snack.They chose a small street store. The good thing was that there wasn't anyone else around at such a late hour, and she was so heavily armed that no one recognized her."John, shouldn't you drink less?" Zoe said, trying to discourage him from drinking too much.She couldn't sit idly and watch as her cousin drowned himself in alcohol ever since he sat down.So many dishes were before him, but he hadn't even touched his utensils. It wouldn't be strange if he got alcohol poisoning fro
John tightened his grip on the wine glass after listening to Zoe's words. "To be honest, even though you're my cousin, I really think you don't deserve Cordy. She's had such tragic experiences in her past, and when she finally managed to gain her confidence and fall in love again, this person dealt a fatal blow to her. I can't even imagine how much she's hurting right now! I'm worried she won't ever dare to love anyone again," Zoe said, obviously troubled.Cordy was clearly a wonderful woman, so why was God so cruel to her?She suffered terrible blows one after another."I was only..." John trailed off and put down his glass, hanging his head low. "Afraid that she would leave."How could he not be afraid? After she had experienced so much, what would happen if she did close off her heart, then turned around and left? Of course he was afraid of those things happening!He also knew that the solution to this problem between him and Cordy was to break off his engagement with Jessica
"Do you still want to drink?" Zoe asked, looking at the bottles all over the floor.She knew John could hold his alcohol well, but she didn't agree at how desperate he was drinking right now. Besides, her head hurt a lot. She wasn't sure if it was because she hadn't rested well, but she knew if she kept going, she was going to get drunk soon."I'm waiting..." John replied."For who?""The driver."It took Zoe a moment to remember that they had both been drinking, and that they had driven here in Cordy's car.Seriously. Even when he was pissed drunk, John remained somewhat sober. Zoe wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. The good thing was that rational people generally didn't make mistakes.The bad thing was that it was tough for people like this to vent and relax.Without being able to do anything else, Zoe sat by John's side as he continued to drink.And drink.And drink.Suddenly, John said, "Do you still like Jay?"Zoe spat out a mouthful of wine at the unexp