Seven Ear Piercings(3)

6

In the open kitchen, Jeremy was focused on preparing the ingredients. The sun shone through the window and highlighted his side profile.

Everything seemed dreamlike in those moments.

I didn't even dare to breathe heavily for fear of disturbing something.

I didn't know how much time had passed when Jeremy suddenly turned around. When he saw me, he reminded me in a serious tone, "You have gum in your eyes."

These words easily destroyed all my fantasies.

I gritted my teeth and glared at him. "Don't meddle with a pretty girl's business."

Jeremy nodded and turned around to go back to his work. "No matter what you look like, I'll like it."

Wait a minute...

Was he expressing his love?

During our two years together, Jeremy was a man of action and rarely used tricks.

Sometimes, when I deliberately acted like a spoiled child in front of him, he would push me away with a look of disgust. He would say, "Madison, use your normal voice when talking."

After washing up, I sat at the dining table and waited for him to feed me. As Jeremy fetched the tableware, he casually said, "You slept in my arms last night. Your boyfriend won't be angry if he finds out, right?"

My body stiffened. Did I sleep in his arms?

"What did you do to me?"

Jeremy stopped what he was doing and didn't say a word. He just condemned me for my fickleness with a very aggrieved and innocent look.

I swallowed and asked guiltily, "Did I do something to you?"

He suddenly rubbed my head gently. For a moment, I felt like we were in love again.

"Jeremy, where are we?"

In order not to indulge in this illusion, I tried to strike up a conversation.

Jeremy poured me some soup. "This is our wedding room."

Huh?

He narrowed his eyes slightly and said bitterly, "I already planned everything out before you broke up with me."

I didn't dare to look at him. I lowered my head and focused on eating the soup.

It was so hot that I felt my heart ignite in my chest.

"Madison." He squatted beside me, his eyes on the same level as mine. "You still love me, don't you?"

I didn't know if it was my illusion, but he sounded choking with sobs.

When I was about to get up and flee, he quickly wrapped his arms around me. "You're just having a fight with yourself. If I make you happy, you'll come back to me."

"Jeremy, don't do this to yourself." After a long time, I heard my hoarse voice.

I would feel better if he blamed me or hated me, but I couldn't bring myself to see him like this. Even though he was also very sad, he would always wipe away my tears first.

"Love means putting yourself in the same difficult situations over and over again," said Jeremy. "Don't give up on me."

"Jeremy, I'm not giving up on you. I just gave up on myself."

I felt I didn't deserve to have wonderful things. I had been losing them for the past 20 or so years.

I lost my mom, my dad, my dignity, and my trust. I even lost myself...

"Then I'll be the one who will never give up on you."

For a long time, my mind went blank, and my body trembled without me knowing.

When I finally found my voice, he was already kissing me.

The exchange was strong and fierce.

The ruthless kiss seemed to last for as long as we lived.

Before I could regain my senses, my body had responded first.

7

The bright winter sun generously offered its warmth to dispel the cold.

I stood at the intersection and watched the crowds coming and going, feeling like a ship lost in the deep sea. I couldn't find the lighthouse and couldn't tell the direction.

It was too difficult to overcome emotions with reason. I wanted to have Jeremy. I could fool him, but I couldn't fool my own heart.

The intimacy between us was too natural.

We desired each other so much that we couldn't stop once we touched.

"Madison, remember, I have the courage to face any difficulties, but that's only if you're by my side."

While we were overwhelmed with our feelings, Jeremy stared into my eyes and said those words with firm conviction.

At that moment, it was as if lightning had split open the primal chaos. I only felt the road ahead was incomparably clear and without a bump.

But now, all the passion faded, and all kinds of worries surged into my heart. The feelings had changed again.

How should we deal with those unpredictable injuries when they came?

"It's the green light. Let's go."

The timing was crucial. For example, when I was wavering, Jeremy grabbed my hand and gave me courage.

"Okay."

Never retreat when facing difficulties and bravely move forward. Perhaps that was the power of love.

Jeremy, if this is what you want, no matter what the result is or how high the price is, I'll stay with you to the end.

I made a promise in my heart.

When we got home, my stepmother was fiddling with the potted plants. Giving us a once-over, she instantly became alarmed.

"Where did you go? Why did you come back together?" she asked.

I spoke before Jeremy could. "We went to sing with our friends for the whole night."

My stepmother raised her eyebrows and asked Jeremy, "When did you go out last night? Why didn't I know?"

"Yes, we sang and threw up," he answered.

Due to my guilty conscience, intimate scenes with Jeremy kept flashing through my mind when I faced my stepmother.

Afraid of giving myself away, I quickly headed to my room. "I need to lie down for a while."

A few minutes later, I received a message from Jeremy. "Are you done with your so-called boyfriend?"

"Your words are full of murderous intent," I replied.

I didn't have a boyfriend at all. I was just making up a story to piss off Jeremy.

The person who called me last night was just a friend I made in the hospital. We met in the psychological clinic.

His condition was much more severe than mine, but he always enlightened me. After a while, we became friends.

I deliberately avoided mentioning my depression. I just evaded the crucial points and gave a brief explanation.

Jeremy heaved a sigh of relief. "Madison, I've reflected on a lot of things over the past half a year since we broke up."

"I'm not good at expressing myself, and you don't know how to show weakness. We're two dumb lovers. So I'll take the initiative in the future. As for you, as long as you don't mention breaking up with me, you can do anything."

My hands were trembling. I wanted to type, but I couldn't see the small words on the screen clearly.

Ultimately, I could only put down my phone and bury my face in the pillow, letting my tears flow freely.

After a long time, I calmed down and talked about the important things we had to face at present. "Did you tell your mother about what happened between us?"

Jeremy said, "No. She must have discovered something herself."

During dinner, my stepmother's eyes shuttled back and forth between Jeremy and me.

I had to force myself to sit there and finish my pasta.

Before today, I hadn't been able to eat starch for a long time.

At nine o'clock in the evening, my stepmother suddenly knocked on my door.

"Madison, since you bought the pregnancy test kit last time, why don't you use it?"

She handed me the pregnancy test kit. Despite her gentle expression, I knew I couldn't refuse her forceful request.

I clenched my fists tightly and said, "If I say no, you're going to drag my dad into this, aren't you?"

"Yes," she answered decisively.

The two of us feigned ignorance as if we could continue to pretend nothing had happened as long as we didn't expose the truth.

8

Seeing the result of the pregnancy test kit, my stepmother was expressionless. She threw it into the trash can and left.

The door was gently closed. I sat in the quiet room, and a strong uneasiness enveloped me tightly.

Unexpectedly, the next few days remained uneventful. Everyone seemed to have reached an indescribable tacit understanding, restraining themselves and politely maintaining a false harmony.

They probably wanted to celebrate New Year's Eve quietly.

Jeremy took me to the riverside on New Year's Eve to watch fireworks.

Dazzling and gorgeous fireworks exploded in the air, and the river water flowed silently below, reflecting all the beautiful scenery.

At 12 o'clock, Jeremy gently hugged me. "Happy New Year, Madison."

Many couples were hugging and giving their blessings to each other around us. We were one of them, looking so ordinary but so different.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

"Happy New Year, Jeremy."

After watching the fireworks, he put his arm around my shoulder and smiled childishly.

"Let's go home."

I instantly understood which home he meant.

From the moment Jeremy got out of the car in the parking lot, he had become a little impatient.

I understood his surprise and panic at regaining what he had lost because I felt the same.

I also wanted to hug him all the time to confirm he was really there.

When we kissed and opened the door, we were like boiling water.

However, as soon as the door was opened, all the enthusiasm dissipated in an instant. My stepmother was staring at us silently in the dark living room, like a dormant beast, ready to kill us with one move.

"Mom." Jeremy's first reaction was to protect me and face it alone.

There was a crisp sound in the air, which was particularly abrupt in the quiet night.

Jeremy tilted his head slightly, and there were two bloody scratches on his left cheek.

My stepmother, the culprit, seemed to have suffered a more serious injury than Jeremy. She was trembling all over and couldn't even say a complete sentence. "You... Do you know..."

I took a step forward and stood side by side with Jeremy. "Mom, I'm sorry. I want to be with Jeremy. As his partner, not as his sister."

My stepmother ignored me and stared at Jeremy like she wanted to see through him. "Tell me. What's the use of having such a girlfriend? She can't even take care of herself. What else can she do except drag you down and cause you trouble? You have a good future ahead of you. Why do you have to destroy your life like this? Do you know how proud I am of you? If you want to be with her, you'll kill me."

As I heard such fierce and straightforward questions, my heart sank, and my legs went weak. I couldn't wait to turn around and run away.

Seeing my intention, Jeremy grabbed my hand and clenched it into his fist.

His hands were as cold as mine.

We were like two pieces of frozen iron tightly hooked together.

"But only she makes me feel my life is meaningful." Facing my furious stepmother, Jeremy said firmly, "Mom, I'm sorry."

The air was frozen instantly, and it seemed to lock onto everyone's throats from all directions.

After a long time, we finally broke free from the restriction.

For some reason, my stepmother had calmed down from her rage, and her eyes were sad and tired.

"Madison, please. Don't take my son away from me."

I never thought my stepmother would use a pleading tone. Guilt gripped my limbs and bones for a moment, and the pain spread all over my internal organs.

I suddenly understood the power of showing weakness.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

"It's me who can't live without Madison." Jeremy broke the terrible silence.

I felt relieved and took a deep breath.

I might not be able to hold on any longer.

"If you don't want this home, then I don't want it either."

In the end, my stepmother smiled lightly.

However, everyone understood the weight of this sentence.

There was no room for negotiation. Everything would be revealed.

Is it really worth it, Jeremy?

I'm so afraid that one day, you'll come to your senses and tell me you regret it.