Chapter 7
The charcoal crackled to life on the grill, and bottles of beer lined the table, creating an inviting atmosphere. Soon, the mouthwatering aroma of grilled meat filled the air, making my stomach rumble.
Eugene approached with a list, asking us what movies we wanted to watch. After a lively debate, we settled on four of the hottest films currently in theaters.
“Why don’t you lie down in the tent and watch?” Eugene suggested, a teasing grin spreading across his face. I felt a flush of embarrassment.
“This tent is just for you, Oli,” he added with a laugh.
Reluctantly, I crawled inside. Meanwhile, he brought over a cozy lounge chair for Eloise, who settled in comfortably, draping a blanket over her belly and letting out a satisfied sigh.
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“My brother is so thoughtful and kind. I wonder which lucky woman will end up with him one day,” she remarked, and I nodded in agreement. He truly was a good guy.
As the big screen lit up, the venue gradually fell silent, everyone settling into the moment. Eugene focused on the grill, expertly flipping the ingredients and distributing them into neatly packaged servings, directing his friends to deliver them to each table.
At that moment, I finally understood the enjoyment he had mentioned.
Beneath the starry sky, a gentle breeze brushed against us while insects chirped in the background. We savored barbecue and watched movies, wrapped in the warmth of companionship. Is there anything more comforting than this?
After the film ended, a group of young people pulled out their instruments and began to make music. To my surprise,
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Eugene showcased his talent on the suona,
filling the air with vibrant melodies. Laughter and playful banter echoed through the night, and genuine smiles spread across everyone’s faces.
From that day forward, I fell in love with this place. Whenever I found myself with free time, I would rush over with my laptop, and my bond with Eloise and her brother deepened with each visit.
Half a month later, I was dozing in Eugene’s business car when a strange. phone call jolted me awake. I assumed it was a call for an interview, but as soon as I
answered, I was met with Landon‘ s slightly hoarse voice.
“Oli, I miss you so much…”
Before he could finish his sentence, I pressed the hang–up button and promptly
added the strange number to my blacklist. What an annoyance.
Eugene approached, carrying two glasses
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of juice. He handed one to me and settled into the trunk. “Olive, I’ve invited an
opera troupe to perform in two days. Do
you want to come see it?”
My excitement bubbled up, and I nodded. eagerly. “Of course!” I had never seen a musical in my life. The genre felt niche, akin to a star concert–an event I rarely encountered.
We exchanged a couple more sentences, but my phone rang again, this time. showing a new unfamiliar number. Frustrated with Landon‘ s persistence, I had an idea and handed the phone to Eugene. “It’s my ex–boyfriend calling. Cam you answer it for me? If he asks who you are, just say you’re my boyfriend.”
Eugene’s face instantly flushed crimson. I hadn’t anticipated his reaction; he looked so innocent. I was taken aback and awkwardly reached for the phone, but he was already quick to grab it.
Eugene’s slender fingers pressed the
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green call button, and his voice, cool and refreshing like mint, flowed effortlessly through the phone. “Hello, hello?”
On the other end, there was a heavy silence, punctuated only by labored breathing. A minute passed before Landon’s unfriendly tone cut through the quiet. “Who are you?”
Eugene glanced my way, his ears turning a shade redder. “I‘ m Oli‘ s boyfriend. How can I help you?”
I stifled a laugh; he was surprisingly polite! I hoped this might finally help Landon confront reality.
But Landon’s response came as a low growl, filled with anger. “Olive, you‘ re incredible!” With a decisive click, the line went dead, replaced by the monotonous. busy tone.
Eugene hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure of what to say next. Finally, he turned to me, concern etched on his face.
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“Olive, do you really want to break up with your ex–boyfriend?”
I sensed his worry stemmed from not wanting to complicate things between us. After all, he was trying to help me, and I didn’t want him feeling uncertain about hist role in all of this.
I carefully selected my words and explained my feelings succinctly.
When he heard that I had truly moved on from my relationship with Landon and had no intention of rekindling it, relief washed over his face.
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