Chapter 35: Chapter 35

When Arya returned home, she cooked mashed potatoes and boiled peas and ate it along with grilled chicken.  After eating, she felt very contented.

In the night, when she was lying on the bed, she thought of the dishes in Jack’s fridge.  It looked like he had prepared a lot.

There was also that woman, Shelly O’Brien.  Although that woman had nothing to do with her, she really did not like her and she also wondered what was Jack’s current thoughts.  Initially, he must have loved her very deeply otherwise he would not have suffered so badly.  His two other girlfriends were completely different from her and the duration of their love affairs was also not long.  And until now he still has not fallen in love……it really looks like he had not forgotten his old love.

So, it is no wonder that Shelly was so full of confidence.  Maybe she knew him very well, maybe during that time, she also had the same feelings as him but it was she who had wounded him badly.  For her to come back to him, however, was something difficult for Jack to accept.

Does Jack still like her?  This made Arya worried.

She tried hard to recall the scene of the two people facing each other today.  The door was opened and they talked in the doorway.  Could it be Shelly had also just arrived?  And Jack did not allow her to enter his apartment?

She blinked a few times and felt a bit sleepy.  Jack had told her that if he wanted to reject other women, he did not need her as a shield.

He had also said that he was not the kind of person who enjoys making fun of women.  Although she believed him, he had actually made fun of her.

When sleep finally overcame her, it was difficult for her to resist.  She still had not finished thinking about this matter and she did not want to fall asleep so early but she still fell asleep.  Just before she slept, her last thought was……how could there be a man like Jack who has so much advantages and disadvantages?

He makes people like him and hate him at the same time……how does he manage to do that?

----------------------------------------------------

The next day, Arya was very busy.

She had endless customer calls to make and there were endless policy details to process.  She also had to attend a meeting and went for three training sessions.

The whole day, the calls she made had been rejected endless times and in one of the calls, the person had used vulgar words to scold her.  She rarely encountered such low-quality customers and felt very uncomfortable.  The second half-day, she went to teach arts to school as her mood was not very good. Painting was something that helps her lifting her spirits.

After finishing the class, she went back home.

At six o’clock in the evening, an express delivery man came and said there was a parcel for Arya.  When she looked at the name and address, it was indeed hers.  In puzzlement, she accepted the parcel and returning to her room, she opened the box to find it contained her favourite chocolates.

This is really a surprise.

Although she did not know who sent this, she still felt very happy. found a piece of paper at the bottom of the box.  When she flipped it opened, it was a prescription notepad from the hospital.

On it was written ~ Hope you like this chocolates!.

That flamboyant handwriting needed careful study in order to read what is written.  This is really the trademark of a doctor’s handwriting.

She twitched her mouth and could not help but smile.

Quickly, she unwrapped and put a piece of chocolate into her mouth.  The chocolate melted her and her mood which had been gloomy the whole day, suddenly lifted up.

She took out her cell phone and sent a message to Jack.

Your handwriting is too ugly.

After a while, Jack called her and she answered.

“Arya, you are really very fussy.”

“I’m only telling the truth.”  Because she had chocolate in her mouth, her voice was loud and incoherent.

Apparently, Jack was able to understand and he asked.  “Is the chocolate nice?”

“Yes.”

“Then is it considered we’ve reconciled?”

“No.”

She answered so quickly that Jack choked.  There was silence on the phone for a while and then she heard Jack say.  “Arya, you accept the gift and now showing haughty airs, what do you mean by this?”

“This is not called ‘putting on airs’ but called having ‘principles’.  You still have not apologized yet, why should I reconcile with you?  Besides, I have also given you chocolates in the beginning.  I have also cooked braised ribs and grilled chicken for you.”

“But I didn’t even get to taste.”

“And whose fault it was?” Her brain reacted quickly and she was fast.  Her mood was extremely good.

He was stumped by this question.  He coughed twice, then coughed again and said softly.  “Well, in the past, I did have impolite manners.”

“An apology consists of three words.  I. AM. SORRY. That is more formal.”

“Arya!”

“What?”

“Are you going to give me the opportunity to speak?”

“I didn’t stop you.”

After a moment of silence on the phone, Jack suddenly said.  “I’m busy, I have to go. I’m hanging up.”

Hang up if you want!  Arya bit her lip and pressed the end button on her phone.  While chewing, she looked at the express delivery box on the table. Suddenly she felt that Jack is a bit cute.  That poisonous tongue can also feel shy, …..so cute.

This day, Jack did not call again and Arya did not mind.

The next day, Jack also did not call and Arya felt a little anxious.

On the third day, she looked at her phone from time to time.  There was still no news from Jack.

She unconsciously started to guess what he was doing.  Is he angry with her for cornering him into a difficult situation?  But she felt she was not in the wrong.  He had done something overboard, and she could not always give in to him, right?  He had to show his sincerity as a friend, then only can they be able to carry on as friends.

Suddenly, she remembered that she promised herself to ignore him for a month but the result was that it was broken the day before yesterday.  So, now she should not feel so anxious.  If he does not look for her, she also should not mind.

As it was Friday, and the whole day, nothing special happened.  Everyone got off work in high spirits and her colleagues invited her for drinks to the bar but she declined.

After work, Arya returned home as usual.  She reach the entrance of her apartment block, she saw that warm-hearted passerby who had helped her before.

“Hi!”  By this time, Mr. Passerby had also seen Arya and greeted her with a smile.

She returned a smile without halting her steps and Mr. Passerby started to walk along with her.

“Do you stay in this block?”  When Mr. Passerby noticed Arya was about to enter the building, he smiled and pointed to the building.  “We’re only separated by a building and I did not realize we are so close.  I really haven’t seen you before.”

“That’s true.”

Mr. Passerby smiled and revealed his white teeth, which was similar to the way Jack laughed.  Unconsciously, Arya had a favorable impression of him.  He stretched out his hand and introduced himself.  “Hello, I am Chandler.”

“Chandler?”  She could not control herself and laugh.  She politely returned his handshake, “I am Arya.”

“You name is nice. Unlike mine.”

Arya laughed. “I also know someone else with weird name. Remember Dr.Jack Daniels”

Chandler was stunned and after he recalled that doctor during that incident he laughed.  “Is he the awesome doctor, that day?”

“Do you mean awesome as in his medical skills or temper?”

“Well, both are awesome.”  Chandler laughed.

“That day, you had fainted, so you did not know.  He had fixed up the two people cruelly.  I think those two people must have wished they were not saved by him.”

Immediately Arya spoke up for Jack.  “Don’t blame Dr. Jack.  Those two people drove their car in an irresponsible manner and nearly crash into his car.  He told them to stop but they kept going and they also drove very fast.  Therefore, the accident happened and they nearly knock into other people.”

“I know, I know.  I saw it that day.”  Chandler said.  “I think the doctor fixed them up as a way to vent his anger.  The two people were drunk-driving and it was fortunate they did not hurt others.  They deserved to be taught a lesson.”

“What did Dr. Jack do to them, that day?”

Arya was very curious.  So Chandler began to tell her how Jack fixed up the two people.  No matter how he scolded them, the two people did not dare to say anything.  They were so scared that when the two people reached the hospital they had requested for a change of doctors.  In the end, they again received another lesson from Jack.

She listened with deep interest and her eyes shone.  Chandler also had a deep impression of that day and he was very happy to talk about it.  The two of them had a very enjoyable conversation.  When they finally ended the conversation and bid farewell to each other to return home, she only realized that she had talked to a man who should be considered as a stranger about Jack at the entrance of the building for 20 minutes.

After taking off her shoes and putting down her bag, she poured herself a glass of water and took a sip.  Just as she was thinking of the funny situation, suddenly she heard her cell phone ring.  She pulled out her phone to look and saw the call was from Jack.

“Arya, I’m downstairs at your home.”

“……” Arya spat out the water.

“Arya.”

“What are you doing downstairs at my house?”  While she was talking, she trotted to the balcony to look down from the window.  Jack’s car was really parked downstairs.

“It’s all your fault.  Someone is waiting to chase me, so I can’t go home.”

She gaped and was very surprised.  This cannot be……what she said at random, really came true?

“Dr. Jack, if you were chased by my parents and forced to marry me, then that can be considered as my fault.  But now, you’re chased by your ex-girlfriend…….what has that to do with me?”

Jack did not want to argue with her and only said.  “Come down.”

“Why should I come down?”  She stared at the car from the balcony but she was unable to see through the steel top of the car and could not see his expression.

“I’ve something to say to you.”

“Is it an apology?  After you will apologize, I’ll come down.”

“Arya, is your skin feeling itchy?”

“Dr. Jack, if you have this kind of mood, it’s better for you to go home and drive her away!  Or should I say, you can’t bear to bash her and come to bully me?  I refuse to accept this kind of treatment.  If you think that being alone with her will be awkward, then you can call up your other two ex-girlfriends and invite them over.  The four of you can play rummy together, have some fun, and whatever grudges and love enmity between all of you will be dissolved.  This will be more effective than shouting at me, don’t you think so?”

“I think to keep indulging in your arrogance is not a good long-term plan.”

“Dr. Jack, you think too much.  Anyway, you don’t have to marry me, so you don’t have to worry I will trample all over you.  I also have a very good temper and I treat my friends well.  On the contrary, you. Do you reflect on your actions?”

“Yes.  When I think too much, I reflect on myself.”

She twitched her mouth.  “I can’t see it.”

“Arya, no matter what you want to hear, shouldn’t you let me tell you face to face?”

“I want to wait until you’re more sincere.”

Suddenly, Jack became silent.

She waited for a long time and could not help but called out to him.  “Dr. Jack!”

Suddenly, Jack sighed.  “Arya, in fact, you are same as me.”

“I am definitely not the same as you.”  Obviously, the two of them were two different kinds of people, how are they the same?

“As long as the other party has the slightest uncertainty, you will be able to feel it, right?”

Arya did not understand.  She frowned and thought for a long time but she still needed to ask.  “What uncertainty?”