Q3
Later, Vivian Lynn even had the audacity to ask me to be her bridesmaid, tearfully lamenting that she had so few friends and could only turn to me.”
The provocation inherent in the request was, of course, unmistakable.
I feigned ignorance and went to work at the hospital as usual the next morning. Howard Lee called me several times during that period, but fignored them all.
At noon, my colleagues and I went downstairs for lunch and happened to spot Vivian Lynn sitting in the hospital corridor from a distance.
Howard Lee was carefully getting her water and feeding her medication, his eyes brimming
with concern.
“What illness requires her to take so much medication every day?”
“You’ve always refused to tell me what’s wrong; I only wish I could share your suffering.”
Vivian Lynn paused, her expression betraying a hint of discomfort.
“What good would it do to tell you? There’s no cure for this.”
I watched this unfold, inwardly indulging in a cynical amusement.
I suspect it won’t be long before his wish is granted.
A colleague, noticing the scene, whispered to me.
“That man is truly devoted; he accompanies his girlfriend to the hospital for her medication every time. It’s such a pity, though, that she contracted AIDS at such a young age. Otherwise,
they would undoubtedly be very happy.”
Another colleague interrupted her with a dismissive snort.
“Regret what? She knows perfectly well how she contracted that disease. She’s had so many
abortions here, I’ve lost count.”
“The last time, she concealed her AIDS status from me, and I almost didn’t get post–exposure
prophylaxis in time. I was furious.”
“Speaking of which, there have been reports of AIDS patients deliberately trying to infect
others as a form of revenge. It’s been in the news, so you all need to be extra careful.”
I nodded, replying to the Property Manager’s message with downcast eyes.
The Bridal Chamber is now quite useless, and I certainly won’t let anyone else profit from it.
Just then, Howard Lee spotted me, approached, and called out my name.
My colleague looked puzzled, surprised that I knew him, and inquired as to our relationship.
I smiled, making no attempt to conceal the truth.
“My ex–boyfriend. We broke up just yesterday.”
They fell silent, their eyes reflecting a shared sense of pity.
I waved them off, then turned to Howard Lee to ask what he wanted.
He immediately launched into a tirade of accusations.
“I called you so many times this morning. Why didn’t you answer?”
I flipped through my phone with a nonchalant air and replied.
“Did you? I must have been too preoccupied with surgery to notice.”
D
11:20 Sat, 3 May
others as a form of revenge. It’s been in the news, so you all need to be extra careful.”
རོ 97%།
I nodded, replying to the Property Manager’s message with downcast eyes.
The Bridal Chamber is now quite useless, and I certainly won’t let anyone else profit from it. Just then, Howard Lee spotted me, approached, and called out my name.
My colleague looked puzzled, surprised that I knew him, and inquired as to our relationship.
I smiled, making no attempt to conceal the truth.
“My ex–boyfriend. We broke up just yesterday.”
They fell silent, their eyes reflecting a shared sense of pity.
I waved them off, then turned to Howard Lee to ask what he wanted.
He immediately launched into a tirade of accusations.
“I called you so many times this morning. Why didn’t you answer?”
I flipped through my phone with a nonchalant air and replied.
“Did you? I must have been too preoccupied with surgery to notice.”
Howard Lee, who had been suppressing his irritation all morning, felt a profound sense of anticlimax as his anger dissipated against a wall of indifference.
Vivian Lynn intervened, breaking the tension.
“Madeline, Howard was calling to ask if you would consider being my bridesmaid.”
“I know I’ve taken your wedding, which I’m sure is upsetting, but you know I don’t know anyone here. You were the only person I could think of.”
I can’t fathom what she was thinking; it’s her wedding day, and she insists on having
someone she dislikes there to sour the mood.
She refused without hesitation.
“I’m terribly busy. I haven’t the time.”
