His and Her Entanglement

n

kept person, why

e sofa, and said with

y see his chiseled jaw and t

s were strikin

efore I could speak, a bank

is my birthd

in my hands and inquired, "

for a long time

member, you migh

d open my yearbook. Hank's information was

ful, though his graduation

ter after graduation. If not,

ays thought Hank disliked me, but I never expected that

ly unable to contain his excitement, launc

he other wasn't, that was just creepy. But if both h

was quite the

should wear red to ward off bad luck in an un

d at thi

now life would

decided to start my own business. I ambitiously opened a coff

d. The coffee shop took all my savings, and with th

county about this year's olive harvest,

re too favorable, and the bu

couldn't r

e, "Maddie, you need to learn to save

and after hanging up, tears un

fe was n

ection call today, I finally broke d

lling, I finished the last two

ed state, I intended to call a former colleague who had show

ddi

guy, I don't wa

suppo

pressing anger, but his words were unexpec

eserved, he was indeed a man of action. In

fearing my disheveled appearan

rush a fly between them. "Maddie, h

beer filling

it from the drunk b

to the living room, pl

gling, why didn'

it have

I could have helped wit

hen collapsed on the flo

tually stalk

n embarrassment, he threw

to the ground, right

d my tense nerves suddenly relaxed. I

tir

ad to see his perfectly pressed pan

rushing aside the h

moment. I almost thought he was

ed my nose, making it a pig snout,

, Maddie. Not even a hol

eyes. "Yeah,

cally 27, and feeling alm

k pla

ly. I wan

to be a kept person, you need to accep

ed, "Li

r some reason, I sensed a

ete de

a

w

oommate. Otherwise, I wouldn't have crossed pa

theart decided to study abroad, and Hank, for some reason

hole bar. My beautiful roommate, seeing a fr

ow I first

t thing I said to my roommate

d, "Sweetie, let'

They're all after

e beauty can only be

dance floor, swaying her hips

far apart, I could still see his perfect face, stan

im seemed uncomfortable, ma

good friend, Hank was quite

ell. He sat there, face blank, drinking

nce around with a cold

demeanor, thinking how cool he

ff his feet, hoping to

tice me. I could onl

rked in mys

. I still remembered my heart pounding

ands were sweaty, alm

I want to add y

ud, and Hank didn'

an agreement, instinctively pu

he was drunk, though it

focused, as if looking throug

ruly hea

nd was eventually dragged b

reamt our olives sold for a great price,

te, my phone rang. Annoyed, I opened

are

complete nobo

night. Mr. Barnett was sparing with words. I

into me, but I replie

e was straight

p, "Or do you need s

te dev

silence, then sent a que

ly touch his heart, so I pressed on, "A p

e, which seemed more l

e, I'm shamelessly persistent. It's just a ma

same persistence works both ways. I secretly plot

him, and thinking about i

nd wouldn't have woken up if the s

ets are incredibl

nd he was truly handsome, with l

ere rosy a

so he always had a

ering how I used to foll

it annoying, but he nev

uttered, and Han

etic, was like a cat's p

re you

in time, and I blurted

nked at the man in front of me, whose ears

e you been us

d I wanted to be Han

enses, eating bread just to bring him c

ls brought mineral water, I made sure my coffee wa

his lips and s

ke things t

d; coffee cost

things, then a four-dol

, I brought lem

of the bathhouse, his hair still wet

that ora

lp but take a

smell

d see the word "weirdo" in hi

him from saying anything harsh,

suming all the

nostalgic and moved, "It's

red as if they we

ted his suit, and

e new tooth

out for brea

ulfill my role as

make breakfast

fore, and his comment was, "Even

s cat, as pick

king skills had improved ove

couldn

stant foods, like in

the pot, and voil

the end, he watched as I devoured a

ually eat

looking a bi

with me

puzzled face, and

king the city from the highest point, standing by the floor-to-ceiling w

to be my cher

ing, especially when he l

ll those stars were just for you,

that our relationship

good morning, good

you doing? How's your m

seeing the gloomy sky outside, I thou

head back early, bu

d an umbrella and

ted pouring down, and the sky was shrouded in d

brella, my shou

h my hair a mess and clothes wet, ma

ipping umbrella, whic

d, "What are

mile, "Bringing

ss for a moment, the

is picki

t these rich kids d

and I stared at my toes, wishing

you to that new barbecue place

omeone takes me to the new barbec

d saw Hank's s

his man be so irr

s impression of me was as a g

sis, not

urprised, then teased, "Wow, th

"caught the swan" put me in a good mood, ev

, but he subtly distanced himself from

ank emphasized, "

a flirt, but everyone described Hank

ank was enough to brag about for

ed a glass with beer, and reminded me

denly feeling hopeful, "H

ft ice cream, sweet enoug

cour

r under the guise of friendship, and e

essed, determined to s

ank's games or any chanc

invite him a week in advance, afra

rsistence, occasionally giving

addie, you should give up. Ha

I'm tired just watchin

n isn't over; we must

y is ahead, how ca

e hasn't re

ting to say something, b

ll treat you

t Samuel was a pret

and I eagerly prepared a telescope, plan

d another girl

e class late, and some

f panic in his eyes, maybe not e

to me, "She's my uncle's da

ely inquired, "If you want to watch

many years, the details

y ate two bowls of rice because I

ike I was on the brink

ased throughout my youth suddenly of

ade me hesitate briefly be

me in such a miserable sta

saw through my silly pride and gen

my assistant? Eigh

pay off your debt u

ea

, afraid he migh

already messy

, I mis

y inquired, "Is this assist

nt to take advantage o

h

t entirely out

rt work to

be diligent. You couldn't slack off, and you ha

n't a flashy person and didn't like being e

seat, I still felt like Cind

amazing, perfectly fitt

whole life. The thought of working hard just so the boss could get a new

unning face se

k in school, liking a boy only me

ne of his outfits could cost

t inf

Hank. Despite I was fearless, there were m

gazes, especially when they

, knowing I had neit

as immaturity, but now, being

nd wealthy girl asked me, "Maddie, do

t his ex-girlfr

lf, thinking if Hank liked

possibility that h

n't receive a d

ced girl who widened her almond

Have Melanie from the Human Resources

ill be in

uently checking his wa

the receptionist

r. Barnett's girlfriend ret

lfri

ard. It's someone Mr. Barnett has liked si

le all these years. Apparently, the

, a change in just a few days makes all

er early thirties, with exquisite make

st be M

s Ya

s, I'm the ne

has already

n it came to flattery. Melanie held my ha

You must be extraordinary to hav

gets this

in life was getting paid to do not

ssistant, no one els

t my desk, twirling a pen and reminiscing about

ered that Hank's first love's last name wa

she had two shallow dimples. Not just

were a per

, and the warm winter aftern

, and I unknowingly f

er me. Hank stood with his back to

I could see. When he tu

ant you to m

ainable first love. In my youth, I naively thought I'd sta

awkward, even mak

discomfort but said nothing

destination, he

f water when you were nervous, finish

my eyes

t even a bottle of water in the car. Ca

nice isn't hard t

t love's nam

u know the term

anning to be my c

ering wheel. His casual q

know about such classic h

t his current girlfriend, it

orted, "Stay s

en single for six years. For

truly was

ed at a simple a

e's family wasn't as wealthy as Hank's,

ained, "Her family had some is

pany as a springboard for her ca

. Hank grabbed my hand. "Aren't yo

't it

nquired, "Is Eunice

g for a department

on, Hank held my face. "You'r

, thankfully, our position

porcelain beauty, like a perfectly sculpted

d her figure, and the light wool

re. Yet, her doll-like face

, per

waver slightly, her face paling

is

al assista

tly. "So, you wen

lly trying to link arms wit

intaining a dist

intment but quickly regained her composu

have d

me. "What do yo

ice's face seemed

he heartstrings. I must admit, I was a bit of a sucke

livious, his e

usly redirected the

what would you

an unparalleled sweetness. "L

about the ambiance. It was the kind of setting wh

the more authentic the Japanese fo

ite its high price, it neve

-seventh floor, with a window-side booth o

n to twinkle, the river

weary body, and a sip of sak

spite the years, she still remembered the chef

what to serve based on his mood. If you don

ic scallop, savoring it with

ed silent, not engagi

how skilled the chef, if it wasn't cooked,

his meal would c

ach protesting, I finally succumbed and re

stomach, my gut react

gh

n

th, but the sour

let me rush to the restroom. Out of the corner of

be feel

wall. Seeing me, she apologized sincerely, "I'm sorry. I used t

polo

so when someone was polite to me, I be

ved my hands, "No worries, it doesn't matter. It's jus

es glistened as if te

ease stay awa

unice, with her head down, w

ain who could remain indif

al relationship. If anything, it was just

ly backed off because I knew Hank's

ess, it might just be because he cou

hoice, he would probably leave

"Don't worry, Hank and I are jus

ved and nodded at me, "Thank

problem, just make

appeal, and I had no intent

saying I wasn't feelin

n wrapped in a down jacket, the

bag. After paying off my debts, I

fered to support me this mor

lt crushed

rb towards home, a car s

face as cold as the sculpture in

t i

ack seat, her expression was unclear,

m almos

ncing that Hank's expre

s trump card, "If you don't

rsh reality

y; if he docked my pay,

climbed into th

no one spoke until we parked. Even with th

uired Hank at the window, "W

full of hope,

eplied coldly, "Work starts at nine. The

be l

heard the sound of

waving outside the wi

, this time heading to

fee shop and got me

st. I'll take

make something fo

mean those instant meal

h. If someone offers a

'm sorry. I didn't know you

ack, and it wouldn't have b

Eunice are just friends now. If anything, it

k, "Why are you

bored and don't want my subordinates to mi

O

dal, "Forget the restau

dashed out, rubbing its he

bumping heads with it, then handed

l c

plex, spacious but

alone, it lacke

man like Mr. Barnett would spend his

perhaps due to its age, an

thing fluffy, wanting to bu

a delicious aroma. I placed Oreo

flipping food in the pan, his expr

The pork chops need

ver lived with a guy I like

and gently pinch my ch

didn't have many ingredients. He could

other, urging me to wash my hands and have din

how I once vowed to cook for Han

cooking go

cook, while I ended up relying on take

ht and smell of the pork

each bite was a

elicious I

lly prepared a

no one's going to

, "Why are you di

was, that glass of milk bare

like it, I can make

d your girlfriend migh

replaced by his us

nd, would you even b

but that doesn't stop others from

eciding to have a cou

e, just like when w

ork, I felt embarrasse

lass of water towards hi

Hank gave me a deep look an

fined chest through the open collar, won

that I've ruined my appetite,

ack, I'm goi

awkwardness. I finished the dish and soup, then

at feel

bit to

V, enjoying the c

etting into it,

ab some clothes fro

room on the l

r eating, but since sponsor

entered Hank's bedroom and turned

e enough for two peop

was occupied by a fox pillow, a

Hank, meant to be a pair, though I

emotion, surprise

, I found Hank reservedly wrapp

htaking, almost giv

rotruding belly and

d, extr

a

I had already watched an episode of a

ed man smells really good. As the

ower. It was late, and the situation-a man a

defensively, "Wh

been driving all day and I'

eeping in the gue

throom to find the bath ready, the water at

in the bathroom. Hank had deliberately

for him, needing

ged to find Hank had

d the potential to be

ding matched Hank's,

est early,

help but ask, "Why haven't

from my loved o

tion, he closed the door be

eap, I sacrificed half a

nk and I were

me, even the whole scho

y status from friend t

birthday at home,

lows, earning a sigh from my beautiful roomm

g at a forty-five-degree a

ed me, getting re

k that day, but at nine, he

ed the fox pillow and das

handsome that night, thoug

s on a mo

her crush's waist on a back of moto

und Hank's firm waist, he didn't objec

s like a river, overf

ing the unique scent of au

ce made my heart race

rbecue, the heat numb

s sweating, hi

can truly h

spicy, but the more it burned,

at each other's reactions,

ed to celebrate you

e you'r

y, so I found an ex

you just after the bi

low's chubby cheek, "Where am I s

so you won't

ht a pair, so they'd k

said, "Thanks, I do get

cue, we went to

still green,

with the river, creating a magical, b

w, its softness making

leep, I nudged him,

don't. I'

all asleep. I still

st thi

hand reaching to tuck my hair b

n't wished me a h

Is it too

irthday

birthday wish that

vous, wanting to inquire i

out was, "Can

M

o soft, it vanis

s been a late-night person, and after sleeping

open like my mo

off my phone, pre

hing by my bed, bru

e I like you, but it's o

didn't dare disturb you, think

out I was j

omeone is tiring. This time, l