Chapter 21🥔
The roads were packed with cars during the evening rush hour. The traffic barely moved, and the air inside the taxi felt heavy and stale. Milim sat in the back seat, her face pale and her body tense. The pregnancy symptoms she didn't feel earlier suddenly came rushing in. The stop-and-go movement of the taxi made her dizzy, and the unpleasant smell inside didn't help either.
"Do you want to throw up?" the taxi driver asked quickly after noticing her discomfort. He handed her a plastic bag with concern.
"Thank you," Milim replied weakly, holding the bag under her chin just in case. But in the end, she didn't vomit. It was just nausea, uncomfortable but bearable.
"We're almost there," the driver said as he finally pulled out of the congested area when the traffic light turned green. About fifteen minutes later, they reached the entrance of Haven Road.
Milim stepped out of the car with slow, heavy movements. Her face was pale, and her body felt drained. She stood at the curb, scanning the area in search of Bria. Somewhere nearby, in a different car, Dylan watched her from a distance, his expression unreadable.
Soon, Milim saw Bria approaching with a group of classmates—two girls and three boys. They looked like they were having fun, chatting and walking side by side like old friends. Since it was summer vacation, the area was filled with people looking for food and entertainment, making good spots hard to find.
Bria led the group confidently, walking ahead. Milim stayed at the back, cautious with every step and trying to protect herself. She occasionally spoke to a male classmate beside her, but mostly stayed quiet.
Dylan followed from a distance, wearing sunglasses. As he trailed behind them, he felt like a creepy stalker. He knew it wasn't right to follow her like this. He wanted to respect her freedom, but something in him just couldn't let go.
After walking around for a while, the group finally found a place to sit and eat. Bria noticed Milim's weak appearance and looked at her with concern. "You look so tired. Go order something—you must be hungry."
Milim looked at the menu, skipping all the greasy and fried options. "Bria, I'll just have a steamed egg," she said softly. Nothing else looked good to her.
"Alright," Bria replied, then turned to the group with a bright smile. "This meal's on me! Order whatever you like. After this, let's go see a movie!"
"A movie?" one of the girls said. "There aren't any good ones showing right now."
"How about we go play pool instead?" one of the boys suggested. "That sounds more fun."
"Yeah, I like playing billiards," another guy chimed in. He turned to Milim with a grin. "You don't know how to play, right? I can teach you."
Milim blinked, unsure how to respond. Her lips formed a soft pout—a natural reaction when she didn't know what to say. Unfortunately, people often misunderstood it, thinking she was being cute on purpose.
"I think I can play," she replied with a small smile. Her features lit up when she smiled—rosy lips, bright eyes, and an air of quiet intelligence. She was naturally charming without trying.
"I'm not good at it either," Bria said, looking at the guys. "So which one of you will teach me?"
The boys just looked at each other awkwardly, offering no real response. Finally, Milim stepped in with a chuckle. "I'll teach you," she said teasingly.
Bria rolled her eyes in mock defeat. "Ugh, I fail again on this group hangout," she joked.
The group headed off to the pool hall after dinner. Milim only ate half of her small portion, her appetite not very strong. They skipped any plans to go drinking. Afterward, Bria called a taxi for the boys to send them home safely, giving up her hopes of finding a cute guy for the night.
The two girls sat outside the food stall after the group had left.
Bria leaned back and sighed. "Do you think someone will ever love me just for who I am? Even if I don't have money?"
Milim stretched and relaxed in her seat. "You're rich, and still no one likes you," she said with a teasing smile. "It's heartbreaking."
Bria clutched her chest dramatically. "That hurts!"
"It's not about looks," Milim added seriously. "Even people who look great might not find someone who truly loves them. You have a good family, your grades are good, and you have a bright future. That's what matters. I like you a lot, Bria."
Bria was touched and suddenly threw her arms around Milim. "You're an angel!"
"Get off me," Milim laughed and pushed her away playfully. Then she stood up and brushed off her clothes. "It's getting late. I'm heading home."
She pulled out her phone and ordered a taxi.
"If you really want to lose weight, do it properly. But honestly, I think you might still struggle to find a boyfriend even if you're thin," Milim teased.
"Didn't you just say looks don't matter?" Bria shot back.
Milim laughed and didn't answer. Inside, she felt a little jealous of Bria. She had a loving family, caring parents, and was the center of attention as the only child. Milim didn't have that kind of warmth in her life.
"Are you talking about yourself?" Bria asked, walking over to her. "Don't worry. I like you too."
Milim backed away. "Thank you, but I'm not into girls."
"Neither am I!" Bria laughed. "It's just friendship love. Come on, time to go."
Bria's taxi arrived first. She got in and waved goodbye. Milim stayed behind, standing alone by the road. She looked tired and lost, like a small puppy abandoned on the side of the street.
Dylan couldn't take it anymore. He stepped forward.
Milim saw a pair of shiny black leather shoes appear in front of her. She slowly looked up—long legs, a strong frame, and finally, a handsome face she couldn't mistake.
"Dylan?" she said in surprise.
Dylan frowned. "It's so late. Why are you still here?"
Milim quickly hid her sadness behind a smile. "I came to meet a friend. What about you? What a coincidence running into you here."
"This place doesn't suit someone like you," she added, looking around.
"I'll take you home," Dylan said simply.
"I already called a taxi," Milim protested.
"Which do you think is safer—a taxi or my car?" he asked seriously, his dark eyes narrowing.
The pressure in his voice was too strong to fight. "Alright, I'll go with you," Milim said, canceling her ride.
She wasn't scared—just realistic. Arguing with Dylan wouldn't help either of them. For the sake of herself and her baby, they needed to get along.
As the car moved, Milim rested her hand on her belly and stared out the window at the lights passing by. She felt sick again.
"I felt nauseous earlier," she said softly.
"Pregnancy symptoms," Dylan replied. "They usually go away by the fourth or fifth month."
He looked at her through the rearview mirror. "What did you and your friend talk about?"
"Just about guys. She wants to date but isn't having much luck. She's a little chubby, and that makes it hard for her."
"What about you?" he asked.
"I'm the opposite. I don't want to fall in love," Milim said, placing her palm on her belly. "Don't worry. I won't cause any trouble in your personal life. I'll cooperate with whatever you need."
She leaned back, signaling that she was done talking.
Dylan was silent for a while. Then he said in a low voice, "Don't lie to me again."
Milim blushed. "Okay," she replied softly, then got out of the car.
Dylan wanted to walk her upstairs, but before he could say anything, Milim had already turned and walked into her building. He stayed behind, lit a cigarette, and stared up at the windows, his heart in turmoil.
A message soon popped up on his phone:
"Mr. Dylan, I just got home. Thank you. You've had a hard day. Rest early."
Her words, simple as they were, made his heart feel a little lighter.
He got in his car and drove home, throwing away the half-smoked cigarette.
Inside the house, Milim found her older sister Ava sitting in the living room with their parents and younger brother. The family was opening gifts.
"I'm back," she said, slipping off her shoes.
"Come here! Your sister brought you something!" her mother said excitedly.
Ava handed her a beautiful makeup box. "I picked this out just for you. Isn't it cute?"
Milim nodded and took it, but her face was expressionless.
"Still upset with me?" her mom mumbled. "She's still angry about what I said the other day."
James, her father, tried to smooth things over. "I talked to her already. I think it's just her part-time job that's tiring her out."
Ava looked surprised. "She's still working part-time? Why not use that energy for studying?"
Little Lin, her younger brother, hugged a book Ava had brought him. "I'm going to my room to eat snacks with big sis!" he announced proudly and ran off.
Their parents shared a look of quiet helplessness. They didn't tell Ava about Milim's job because they didn't want it to distract her. Among the three siblings, Milim spent the least. She earned her own money and helped reduce the family's expenses. That should've been a good thing.
But deep down, sometimes they couldn't help but wonder if she lacked ambition—if she had no bigger plans for her future.