Melody's POV
I didn't go back to my apartment. I slept in my car again. It was cold, but I didn't care. My mind was full of him. Marvis. His eyes. His silence. The way he looked at me last night in the bathroom. It made my chest warm… then cold. I didn't know what we were.
Friends? Enemies? Nothing?
I told myself it didn't matter. But it did. I woke up before the sun. I wanted to do something different. Something kind. Maybe if I did, he'd smile at me again. So I used my last money to buy food. Hot rice. Stew. Fried plantains. He once said it reminded him of home. I held the warm bag in my hands. This was my peace offering. I took a deep breath and walked into the warehouse.
No one was around. It was quiet. I moved up the stairs. I didn't tell anyone I was coming. I wanted it to be a surprise. When I reached his office door, it was slightly open.I smiled and gently pushed it.
"Marvis?" I called softly.
No answer. I stepped inside.
Then froze. My hands shook. The bag dropped to the floor.
There he was. On his bed. Shirtless. With two women.
One had her arms around him. The other was leaning close to his face. They were laughing. Touching. Marvis didn't even notice me at first. He was too busy. Too busy with them. I stood there, heart crashing into pieces. One of the women turned and saw me. She smirked. Marvis looked up.
His smile faded.
"Melody…" he said.
I didn't answer. I couldn't speak. My chest hurt. I turned and walked out. Fast. I didn't want him to see my tears. I left the food on the floor. I didn't look back.
Marvis POV
I saw her. She was standing by the door. Her face was still. No words. No sound. Just hurt. Then she turned away. Left the food on the floor. Walked out. Didn't even wait for an explanation. I didn't go after her. I couldn't. Not with those girls still there. Not with the way she looked at me. Like I was a stranger. Or worse… a monster. The girls left soon after. I didn't even notice. I sat on the edge of the bed. Ran my hand through my hair. The room felt colder. The food she brought was still on the floor. I didn't touch it but didn't throw it away either.
I just stared. I stayed in that room for hours. Thinking. But the next day, I didn't see her. I waited. She didn't come. She didn't call. She didn't text. At the meeting, her chair was empty. Later, I saw her walking past the hallway. She didn't look at me. I called her name.She kept walking.
No pause. No glance. Nothing.
It hit me harder than I thought it would. I tried again the next day.
"Melody," I said.
She turned the other way. She was avoiding me.
I knew it. And I deserved it but still… Why did it hurt so much?