Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Melvin’s expression darkened. He was no longer as arrogant as he was a second ago.
Jocelyn let out a sigh of relief, took a deep breath, and flashed her trademark smile, “Anything else I can help with you?”
Melvin’s eyes narrowed slightly, his lips parted slightly, “Nice one.”
Jocelyn managed to tick off Melvin.
Suddenly, she realized that Melvin seemed to get easily ruffled by her, which she hadn’t noticed before
Maybe she hadn’t been so ‘rebellious’ before
Jocelyn had kept an eye on Preston, after all, he was her ex’s nephew, so it was natural to pay a bit more attention.
She noticed that Preston didn’t have his heart in studying, he’d just crash and sleep as soon as class started. He wasn’t chummy with classmates, and when they reached out to him, he’d snub them with his nose in the air
Just like his uncle, full of himself.
Jocelyn planned to have a serious chat with him in a couple of days.
On Friday after school, while Jocelyn was still in her office, a teacher came running, Jocelyn, that new student in your class got into a fight off campus.
Preston had dislocated someone’s jaw and left him black and blue all over.
After sending the injured student to the hospital, Jocelyn told Preston to call Melvin. Preston did call, but no answer
Annoyed, Jocelyn dialed the number that didn’t need saving in her phone. Because she had already committed this number to her heart
Amid a noisy background, Jocelyn frowned, “Mr. Martinez…
“Who is this?” came a deep, magnetic voice laced with a hint of unfamiliarity.
Hearing the noise on the other end, Jocelyn simply hung up
She advanced the medical expenses, explained things to the injured student’s parents, then took Preston to look for Melvin.
Pushing open the doors to the private room, they were met with a haze of smoke, a scene of decadent indulgence that was not for innocent eyes.
Jocelyn had Preston wait outside, not wanting him to see anything that might scar a kid.
Everyone paused to stare at Jocelyn as she entered, with only the sound system still playing music.
After a quick scan of the room, she spotted Melvin in a dark corner.
His smoking intensified the glow of the fire, his sharp features appearing even more striking in the dim light.
Flicking ash, he ordered the lights on. His piercing, almond-shaped eyes assessed the room. “Who called for her?”
Everyone looked at each other, clueless. The bolder ones thought of stepping in but were quickly held back and whispered a warning, “That’s Melvin’s woman. Don’t mess around”
Hearing this, they promptly sat down.
Jocelyn was unfazed by Melvin’s attitude, and walked up to him. “Preston sent someone to the hospital with his fiste Don’t you think you should, as a quandian, go check it out?”
gave her a cold look. How much money do they want?”
Jocely was frustrated. As a teacher, she couldn’t stand parents who acted like they owned
“it’s not about the money right now; it’s about after Preston sending someone to the hospital, shouldn’t you, as a
quardian, go and see the student, maybe apologize to the parents?” Jocelyn tried to keep her cool, not wanting to be seen as a teacher lacking patience.
Melvin tilted his head towards a flashy-dressed guy, ‘Zephyr, get them out.”
Then the onlookers were shooed away, and the music shut off.
Melvin took a lazy drag, leaned back into the sofa, and looked at her sideways, “If it’s something that could’ve been said over the phone, why come find me?”
“What?”
If it wasn’t for the noise on his end, if she could’ve been heard clearly, would she have come?
Jocelyn had never seen such a brazen attitude from him. She could barely hold back her anger, “You’re Preston’s guardian. He’s been fighting at school and sending someone to the hospital. Shouldn’t you go check it out?”
“It’s not something that has to be done right now. You came running over in such a hurry; are you sure it wasn’t just to see me? Melvin flicked off his ash elegantly.
Jocelyn felt like she was talking to a brick wall; coming to him was a mistake, a waste of time.
Just as she stepped out, Melvin followed her with his jacket, glanced at Preston with a bruised face, “Sending someone to the hospital isn’t something to be proud of. If you’re really skilled, you wouldn’t have people coming after you.”
Jocelyn heard it loud and clear as she walked ahead. She never imagined he’d say something like that.
Back when they were together, these issues had never come up, because they never got to the point of discussing something as serious as educating a child.
But now she knew, his way of ‘teaching’ was frightening.
Preston followed Melvin like a puppy trailing a big dog, and Jocelyn was like the dog owner on a walk.
Where are you going? Melvin asked Jocelyn, who was still heading forward as he reached his car.
Jocelyn simply replied, “I’m hailing a cab.”
“Don’t see my car?”
Jocelyn glanced over, continued walking, and gestured for a taxi…
Melvin couldn’t help but laugh.
Preston looked on with a knowing look, told Melvin, “Better sweet-talk her, or she’ll make life tough for me.
Melvin shot him a look, then approached Jocelyn, grabbing her hand and tugging “Let go!”
Jocelyn tried to shake free, but he held on tight.
Melvin’s eyes were determined, “Come with me.
“Mr. Martinez, if you keep this up, I’m going to call the cops.
“Heh, calling the cops over a little tug? Why didn’t you call them when I had you pinned down on the bed?” Melvin’s insinuation was far from innocent.
Jocelyn took a deep breath, her heart ached.
She wasn’t usually at a loss for words, but in front of him, she felt mute.
Without letting go, Melvin pulled her to the car.
Jocelyn glared at him, refusing to get in
Melvin slightly raised an eyebrow, leaning close to whisper in her ear, “Jocelyn, you don’t want to get kissed in front of your student, do you?”
Jocelyn’s face blazed hotly, glaring at him fiercely
Chapter S
Out of the comer of her eye, she saw Preston sitting in the car like he was watching a soap opera, and she resented Melvin’s tactless blabbering even more.
Fearing he might do something drastic, Jocelyn reluctantly got into the passenger seat.
‘Seat belt” Melvin said coolly, his assertive tone clear
Under his watch, Jocelyn fastened her seat belt reluctantly
Melvin slammed the car door, and then they were on their way
On the road, Melvin asked Preston why he fought.
Preston touched his split lip with a defiant smirk, “Because I’m handsome”
Jocelyn frowned.
Melvin, driving with one hand, lit a cigarette with the other, “Don’t trouble Jocelyn.”
Jocelyn pursed her lips, her pretty face not exactly touched by the sentiment.
“You’ve always told me not to start trouble, but to stand my ground if someone provokes me. If someone slaps me, I need to hit back harder. Preston’s rebellious streak was giving Jocelyn a headache.
Melvin glanced in the rear-view mirror, “I also told you, don’t throw hands if you can’t handle the heat, and if you do. clean up your mess. Don’t make others wipe your ass.”
Preston deflated on the spot.
“Is this how you teach a child? Jocelyn was incredulous
Melvin shot her a look. You got a problem with that?”
Jocelyn was now truly realizing that the three years she’d spent with him were a waste, except for his bedroom skills, she didn’t know the guy at all
At the hospital, the injured student’s parents naturally wanted some answers.
Jocelyn stepped in to mediate, asking how it all started.
The injured student, with a face like he’d gone ten rounds, told his story with shifty eyes.
Preston, on the other hand, was cocky as ever.
“You’re sent to school to learn, not to get into petty jealousies,” the other parent pinched his son’s arm, “You’re a disgrace. Let’s go home!”
Melvin, hands in his pockets, eyed Preston, “Not bad, already got girls falling for you on your first day”
“That’s right The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I can’t let you down, Preston was slightly smug.
Melvin reached out and knocked on Preston’s head, Tone it down.”
Preston rubbed his head and glanced at Jocelyn.
Jocelyn said stemly, “Write a reflection paper and hand it to me at school on Monday.”
With that, she walked away first.
Presion nudged Melvin, “Uncle, whether I can keep my nose clean at school is up to you now.”
“What’s that got to do with me?” Melvin stared at the disappearing figure at the hospital entrance.
“If you’re not good to her, she’ll take it out on me,” Preston patted Melvin’s shoulder, “For my sake, do me a solid and treat her right. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
Melvin’s brows furrowed.
“Go after her, man, Preston pushed him, “I’ll cab it home. You don’t have to come back tonight, good luck.”
Preston ran off just as Melvin raised his hand to him, looking back to cheer him on “You got this”
Melvin wanted to strangle the little brat.
What’s there to ‘got this’ about?
She was just an ex he didn’t want anymore.
Jocelyn got home and cooked up some instant noodles.
Just as she sat down, the doorbell rang.
Through the peephole, she saw Melvin’s arrogant face staring back.
Jocelyn took a deep breath and decided not to open the door.
But her phone rang, it was him. She hung up, and he called again.
“What do you want? Jocelyn answered, not sounding too pleased..
Melvin’s deep voice came through, scratchy and oddly compelling, Open the door.”