9
824words
The next time I saw him was late at night three days later. I was sleeping hazily when I felt someone enter my hospital room.
A cold touch brushed against my fingertip.
My heart jumped, and I hurriedly sat up and turned on the light.
I saw Leo, looking travel-worn, sitting by my hospital bed, trying to slide a diamond ring onto my ring finger.
I frowned and clenched my hand into a fist.
Seeing my resistant gesture, his expression clearly stalled for a moment, but Leo quickly smiled and explained to me, "Sylvia, I went back to New York these past few days."
"That wedding venue... it's already been dismantled. But I kept searching for days and finally found a ring in a crack in the floor." He held up the ring he was about to put on my finger. "This women's ring is yours."
Then he pulled out a ring box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was a matching men's ring.
"I really couldn't find the other one, so I had the jewelry store custom-make a new men's ring." He looked up at me. "I almost turned that entire piece of land upside down and still couldn't find it. Please don't blame me."
Hearing this, I looked at his hands.
Sure enough, not a single one of his ten fingers was unharmed. Each one was more or less injured, and even the back of his right hand had a long, deep cut.
I frowned. "Leo, why go to such lengths?"
He just smiled. "What? Do you feel sorry for me?"
"I'm fine. As long as you can forgive me, even losing both hands would be worth it."
"Sylvia, you know I can't live without you."
He never used to say things like this before, but now it was all he talked about, as if breaking up with me meant he truly couldn't go on living.
Thinking of this, I gave him an annoyed look and said coldly, "Live if you can, die if you must."
"Take your stupid ring away. I don't want to see it."
Leo's smile froze on his face, but he still had the nerve to joke, "If I die, wouldn't you be a widow?"
"Why can't we both live and be together properly?"
I snorted. "Even if you don't die, I won't be with you."
"And about being a widow, don't worry. I'll definitely find a healthy husband in the future..."
"Sylvia!!!"
Leo roared, shooting to his feet. "You still want to marry someone else?"
I nodded understandingly. "Why not? Did you think I wouldn't date or get married after we broke up?"
"Leo, in the past, if I broke up with you, I would have been utterly devastated."
"But now I've figured it out. You're not that special."
Hearing this, the hand at his side clenched with a audible "crack," and a cold glint flashed in his eyes, as if he wanted to kill someone.
But I completely ignored him, gave him a look, turned over, and went back to sleep.
Two months later.
"Ms. Silva, according to the latest test results, your cancer cells have improved. If you continue with treatment, you'll likely make a full recovery."
"Remember to take your medication on time after discharge. I'd rather not see you again."
When I heard this news from the doctor, I thought of Lina.
I thought if she knew I hadn't failed her expectations, had taken treatment seriously, and had firmly discarded this rotten relationship, she would be happy for me, right?
After returning to my room, I quietly started packing my things, preparing for discharge.
However, I had no intention of telling Leo.
We had too many memories between us, but besides love, there was also friendship and redemption.
So, we wouldn't end up in a nasty fight. Perhaps the best outcome was never seeing each other again?
Just as I was thinking this, he came back from outside.
Lately, to win me back, Leo had done everything he never would have done in his lifetime, but my attitude remained firm.
"Sylvia, you mentioned before that you wanted to eat at that noodle place in the south of the city, the one we often went to."
"I had my assistant buy some and deliver them through helicopter from New York. Try it and see if it still tastes the same."
Leo eagerly placed the bowl of noodle in front of me.
He looked nervous, probably expecting me to refuse.
But this time, I took a bite in front of him.
The dullness in Leo's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a bright sparkle. He smiled knowingly and said happily, "If you like it, I'll have my assistant deliver freshly made ones every day until you're discharged and we can go back to New York to eat."
I didn't say anything, silently finishing the bowl of noodle.
