My gaze carried weight.
He swayed slightly, then shook his head with a flicker of guilt.
“We've done nothing wrong. Even if someone did report us, the HR Bureau would review and handle it. No need to worry……unless you actually have something to hide.”
His eyes locked onto mine as he said that last part, searching for my answer.
I smiled easily.
“I'm perfectly fine.”
“Then there's nothing to worry about.”
“But what about you?”
He froze. It took him a long moment to recover.
“I'm definitely fine.”
I gave a small nod.
That was exactly the kind of arrogant answer I wanted to hear.
When reality hit, it would sting so much more.
For a full day and night, I stayed at Cedric's bedside. I couldn't go anywhere.
One minute he needed water. The next he had to use the bathroom. Then his head hurt. Then he felt nauseous.
Every time I said I needed to go back and take care of something, he found an excuse to stop me.
“Just wait till I'm discharged, and we'll go back together.”
“You're that eager to leave? You don't care about me?”
“Do you not love me anymore?”
Every time he said things like that, his eyes were full of calculation.
I just watched him quietly. Didn't argue. Didn't insist.
By the next afternoon, the verification deadline had finally passed.
The tension drained out of Cedric all at once.
“I'm feeling a lot better. Let's check out.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“Sure.”
As we walked out through the hospital doors, he suddenly asked me something.
“Norie, if you didn't pass the civil-service exam, what would you do?”
His gaze drifted, carrying a careful, uneasy edge.
I looked at him, my expression calm.
“What about you?”
He blinked.
“I've never considered failing. I won't allow it.”
“Same.”
My answer was short. And final.
His smile stiffened for a fraction of a second.
“But what if?”
He asked again, quieter this time.
“There is no what if.”
I turned and got in the car without another word.
He stood outside, motionless for a beat.
After a long pause, he finally climbed in.
Neither of us spoke for the rest of the drive.
A week later, the day the hiring results came out finally arrived.
Judy Galloway showed up at our place.
She was carrying a big cake, all smiles.
“Congratulations to whoever made it! But whoever didn't, no hard feelings, okay?”
Her smile was loaded.
“No matter who it is.”
When she said those last four words, she was looking straight at me.
Cedric laughed along with her.
“Of course. We're all good friends here. Whoever gets in, we're happy for them.”
“Right, Norie?”
He waited for my answer.
I gave a faint nod, my face completely blank.
“Of course.”
The moment arrived, and all three phones chimed with email notifications at once.
“It's here!”
All three of us held our breath.
We opened the emails together.
