Chapter 47: Stories for Strangers
JULIA
I blinked, snapping out of whatever daze I’d been in. The man was still staring at me, waiting for an explanation.
I shook my head and turned to his car. I didn’t know much about brands and all that stuff, but this seemed like a pretty nice car.
I cleared my throat and faced him once more.
“I’m wet,” I blurted out.
The guy raised an eyebrow, his confusion deepening. “Huh?”
I hurriedly gestured to myself, my soaked dress clinging to me uncomfortably. “I mean, I’m wet–like, literally. As you can see.”
His confusion changed to mild amusement for a second.
“Is that okay?” I added quickly, desperate to fill the silence.
Then, his confusion returned just as it left. He tilted his head to the side. “Why would that matter?” he asked.
My lips parted in surprise. “Oh, you’re so nice,” I said, rubbing my hands on my arms.
Without waiting for another response, I opened the car door and slid into the back seat. The warmth of the vehicle. enveloped me, and I couldn’t help but sigh in relief. The man hesitated for a moment before getting back into the driver’s seat.
I leaned back against the headrest, feeling a bit guilty for the water that had dripped over the interior.
“Umm, I think you have it wrong-”
“Thank you,” I said softly as I buckled my seatbelt. “I really don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been here. I would have died of hypothermia, probably,” I chuckled.
The man opened his mouth to say something but then stopped himself, shaking his head instead.
His silence made me glance over at him through the rearview mirror. I pursed my lips. He really was handsome. His features were the complete opposite of Evan’s. Blonde, brown eyes, and a softer jawline.
However, after pondering upon his looks, I had the urge to burst into tears once more, the memory washing over. me. I couldn’t cry in front of a stranger!
With that, I turned my attention to
the car in
It was spotless, sleek, and smelled faintly of citrus.
The dashboard glowed with soft blue light, and the seats felt more luxurious than any taxi I’d ever been in. It was almost too fancy, making me wonder if taxis had changed this much since the last time I used one.
He turned up the heater, and the warmth seeped into my skin. I closed my eyes briefly, feeling very grateful. This felt like a five–star experience!
“Thank you for turning the heat on,” I murmured, though wasn’t sure if he even heard me.
There was silence for a few moments before he asked an unexpected question.
“You want to cry?”
My eyes snapped open.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 47. Stories for Strangers
I turned to him, startled by the bluntness of his question. It wasn’t rude–just straightforward like he genuinely wanted to know.
Something inside me cracked. I tried to hold it together, but his words triggered a flood I couldn’t stop. Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them, and I sobbed quietly, unable to meet his gaze.
“Sorry,” I croaked, wiping at my face with trembling fingers. “I–I don’t usually do this.”
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t even look at me; he just kept his eyes on the road, giving me the space I didn’t realize I needed.
And somehow, that made me want to talk.
“It’s just…it’s exhausting,” I began, my voice shaky. “Feeling like you’re always being left behind. Or being left in the dark. People judge you for what they think you are! They don’t even know me that well.”
“And then, just when you think you’ve felt like you found a person who genuinely understood you, you’re on your own again.”
I swallowed hard, struggling to keep my voice steady. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this,” I said with a weak laugh. “But…I guess strangers are easier to talk to.
Still, he didn’t interrupt. He just drove in silence, letting me spill the pieces of my fractured thoughts.
“I’m so tired,” I admitted finally, my voice softening and my eyes feeling heavy. “Tired of not being heard. Tired of feeling like I don’t matter. And tonight… tonight just made it worse.”
“I don’t know anymore. I feel like I’ve disappointed so many people in my life…and the worst part, I’ve disappointed myself the most.”
Silence reigned in the car.
I wiped my eyes again, trying to compose myself.
Before he could respond–or worse, pity me—I cleared my throat and pointed to the comer up ahead. “You can stop here,” I said quickly.
He glanced at me but didn’t argue. With a sigh, he pulled over and brought the car to a smooth stop.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for my bag. Pulling out some cash, I handed it to him. “Thanks for listening to me,” I said, flashing him a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Have a nice night.”
He hesitated, his gaze lingering on me for a moment, but he didn’t say anything. I opened the door and stepped out into the cold, taking a deep breath as I entered our crappy apartment.
I didn’t realize how warm I felt inside the car until I was met with the cold air once more. I walked up the stairs since the complex’s elevator was always broken.
I stopped in front of our room, taking my keys as quietly as possible, I was about to open the door when I had a notification on my phone.
It was from the taxi app. I frowned when I read the cancellation notice.
“Apologies. The driver can’t make it to the host’s current location,” I muttered, reading it out loud. “Reason: too far from the city.”
My frown deepened, glancing at the street, where the fancy car stopped. It wasn’t there anymore.
“Huh,” I whispered, feeling confused.
