Chapter 7

I had a dream that night. "Selena will marry Hudson, and they'll be together forever and ever." "I, Selena Norman, swear that I'll only love Hudson for the rest of my life." "Hud, being with you is the greatest blessing of my life." Dreams were strange things—they could bring joy or pain, and sometimes, they cruelly reminded you of everything you had lost. I could not quite explain this feeling, but that was exactly where I found myself at that moment. When I woke up, I stared at the empty ceiling, feeling lost and confused. The memories of our happy moments still echoed in my mind, but Selena had destroyed it all with her own hands. A wave of sadness washed over me, and tears rolled down my face. Why did Selena have to be the one who pursued me first? She promised to love me forever and swore she would only love me. Yet, she was the one who broke her words. "Selena, I hate you," I thought to myself. "But I hate myself more for still thinking about you." Unable to contain my emotions any longer, I buried my face in my knees. Maybe crying would help ease the pain. After all, my world would not stop turning just because one person left. Surely, I could still find a way to be okay on my own. As I wallowed in my emotions, a woman's voice suddenly broke through."Hudson, you're finally awake." Her words felt like a bucket of cold water, instantly washing away my misery and replacing it with embarrassment at being caught in such a state. I quickly wiped my tears, trying to regain my composure. Looking up, I saw a young woman with wavy hair and stunning features, wearing no makeup. She appeared gentle and kind. Seeing my tears, she looked surprised, her shock evident on her face. She asked, "Hudson, why are you crying?" I could not come up with an answer that would not make me sound even more pathetic, so I chose to remain silent. How could I tell her I was crying over my divorce and the woman who betrayed me? How could I admit that I was the one who ended the marriage? Perhaps realizing something, her face showed a hint of awkwardness before she, too, fell silent. With both of us quiet, the room's atmosphere grew uncomfortably tense. I glanced around and noticed I was in an unfamiliar place, covered by a thin blanket and reeking faintly of alcohol. "How did I end up here? Where am I?" I asked, confused. My head was pounding, and I could not remember anything from the night before. The woman watched me with concern as I winced in pain. She handed me a glass of water and gently explained what had happened. "You were pretty drunk last night and passed out at the bar counter. I was worried about leaving you there, but I didn't know where you lived. So I brought you back to my place." She caught the confusion in my eyes and immediately blushed. Her sears turned visibly red as she hurriedly added, "Hudson, don't worry—nothing happened between us. You just slept, that's all. "I know you're single now after divorcing Selena, and while I'd like to pursue you, I'm still a person with morals, I promise." I understood what she meant and believed her when she said nothing had happened. It was a relief that even in my drunken state, things had not gotten complicated. After that, we talked a bit. I learned that she was Sylvia Zanderson, a former classmate who had been in the same major as me. Unfortunately, I was quite introverted back then, only really knowing my roommates and project teammates. I was not close to many people, so I barely knew who was in our class after those four years. Hence, hearing Sylvia claim she was my former classmate left me a little stunned, maybe even a bit doubtful if she was telling the truth about us being college classmates. Sylvia could tell I was skeptical, and she seemed disappointed. "You really don't remember me at all, do you? I guess that's fair. I was pretty ordinary in college and barely spoke to you, so it's natural you wouldn't remember me," she said with a sad smile. "I'll let it slide this time, but Hudson, you better not forget me again." I did not know what to make of her, but I found her interesting in a way. Glancing at my phone to check the time, I frowned, feeling an odd sense of loss. Was I mourning my past marriage? My current mess of a life? Or was it the unknown future that felt so unsettling? Sylvia looked at me nervously and confessed, "Hudson, I like you. I've liked you for a long time." Her confession caught me off guard. In all these years, Selena had been the only one to confess to me, and now, right after deciding to leave her, someone else was expressing their feelings. Was the universe trying to make up for all the hurt it put me through? I gazed at Sylvia and sighed. "To be honest, Sylvia, I don't know you well. I mean, sure, we went to college together, but what is it you actually like about me?" She clearly had not expected this response and stared at me for a while before pouting slightly. "There's no specific reason. I just wanted to tell you how I feel," she replied, seeming annoyed. I could not quite understand her reaction, but I knew I did not dislike her. However, I did not have feelings for her either, and I definitely could not agree to anything with someone I barely knew. As I thanked her for her help and prepared to leave, she insisted on exchanging contact information. Out of guilt and gratitude for her help, I agreed to add her on social media. When we officially became friends online, Sylvia smiled and waved her phone at me. She said, "Hudson, about your question earlier—when the time is right, I'll give you the real answer."