Chapter 21 The College Senior

A surprise awaited Sabrina as an unfamiliar car pulled up. The window slid down to reveal her college senior, Finnick Odeon. "Finnick! What are you doing here?" she asked, taken aback. Unlocking the door, Finnick invited her in. "Get in. Let’s find a place to catch up. It's been years since we last met." After a moment's thought, Sabrina obliged, and they decided to have dinner together. She texted Daniel about her plans and felt it wise to also inform Curtis. Daniel's warm reply came through, but Curtis remained silent. The two settled into a quiet and elegant restaurant. Finnick gazed at Sabrina across the table as he wore a smile that seemed to hold a depth of memories. "It's been a long time, huh? After you graduated, you moved away to chase after your dreams. I never expected to run into you here," he remarked. Sabrina felt a sense of fate in their reunion, having not attended university in this city. Only after graduation did she come to this city to build her career, find a home, and, along the way, navigate through a series of recent and unfortunate events. "How about you? Why are you here?" she inquired. "I remember hearing you headed to grad school after college, and several law firms were interested in hiring you. What brought you here?" This city was indeed a nice place, but compared to other places, it fell slightly short. Finnick chuckled without diving into details. "Let's not focus on me. I've had my ups and downs. You, on the other hand, were always studious. I imagine life has been kind to you?” Without missing a beat, he added, “And your boyfriend? I've seen cozy snapshots of you two together on social media. You guys have been together for years, right? Any wedding bells soon?" Ah, those photos on social media. Had Finnick not brought up the topic, Sabrina might have entirely forgotten she had posted numerous photos with Aaron. 'I need to delete those when I get home,' she thought. "We've broken up," Sabrina replied calmly. Finnick paused, staring at her in surprise. "Don't look at me like that," she continued. "He cheated on me, and we've parted ways. Had you not mentioned the photos, I'd have forgotten about them. I'll delete them later. No need to keep such bothersome memories." Finnick’s smile became warmer, almost relieved. "You're right. You shouldn't keep those photos. Leaving a scumbag behind means a chance to meet a better one. You've always had good fortune, and I believe things will only get better for you." Hearing these words, a spontaneous smile graced Sabrina's face. "Thank you, I believe my life can get better too," Sabrina replied. After a brief pause, Finnick's laughter filled the air. The years had merely been a hiatus as Sabrina's charming blend of modesty and audacity remained unchanged. Their chatter, reminiscent of college banter, was especially evident when they discussed Aaron. After their meal, they exchanged contact details, and Sabrina hitched a ride home with Finnick. Saying her goodbyes at the building's entrance, Sabrina turned to find Curtis unexpectedly camouflaged in a dimly lit stairway area. Surprised, she wondered how long he had been standing there. His car was parked nearby, signaling his recent return from work. Caught off-guard, Sabrina ventured, "Finished work?" She could not fathom why she was feeling a little guilty. She had done nothing wrong after all. It was Curtis's fault for loitering in this creepy spot. Curtis had seen her jovial conversation with another man inside a car, and despite their relationship being a purely professional one, he still seemed agitated. His mood was far from pleasant when he saw Sabrina getting out of a stranger's car. After all, they were legally married now, but Sabrina always seemed to keep a barrier between them, unlike with others. "Yes, I just got off work. Was that your friend?" he inquired. Without any pretense, Sabrina answered, "Yes, he's a senior from my college days. We bumped into each other today and decided to grab dinner." Drawing nearer to Curtis, she suggested, "Let’s go home." When they entered the apartment, Daniel was lounging on the sofa, watching TV. He looked up to greet them and immediately sensed the strange vibes and tension, especially from Curtis, who seemed to be suppressing his emotions. "How was your meetup with your friend? Did you have fun?" Daniel genuinely cared for Sabrina, making her feel deeply appreciated. "It was nice. It's been years since we last met. He helped me a lot during my college days, and I'm truly grateful for that," she replied. "It's good to express gratitude. He has done a lot for you. Maybe you can invite him over sometime," Daniel suggested. Sabrina and Daniel were engrossed in their conversation, seemingly unaware of Curtis. Suddenly, the sound of a door shutting drew their attention, and they noticed Curtis had left the apartment without a goodbye. Daniel rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. "He's becoming more impolite as he grows up. Leaves without even a goodbye. Don't let him bother you. Hungry, Sabrina? I can make something." Appreciating the gesture, Sabrina responded, "I'm good, Grandpa. I had a pretty big dinner. It's getting late. You should get some rest." Daniel had hoped for a longer evening chat, but Curtis’ abrupt departure cut their night short. Curtis did not return that night, and alarmingly, they did not hear from him for the entire week.