ck and White


    My response threw Lauren off guard. She couldn’t quite grasp what I was getting at.


    “What do you mean?” She tilted her head to look at me. Perhaps my despondent expression had


    slowed


    her train of thought.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    “If we had met the right person at the right time, we wouldn’t face theseplications. You, me, and


    Ivanna. Why didn’t we meet the right person at the right time?”


    Lauren suddenly understood what I meant. She shrugged, looking resigned.


    “If I had realized that Ryan had been with me from the start, we could have fallen in love, married, and


    had children. We would’ve led a simple and fulfilling life.” My expression softened.


    *Just like you met Oliver at the right time, how fortunate! If Ivanna had met Jared at the right time, she


    wouldn’t, have to be so anxious, would she?‘ I leaned against the wall.


    “How do you know this isn’t the right time?” Lauren countered. For most people, there are two types of


    romantic situations. Love at first sight and growing affection. We’re not ordinary people, so we can’t


    escape from these two scenarios.”


    She leaned closer to me. “Neither of us can escape this. Ultimately, no matter our feelings, they can all


    be


    boiled down to these two. I belong to thetter, growing affection.”


    Lauren spoke with weariness, “You and Ivanna… are most likely in the category of love at first sight. It’s


    an


    active experience while growing affection is a passive one. But familial love is what remains.”


    I told her, “Jared had said, “Ivanna and I are fated! Trinity and I are partners, inseparable!”


    Lauren’s mouth twitched.


    “That moved me. It’s no wonder Ivanna will go through hell for him.” I let out a sigh.


    We both fell into silence. Perhaps we were both contemting what our respective people thought of


    us.


    Lauren patted me on the back. “Regardless of who we are, people need sustenance. Let’s focus on


    feeding ourselves, or else we’ll be worse off!”


    I smiled. “You’re right! Maybe this world isn’t just ck and white. Perhaps we’re overthinking about


    Jared or Trinity. We’re making it tooplicated.”


    Lauren nodded.


    added. “There must be a way, Just like how we can’t simply judge a person as good or bad. Who’s to


    say


    “You’re right. It’s impossible to define someone solely as good or bad.”


    She reached for her phone and called Ivanna, asking her to join us at Vanderberg Pce.


    It was alreadyte when I got home that night. As I opened the door, I could not help but look back at


    the


    empty parking spot.


    Throughout the night, I kept asking myself–what was I to him?


    The next day, I made preparations to head to the capital. During breakfast, I exined my ns to my


    parents.


    My mom looked at me with some concern. “You just recovered. Are you sure you’re up for this?”


    Ava sat there swinging her legs, taking small bites of her food as she spoke. “Mommy, why are you


    always


    going on business trips? Daddy and Uncle As are always on business trips, too.”


    Sheb


    I felt a pang in my heart. She had always held onto As, and I was sure she also missed Matthew.


    It made me sad that I couldn’t fill that void for her. I could only do my best topensate for the


    fatherly


    role, but I knew it would never be enough.


    “Once this busy period is over, I’ll take you, Grandma, and Grandpa to the ends of the earth!” I


    promised.


    I


    Our ind trip had been postponed for far too long.


    “Really?” Ava looked at me with wide–eyed innocence. “Will Unclee with us?”