Chapter_59
On their way home, Tyler’s phone rang, interrupting the quiet atmosphere in the car. The moment Olivia heard Naomi’s voice through the speaker, she felt a strange, involuntary shift in her body. Without thinking, she immediately pulled her hand away from Tyler’s, as if Naomi’s presence on the phone had triggered some deep discomfort within her.
Tyler, still holding the phone to his ear, didn’t look at her but felt the subtle change in the air. He knew her well enough to recognize the tension in her withdrawal, though he chose not to acknowledge it. Instead, he kept his gaze downward, his fingers still resting lightly on the armrest. Olivia, now pulling back into herself, stared out the window, unable to ignore the growing unease in her chest.
Naomi’s voice sounded bright and carefree as she spoke on the phone, the contrast to the silence between them stark. “Tyler, it’s my birthday tomorrow,” she chirped. “I was hoping to come home and celebrate. Being in the hospital is so boring, and I really don’t want to spend another birthday here.”
Olivia’s chest tightened at the mention of Naomi’s birthday. She hadn’t realized the significance of the date. As Tyler spoke calmly, she tried to shrink into the background of the car, feeling as though she were intruding on something private. Her fingers curled into her lap, trying to make herself smaller, more invisible.
Tyler, however, didn’t seem to sense her discomfort. He replied to Naomi with a tone of concern, his voice low, “Your health might not handle it. There are a lot of bacteria outside, after all.”
But Naomi wasn’t easily deterred. Her voice became more coaxing, almost pleading. “Just this one time, Tyler. It’s my birthday wish. I can’t stand being stuck in here any longer.”
Tyler was silent for a moment, considering her words. Olivia could feel the tension in the car, her heart racing as she silently watched the road ahead. Naomi’s persistence seemed to wear him down, and he finally agreed, his words quiet but resigned. “Alright, I’ll make the arrangements.”
Naomi’s excitement was palpable even over the phone. “Thank you, Tyler! You’re the best,” she said, her voice filled with a sweetness that contrasted sharply with Olivia’s growing unease.
As the conversation ended and the call was hung up, Tyler glanced over at Olivia, who was sitting quietly beside him. The moment between them felt oddly charged, and Olivia couldn’t shake the feeling of being left out. The soft hum of the car filled the silence between them, neither of them speaking for a long while.
Finally, Olivia broke the stillness, her voice barely above a whisper. “I—Is it Naomi’s birthday tomorrow?”
Tyler’s gaze softened as he nodded, responding quietly, “Yes.”
“I can’t believe I forgot,” Olivia murmured to herself. In truth, it wasn’t so much that she had forgotten—it was just that Naomi’s birthday had simply slipped through the cracks of her mind. With everything going on, it felt as though the distance between herself and Naomi had grown in ways she hadn’t fully acknowledged.
“I’ll get her a gift,” Olivia added, her voice distant as she stared out the window, her thoughts swirling.
The brief moment they had shared, holding hands in the car, now seemed like an illusion—a fleeting warmth she couldn’t quite grasp anymore.
Tyler didn’t respond, the silence between them stretching out as he focused on the road. It was as if the air had shifted, and the comfortable connection they’d had just moments ago now felt fragile and strained.
The next morning, Olivia went to the mall to pick out a gift for Naomi. She wasn’t entirely sure what to buy, feeling out of place in the upscale stores. After some browsing, she settled on a delicate bracelet—something elegant but simple enough to not draw too much attention. It wasn’t perfect, but it seemed like the safest option.
As soon as she left the store, her phone buzzed. It was Naomi.
“Olivia, can you come over? I’m trying to decide what to wear for my birthday dinner, but I’m having a hard time picking. Can you help me?”
Olivia felt a knot in her stomach as she made her way to Naomi’s room. When she entered, she found Naomi sitting at her vanity, carefully studying herself in the mirror. Two gowns, one red and one white, lay draped across the chair. Both were beautiful, but it was clear that Naomi’s frail appearance couldn’t be fully hidden beneath the luxurious fabric.
Naomi looked up at her, her face soft with expectation. “What do you think, Olivia? Red or white?”
Olivia studied the dresses for a moment, weighing her options. “I think you’d look stunning in red,” she said, offering the only compliment she could muster.
Naomi tilted her head, considering Olivia’s words. “Red, huh? But it might be a little too bright for tonight…”
Olivia quickly reassured her, “No, Naomi. You’ll look amazing in red. It suits you.”
Naomi’s lips curled into a smile, though there was a slight weariness in her eyes. “Red it is then.”
Olivia nodded, and as she moved toward the designer to retrieve the gown Naomi had chosen, she caught a glimpse of something in the mirror. Naomi, who had been smiling just moments ago, had stopped. Her eyes narrowed slightly, focusing on something Olivia hadn’t noticed until then.
A small, faint bruise on Olivia’s neck—a love bite—caught Naomi’s attention. The smile on Naomi’s face froze, her expression turning unreadable as she stared at it.