Chapter_128
As Olivia watched Claude’s car drive away, she realized she was running late for class. In a rush, she hurried toward the lecture hall building, mentally calculating how much time she had left before the lecture started.
As she walked, she overheard snippets of a conversation from two students passing by.
“I heard Harris Group donated for the lab building,” one said. “They’re extending the north wing and putting in a bridge at the gates.”
“A bridge?” the other asked.
“Yeah, with the traffic outside, it’s always a mess. All those bikes and electric scooters zipping around,” the first student responded, shaking their head.
The mention of the traffic made Olivia pause. She recalled the close call she’d had with an electric scooter earlier, when she’d nearly been run over. The thought made her uneasy, but she shook it off, not wanting to linger on the memory.
Her class was uneventful, but as it ended and the rain began to pour down, Olivia hesitated at the gates, unsure if she should wait out the storm or brave it. The downpour made it difficult to think clearly about the best course of action.
Just then, her phone rang, breaking her thoughts. It was Naomi.
“Hello?” Olivia answered, still distracted by the rain.
“You haven’t visited me since our last chat,” Naomi’s voice came through the phone, tinged with sadness.
Olivia’s heart softened at the tone in Naomi’s voice. She had been busy with her own thoughts and obligations, but hearing Naomi’s words made her feel guilty. She wasn’t doing enough for Naomi, especially when the older woman seemed so isolated and sick.
Naomi continued, “Can you come and spend time with me tonight?”
Olivia thought for a moment. Her classes had ended early, and she hadn’t made plans. Naomi was always on her mind, but she often found herself overwhelmed with everything else going on. But tonight, she couldn’t say no.
“Okay,” Olivia agreed, biting her lip as she looked at the pouring rain. “I’ll come over.”
She hung up, her mind already shifting back to Naomi. She had to make sure she was there for her, even if it meant taking a detour from her routine.
As she stood at the gates, contemplating her next move, she heard the familiar sound of a car approaching. She looked up in surprise as Claude’s car pulled up beside her. The window rolled down, and his voice called out, “Olivia?”
Startled, Olivia looked at him in surprise. “Claude? Twice in one day? What are the chances?”
Claude smiled, noting the rain. “Trying to stay dry?”
Olivia glanced around, realizing she hadn’t thought to bring an umbrella with her. She didn’t always anticipate the weather, and now she was caught in the middle of a downpour with no way to avoid it.
Claude, ever the gentleman, grinned. “Hop in, I’ll give you a lift.”
Olivia was taken aback. “You’re offering me a ride?”
Claude chuckled at her surprise. “Why does that seem so unusual? What’s wrong with helping you out?”
She hesitated for a moment, her mind jumping to Naomi. “I was actually heading to the hospital to see my sister,” she explained.
“Naomi?” Claude asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
Olivia nodded. “Yeah, she’s not doing well lately.”
After a brief pause, Claude offered, “Get in. I haven’t seen her in a while, so I’ll come along.”
“You want to see my sister?” Olivia asked, surprised. She hadn’t expected him to take such an interest in Naomi, but it seemed genuine.
Claude opened the door and gestured for her to get in. “Yeah, I haven’t been by in a while. Come on, let’s go.”
Olivia felt no reason to refuse. Since Claude was already familiar with Naomi, it didn’t feel out of place for him to accompany her. She nodded and thanked him as she climbed into the car.
“Don’t mention it. Buckle up,” Claude said as she fastened her seatbelt.
The drive was quiet, the rain making the roads slick and causing a traffic jam that stretched the journey longer than it needed to be. Claude, sensing Olivia’s tension, tried to lighten the mood.
“How’s your sister doing?” he asked, glancing at her.
Olivia looked down at her hands in her lap, thoughts swirling as she processed his question. “Not doing great,” she finally replied, her voice quiet.
Claude gave a sympathetic smile. “She’ll get better. She has the best medical team, after all.”
Olivia closed her eyes, nodding, though she wasn’t so sure herself. She had been struggling with the uncertainty of Naomi’s condition, unable to ignore the feeling that things weren’t improving.
Seeing her in such a somber mood, Claude remarked softly, “You two seem close.”
Olivia’s thoughts briefly shifted back to the time they had spent together, how Naomi had always been there for her. “We are,” she answered, her voice quieter than usual. “She’s like a second mother to me.”
The silence between them deepened as they continued their ride through the rain. Olivia could feel the weight of her own worries pressing down on her, but she was grateful for Claude’s company, even if it was only for the ride.