Chapter 5
She hesitated about whether to accept or turn down the gift.
Amelia had never gotten a gift from Henry before, mainly because their relationship was, well, awkward.
Sure, they were kind of childhood friends, but she used to bully him, and that was hard to forget.
Plus, Amelia never invited Henry to her birthday parties because Alexander was always there.
If those two met, who knew what kind of drama would go down.
This time, Amelia didn't plan on inviting him either, but now he brought it up out of nowhere. Could she just ignore him? But inviting Henry to her birthday was a no-go; Alexander would totally lose it.
She racked her brain for a win-win solution. "So, what do you want for your birthday? I'll get you something then!"
Henry got the hint that he wasn't going to her party, and he sounded pretty indifferent. "Don't worry about it, my birthday already passed."
He thought back to the past and went quiet for a bit. "Besides, I'm not really into celebrating birthdays."
They walked downstairs, one behind the other, and it was already sunny outside.
Henry suddenly said, "There are still some puddles on the road. Need a ride back?"
Amelia was surprised by his kindness; she had already troubled him enough last night. Plus, after crashing at his place, Henry had bought her hot coffee and a birthday gift. She couldn't ask for more.
She quickly waved her hand. "No need, I'll just grab a cab."
Henry didn't push it, since they weren't that close yet.
Last night's run-in was a total fluke, and even though things were a bit better between them today, they were still pretty much strangers.
Henry said, "Alright, be careful on your way back, and shoot me a message when you get to your dorm."
Amelia nodded, and as soon as she stepped out of the hotel, the cold wind hit her face.
The wind on this sunny day felt like a knife cutting into her skin, but her coat kept her warm enough. She didn't feel too cold, and as she checked her phone for the cab's location, she was thinking about her conversation with Henry today. She suddenly recalled that Henry's birthday was in the fall.
She remembered it so clearly because one fall, Henry got bullied by Alexander at the Anderson Family's place, and he was covered in bruises.
Scarlett naturally took Alexander's side and didn't even want to look at Henry. James pretended not to notice and, after saying a few token nice words, ignored it.
No matter how tough a kid was, he couldn't handle that kind of treatment. That day, Henry ran away from home to find his mom.
"That idiot, even his own dad doesn't want him. Does he think his mom would care? If she really cared, why would she send him to the Anderson Family?" Alexander had mocked.
"That woman didn't even let him in, remembering her own premarital pregnancy. He stood outside all night, freezing. At dawn, his mom sent him back, and he had a high fever that night. It's really pitiful." Alexander had told this story like it was a joke to all his friends.
Everyone might've thought Henry's behavior was pretty foolish and laughed it off. But Amelia just stood there quietly. Back then, she thought Henry was really pitiful.
A birthday should be the best day of the year. Every time she had a birthday, her family celebrated it with joy. But Henry's birthday was filled with ridicule and scolding.
That night, Henry walked a long way in the cold wind to find his mom for some comfort. Did he even hear a "Happy Birthday"? Amelia shook her head, feeling dizzy. 'Why am I thinking about this? Can I go back in time and give him a proper birthday?'
She got into the cab, and the heater blew warm air on her face. Maybe next year, Amelia could give Henry a birthday gift and wish him a happy birthday.
She thought drowsily, not even sure why she remembered that date so well. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't look back until the cab disappeared around the corner. She didn't see Henry, who had been watching her from behind.
His deep blue eyes, filled with too many emotions, followed her as she left. Only after standing there for a long time did he reluctantly look away and leave.
As soon as Amelia got back to her dorm, her worried roommates surrounded her, chattering, "Amelia! Why are you back so late? The dorm supervisor was really mad last night. We pleaded for you so you wouldn't get written up for not returning!"
Amelia's smile was a bit pale, not knowing how to explain everything that happened last night. Maybe she also wanted to protect Alexander's image, so she just smiled and shook her head. "It's nothing, thanks, guys."
Her roommate Lily Brown thought she was being shy, after all, it was her beloved Alexander who had personally asked her out last night.
She immediately leaned in. "Looks like you had a great time on your date last night. But why didn't you come back together? Alexander called me early this morning asking where you went. What happened? Did you guys have a fight?"
Amelia carefully hung her coat in the closet. She suddenly thought of Henry's face and coughed to avoid the topic. "No, after we dealt with things last night, I left. We weren't together."
Lily widened her eyes in surprise, looking at the large puddles outside. "What do you mean? It rained so hard last night, and he left you alone? You shouldn't be with him then!"
Amelia explained helplessly, "We haven't confirmed our relationship as a couple. You know, he's always treated me like family. He hasn't expressed any other feelings for me." As she said these words, Amelia's own heart ached silently. Why, after all these years, couldn't she get into his heart?
She thought her explanation was clear, but Lily looked completely unconvinced. "Amelia! Don't lie to us! We've all seen how close you two are. Are we not good friends? You're hiding this from me!"
The other roommates nodded in agreement. After all, Alexander was really good to her.
After so many years and with an engagement, it was hard to believe they were just pure friends.
Seeing everyone about to tease her again, Amelia's face turned red with anxiety, and she finally blurted out, "No, he already has a girlfriend. Last night, I went to the police station because his girlfriend got into a fight with someone! He spent the night with his girlfriend, and I found a hotel for myself!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the lively dorm room fell silent.